This season should throw the axiom of talent trumps all, straight in the garbage can.
A winning team is far more than merely a collection of talent...it takes a combination of talent, heart, toughness, intelligence, physicality, leadership, commitment & willingness to play a role, etc.

So, in the midst of the 2 year evaluation period it is revealed that quite a lot of that list is currently missing from the roster and the pipeline. It is so blatantly obvious to everyone now except to the FO.

The Sabres represent a house for sale in which the key structural elements all need to be changed/improved/upgraded...not a new coat of paint or other cosmetic changes.
- IonSabres

Any honest NHL fan knows this is a crock of horsesh1t.

The Sabres represent a house for sale in which the key structural elements all need to be changed/improved/upgraded...not a new coat of paint or other cosmetic changes.
- IonSabres

This is why I have such a disinterest in this organization.

They can pick high, doesn't (frank)ing matter.
They can make a trade, doesn't (frank)ing matter.
They can buy a nice player in UFA! Doesn't (frank)ing matter.

They're a nice house on a broken foundation. I promise you, the core talent is here and capable. The coaching staff isn't, and the GM can't get out of his own (frank)ing way.

Any honest NHL fan knows this is a crock of horsesh1t.
- TheSabresTaco

I've never seen you so regularly mad about the team. Even during previous dark days of the tank, you were more...optimistic? Maybe that's the wrong word, but certainly more positive about some things. This is not to say it isn't justified, but I just had a thought:

"They've really taken a turn for the worse if they've disgruntled the Taco this much."

Any honest NHL fan knows this is a crock of horsesh1t.
- TheSabresTaco

Seems very obvious doesn't if. Not to the many who have posted the opposite over the past (you pick 'em) number of years.

This is why I have such a disinterest in this organization.

They can pick high, doesn't (frank)ing matter.
They can make a trade, doesn't (frank)ing matter.
They can buy a nice player in UFA! Doesn't (frank)ing matter.

They're a nice house on a broken foundation. I promise you, the core talent is here and capable. The coaching staff isn't, and the GM can't get out of his own (frank)ing way.
- TheSabresTaco

The realization that everything is still new for Adams as a GM, makes the organizational regression that much worse. Each season has been dramatically different than the previous, it reveals how little stability is in the organization...he manages on pure reaction, the league will eat him alive for it.

The right coaching change can be all the change in the world.

I don't need to list the countless examples from the past 2 seasons alone.

A different mind set, a different voice, a different technique could potentially hit the right buttons to play the right way almost every night.

Flyers did it.
Canucks did it.
Blues did it.
Oilers did it.
The Ghostbusters did it.
- TheSabresTaco

Is Adams allowed to hire a coach who wants control? How much of Adams role is just being a mouthpiece for Terry?

Sabres’ lines at practice:

Skinner-Thompson-Okposo
Benson-Cozens-Peterka
Greenway-Mittelstadt-Tuch
Girgensons-Krebs-Olofsson/Robinson

Seems very obvious doesn't if. Not to the many who have posted the opposite over the past (you pick 'em) number of years.
- IonSabres

Adams traded out high 1st round drafted players with more talent heading into their primes...for mid 1st round picks (en mass) with less talent....while the organizational culture remains the same, just younger.

This team is worse than when Adams started, I have 0 faith in his ability to make a quality trade. There is 0 evidence he can win a trade, specifically one that involves the better player coming back.

I don't think a coach alone is enough to cover for the incompetence in the front office.

I've never seen you so regularly mad about the team. Even during previous dark days of the tank, you were more...optimistic? Maybe that's the wrong word, but certainly more positive about some things. This is not to say it isn't justified, but I just had a thought:

"They've really taken a turn for the worse if they've disgruntled the Taco this much."
- QuinnFan

I'm not here with 30 posts a day railing on them, or praising anyone really. I no longer have the interest, or in-the-moment anger to do so.

Every year, there was something at least fascinating or promising to lean on.

