The 2024-2025 Roster Thread

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

Gerard Gallant

He took a team of castoffs and made them believe and play fast.

 

[Fjordy]

Gerard Gallant

He took a team of castoffs and made them believe and play fast.

And how is Gallant connected to us? We have this owner, we have this idiot GM who still has the job, Ruff, who is signed for two seasons. Also, from what I remember, Gallant doesn't seem to like working with young players, which Adams (and maybe Terry) would never allow.

 

[Fjordy]

Pens claim Kolyachonok.

 

[Chainshot]

The obsession with their own guys under Adams is truly remarkable. The last general manager, I saw the obsessed with his own players was Scotty Bowman and we know how that general manager bout wound up.

 

[Tatanka]

The obsession with their own guys under Adams is truly remarkable. The last general manager, I saw the obsessed with his own players was Scotty Bowman and we know how that general manager bout wound up.

Any movement off that stance, i.e. his guys, is an admission he was wrong in the first place about the roster. He will never do that especially if his boss demands no accountability or worse is in agreement that they drafted the right players because he was part of the process

 

[SabresNorth]

I wonder what cost will be, although defense and top 6 C should be higher priority targets.

I agree on priorities, but I think it's still a hole that needs to be filled. Especially with zucker/greenway potentially leaving.

I think I would put a fair bit on the table if he could be had.

 

[Fjordy]

I agree on priorities, but I think it's still a hole that needs to be filled. Especially with zucker/greenway potentially leaving.

I think I would put a fair bit on the table if he could be had.

Well, actually, in addition to the top 6 C, we wouldn’t mind a proven top 6 F, so that we don’t have to rely on kids again.

 

[Steddy33]

The obsession with their own guys under Adams is truly remarkable. The last general manager, I saw the obsessed with his own players was Scotty Bowman and we know how that general manager bout wound up.

Even though it will make probably no difference in the overall on ice product of the Sabres, because Pegula. I for one can't wait for Adams to be fired. Nothing annoys me more than his thinking he is some how smarter than everyone else.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

The obsession with their own guys under Adams is truly remarkable. The last general manager, I saw the obsessed with his own players was Scotty Bowman and we know how that general manager bout wound up.

This pisses me off tremendously.

 

[Ehran]

The obsession with their own guys under Adams is truly remarkable. The last general manager, I saw the obsessed with his own players was Scotty Bowman and we know how that general manager bout wound up.

This pisses me off more than it probably should for a 6/7/8th defenseman.

Example number... too many to count, that improving this roster isn't the plan in Buffalo.

 

[Irie]

Even though it will make probably no difference in the overall on ice product of the Sabres, because Pegula. I for one can't wait for Adams to be fired. Nothing annoys me more than his thinking he is some how smarter than everyone else.

I think you are giving Adams too much credit. He won't admit that management made a mistake, which is obnoxious as all hell, but I think he is mostly trying to protect Terry and the rest of the front office. He's not pretending to be smarter than everyone - it just comes across that way because we are all assuming that he is the one actually making the decisions.

The truth is that I don't believe Adams makes a single decision on his own without a management team vote and Terry's stamp of approval.

The rot starts and ends with Terry. He won't sell so he absolutely has to step aside and get a competent team president to rebuild that front office for there to be productive change.

 

[Ace]

I think you are giving Adams too much credit. He won't admit that management made a mistake, which is obnoxious as all hell, but I think he is mostly trying to protect Terry and the rest of the front office. He's not pretending to be smarter than everyone - it just comes across that way because we are all assuming that he is the one actually making the decisions.

The truth is that I don't believe Adams makes a single decision on his own without a management team vote and Terry's stamp of approval.

The rot starts and ends with Terry. He won't sell so he absolutely has to step aside and get a competent team president to rebuild that front office for there to be productive change.

I have a theory that the few people left in the office just stopped bothering making recommendations for anything because he doesn’t do things.

Maybe someone in the analytics department sees this defensive Dman with terrible goaltending luck behind him and knows he is an upgrade on Bryson. Why waste your time telling Adams that when you know he’s not going to claim him?

Why bother doing anything when the message from above is that we don’t do anything.

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

So what needs to be done this deadline and summer ? Sabres clearly not good enough for playoffs and bottom in the standings . No consistency .

Are there any rumors out there ?

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

There is a huge structural difference between what Ruff is doing now and what Hynes has employed in NJ, Nashville and now in Minnesota. There is way more structure in Minnesota which is a lot easier on the young guys.

This young Buffalo team needs a coaching philosophy that focuses on structure and discipline a lot more than they need to rebuild the roster. I mean, if you want to keep Ruff and his antiquated system, then you need to fully rebuild the roster with personnel that play a certain style, but I think the easiest and most prudent move going forward is hire a coach with a track record of getting results with young guys. I doubt Rossi would be an excellent top six center if you play him with this undisciplined team and give him linemates with the average age of 20.

How is the system different to each other ? Explain and why is Ruff system not structured? I dont know whats the difference in the system they applied ?

