GDT: Dead Wings @ Dull Swords - 7pm

[Jim Bob]

I see good players signing with different teams, again it doesn't affect the trades (where there is no trrade protection). So that's the problem, the owner has been doing shit for 13 years. And the GM is not able to recognize that he needs a top 4 RD or top 6 F otherwise he will not make the playoffs and will be fired. The city may be a problem for some players, but it does not make the task much more difficult if you know how to work.

A rookie GM who did not have the resume to be hired by any other franchise isn't great at the job?

Why would anyone expect Kevyn Adams to be a really good GM given his resume?

 

[slip]

At home with a two goal lead to start the third against the worst team in hockey who pulls their starting goalie for a rookie playing in his first NHL game, and you still lose?

Our ability to mine new lows in futility is f***ing impressive.

 

[Fjordy]

A rookie GM who did not have the resume to be hired by any other franchise isn't great at the job?

Why would anyone expect Kevyn Adams to be a really good GM given his resume?

Remember how in Adams' first 1-2 seasons there seemed to be a different atmosphere, where people said that he would recruit experienced AGMs, build an analytics department and use it, that he knows how to listen and delegate responsibilities. He seems to have done everything like that, but it seems like he's doing something wrong.

 

[petteri]

And Adams admitted that.

He said they have to earn the respect of players around the league so that the Sabres become a destination franchise like the Bills have.

The location and taxes make the lift harder. I don't get why that is shocking to people.

It's not shocking that it does make the job harder, what's shocking is that the team has been *unable* to overcome those obstacles for well over a decade. I don't expect him to come out and say, well this sucks, I suck, the owner sucks and throw his hand up in the air and walk away.

But he didn't offer anything new that even gives a hint that what's been going on during his tenure is going to change or yield any positive results. By even mentioning those background elements that we are all well too aware of it just gives off a bad vibe, and feeds into the narrative that the ownership and leadership of this team just aren't good enough to get the job done. That's what I think people are really riled up about.

He hasn't earned the respect of players around the league, but perhaps even worse he hasn't earned the respect of the fans and members of his community.

 

[tsujimoto74]

And Adams admitted that.

He said they have to earn the respect of players around the league so that the Sabres become a destination franchise like the Bills have.

The location and taxes make the lift harder. I don't get why that is shocking to people.

It’s not “shocking,” it’s a cop out, and nobody needed a press conference for that.

 

[slip]

Remember how in Adams' first 1-2 seasons there seemed to be a different atmosphere, where people said that he would recruit experienced AGMs, build an analytics department and use it, that he knows how to listen and delegate responsibilities. He seems to have done everything like that, but it seems like he's doing something wrong.

Here’s a controversial thought: he did build up and listen to his anal-lytics department, which is precisely why this roster sucks. “You’re not seeing what we’re seeing” says the GM overly fixated on spurious statistical data when the team before him is routinely failing the millennia old eye test.

 

[Jim Bob]

It's not shocking that it does make the job harder, what's shocking is that the team has been *unable* to overcome those obstacles for well over a decade. I don't expect him to come out and say, well this sucks, I suck, the owner sucks and throw his hand up in the air and walk away.

But he didn't offer anything new that even gives a hint that what's been going on during his tenure is going to change or yield any positive results. By even mentioning those background elements that we are all well too aware of it just gives off a bad vibe, and feeds into the narrative that the ownership and leadership of this team just aren't good enough to get the job done. That's what I think people are really riled up about.

He hasn't earned the respect of players around the league, but perhaps even worse he hasn't earned the respect of the fans and members of his community.

It's not shocking when the owner hires three straight rookie GMs and the most recent was unqualified for the job.

I think expecting someone as unqualified to be an NHL GM as Kevyn Adams to earn respect is a lot to expect.

The last GM in this spot was Garth Snow going from being the Islanders back up goalie to their GM. And he was one of the least respected GMs in the NHL during his entire tenure as the Isles GM.

Kevyn Adams is the Sabres version of Garth Snow.

 

[petteri]

It's not shocking when the owner hires three straight rookie GMs and the most recent was unqualified for the job.

I think expecting someone as unqualified to be an NHL GM as Kevyn Adams to earn respect is a lot to expect.

