The Roster Thread, Summer 2024

[Jim Bob]

Because GM's are dumb? There's trades every year around the league that leave everyone shaking their head in disbelief at the prices paid.

I largely agree with this. He's safe for the reasons you pointed out. But I'd add that he might be in trouble if it gets as bad as last place or an 18 game winless streak again under his watch, even if the team is drama free and Terry is in the loop.

I would be surprised if they were that bad and there was not some behind the scenes drama or Ruff going to Pegula and telling him to get Adams out of the GM seat.

My guess is that they are either going to make it or be relatively close (5-8 points out) at the end of the season. If they just miss, I doubt they fire Adams. I think he gets both years of the Ruff contract. If they miss in both of those years, that might be enough for Pegula to make a change.

 

[toddkaz]

Yes. https://thehockeynews.com/qmjhl/players/filip-zadina-signs-pto-with-sabres

Love this move. Took Nishushkin a while to put it together. Fingers crossed he can turn it around

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Well this is the 24-25 Sabres, that’s it no more help. Expected but disappointing. 10th place incoming

 

[SundherDome]

Really? cable? Throw your money away.

I don't have cable, but they still send offers

 

[Sabre the Win]

All this why didn't we add Laine to the top 6 and how we could use one more body there still has me kind of miffed that we couldn't find a way to reel in Mangiapane.

Good two way player, 1 million overpaid but still worth it on both ends of the ice.

I may pine over it a bit more.

 

[jd1970]

All this why didn't we add Laine to the top 6 and how we could use one more body there still has me kind of miffed that we couldn't find a way to reel in Mangiapane.

Good two way player, 1 million overpaid but still worth it on both ends of the ice.

I may pine over it a bit more.

The Pegula cap has been reached, they never intended to get a top 6 forward,

 

[TehDoak]

The Pegula cap has been reached, they never intended to get a top 6 forward,

I mean, Zucker's 5M essentially is what a low end top six forward makes.

Seems like they tried to add via trade, swung out, then overpaid for Zucker after everyone else laughed them off the phone.

Just another offseason where they add any top 6F or top 4D.

 

[BUCKSHOT]

 

[HOOats]

"Inmates run the asylum day" in the roster thread eh?

 

[DJN21]

All this why didn't we add Laine to the top 6 and how we could use one more body there still has me kind of miffed that we couldn't find a way to reel in Mangiapane.
because
Good two way player, 1 million overpaid but still worth it on both ends of the ice.

I may pine over it a bit more.

All this why didn't we add Laine to the top 6 and how we could use one more body there still has me kind of miffed that we couldn't find a way to reel in Mangiapane.

Good two way player, 1 million overpaid but still worth it on both ends of the ice.

I may pine over it a bit more.

because he's not worth the acquisition cost and skinner-esque without the high end offense. Why people pine for this one trick pony offense first and only winger is beyond me. Paying Zucker 5 mill was dumb, Paying Mangi and paying to get him would be dumber?

 

[Rowley Birkin]

"Inmates run the asylum day" in the roster thread eh?

Isn't it the same every day?

We could go 82-0, win the cup & i swear there would still be constant complaining in this thread. Top 6 forward this, fire Adams that, all Pegula's fault the third ...

 

[TehDoak]

Isn't it the same every day?

We could go 82-0, win the cup & i swear there would still be constant complaining in this thread. Top 6 forward this, fire Adams that, all Pegula's fault the third ...

Eh, we, as a fanbase, haven't had 'good' times for 17 years now. There was a little blip in the waning days of the Rochester core where they made the playoffs two years in a row, but I don't think anyone was under the illusion we were legit contenders.

The boards were certainly more fun than they are now. Sure there were arguments (The Goalie Controversy thread that spread over the entire lockout was something), but there wasn't the constant pessimism we see now, even when the NHL owned the team.

13 years with no playoffs, a 1st time GM with no experience at any level, an owner who promised unlimited financial commitment with another year near the bottom of the league in spending.

There simply hasn't been a lot of reason for optimism. I think if we won the division two years in a row and the team was spending at the cap, we'd have a much different feel around here.

However, I fear, until the team decides to do things differently in terms of how the team is run, we likely are doomed to repeat the cycle we've been in for the last 10 years or so.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

"Inmates run the asylum day" in the roster thread eh?

Good thing you saved us with this amazing post

Isn't it the same every day?

We could go 82-0, win the cup & i swear there would still be constant complaining in this thread. Top 6 forward this, fire Adams that, all Pegula's fault the third ...

You'd be wrong.