 

[OkimLom]

I think you are giving Adams too much credit. He won't admit that management made a mistake, which is obnoxious as all hell, but I think he is mostly trying to protect Terry and the rest of the front office. He's not pretending to be smarter than everyone - it just comes across that way because we are all assuming that he is the one actually making the decisions.

The truth is that I don't believe Adams makes a single decision on his own without a management team vote and Terry's stamp of approval.

The rot starts and ends with Terry. He won't sell so he absolutely has to step aside and get a competent team president to rebuild that front office for there to be productive change.

I don’t think you’re giving Kevyn enough credit in the current situation and circumstance of the management team.

I fully believe Terry dictates the “business” aspects of the hockey management side of the organization. He most likely wants Kevin to run an efficient sized hockey department. This may entail multiple tasks for everyone involved in the management side. He more than likely is in the room for “major” discussions in terms of contracts and player decisions (trades/free agency), but I think he’s there more for asking “character” type of feedback. I also think he sets in place the cap aggressiveness of the organization for that particular season.

I think all hockey-related aspects of management is strictly with Kevyn as the main voice and architect in the room. Terry for sure is in the loop of everything, but things like team direction, team makeup, team evaluations, player valuations, asset management, development, coaching staff (outside Head Coaching), and other aspects of daily tasks fall right in the lap of Kevyn and his management staff.

I think the lack of “communication” from previous managements, is the driving force of Terry keeping Kevyn employed, as Terry most likely is valuing that “sure communication” he has right now vs a possibility of not having it with someone else. The guy that is able to run a financially efficient operation for Terry is going to be favored over running a “bloated” operation which is what will probably happen under someone else, especially from someone outside the organization. I doubt Terry has much influence for any waiver-wire claims or any trade negotiations.

 

[toddkaz]

This pisses me off more than it probably should for a 6/7/8th defenseman.

Example number... too many to count, that improving this roster isn't the plan in Buffalo.

Adams is happy with Gilbert and Bryson? Its ridiculous. At least bring a guy in to light a fire under the other guys or shake it up a bit, anything at this point.

 

[Steddy33]

I think you are giving Adams too much credit. He won't admit that management made a mistake, which is obnoxious as all hell, but I think he is mostly trying to protect Terry and the rest of the front office. He's not pretending to be smarter than everyone - it just comes across that way because we are all assuming that he is the one actually making the decisions.

The truth is that I don't believe Adams makes a single decision on his own without a management team vote and Terry's stamp of approval.

The rot starts and ends with Terry. He won't sell so he absolutely has to step aside and get a competent team president to rebuild that front office for there to be productive change.

Oh well thank you for straightening me out. So the point you're trying to get across to me is that Keyvn Adams is not allowed to make wavier wire pick ups? He has to call Terry and ask him whether it's ok IF his team votes on it? or he can't even ask Terry? And improving the roster in incremental ways is conceding he made a mistake? And Terry would never allow that?

 

[Ace]

Oh well thank you for straightening me out. So the point you're trying to get across to me is that Keyvn Adams is not allowed to make wavier wire pick ups? He has to call Terry and ask him whether it's ok IF his team votes on it? or he can't even ask Terry? And improving the roster in incremental ways is conceding he made a mistake? And Terry would never allow that?

I’ve never thought about it until now…and it is maybe the saddest moment of my sporting life that I can’t just say with 100 percent certainty that the GM can make a waiver claim without getting Terry’s approval first.

But I can’t.

Because I don’t believe his role is to do anything but what he’s told.

If it was at any point…it certainly doesn’t feel like it is now. Or has been since the 13 game losing streak. No Gm would do nothing. An owner would.

 

[Irie]

I don’t think you’re giving Kevyn enough credit in the current situation and circumstance of the management team.

I fully believe Terry dictates the “business” aspects of the hockey management side of the organization. He most likely wants Kevin to run an efficient sized hockey department. This may entail multiple tasks for everyone involved in the management side. He more than likely is in the room for “major” discussions in terms of contracts and player decisions (trades/free agency), but I think he’s there more for asking “character” type of feedback. I also think he sets in place the cap aggressiveness of the organization for that particular season.

I think all hockey-related aspects of management is strictly with Kevyn as the main voice and architect in the room. Terry for sure is in the loop of everything, but things like team direction, team makeup, team evaluations, player valuations, asset management, development, coaching staff (outside Head Coaching), and other aspects of daily tasks fall right in the lap of Kevyn and his management staff.

I think the lack of “communication” from previous managements, is the driving force of Terry keeping Kevyn employed, as Terry most likely is valuing that “sure communication” he has right now vs a possibility of not having it with someone else. The guy that is able to run a financially efficient operation for Terry is going to be favored over running a “bloated” operation which is what will probably happen under someone else, especially from someone outside the organization. I doubt Terry has much influence for any waiver-wire claims or any trade negotiations.

Maybe, but I think it is much more likely that one of his underlings ran into his office and said "Kolyachonok!" And Adams responded with "Bless you".

