That’s the thing though, we have that ability to look in hindsight now

At the time almost everyone penciled those guys into the top pairing when we did our annual making up lines and pairings for future years

Those guys were viewed as staples.
- sbroads24

hindsight is great cause you can look and go "this is where it went wrong" or "this is where we could have helped more".

I feel like management has really looked at what went wrong in the past here and don't want the same things to happen this time around. A lot of where the "We are going to do what we feel is best for the future of the player" is coming from.

Rushing never worked for this franchise during the drought. And they've yet to rush anything this time around. The slow approach is working.

hindsight is great cause you can look and go "this is where it went wrong" or "this is where we could have helped more".

I feel like management has really looked at what went wrong in the past here and don't want the same things to happen this time around. A lot of where the "We are going to do what we feel is best for the future of the player" is coming from.

Rushing never worked for this franchise during the drought. And they've yet to rush anything this time around. The slow approach is working.
- DirtyDan

Rushing, just like what a lot of fans are doing with Levi.

Funny how one narrative it fits and is fine then the other rushing is awful and will doom the team. 🤷🏻‍♂️

In 5 years we will talk about someone like Ostlund or Rosen or even Savoie like we do about Nylander or Bailey etc

They all aren’t panning out
- sbroads24

You’re right, they won’t.

They are still assets though, and shouldn’t just be traded for the sake of being moved.

If Ottawa moved the capital they did for Debrincant but it came with an extension, then you live with it.

Timo Meier would have been lovely, but who’s to say he wouldn’t have done to us what Debrincant just did to Ottawa ?

They will eventually need to move prospects out, and take risks, maybe even as early as tomorrow.

But it needs to make sense for the present and future.

We can have a very long window here if he plays his cards right, and that’s what he’s trying to do.

Rushing, just like what a lot of fans are doing with Levi.

Funny how one narrative it fits and is fine then the other rushing is awful and will doom the team. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- ImThatGuy

Don't be like Tim Murray and try(albeit a bit too much), but also throw a kid who's got a whopping seven games of pro experience to the wolves and expect him to have 50 quality starts is definitely something.

Risto defiantly could of been a top pairing guy. 12 coaches and rushing his development didn't help his case.

Zadorov was never on that level. Big, solid defender is nothing to scoff at though. Always liked him
- DirtyDan

theodore was the second d man picked after zadorov

Rushing, just like what a lot of fans are doing with Levi.

Funny how one narrative it fits and is fine then the other rushing is awful and will doom the team. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- ImThatGuy

Goalies are a whole nother realm IMO. And I have been of the opinion that running UPL and Levi (with or without Comrie) is ridiculously risky.

You’re right, they won’t.

They are still assets though, and shouldn’t just be traded for the sake of being moved.

If Ottawa moved the capital they did for Debrincant but it came with an extension, then you live with it.

Timo Meier would have been lovely, but who’s to say he wouldn’t have done to us what Debrincant just did to Ottawa ?

They will eventually need to move prospects out, and take risks, maybe even as early as tomorrow.

But it needs to make sense for the present and future.

We can have a very long window here if he plays his cards right, and that’s what he’s trying to do.
- Swedish_Jesus

Doesn't the window argument work both ways?

Like the window for Tuch/Thompson/Skinner etc is still decently big, but not contending now is shortening it.

Rushing, just like what a lot of fans are doing with Levi.

Funny how one narrative it fits and is fine then the other rushing is awful and will doom the team. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- ImThatGuy

Nobody is rushing Levi. He was good enough to be our starter down the stretch last year when the playoffs were on the line - I think he is going to be able to handle NHL games in October. He played in roughly 50 games last year.

Doesn't the window argument work both ways?

Like the window for Tuch/Thompson/Skinner etc is still decently big, but not contending now is shortening it.
- sbroads24

bingo

none of these prospects may ever be as close as good as tage, tuch or skinner

Doesn't the window argument work both ways?

Like the window for Tuch/Thompson/Skinner etc is still decently big, but not contending now is shortening it.
- sbroads24

The Sabres will never again have the cap flexibility they had last and this year they had the opportunity to strike for cheap and chose not to, well aside from Ben Bishop.

But congrats on all the cap space though for last year. Hang a banner.

Nobody is rushing Levi. He was good enough to be our starter down the stretch last year when the playoffs were on the line - I think he is going to be able to handle NHL games in October. He played in roughly 50 games last year.
- Slump Buster

“Nobody’s rushing him” “he can play 50 games” is certainly a sentence that fits together.

Cause college and the NHL are the exact same thing.

