Sabres Imbedded, Trade Deadline 2025

[THUNDERBURST]

It's horrible. fire Kevyn.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Observation: Axes to grind and agendas in every thread create negativity that is going to become impossible to get out under from no matter where the club goes. I think the base here is really setting themselves up for the big fall. Just sayin

 

[jc17]

The Cozens deal - it appears Adams lets Staios dictate the specifics and Adams takes the offer he gets from Staios rather than trying to negotiate. We can't get everything from a 15 minute edited video but we're shown Adams shopping Cozens to a bunch of different teams and then getting the exact offer the deal winds up being from Staios.

They say they've been talking about it for weeks so I'm guessing there was a bit of negotiating that happened.

With that said, yeah aside from the phone call to Norris no one seemed really excited about it, felt like it had to be justified rather than unanimously considered a win

 

[TageGod]

I've wondered if the Wild were offering Rossi.

I can't imagine the "getting younger" applies to a one-year difference between Rossi and Cozens. If Rossi was offered, they probably take it and run.

Sat through the entire 15 minutes and it does not make me feel good or optimistic. Terry is too involved and too many things are run by him. The Cozens deal - it appears Adams lets Staios dictate the specifics and Adams takes the offer he gets from Staios rather than trying to negotiate. We can't get everything from a 15 minute edited video but we're shown Adams shopping Cozens to a bunch of different teams and then getting the exact offer the deal winds up being from Staios.

It also seems like too much time and effort is spent into shopping Joki for a late fourth in 2026 - and again Adams takes the first deal offered. I get that he was their last player on an expiring contract but it's just not that valuable a pick for that much time and effort around the TDL. Wish they were talking about ideas to make the team better with more impact than a late 2026 4th.

They don't include the negotiations in the video, neither team wants negotiations getting out. They just edited it so someone posed the final trade. he even specified the goal is to add at the start of the day. Bad teams just don't make Quarters for dollar trades mid-season. He also circled back to Joker at like 2pm here.

 

[TageGod]

They say they've been talking about it for weeks so I'm guessing there was a bit of negotiating that happened.

With that said, yeah aside from the phone call to Norris no one seemed really excited about it, felt like it had to be justified rather than unanimously considered a win

No one really wanted to lose Cozens im sure.

 

[jc17]

No one really wanted to lose Cozens im sure.

Yeah I just hoped they would sound more excited about Norris. Didn't get the vibe they even thought they landed a big fish

 

[ValJamesDuex]

No one really wanted to lose Cozens im sure.

If anything the vibe in the room showed that, seemed pretty somber to me.

 

[Satanphonehome]

If anything the vibe in the room showed that, seemed pretty somber to me.

Kinda looked like the room:
* about to finish bottom 5 after expecting playoffs
* giving up a “core” piece two years after signing him to huge deal

 

[May Day 10]

Serious question. Would a room full of collaborating monkeys be able to make the playoffs once in the past 14 years?

 

[TageGod]

Serious question. Would a room full of collaborating monkeys be able to make the playoffs once in the past 14 years?

If they fling poo at their decision, it is kind of like a dart board, so conceivably yeah.

 

[May Day 10]

If they fling poo at their decision, it is kind of like a dart board, so conceivably yeah.

I'd just love to watch "Penguins Embedded", and see Kyle dubas pick up a phone call from Buffalo and only hear a bunch of screaming monkey sounds

 

[RefsIdeas]

Anybody else get the feeling that their ultimate goal is to just make the playoffs?

Between this video and the comments made at the Blue and Gold insights article, it seems like they would see the season as an absolute win if they snuck in the playoffs, and lost in 5 games in the first round.

They'd be ignoring the fact that this rosters makeup is inherently flawed. We have very few capable passers/playmakers amongst the forwards. We have a ton of shooting talent and next to no playmaking talent. Our center depth is very weak at the NHL level (if Thompson isn't a C going forward).

I believe in the talents of Dahlin, Thompson, Power - and to a lesser extent Tuch and Peterka. I think they can be strong pieces on a contending team. However we need more than just that. Truthfully, we're lacking a true 1C, a true 2C (mayyyybe it's Norris, but I'm not sold). A true partner for Dahlin. A true partner for Power.

Going into the offseason and thinking we just need to bring in a couple vets and have better conditioning is foolish. Absolute best case scenario we get stomped in the 1st round of the playoffs. Still, I would bet nearly everything I own that Adams would be grinning ear to ear and be as smug as can be in a post-season press conference after their season ended in 5 games to the Panthers in the first round.

The bar has to be set higher. The Sabres should be aiming to improve this roster immensely, not just doing next to the bare-minimum and once again banking on development.

 

[sabremike]

Observation: Axes to grind and agendas in every thread create negativity that is going to become impossible to get out under from no matter where the club goes. I think the base here is really setting themselves up for the big fall. Just sayin

How is it grinding axes or pushing an agenda to watch this video and come to the conclusion that absolutely nothing is going to change and that the people in charge are incredibly clueless and awful at their jobs? And the Lindy comment/reaction to trading Joker should never have seen the light of day, that absolutely should've been edited out.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

How is it grinding axes or pushing an agenda to watch this video and come to the conclusion that absolutely nothing is going to change and that the people in charge are incredibly clueless and awful at their jobs? And the Lindy comment/reaction to trading Joker should never have seen the light of day, that absolutely should've been edited out.

I'm with you in most cases. I think some here have misinterpreted the remarks though. I think they were glad to find Joker a good home and happy at the same time to get the going rate (4th). Nothing more, nothing less.