On the other hand, this team could miss the playoffs for 13 years straight, make dumb decision after dumb decision, and people on here would still defend the owner on a daily basis, and insult anyone who dares to criticize him.

 

[sabremike]

Isn't it the same every day?

We could go 82-0, win the cup & i swear there would still be constant complaining in this thread. Top 6 forward this, fire Adams that, all Pegula's fault the third ...

Unfortunately we are currently on the worst run in the history of the sport and the comments are going to reflect that fact.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Eh, we, as a fanbase, haven't had 'good' times for 17 years now. There was a little blip in the waning days of the Rochester core where they made the playoffs two years in a row, but I don't think anyone was under the illusion we were legit contenders.

The boards were certainly more fun than they are now. Sure there were arguments (The Goalie Controversy thread that spread over the entire lockout was something), but there wasn't the constant pessimism we see now, even when the NHL owned the team.

13 years with no playoffs, a 1st time GM with no experience at any level, an owner who promised unlimited financial commitment with another year near the bottom of the league in spending.

There simply hasn't been a lot of reason for optimism. I think if we won the division two years in a row and the team was spending at the cap, we'd have a much different feel around here.

However, I fear, until the team decides to do things differently in terms of how the team is run, we likely are doomed to repeat the cycle we've been in for the last 10 years or so.

It certainly has led to posters posting more emotional takes rather than rational takes. I was a big culprit during the season. Some people would do better distancing themselves from the team and boards during the offseason. It's not worth stressing over the team 12 months a year.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

GMKA has locked down the core. Thompson, Cozens, Dahlin and Power. How they do or don’t do is how the Sabres will do.

Tuch is good enough, peterska, Quinn, appear to be. Hopefully Benson is.

Samuelson, Byrom appear to be good enough

4th line better and 3rd line appears to be at least the same

Some spares in the AHL

Goalies appear to be good enough

It’s go time. Yes the division is tough. Who cares. Win

 

[Ace]

I’ll ask the same question I ask every year to gauge the result as it slowly makes its way in the right direction…

If they miss for the fifth time under Adams…given everything he’s done and failed to do…should he be fired?

If not…justify a sixth year. A SIXTH YEAR of this GM’s plan

 

[Jim Bob]

I’ll ask the same question I ask every year to gauge the result as it slowly makes its way in the right direction…

If they miss for the fifth time under Adams…given everything he’s done and failed to do…should he be fired?

If not…justify a sixth year. A SIXTH YEAR of this GM’s plan

Should has nothing to do with it.

If they are relatively close and there aren't huge behind the scenes issues, I expect that the Pegulas won't fire their guy.

 

[Irie]

Eh, we, as a fanbase, haven't had 'good' times for 17 years now. There was a little blip in the waning days of the Rochester core where they made the playoffs two years in a row, but I don't think anyone was under the illusion we were legit contenders.

The boards were certainly more fun than they are now. Sure there were arguments (The Goalie Controversy thread that spread over the entire lockout was something), but there wasn't the constant pessimism we see now, even when the NHL owned the team.

13 years with no playoffs, a 1st time GM with no experience at any level, an owner who promised unlimited financial commitment with another year near the bottom of the league in spending.

There simply hasn't been a lot of reason for optimism. I think if we won the division two years in a row and the team was spending at the cap, we'd have a much different feel around here.

However, I fear, until the team decides to do things differently in terms of how the team is run, we likely are doomed to repeat the cycle we've been in for the last 10 years or so.

This off-season has been completely different.

They totally remade the bottom six, which was one of the teams biggest weaknesses the past several years.

They replaced the coach. The gameplan and the inability to make in game adjustments was another huge shortcoming of this team in recent years.

They are still the youngest team in the league and they are stacked with talent

You and I regularly disagrees but the one thing we have agreed on the last three years was that the team was built wrong. That was addressed this year, So i thought that might give you some optimism for the future.

I don't see how you can look at the situation and believe things are the same as they have been for years It seems more like a narrative borne from a strong dislike of Adams than a realistic evaluation.

 

[TehDoak]

This off-season has been completely different.

They totally remade the bottom six, which was one of the teams biggest weaknesses the past several years.

They replaced the coach. The gameplan and the inability to make in game adjustments was another huge shortcoming of this team in recent years.

They are still the youngest team in the league and they are stacked with talent

You and I regularly disagrees but the one thing we have agreed on the last three years was that the team was built wrong. That was addressed this year, So i thought that might give you some optimism for the future.

I don't see how you can look at the situation and believe things are the same as they have been for years It seems more like a narrative borne from a strong dislike of Adams than a realistic evaluation.

