What a Horrible off-season so far across the NHL. It feels like a couple moves could open up the gates on some things but do they even get done.
- Buff36

Free agency part 2 is going to happen in august.

I think…… Adams and the front office generally take a week off or so after dev camp

Well not really since only like 2 nhl goalies have moved so far and neither one is all that good.

You could argue big picture theyve waited too long (like since last year or whatever) but for this summer I wouldnt say that.
- Michael Ghofrani

I think we should probably come to grips with the fact that teams now want to wait until the cap rises next year to deal.

Gives everyone more flexibility

The Sabres missed the boat to try and take advantage of anyone in a bad spot

You cant see why the outcome of the investigation would have an effect? You trade major assets for a guy, parade him around, and then a week later he gets a lengthy suspension because the investigation yielded less than favourable results, thats not a good look is it?

Hart's not the only major domino. Kyrou's name has come up in trade talks too.
- Michael Ghofrani

OK, so like I mentioned Hart. He is holding up this off-season, he is the Domino.

That's fair enough, I'll stick with what worked last year and add some experience on the back end.

Then I'll groom the franchise goalie and use the new experience to keep the young core grounded.

I'd be up for a different defensive system with 2 nhl vets helping, maybe ....
- Boss34

What worked, we basically threw Defense out the door to score goals. A lot went right for the Sabres last year, hopefully the get some growth from a few youngins. I hope Clifton and Johnson help, they need to.

Free agency part 2 is going to happen in august.

I think…… Adams and the front office generally take a week off or so after dev camp
- Sabretooth9

When does the 1st FA kick off

I think we should probably come to grips with the fact that teams now want to wait until the cap rises next year to deal.

Gives everyone more flexibility

The Sabres missed the boat to try and take advantage of anyone in a bad spot
- sbroads24

Idk that anyone was decidedly taken advantage of in the last six months because of their cap situation.

Im sure there is one but I cant think of any.

Idk that anyone was decidedly taken advantage of in the last six months because of their cap situation.

Im sure there is one but I cant think of any.
- Michael Ghofrani

I mean like getting a player from Carolina Or Pitt cheap as the end result of a Karlsson deal or getting a NJ goaltender because of a Hellebyuck deal.

I think teams like WPG, CGY etc simply aren’t getting the offers for Hellebyuck/Hanifin etc because of the players they’d potentially lose vs waiting a year and possibly being able to keep everyone

I mean like getting a player from Carolina Or Pitt cheap as the end result of a Karlsson deal or getting a NJ goaltender because of a Hellebyuck deal.

I think teams like WPG, CGY etc simply aren’t getting the offers for Hellebyuck/Hanifin etc because of the players they’d potentially lose vs waiting a year and possibly being able to keep everyone
- sbroads24

It's driven by their ownership too. Cgy cant really rebuild, and WPG definitely can't afford to.

The offers are probably market value, but canadian markets operate in a totally different world.

I wouldn't rule out a karlsson deal this summer, and some other. There will also probably be some moves at camp when the last group of notable FA's is signed.

Literally none of those guys were actually available. Neither Andersen nor Varlamov wanted to leave.
- Michael Ghofrani

They made their decisions and it wasn't Buffalo. Rest is semantics.

I mean like getting a player from Carolina Or Pitt cheap as the end result of a Karlsson deal or getting a NJ goaltender because of a Hellebyuck deal.

I think teams like WPG, CGY etc simply aren’t getting the offers for Hellebyuck/Hanifin etc because of the players they’d potentially lose vs waiting a year and possibly being able to keep everyone
- sbroads24

Problem with this theory is Hellebuyck and Hanifin. It’s have expiring contracts and both have stated they’re not re-upping. So WPG and CGY risk losing them for nothing. Though they may be hoping to trade them at the trade deadline.

Problem with this theory is Hellebuyck and Hanifin. It’s have expiring contracts and both have stated they’re not re-upping. So WPG and CGY risk losing them for nothing. Though they may be hoping to trade them at the trade deadline.
- turbo044

Sure but they might be weighing on waiting until deadline to see the market then.

Winnipeg like MG said isn’t a rebuilding team. They acquired NHL’ers for PLD

They made their decisions and it wasn't Buffalo. Rest is semantics.
- Lunaion

But that implies the Sabres missed out. How are they going to miss out players with no intention of leaving?

It's like saying the Sabres missed out on Malkin or something. He wasn't going anywhere, even with the worlds worst management group in charge at the time.