The last GM in this spot was Garth Snow going from being the Islanders back up goalie to their GM. And he was one of the least respected GMs in the NHL during his entire tenure as the Isles GM.

Kevyn Adams is the Sabres version of Garth Snow.

I agree, it would have been nice had he been able to learn something along the way, but that apparently is/was not to be. The true blame lies at the feet of ownership as you've noted.

 

[Jim Bob]

Here’s a controversial thought: he did build up and listen to his anal-lytics department, which is precisely why this roster sucks. “You’re not seeing what we’re seeing” says the GM overly fixated on spurious statistical data when the team before him is routinely failing the millennia old eye test.

Analytics can be good about identifying some things. Roster fit and character mix are not where they thrive.

That is why you need to blend scouting and analytics. I like their approach to blending the two when it comes to amateur scouting. The problem is that they have had a tiny pro scouting department to try and replicate that on the pro side of things for trades and FA signings.

And then you have issues identifying who should be core guys. That has been a huge issue for all three of the rookie GMs that Pegula has hired.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

I think I’ll become a SJ fan lol. Three of them work for that org

They’ve been my Western Conference team since their debut.

 

[slip]

Analytics can be good about identifying some things. Roster fit and character mix are not where they thrive.

That is why you need to blend scouting and analytics. I like their approach to blending the two when it comes to amateur scouting. The problem is that they have had a tiny pro scouting department to try and replicate that on the pro side of things for trades and FA signings.

And then you have issues identifying who should be core guys. That has been a huge issue for all three of the rookie GMs that Pegula has hired.

But really, what is analytics good at telling us that our eyes can't?

I have yet to see this management group uncover a diamond in the ruff since bringing Karmanos on board to lead up the analytics department. I suspect the parade of middling to awful forwards and defensemen rotated in and out of this roster since 2021 had some analytic value to the geeky number crunchers behind the scenes, but practically none have moved the needle forward. I maintain Adams is so blinded by this BS that he can't see what's in front of his face. "You're not seeing what we're seeing." Who says that? Only morons clinging to charts and statistical data in spite of reality continuously bitch slapping them across the face.

And some fans even want to promote Karmanos to GM? Well if 3 straight rookie GMs doesn't work, try it again!

I'd rather lister to what my astrologist has to say about what players to keep and which to discard than to any practitioners of this sham enterprise.

 

[SundherDome]

Not sure where you get that with Appert. He’s been a dud everywhere. Destroyed RPI hockey. Our PP is abysmal.

Rochester had a deep playoff run and always seemed competitive with him *shrug*

 

[debaser66]

Our players are too young, our coach is too old, our GM is too stupid, and our owner is too arrogant.

Did I miss anything?

palm trees

 

[debaser66]

I honestly don’t think he can insulate them - there aren’t many deals to be had out there, and he aint good enough to make them if there were.

But I think his overall plan is just extremely flawed. As Eliot Friedmann keeps noting, tearing it down and building your core solely through the draft has never really worked for anyone.

especially if you draft mostly the same type of player in the early rounds

 

[SabresFan26]

Rochester had a deep playoff run and always seemed competitive with him *shrug*

They were pretty loaded and haven’t been worse with any coach before and after.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

The Sabres have now chased the goalie 3 times this season, only to go on and loose all three of those games!

 

[BFLO]

The tax issue is a real thing. That is why GMs in high tax states lost their minds the past two summers when you have Reinhart taking way less than market level to re-sign in Florida or Nashville signs Stamkos and Marchessault. That is not just a Kevyn Adams thing.

And the weather and the perception of living in Buffalo is a thing. A lot of young guys with disposable income would much rather have the quality of life that places like SoCal and Florida and Nashville have to offer over places like Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Buffalo.

It makes the lift harder. That doesn't make it impossible. But, it does make it challenging.

You know what else makes it challenging? The owner hiring rookie GMs with the latest being the most unqualified NHL GM hire that I can ever remember. The owner seemingly being unwilling to hire a veteran GM that knows how to build a winner is the root of the problem.

Kevyn Adams is just the yes man that takes the slings and arrows for his boss that gave him a job that he wasn't prepared to do.