My general message was more a warning that carrying that type of bitterness and weight around in life rarely turns out well and is not healthy.

I'm sure National press and season ticket renewals/comments are sending big messages to the owner/gm...FINALLY.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

To elaborate. Kevyn looks beaten. Just broken down and beaten and his inexperience and ineptitude are in full display. There doesn't even seem to be any vibes or joy or anything. These guys all look like people who expect to be out of a job. Holy shit it's awful.

I had to turn it off for the same reason I sometimes have to turn off curb your enthusiasm. It’s too painful to watch the slow motion disaster.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

With that said, yeah aside from the phone call to Norris no one seemed really excited about it, felt like it had to be justified rather than unanimously considered a win

A palpable lack of confidence in every decision.

 

[JLewyB]

No one talks like KA in real life. All these feel reenacted and/or forced

 

[TehDoak]

Anybody else get the feeling that their ultimate goal is to just make the playoffs?

Between this video and the comments made at the Blue and Gold insights article, it seems like they would see the season as an absolute win if they snuck in the playoffs, and lost in 5 games in the first round.

They'd be ignoring the fact that this rosters makeup is inherently flawed. We have very few capable passers/playmakers amongst the forwards. We have a ton of shooting talent and next to no playmaking talent. Our center depth is very weak at the NHL level (if Thompson isn't a C going forward).

I believe in the talents of Dahlin, Thompson, Power - and to a lesser extent Tuch and Peterka. I think they can be strong pieces on a contending team. However we need more than just that. Truthfully, we're lacking a true 1C, a true 2C (mayyyybe it's Norris, but I'm not sold). A true partner for Dahlin. A true partner for Power.

Going into the offseason and thinking we just need to bring in a couple vets and have better conditioning is foolish. Absolute best case scenario we get stomped in the 1st round of the playoffs. Still, I would bet nearly everything I own that Adams would be grinning ear to ear and be as smug as can be in a post-season press conference after their season ended in 5 games to the Panthers in the first round.

The bar has to be set higher. The Sabres should be aiming to improve this roster immensely, not just doing next to the bare-minimum and once again banking on development.

I mean that is the problem.

There are no championship aspirations here. It's aspiring to mediocrity.

This is the GM who spend an entire summer patting himself on the back for almost making the playoffs (in a league where half the teams make the playoffs). The whole "1% better" line he used that summer was laughable then and is hilarious now.

There is no experience in this front office. This is, for lack of the better term, a "start up" executive suite where no one knows what they are doing and they are all 'faking it to you make it'. Its the kids from 'succession' except they actually had adults in the room to tell them to knock it off.

The NHL is a professional league full of seasoned professionals who know how to assemble a winning team and coaching staff. There is some luck involved, sure. And we've seen first time executives have a lot of success. But I don't think we've ever seen a GM with no professional experience in management at any level come in and thrive. Garth snow I think made the playoffs 4 times in 12 years as GM, winning 1 playoff round. I'm curious if any other time a guy has essentially come off the street to be a quality long time GM. 1st time successful GMs are usually long time scouts/AGMs who work under successful GMs.

But, Snows arc is really the best case scenario with Adams. You are either bad or a bubble team, a few playoff appearances and getting bounced quick. Maybe one year you get a hot goalie and you win a round.

 

[Ness]

Video immediately starts off with Adams on the phone with Terry, so cringe. Then lots of random shots of Kevyn's shoes. Adams sounds like he inspires absolutely zero confidence in the room with the way he talks. This video is on par for the type of drivel this organization shovels to us on a daily basis.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

No one talks like KA in real life. All these feel reenacted and/or forced

he's likely taken public speaking, voice coaching, sales classes. He's been ok until the palm trees incident

 

[OkimLom]

Kevyn is in over his head of being a General Manager. His reliance on making a hockey trade when the season is gone, and when you probably should be looking for an more opportune time to shape/change the culture of the team with more teams willing to do the same at the draft, beginning of the offseason, shows he's going to limit the organization in how much it can improve itself.

This is really nothing new or surprising, it's been the same song and dance for years now, but it's bad when you are putting out a PR piece like this, when you have time to edit so many clips and these make the final cut. This organization just seems to be tone-deaf in everything it does.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I guess I’ll take Pegula not being in the room as a positive. Imagine Jed Clampett in the room throwing around his two cents.

 

[DJN21]

so we just all hate this team ? Lets make it easy.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Kevyn is in over his head of being a General Manager. His reliance on making a hockey trade when the season is gone, and when you probably should be looking for an more opportune time to shape/change the culture of the team with more teams willing to do the same at the draft, beginning of the offseason, shows he's going to limit the organization in how much it can improve itself.

This is really nothing new or surprising, it's been the same song and dance for years now, but it's bad when you are putting out a PR piece like this, when you have time to edit so many clips and these make the final cut. This organization just seems to be tone-deaf in everything it does.

90% of members here wanted a hockey trade at the deadline and Cozens moved. Whether it will turn out well we will see (his last deal for McLeod looks good so far, it would be nice to actually see Norris). You can't have it both ways.

But bashing in "EVERY" thread is just going to make it unbearable torture and other members quit here.

It's horrible. fire Kevyn.

you wanted a deadline hockey deal, Cozens gone, and said interesting or something when it went down. What changed from the video?

 

[toddkaz]

At the 3:48 minute mark it becomes very clear Kevyn Adams is not the GM.

Adams,"I need to tal....I got the owner on standby...." with regards to the Norris trade.

He 100% was going to say I need to talk to the owner first.

This man just exudes confidence.