There was the tank, the build up, the tear downs, trading hight value players to grab some perfect players to rebuild, watching the development of guys like peterka, tage, mitts, dahlin, jack, power and so on. Even with (frank)ing Ralph, there was "we've got some great young players, and they're gonna fire this guy, and we're gonna get a high pick and there should be something to watch after they fire him and next season". Or maybe "this is the offseason Kevyn implements a playoff caliber effort to add to the team!!"

last year, we start the year with 'let's see what we've got' and it's a whole lot of fun, lot of goals, a great vibe with some poopty goaltending and poor defensive depth. don has the makings of the guy ready to not necessarily get there, but just over the hump.

kevyn bombs the offseason, (frank)s up what we all know he (frank)ed up with no-trades and bad adds. don blows what was fun and great out of the water and absolutely nukes the team and their confidence.

kevyn stands there, does absolutely nothing. His acquisitions, his trades since November 4th, 2021, have yielded NOTHING. Nothing to the success of this team.

NOTHING.

Terry Pegula and Kevyn Adams treats this fan base like a bunch of (frank)ing chumps. I'm so god damn sick of it. This utter cuck allowed Ralph (frank)ing Krueger to go 0-13 before begrudgingly firing him.

And now? Now we a collection of very talented players who play EVERY (frank)ING GAME like they did on Saturday. We have a deadbeat (frank)ing coach who says the same god damn thing EVERY (frank)ING GAME like he did on Saturday. And we have a GM who is so god damn blind, or hamstrung by Terry, or both, that, ya know, this is part of some master development plan.

You are in line for the 6th overall pick and these (frank)ing deadbeats wanted to take the next step? No.

The next step is for the staff to (frank) off into the sun, because it's blatent (frank)ing negligence.

It's negligence. And I'm supposed to sit here and look past THAT and say well ya know Ivan whateverthe(frank) is a great prospect! Or hey maybe we'll get THREE (frank)ING WINS IN A ROW THIS SEASON.

Nah. (frank) that. I put up with a lot of bullpoop in my life, we all do. But one thing I won't stand for is forced negligence from a god damn professional hockey team.

Until I see an honest, real (frank)ing change in that organization beyond the players, I'm (frank)ing out. (frank) them. banana eaters.

Sabres’ lines at practice:

Skinner-Thompson-Okposo
Benson-Cozens-Peterka
Greenway-Mittelstadt-Tuch
Girgensons-Krebs-Olofsson/Robinson
- jochfr

Elliotte Friedman on the Sabres potentially trading prospects (Via 32 TP):

"I don't think Kulich is one of them. I had some people who specifically told me that [other teams] were asking about Kulich and [BUF] said 'No'. "

The realization that everything is still new for Adams as a GM, makes the organizational regression that much worse. Each season has been dramatically different than the previous, it reveals how little stability is in the organization...he manages on pure reaction, the league will eat him alive for it.
- washedup20

How does Terry or KA show face in front of other owners/GMs without feeling completely embarrassed? We'll never know how Terry feels about all this because he's too afraid to talk to the media.
None of my friends that I've asked watch games anymore. They're driving away fans quicker than they realize. I hate this.

Is Adams allowed to hire a coach who wants control? How much of Adams role is just being a mouthpiece for Terry?
- washedup20

Who knows. My guess is between 50 and 100% a mouthpiece.

Adams traded out high 1st round drafted players with more talent heading into their primes...for mid 1st round picks (en mass) with less talent....while the organizational culture remains the same, just younger.

This team is worse than when Adams started, I have 0 faith in his ability to make a quality trade. There is 0 evidence he can win a trade, specifically one that involves the better player coming back.

I don't think a coach alone is enough to cover for the incompetence in the front office.
- washedup20

Think KA is finding out the hard way that building around/paying a couple top tier guys is easier than trying to pay a bunch of mid-tier guys.

Hell of a lot easier to build around Jack and Sam than a pair of LD + a boatload of young middle 6 guys.