Question for the "do something now" population.

What is a bridge too far to bring in Helleybuck as a rental? I want to stress that last part as there is no way that Adams brings him in to give him 9 mill a year. Bringing him in makes us an instant contender for more than just a playoff spot this year, but hurts us for the following years.

2024 first, UPL and.... what is too much to give up? Where is your personal line?

The Sabres will never again have the cap flexibility they had last and this year they had the opportunity to strike for cheap and chose not to, well aside from Ben Bishop.

But congrats on all the cap space though for last year. Hang a banner.
- ImThatGuy

was adams following orders

or did he choose not to add to the team last year when an addition or 2 could have pushed them over the edge for a top 8 spot

and for those that say it didn't matter they missed the playoffs, it matters given the history of the last 10 plus years

Question for the "do something now" population.

What is a bridge too far to bring in Helleybuck as a rental?
- Slump Buster

if giving out multiple pieces, I would not for a rental


if we were a top 4 team in the east last year, I may think differently

“Nobody’s rushing him” “he can play 50 games” is certainly a sentence that fits together.

Cause college and the NHL are the exact same thing.
- ImThatGuy

You're right - he was used to seeing 50 shots a night in college. The pros should be easy

was adams following orders

or did he choose not to add to the team last year when an addition or 2 could have pushed them over the edge for a top 8 spot

and for those that say it didn't matter they missed the playoffs, it matters given the history of the last 10 plus years
- homiedclown

I asked this question earlier and nobody responded. Why does it matter? Why should we see this team in that light? What if the last playoff appearance was 4 years ago? Why would that affect anything Adams does?

You're right - he was used to seeing 50 shots a night in college. The pros should be easy

- Slump Buster

John Beecher doesn't have the same shot as Ovi?

if giving out multiple pieces, I would not for a rental


if we were a top 4 team in the east last year, I may think differently
- homiedclown

Sure, but isn't there a line? Next years first, UPL, another prospect? I hear all of the time that making the playoffs now is so important. I am not saying it isn't - I am just curious as to what the line is for that player.

Doesn't the window argument work both ways?

Like the window for Tuch/Thompson/Skinner etc is still decently big, but not contending now is shortening it.
- sbroads24

That's it! Good Post

I asked this question earlier and nobody responded. Why does it matter? Why should we see this team in that light? What if the last playoff appearance was 4 years ago? Why would that affect anything Adams does?
- Slump Buster

pride
experience
sense of purpose
better work environment
etc
etc
etc

none of these guys had a playoff game as a sabre

Nobody is rushing Levi. He was good enough to be our starter down the stretch last year when the playoffs were on the line - I think he is going to be able to handle NHL games in October. He played in roughly 50 games last year.
- Slump Buster

It's not rushing because you think he might be ready for it? Is that the thinking?

Ready or not, a college goalie jumping straight to the NHL sure seems like rushing to me.

John Beecher doesn't have the same shot as Ovi?



- homiedclown

What was the last goalie that came out of college with his pedigree? The kid played 50 games last year and saw more rubber than a working girl downtown. We should just arbitrarily restrict him to 30 games because... he is 21? If we had gotten Korpisalo, Jarry, or any other veteran retread, I'd still want the kid as the starter.

Sure, but isn't there a line? Next years first, UPL, another prospect? I hear all of the time that making the playoffs now is so important. I am not saying it isn't - I am just curious as to what the line is for that player.
- Slump Buster

if UPL is not the guy, instead just a guy

instead of getting a rental

pivot to Swayman, DeSmith, Vejmelka type via trade

pride
experience
sense of purpose
better work environment
etc
etc
etc

none of these guys had a playoff game as a sabre
- homiedclown

Experience? Maybe. You're really reaching for the rest of it. I just remember when a team like the Cowboys beat us in the 3rd super bowl. A good, young team with a boatload of talent and no real playoff experience beat a team that had been to the finals the previous two years. Sure, all of that stuff you mentioned can help a bit.... I'd rather just get an excruciating amount of young and fast talent.

What was the last goalie that came out of college with h on and off the iis pedigree? The kid played 50 games last year and saw more rubber than a working girl downtown. We should just arbitrarily restrict him to 30 games because... he is 21? If we had gotten Korpisalo, Jarry, or any other veteran retread, I'd still want the kid as the starter.
- Slump Buster

I am all for giving levi a spot

it's the plan B that scares me and I do not think they need to go all in for 1 year of Hellebuyck

I think having Bobrovsky with the panthers is hurting the development of Knight on and off the ice