This is relatable in reference to Meatball forcing defensive play:

Tortorella had a lot to say about Travis Konecny,the main gist of which was that, in coaching TK, he has to resist the push to overcoach. "I think you can coach him into being an average player."

Tortorella said he often can't bear to watch TK from the bench because some of the things he does drive a coach crazy. Tortorella has to let a lot go unless it starts to get too far afield, then he'll step in (eg: TK was benched for 9+ mins late 2nd/early 3rd in game in PIT).

Tortorella said he's surprised that TK never killed penalties before last year. He asked to do it, but admitted he'd never done it before. Took adjustment but now he's a very good PKer.



The bolded is meatball.
- washedup20

Disagree that in general the team needs to learn how to play a 200 ft game, not 100 either way.
Agree that the system implementation has been horrific and a new, knowledgeable staff needs to be brought in.

They could have traded for him before he signed that 7 year Contract and he would have been playing on a Expiring contract.
- Buff36

I don't subscribe to wasting a plethora of assets for 1 season

Disagree that in general the team needs to learn how to play a 200 ft game, not 100 either way.
Agree that the system implementation has been horrific and a new, knowledgeable staff needs to be brought in.
- IonSabres

I agree with more experience with the Staff. Even management. Karmanos is the only one with any real experience in upper management and the Coaching staff basically has no real NHL Experience. They seem they are at a cross roads in development and they don't have the answers to move that development farther along. Ellis and Wilford need to go.

Good post

Above “reasonable “ expectations

That excludes ion
- Boss34[/quotei expect to hear either a) he is clearly an HOF orheshould be hung outside City Hall ... all after his next 20 minutes of play.

Let's see how it plays out for an extended period before making proclamations based on 3 games.

I don't subscribe to wasting a plethora of assets for 1 season
- IonSabres

I don't either, I wasn't saying to do the deal. Just that the Contract wasn't even a thing when the Sabres were supposedly having Conversations on him.

With the Sabres in midst of this historic drought, here’s how it stands:

Terry Pegula - entire time
Kevyn Adams - entire time
Girgs - entire time
Okposo - 8 years

Terry is clearly the worst owner in hockey….by a long shot.

The 3 below Terry have all underperformed every single season they have been in Buffalo, at every position they have been put in. This isn’t just disappointment type of failure, it’s organizational destruction level of failure.

Terry is awful, Adams, Girgs and Okposo hold significant responsibility for the worst stretch of hockey in the history of the sport, and at year 13 of failure….those are the people in charge.

This is truly the most pathetic group of professionals in the history of hockey, when it comes to this sport they are so brutally stupid.

The Sabres continue to employ unqualified people, and tbh the list is growing not shrinking, so why would their playoff chances increase?

Toilet bowl of the East tonight, the Sabres annual favorite game!
- washedup20

I think you forgot the putrid Asst Coaching staff.
And, while I don't think there is a place for Okposo nor Girgensons, I wouldn’t lay responsibility for failure at their feet...rather just say they are contributors for sub par performances. The responsibility is justly laid at the feet of the front office.

I don't subscribe to wasting a plethora of assets for 1 season
- IonSabres

You have a #1 certified goalie and an a young goalie with potential, trading a plethora for a position of strength is not a waste. Don't limit yourself to such a narrow view, these are assets not anchors.

You have a #1 certified goalie and an a young goalie with potential, trading a plethora for a position of strength is not a waste. Don't limit yourself to such a narrow view, these are assets not anchors.
- washedup20

Would really have depended on which assets they wanted, you are not giving up your Benson's Savoie Kulich on a rental. But the Sabres could have put a decent package together even for him as a rental without really hurting there future.

Would really have depended on which assets they wanted, you are not giving up your Benson's Savoie Kulich on a rental. But the Sabres could have put a decent package together even for him as a rental without really hurting there future.
- Buff36

What are you talking about any trade that
would have been made would have cost
Benson + Savoie + 68 first round picks and the Sabres would be left for dead with no future.

What are you talking about any trade that
would have been made would have cost
Benson + Savoie + 68 first round picks and the Sabres would be left for dead with no future.
- ImThatGuy

Well I have been told that since last year. I don't really see that with as many assets as the Sabres have. But in no way would I have included them in a Hellebuyck deal.

Well I have been told that since last year. I don't really see that with as many assets as the Sabres have. But in no way would I have included them in a Hellebuyck deal.
- Buff36

Adams and staff seem unwilling to relent on making one of their key prospects available as part of a trade (Savoie, Ostlund, Kulich, Rosen).

I wonder if they are willing, and teams would be interested, in any of their second tier prospects (Poltapov, Strbak, Wahlberg, Neuchev).

Are the Sabrses willing to trade Mittelstadt to upgrade at forward or defense?

Are they willing to trade Samuelsson for a better, true top 4 defender?

Would really have depended on which assets they wanted, you are not giving up your Benson's Savoie Kulich on a rental. But the Sabres could have put a decent package together even for him as a rental without really hurting there future.
- Buff36

They apparently wanted enough that nobody in the league traded for him.

They then gave him a 7 year deal that takes him deep into his thirties with a NMC that has a very high probability of aging terribly.