I've never seen you so regularly mad about the team. Even during previous dark days of the tank, you were more...optimistic? Maybe that's the wrong word, but certainly more positive about some things. This is not to say it isn't justified, but I just had a thought:

"They've really taken a turn for the worse if they've disgruntled the Taco this much."
- QuinnFan

You know I'm an optimistic person. I'm also a realist. So maybe an optimistic realist. Enough so for Washed to call my thoughts garbage. And right now, from my back porch, I'm staring down another black tunnel with no light at the other end. There's nothing there that convinces me that their negligence is nothing but intentional.

I'm not here with 30 posts a day railing on them, or praising anyone really. I no longer have the interest, or in-the-moment anger to do so.

Every year, there was something at least fascinating or promising to lean on.

There was the tank, the build up, the tear downs, trading hight value players to grab some perfect players to rebuild, watching the development of guys like peterka, tage, mitts, dahlin, jack, power and so on. Even with (frank)ing Ralph, there was "we've got some great young players, and they're gonna fire this guy, and we're gonna get a high pick and there should be something to watch after they fire him and next season". Or maybe "this is the offseason Kevyn implements a playoff caliber effort to add to the team!!"

last year, we start the year with 'let's see what we've got' and it's a whole lot of fun, lot of goals, a great vibe with some poopty goaltending and poor defensive depth. don has the makings of the guy ready to not necessarily get there, but just over the hump.

kevyn bombs the offseason, (frank)s up what we all know he (frank)ed up with no-trades and bad adds. don blows what was fun and great out of the water and absolutely nukes the team and their confidence.

kevyn stands there, does absolutely nothing. His acquisitions, his trades since November 4th, 2021, have yielded NOTHING. Nothing to the success of this team.

NOTHING.

Terry Pegula and Kevyn Adams treats this fan base like a bunch of (frank)ing chumps. I'm so god damn sick of it. This utter cuck allowed Ralph (frank)ing Krueger to go 0-13 before begrudgingly firing him.

And now? Now we a collection of very talented players who play EVERY (frank)ING GAME like they did on Saturday. We have a deadbeat (frank)ing coach who says the same god damn thing EVERY (frank)ING GAME like he did on Saturday. And we have a GM who is so god damn blind, or hamstrung by Terry, or both, that, ya know, this is part of some master development plan.

You are in line for the 6th overall pick and these (frank)ing deadbeats wanted to take the next step? No.

The next step is for the staff to (frank) off into the sun, because it's blatent (frank)ing negligence.

It's negligence. And I'm supposed to sit here and look past THAT and say well ya know Ivan whateverthe(frank) is a great prospect! Or hey maybe we'll get THREE (frank)ING WINS IN A ROW THIS SEASON.

Nah. (frank) that. I put up with a lot of bullpoop in my life, we all do. But one thing I won't stand for is forced negligence from a god damn professional hockey team.

Until I see an honest, real (frank)ing change in that organization beyond the players, I'm (frank)ing out. (frank) them. banana eaters.
- TheSabresTaco

Well I was thinking of going up to Minneapolis to catch them out here. Thanks for making that choice easy for me…

This is why I have such a disinterest in this organization.

They can pick high, doesn't (frank)ing matter.
They can make a trade, doesn't (frank)ing matter.
They can buy a nice player in UFA! Doesn't (frank)ing matter.

They're a nice house on a broken foundation. I promise you, the core talent is here and capable. The coaching staff isn't, and the GM can't get out of his own (frank)ing way.
- TheSabresTaco

There is substantial talent on the roster and pipeline, which further underscores my point about the need for other attributes required. Where is the true leader who holds others accountable, who puts the team on his back? Crickets. Where is the guy who is going to initiate physically and draws pis playmates into the darker side? Crickets (especially after Cozens PTSD episode). Where is the guy who calls out Tage & Dahlin for -11/-12 and says that isn't good enough. Crickets.

The "we all get along" mantra is evidence of a losing culture. No one challenging each other and holding each other accountable.