It's not semantics, it's just doomerism to the nth degree.

Sure but they might be weighing on waiting until deadline to see the market then.

Winnipeg like MG said isn’t a rebuilding team. They acquired NHL’ers for PLD
- sbroads24

The ownership group reached out to season ticket holders and all but threatened them with relocation. Its such a mess of an org. lol

But that implies the Sabres missed out. How are they going to miss out players with no intention of leaving?

It's like saying the Sabres missed out on Malkin or something. He wasn't going anywhere, even with the worlds worst management group in charge at the time.

It's not semantics, it's just doomerism to the nth degree.
- Michael Ghofrani

It makes no difference to me if Andersen chooses Carolina or Ottawa.

It makes no difference to me if Andersen chooses Carolina or Ottawa.
- Lunaion

I just dont understand making it the GMs fault that a player, happy where he is, chose to stay where he is.

If theyre starting luukkonen in october, sure. But youre saying they missed out on guys early in the off season and thats simply not true. Any one worth pursuing chose not to make themselves available.

GMs should be held to a high standard, but I cant fault Adams for not running a massive smear campaign in Danish against the city of Raleigh.

I just dont understand making it the GMs fault that a player, happy where he is, chose to stay where he is.

If theyre starting luukkonen in october, sure. But youre saying they missed out on guys early in the off season and thats simply not true. Any one worth pursuing chose not to make themselves available.

GMs should be held to a high standard, but I cant fault Adams for not running a massive smear campaign in Danish against the city of Raleigh.
- Michael Ghofrani

We have no idea if it’s true or not.

I really hate the “no one moved therefore the Gm is blameless” argument

It’s his job to acquire guys.

We have no idea if it’s true or not.

I really hate the “no one moved therefore the Gm is blameless” argument

It’s his job to acquire guys.
- sbroads24

I just dont understand making it the GMs fault that a player, happy where he is, chose to stay where he is.

If theyre starting luukkonen in october, sure. But youre saying they missed out on guys early in the off season and thats simply not true. Any one worth pursuing chose not to make themselves available.

GMs should be held to a high standard, but I cant fault Adams for not running a massive smear campaign in Danish against the city of Raleigh.
- Michael Ghofrani

You really seem to be fighting the idea that (potential) UFA's signing reduces their options.

Don't think this one is going anywhere.

We have no idea if it’s true or not.

I really hate the “no one moved therefore the Gm is blameless” argument

It’s his job to acquire guys.
- sbroads24

He's to blame if the starting goaltending is the same as it was last year on opening night this year.

But near as I can tell, Andersen and Varlamov were never going anywhere else. I cant put that on him (those two specifically).


I also dont care when he acquires the goaltending in the off season, just that he does.

Im just not as quick to blame him until theres actually something to be upset about.

>>> On the other hand, I get him wanting to stick to his plan. It hasn’t let him down to this point. The young players on the roster have developed well. They’ve taken the steps necessary to get the team to where they are now. He may feel comfortable sticking with this approach. I may not agree with that approach at this point, but I respect it.

https://www.expectedbuffa...al-levi-luukkonen-comrie/

Yo a kid just fell in the canal and got sucked under dude he slipped on the rocks he’s gone they’re looking for him in rafts

Outside perspective of the Sabres off-season, 23:30 mark:

https://youtu.be/OEWQIg74RcI

When Pegula bought the team they were a middle of the road team, 13 seasons later they’ve worked their way back to a middle of the road team.

Outside perspective of the Sabres off-season, 23:30 mark:

https://youtu.be/OEWQIg74RcI

When Pegula bought the team they were a middle of the road team, 13 seasons later they’ve worked their way back to a middle of the road team.
- washedup20

Oh my!! Sometimes you have to go through Hell to get to the promiseland!! Unfortunately we seem lost in Hell.

Oh my!! Sometimes you have to go through Hell to get to the promiseland!! Unfortunately we seem lost in Hell.
- Buff36

Hell would be something, we have been in Hockey Purgatory for 13 years wondering if Darcy was Palpatine and KA is Snoke with all of us waiting for Poe to say:

“Somehow Darcy returned” only for the big reveal from the dark lord himself:

“I CREATED ADAMS!”

The ownership group reached out to season ticket holders and all but threatened them with relocation. Its such a mess of an org. lol
- Michael Ghofrani

Elaborate? Missed this one.