I completely understand the frustration of losing in the present, but making a desperation move that has a strong likelihood of damaging your future isn’t it either

Adams and staff seem unwilling to relent on making one of their key prospects available as part of a trade (Savoie, Ostlund, Kulich, Rosen).

I wonder if they are willing, and teams would be interested, in any of their second tier prospects (Poltapov, Strbak, Wahlberg, Neuchev).

Are the Sabrses willing to trade Mittelstadt to upgrade at forward or defense?

Are they willing to trade Samuelsson for a better, true top 4 defender?
- kingcong39

It's looking more and more like they aren't, and that's not a good thing. They don't have the right pieces coming up through the system to finish of there puzzle. They have way more assets then available spots, especially with those assets built in the same mode.

They apparently wanted enough that nobody in the league traded for him.

They then gave him a 7 year deal that takes him deep into his thirties with a NMC that has a very high probability of aging terribly.

I completely understand the frustration of losing in the present, but making a desperation move that has a strong likelihood of damaging your future isn’t it either
- Swedish_Jesus

Well not many teams could take him when he was being shopped, Cap hurt him in trade value. And really depends on what the Sabres would have had to give up. Everyone can say what they want but the Sabres have to many prospects and there basically all built the same way. The Sabres would have to totally F@ck up a deal to hurt there future.

If they lose an uninspired game tonight the clock should really be ticking on granato or assistants or something, anything

Columbus has played us hard every time since tage scoring 5 on them

It's looking more and more like they aren't, and that's not a good thing. They don't have the right pieces coming up through the system to finish of there puzzle. They have way more assets then available spots, especially with those assets built in the same mode.
- Buff36

It sure seems like they love all their players, and they have no interest in upgrading from one of their beloved player/prospects for another player they have no ties to.

I don't think they can totally build from within and be successful.

They apparently wanted enough that nobody in the league traded for him.

They then gave him a 7 year deal that takes him deep into his thirties with a NMC that has a very high probability of aging terribly.

I completely understand the frustration of losing in the present, but making a desperation move that has a strong likelihood of damaging your future isn’t it either
- Swedish_Jesus

Sounds more like he was never really on the block but Winnipeg would have taken a sufficient overpayment. Im not saying id have done it, or not done it but hindsight doesn't have me clamoring for him but

The sabres have 9 players on the roster 23 or younger either signed long term or on entry level deals. Stop with the damaging the future narrative as an excuse not to move a prospect to make this team better

The leading scorer in the AHL cant get a look when skinner goes out

It sure seems like they love all their players, and they have no interest in upgrading from one of their beloved player/prospects for another player they have no ties to.

I don't think they can totally build from within and be successful.
- kingcong39

What players on the roster or in the system have shown they are pressure players?

Who, in your opinion would adjust well to the playoff game style, on the team or in the system?

Adams and staff seem unwilling to relent on making one of their key prospects available as part of a trade (Savoie, Ostlund, Kulich, Rosen).

I wonder if they are willing, and teams would be interested, in any of their second tier prospects (Poltapov, Strbak, Wahlberg, Neuchev).

Are the Sabrses willing to trade Mittelstadt to upgrade at forward or defense?

Are they willing to trade Samuelsson for a better, true top 4 defender?
- kingcong39

think a better question would be rather it actually matters with the coaching in place.

Sounds more like he was never really on the block but Winnipeg would have taken a sufficient overpayment. Im not saying id have done it, or not done it but hindsight doesn't have me clamoring for him but

The sabres have 9 players on the roster 23 or younger either signed long term or on entry level deals. Stop with the damaging the future narrative as an excuse not to move a prospect to make this team better

The leading scorer in the AHL cant get a look when skinner goes out
- ieetbred

I’m fine with moving picks and prospects.

What’s the player in return, what’s their age, and what’s their contract situation ?

It’s not always as simple as people make it out to be.

And I don’t buy into the narrative of losing trades but it’s ok because “he at least tried to improve the team”.

Making the wrong move is worse than making no move at all

If you needed further confirmation, jackie returns tonight

I’m fine with moving picks and prospects.

What’s the player in return, what’s their age, and what’s their contract situation ?

It’s not always as simple as people make it out to be.

And I don’t buy into the narrative of losing trades but it’s ok because “he at least tried to improve the team”.

Making the wrong move is worse than making no move at all
- Swedish_Jesus

I agree with this because Adams has shown he only knows how to make the wrong moves and cannot properly assess NHL talent.

So while Hellebuyck would be a welcomed addition to a run and gun team for the next 5+ years...we will discuss how the potential of a few more small perimeter playing kids joining the lineup improves this team.

You have a #1 certified goalie and an a young goalie with potential, trading a plethora for a position of strength is not a waste. Don't limit yourself to such a narrow view, these are assets not anchors.
- washedup20

we all knew his contract would be very expensive and LONG…the combination of Acquisition Cost, Contract Cost (for year 2+) and the Contract Term made him a horrible fit specially when you add in the probability of Levi as a starter in a relatively short period of time.
It would have been an absolutely dumb nove to make…IMO of course.

Skinner is "day to day" but it kinda sounds like he's either playing Saturday or against Boston next Wednesday.

Something something
Casey DeSmith.

https://www.nhl.com/canuc...yer/casey-desmith-8479193