You're not wrong. Those things do make the lift harder. But they pale in comparison to winning.

Reasons players don't want to come here:

97% 14 straight years of being the worst, most incompetent and inept franchise in pro-sports. No clear path forward to becoming a winning franchise.

1% Buffalo Weather/ No palm trees
1% NYS Taxes
1% The "ambiance and decor" -Marshawn Lynch (lack of things for young multi-millionaires to do in Buffalo)

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

especially if you draft mostly the same type of player in the early rounds

If we took grinders instead of Quinn or Peterka or Cozens, we’d still be in the same spot. Their drafting is a problem, but it’s not the reason the rebuild strategy is flawed.

 

[TehDoak]

Dearest City of Detroit,

I see we are hosting your hockey team today. As you are hosting our football team next week.

Given the status of the NFC North and you only owning the tiebreaker on the Vikings already, I propose a fair trade.

We will allow the red wings to gain two points this evening if you permit the bills a win to try to stay close to the Chiefs for the 1 seed.

On our next meet in New Orleans in February, we can have a true first meeting, for all of the marbles, of course.

Thanks so much,

Buffalo Sports fans

The deal is a deal, no take backs

 

[Chainshot]

But really, what is analytics good at telling us that our eyes can't?

I have yet to see this management group uncover a diamond in the ruff since bringing Karmanos on board to lead up the analytics department. I suspect the parade of middling to awful forwards and defensemen rotated in and out of this roster since 2021 had some analytic value to the geeky number crunchers behind the scenes, but practically none have moved the needle forward. I maintain Adams is so blinded by this BS that he can't see what's in front of his face. "You're not seeing what we're seeing." Who says that? Only morons clinging to charts and statistical data in spite of reality continuously bitch slapping them across the face.

And some fans even want to promote Karmanos to GM? Well if 3 straight rookie GMs doesn't work, try it again!

I'd rather lister to what my astrologist has to say about what players to keep and which to discard than to any practitioners of this sham enterprise.

Adams' defensiveness makes me wonder what he's trying to grasp at when he's saying things about "you're not seeing what we're seeing". I don't think that's being blinded by analytics, I think that's just Adams thinking he knows more others in the room about the people he has invested in and being unable to pivot off of them.

I do think they lack enough fresh eyes coming in to look things over - not advocating a PoHO, but their scouting staff just below Adams has been the same collection of guys for years. f***, Kevin Devine is still on staff and he's been with them since 1998. Jakubowski? 11 years. Forton? 11 years in the scouting department, 12 with the team. Crowe? Eight years.

There isn't anyone in there that has built a playoff team, let alone any sort of winner. And those are folks Adams has directing a bunch of his personnel decisions.

 

[Fjordy]

Why didn't Kulich play and why did Reimer play? A bit strange.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Why didn't Kulich play and why did Reimer play? A bit strange.

Greenway was back in the lineup, and played quite well I thought. 6Ks can't start them all; Reimer was far from sharp though.

I'd have sat Peterka instead of Kulich. Hopefully we see that change for the next few games. JJ has been off his game for several weeks now.

 

[Zman5778]

Why didn't Kulich play and why did Reimer play? A bit strange.

Reimer I get. UPL wasn't stellar against Utah (though not BAD).......and with 2 challenging games coming up (NYR, TOR), Lindy probably just wanted to give UPL a breather. I get it.

Kulich? Don't get.

 

[Fjordy]

Greenway was back in the lineup, and played quite well I thought. 6Ks can't start them all; Reimer was far from sharp though.

I'd have sat Peterka instead of Kulich. Hopefully we see that change for the next few games. JJ has been off his game for several weeks now.

Reimer I get. UPL wasn't stellar against Utah (though not BAD).......and with 2 challenging games coming up (NYR, TOR), Lindy probably just wanted to give UPL a breather. I get it.

Kulich? Don't get.

Okay, usually UPL just didn't play only if there was a back-to-back game or he was injured.

Kulich played well against Utah and scored a goal, but he was benched. I don't really like some of Ruff's decisions. Peterka has been pretty bad over the last 10-12 games.

 

[Havok89]

Dahlin, Cozens, Quinn, Peterka have all massively underperformed this year based on expectations.