The Locker Cleanout Thread, 2025 edition; Friday First Press Segments, Saturday Second Group and Adams/Ruff

[Chainshot]

Well, it's locker cleanout days... again.

All Nature seems at work. Slugs leave their lair—
The bees are stirring—birds are on the wing—
And Winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of Spring!
And I the while, the sole unbusy thing,
Nor honey make, nor pair, nor build, nor sing.

Yet well I ken the banks where amaranths blow,
Have traced the fount whence streams of nectar flow.
Bloom, O ye amaranths! bloom for whom ye may,
For me ye bloom not! Glide, rich streams, away!
With lips unbrightened, wreathless brow, I stroll:
And would you learn the spells that drowse my soul?
Work without Hope draws nectar in a sieve,
And Hope without an object cannot live.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge 1825


We'll open this up Saturday morning to start posting the links.

 

[Chainshot]

Starting with Zucker.



Zucker pointing out his own mistake last night as part of what they need to work on. Talks up preparation and how to get better at winning because they "lost games ourselves".



Zucker also shooting down Harrington's comment about Buffalo being a laughing stock in around the league and he mentioned he didn't hear anything about that until he came to Buffalo. Brings up it specific to Buffalo to think all this ill about Buffalo but that it isn't out there in that way.

 

[Chainshot]

Greenway -



Said he would be playing if they started the playoffs. Also said he'd probably stink if I heard that correctly.

 

[Chainshot]

Tuch -



Loves it here, would like to win here...

But needs to talk to his wife. That? That is a threat.

 

[Chainshot]

Man, this image hurts -

 

[SharkInABoloTie]

Greenway -

Sounds like he's saying his surgery was sub par and led to the subsequent injury. But that message was about as clear as mud

 

[Chainshot]

Sounds like he's saying his surgery was sub par and led to the subsequent injury. But that message was about as clear as mud

Still chewing through Zucker and Tuch.

 

[MOGlLNY]

This is a veiled threat, not an actual vouch of management. Happy to see this because apparently we need 26 and 72 to flex their muscles to make anything happen.

 

[Chainshot]

Dahlin -



Dahlin will "do whatever it takes" this summer, though that was in the answer to being willing to talk with Adams about acquisitions. He then points out that getting vets is something he would also say that he's open to anything to help them get better.

Lance asked about sacrificing youth/talent for what's on the roster. He said "I'm not the GM and can only look myself in the mirror".

 

[Chainshot]

Thompson -



Curious what his hat symbol is.

At least mentions that he needs to be better with the puck rather than just chasing personal goals.

 

[Chainshot]

McLeod -



In answer to "what is missing to close the gap": learning the ways to win, how much needs to be sacrificed to get wins.

 

[Chainshot]

This is a veiled threat, not an actual vouch of management. Happy to see this because apparently we need 26 and 72 to flex their muscles to make anything happen.

It was in response to a question about confidence though - not sure it's a threat, he said it a number of times.

 

[Beerz]

Tuch -



Loves it here, would like to win here...

But needs to talk to his wife. That? That is a threat.

He gone.

 

[DapperCam]

It was in response to a question about confidence though - not sure it's a threat, he said it a number of times.

The "that they believe" hedge kind of implies that he doesn't actually have confidence in them to make the right decisions.

 

[TehDoak]

Tuch -



Loves it here, would like to win here...

But needs to talk to his wife. That? That is a threat.

This kinda lines up with why his name was in the rumor mill at the deadline.

"I love it here. I want to WIN here".

"I let my agent handle that"

"I have to check with my wife"

Never once did he say he wanted to STAY here.

Seems like he had a bit of prep going into today's presser.

Bye bye Tuch, I'll be rooting for you in the playoffs next year in your new digs.

 

[Willgamesh]

This kinda lines up with why his name was in the rumor mill at the deadline.

"I love it here. I want to WIN here".

"I let my agent handle that"

"I have to check with my wife"

Never once did he say he wanted to STAY here.

Seems like he had a bit of prep going into today's presser.

Bye bye Tuch, I'll be rooting for you in the playoffs next year in your new digs.

Semantics " I love it *HERE*. i want to win *HERE*."

 

[SundherDome]

This kinda lines up with why his name was in the rumor mill at the deadline.

"I love it here. I want to WIN here".

"I let my agent handle that"

"I have to check with my wife"

Never once did he say he wanted to STAY here.

Seems like he had a bit of prep going into today's presser.

Bye bye Tuch, I'll be rooting for you in the playoffs next year in your new digs.

Def had prep but from his agent. That feels 100% contract posture. Love it here, want to be here but I'm not taking a home town discount

 

[ForsbergMoDo21]

Man, this image hurts -

He looks like he’s already wearing the straight-jacket that he’s going to end up in after a few more years of captaining this team.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Def had prep but from his agent. That feels 100% contract posture. Love it here, want to be here but I'm not taking a home town discount

He’s been on a discount for 4 years and we f***ed it up. Don’t blame him one bit if he wants to be paid fairly

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Not one comment about having confidence in ownership/management to get it where it should be as one would expect.

Dahlin suggesting they need more vets was very interesting.

 

[Dreakon13]

Not one comment about having confidence in ownership/management to get it where it should be as one would expect.

I mean, someone spun this as a threat somehow (I think we're all just reading what we want to read out of some of these)... but you can't say there wasn't one comment.

 

[TehDoak]

Semantics " I love it *HERE*. i want to win *HERE*."

Just on the surface, you would be right

But considering: his name was in circulation at the deadline. That happens for one of two reasons: 1. He was actually being shopped or 2. His agent wanted it out there. Also noted a few talking heads talking about malcontents in the room. He is likely sick of losing.

it was what he didn't say when that is important here. And that's "I want to sign/stay here". "I want to WIN here" is different. When asked if he wanted to sign, Every answer was a dodge "Haven't thought about it". "I let my agent handle it" "need to talk to my wife about it"

Def had prep but from his agent. That feels 100% contract posture. Love it here, want to be here but I'm not taking a home town discount

The Sabres have zero leverage in the negotiation. He'll get near top of market for a low end 1st line forward. Probably 9M or so a year.

 

[CowbellConray]

Just on the surface, you would be right

But considering: his name was in circulation at the deadline. That happens for one of two reasons: 1. He was actually being shopped or 2. His agent wanted it out there. Also noted a few talking heads talking about malcontents in the room. He is likely sick of losing.

it was what he didn't say when that is important here. And that's "I want to sign/stay here". "I want to WIN here" is different. When asked if he wanted to sign, Every answer was a dodge "Haven't thought about it". "I let my agent handle it" "need to talk to my wife

I think winning and signing here are hand in hand. He doesn’t want to stay if next season we are a bottom 8 team again and he can sign long term with a contending team.

If we win, he signs. If not, he goes.

It’s not 100% either way right now

 

[SundherDome]

He’s been on a discount for 4 years and we f***ed it up. Don’t blame him one bit if he wants to be paid fairly

Couldn't agree more and that is probably the message being relayed to Adams

 

[joshjull]

He’s been on a discount for 4 years and we f***ed it up. Don’t blame him one bit if he wants to be paid fairly

He’d want to be paid fairly regardless if we “f***ed up”.