That's the roster.

The Coaching staff has been outcoached in 50 games this season...that is a remarkable achievement. They all need to go. Full stop.

The Front Office is a mixed bag so far...the Staff has done very well in the draft so far, which the 9ne exception being that they have drafted the same type of player 7 or 8 times with premium picks. That could be fine if they view this prospects as assets only, but they don't...the view all as future Sabres. That strategy is very flawed for an internally focused build strategy.

And lastly, the President is a lost puppy dog...Pegula (although, the US President has proven that as well, lol.)

There is substantial talent on the roster and pipeline, which further underscores my point about the need for other attributes required. Where is the true leader who holds others accountable, who puts the team on his back? Crickets. Where is the guy who is going to initiate physically and draws pis playmates into the darker side? Crickets (especially after Cozens PTSD episode). Where is the guy who calls out Tage & Dahlin for -11/-12 and says that isn't good enough. Crickets.

The "we all get along" mantra is evidence of a losing culture. No one challenging each other and holding each other accountable.

That's the roster.

The Coaching staff has been outcoached in 50 games this season...that is a remarkable achievement. They all need to go. Full stop.

The Front Office is a mixed bag so far...the Staff has done very well in the draft so far, which the 9ne exception being that they have drafted the same type of player 7 or 8 times with premium picks. That could be fine if they view this prospects as assets only, but they don't...the view all as future Sabres. That strategy is very flawed for an internally focused build strategy.

And lastly, the President is a lost puppy dog...Pegula (although, the US President has proven that as well, lol.)
- IonSabres

You complement them on doing a good job then follow up bashing the very thing you complimented them on.....the drafting is not as good as everyone thinks.

It's the honeymoon phase with this batch of prospects...out of 7 1st round picks, 3 are in the NHL, 1 is hurt more than available, one is 18 and shouldn't be in the NHL, the other is a 1st overall pick who doesn't care.

Imagine the other picks who aren't as talented, joining them? It's a disaster, potential holds little value in the NHL.

You complement them on doing a good job then follow up bashing the very thing you complimented them on.....the drafting is not as good as everyone thinks.

It's the honeymoon phase with this batch of prospects...out of 7 1st round picks, 3 are in the NHL, 1 is hurt more than available, one is 18 and shouldn't be in the NHL, the other is a 1st overall pick who doesn't care.

Imagine the other picks who aren't as talented, joining them? It's a disaster, potential holds little value in the NHL.
- washedup20

Agree to disagree about draft prospects. I posted in the last blog of why I disagree.

https://twitter.com/TheSa...amp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

So Boston is rumored to be interested in a package of SirFallsAlot and OSloPoke.

WHAT THE HELL IS KEVYN WAITING FOR? Seriously, what?
Give them a 2024-2nd to take both right now, don't need anything back, just get rid of them.

Saros to the Kings E4

Well I was thinking of going up to Minneapolis to catch them out here. Thanks for making that choice easy for me…
- SDSabre

Won't tell you how to be a fan or spend your money. But the product is the product and we all see it.

So Boston is rumored to be interested in a package of SirFallsAlot and OSloPoke.

WHAT THE HELL IS KEVYN WAITING FOR? Seriously, what?
Give them a 2024-2nd to take both right now, don't need anything back, just get rid of them.
- IonSabres

This would be amazing

Agree to disagree about draft prospects. I posted in the last blog of why I disagree.
- IonSabres

In the past 13 failed seasons, the Sabres were at or near the top rank for prospects and potential. Through the Pegula era alone, there is enough history for the sport to prove how irrelevant that rank is.

What a kid did in amateurs means little to what happens in the pro's.

The talent throughout the Sabres roster and prospect pool is overrated...come 24' draft, that pick will immediately become the cream of the crop...elevating the Sabres prospect ranking even higher...which means nothing.

A meaningless rank is what people still give this front office credit for...even though the organization has ranked near the top for 9 straight years prior to this front office.