I think he relies on "his management team" for the info on what to do "a lot more than almost every GM in the history of the league ever has.

 

[Irie]

How is the system different to each other ? Explain and why is Ruff system not structured? I dont know whats the difference in the system they applied ?

Hynes coached teams are not super aggressive, they use spacing and collapse to create choke points and positionally clog the ice. The philosophy is that spacing and positioning make it hard for the opposition to carry the blueline and attack with speed, but his players don't aggressively puck chase and instead rely on more positional structure and tend to stay in position - for the most part players are going to roughly know where their linemates will be. It makes for boring hockey, but it is easier on young guys to not have to read the ice and think so much and just do their job.

Ruff has always relied on his teams to aggressively puck hound, always double teaming the puck carrier and sacrificing position to increase the chance of disrupting and creating turnovers. His teams require good skaters that can close quickly and tenacious individual battles to win the puck once engaged -in short, they puck chase and hope to out-disrupt the opposition's execution. To be successful, the players have to read the ice well and know where their teammates are as well as their opponents.

Granato's philosophy was quite similar, although I think Ruff has a few more rules on who pressures the puck where. Either way, the similarities made the Ruff selection as replacement a mind boggling head scratcher. They are both "work harder, not smarter" coaches, and the game has passed them by.

 

[Irie]

Oh well thank you for straightening me out. So the point you're trying to get across to me is that Keyvn Adams is not allowed to make wavier wire pick ups? He has to call Terry and ask him whether it's ok IF his team votes on it? or he can't even ask Terry? And improving the roster in incremental ways is conceding he made a mistake? And Terry would never allow that?

Not exactly.

I think that Adams relies heavily on the recommendations of his management team, and when there is a decision to be made, he and Terry and the other assistant GMs have what In essence would be a board meeting and make decisions as a committee.

I also kinda doubt Adams has enough pulse on the kids passing through waivers around the league to know whether or not if he wants to put in a claim. Would not surprise me in the slightest if Adams has never actually watched a Utah prospect like Kolyachonok play a single game.

 

[Ace]

Not exactly.

I think that Adams relies heavily on the recommendations of his management team, and when there is a decision to be made, he and Terry and the other assistant GMs have what In essence would be a board meeting and make decisions as a committee.

I also kinda doubt Adams has enough pulse on the kids passing through waivers around the league to know whether or not if he wants to put in a claim. Would not surprise me in the slightest if Adams has never actually watched an Utah prospect like Kolyachonok play a single game.

Then what the f*** does he do all day? Hobbyists have more information than you credit an active GM with having.

And this theory includes having a team of people who have…agreed that doing nothing is the best course? They haven’t presented one solid doable plan in three years? And they’re still employed?

 

[Steddy33]

Not exactly.

I think that Adams relies heavily on the recommendations of his management team, and when there is a decision to be made, he and Terry and the other assistant GMs have what In essence would be a board meeting and make decisions as a committee.

I also kinda doubt Adams has enough pulse on the kids passing through waivers around the league to know whether or not if he wants to put in a claim. Would not surprise me in the slightest if Adams has never actually watched a Utah prospect like Kolyachonok play a single game.

So Adams sucks at job. (like my original post said)
Also, Terry Pegula is a horrible owner. (like my original post implied)
If Adams gets fired nothing will change. (like my original post said)

Yup, I still want Adams fired.

 

[sabremike]

Not exactly.

I think that Adams relies heavily on the recommendations of his management team, and when there is a decision to be made, he and Terry and the other assistant GMs have what In essence would be a board meeting and make decisions as a committee.

I also kinda doubt Adams has enough pulse on the kids passing through waivers around the league to know whether or not if he wants to put in a claim. Would not surprise me in the slightest if Adams has never actually watched a Utah prospect like Kolyachonok play a single game.

It's really dawning on me that the playoff drought is never ending until Terry is no longer the owner. He might just be the single dumbest person who has ever owned a major pro sports franchise, a sad and stubborn fool incapable of understanding that HE is the problem.

 

[Irie]

Then what the f*** does he do all day? Hobbyists have more information than you credit an active GM with having.

And this theory includes having a team of people who have…agreed that doing nothing is the best course? They haven’t presented one solid doable plan in three years? And they’re still employed?

I think he probably does field calls, takes trade offers, and calls other GMs to inquire about players that he knows he can't make offers on alone. If you listen to any of the insiders, Adams is always kicking the tires on every player rumored to be available. He has cap space to make moves, yet he never makes any. Isn't it obvious that he doesn't actually have the autonomy to make any moves on his own? It's a dysfunctional committee that can't agree on anything or can't get Terry to approve spending the extra money. In Terry's eyes, Adams is the good soldier who acts like his press secretary, diffusing the anger that would otherwise be focused on how cheap the organization has become the past five years.

Terry isn't going to fire Adams. What Adams does for Terry is almost akin to laying out on the ice to block an Iafrate slap shot with his nuts.