You are grading on a very weird curve. Remaking the bottom six isn't some monumental achievement. It's very typical offseason for most teams.

And I'm not poo-pooing on the coaching change, I agree it had to be done.

But after 13 years of missing the playoffs and promises of 'overturning every rock' to fix the team, coming away with a new 4th line, a marginal 3rd line center, and a oft injured winger who was traded for a 6th round pick last year is underwhelming, to say the least.

And the idea that we are 'stacked' with talent isn't really accurate either.

We have a high volume of prospects. We don't have much in terms of top end talent in the pipeline.

We have, when everything is working and everyone is healthy, two functional scoring lines. But those scoring lines have been pretty easy to shut down when the team can't skate in a tight checking game.

And yes, I don't believe Adams is qualified to be a GM in this league, and his achievements in the last 5 summers really haven't done anything to dissuade that belief.

Is the team in a better position to succeed now than when he took over is the core question. Is having a slightly stronger prospect pool worth throwing away, essentially, 3 seasons.

Especially when considering that gathering the top end draft picks was the culmination of throwing away 2 seasons.

 

[toddkaz]

Unfortunately we are currently on the worst run in the history of the sport and the comments are going to reflect that fact.

History of THE sport?

History of all major sports.
Hockey
Basketball
Football
Baseball

Sabres own it.

Amazing how 50% say Adam did a good job.

 

[Chainshot]

Roster thread.

 

[Mattilaus]

There is room between "This team is awful and will always be awful, and will never win anything" and "This team is amazing, all the players are amazing, they will win 5 cups in a row"

I like what was done in the off season. I also would have liked another top 6 added.

I like the coaching change. I also am not convinced a coaching change will have a drastic effect (improvement sure, but not as drastic as some seem to think).

I think last season a lot of players under performed and are likely to improve this season. I also think its quite possible that some players over performed the season before and aren't likely to repeat.

There are a lot of uncertainties and I believe anyone who says they know how this season will go, one way or the other, is talking outta their ass. I will watch this season with great interest.....at least until the end of November or so, then I will re-evaluate my enthusiasm.

 

[Irie]

You are grading on a very weird curve. Remaking the bottom six isn't some monumental achievement. It's very typical offseason for most teams.

And I'm not poo-pooing on the coaching change, I agree it had to be done.

But after 13 years of missing the playoffs and promises of 'overturning every rock' to fix the team, coming away with a new 4th line, a marginal 3rd line center, and a oft injured winger who was traded for a 6th round pick last year is underwhelming, to say the least.

And the idea that we are 'stacked' with talent isn't really accurate either.

We have a high volume of prospects. We don't have much in terms of top end talent in the pipeline.

We have, when everything is working and everyone is healthy, two functional scoring lines. But those scoring lines have been pretty easy to shut down when the team can't skate in a tight checking game.

And yes, I don't believe Adams is qualified to be a GM in this league, and his achievements in the last 5 summers really haven't done anything to dissuade that belief.

Is the team in a better position to succeed now than when he took over is the core question. Is having a slightly stronger prospect pool worth throwing away, essentially, 3 seasons.

Especially when considering that gathering the top end draft picks was the culmination of throwing away 2 seasons.

I hate defending Adams because I am not thrilled with his overall body of work, but the team he took over had zero chance of competing in the near future. Losing Jack gutted the high-end talent pool of the team, but blaming Adams for that when it was Pegula who would not approve the Surgery over insurance coverage is misguided.

As for the current team, completely rebuilding the bottom six with quality bottom six players is not something that is a typical offseason for most teams. Picking up good roleplayers is not easy for small market teams. What Adams was able to procure this offseason in that department deserves some props.

The coaching and especially special team coaching has been abysmal. Hopefully Ruff can turn that around, but I look at the possibilities for the powerplay,

Dahlin
Power
Byram
Thompson
Tuch
Quinn
Peterka
Cozens
Benson

I am honestly excited. That group is so young and there is so much potential there.

Looking at the prospect pool options going forward, combined with current personnel, and the top six is actually quite solid. Could they use a generational talent? Of course, but they are going to be able to compete moving forward with this group, which is a good place to be in.

If Ruff can cobble two bottom six lines together with this season's additions that are effective in their roles, this team may surprise a lot of people.

It really isn't all doom and gloom. Honestly, if you can't find any positives in the direction the team is heading, you really aren't trying, and maybe it is time to take a break for a while

 

[Jacob582]

Losing Jack gutted the high-end talent pool of the team, but blaming Adams for that when it was Pegula who would not approve the Surgery over insurance coverage is misguided.

For accuracy sake, Eichel asked to be traded before his surgery request.