The Ditch part deux

flower power in calgary

 

big tree was a casualty of climate, it is too nice in vancouver. he, apparently prefers dingy, smoke filled arenas of russia. his gentle demeanor didn't suit his body, he was good defensively though. just not enough metal. he has a big shot, but won't take it. bdk.
big dumb kid (tryamkin).

apparently, i was wrong about radulov...thought he would nevah come back. who knows, and that is the russian bullet when you draft one.

 

Rangers overrated, LundQuest overrated!

 

Nice to see you, AA.

 

https://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news...didate-for-the-sabres-open-gm-position?ref=jo

better warn Dan K this article is about Pierre wanting the Buffalo job...

 

He will be missed on the Blue Line......great skater for a big man........I can't fault him for going home to be with his family and he will make more money with more ice time.

I wonder how Dan feels about Pegula (owner).........is he the problem ???

 

I commented at some length on the Buffalo board. I'll paraphrase my comments:

The Sabres gig is attractive and it's going to be silly season with rumors about who will be interested.

 

Nothing like rag hate directed from Jersey.

 

Whoever they hire will go through Pegula. He was quoted, " I regret I wasn't involved in the hiring of TM and DB, that's all I have to say about that."

 

How was he not involved in the hiring of Murray?

 

Pat LaFontaine

 

Forgot about him.

 

He was in and out in a flash, that was the one thing he did before he resigned.

 

doesn't pat do swap meets and new re-named shoe stores promos.

 

I bought a used car at Pat Lafontaine Chevrolet.

 

I would hope he autographed it, lol

 

RIP Joanie

 

[video]https://youtu.be/xmFa4SV0ETI[/video]

 

congrats to the caps and eh oilers.

rd 2 is next !

 

I never added my two cents about the Pegulas and if they are the (or, a) problem.

In terms of THE problem, the answer is a resounding no. The problem is the roster, and taking that further, how that roster was utilized. If the Sabres had a D that could carry the puck then they would have had much better success setting up their solid-to-excellent F's scoring opportunities. IMHO, DB utilized a boneheaded scheme that highlighted this deficiency.

So the roster was inadequate in 2016-17, but the HC did not make adjustments to mitigate the D problems, and therefore accentuate the team-strength at F. (Why did BUF lead the league at PP? Well, it helps if you can substitute a 4th F for the 2nd D.)

TM deserves some blame here. He traded four notable blueliners in his tenure with a net loss of two d-men. I will not argue those trades since I believe they account for why offense is a team strength. Still, TM, at the very best, gets an "incomplete" for his team-building exercises.

The Pegulas have been largely hands-off owners, and I have a hard time not liking that.

As for axing the GM, HC, and top scouts, this took virtually everyone by surprise. If they act decisively and hire solid replacements then history will deem this as bold and positive. (Of course we won't really know for at least another year.)

However, there are a couple of measuring sticks for short term effectiveness under the new leadership: 1) does D, Viktor Antipin, still sign in May? This speedy d-man is exactly the type the Sabres need more of, and it was widely reported that he had chosen the Sabres after the KHL season is complete. 2) Will Cal Peterson, G, Notre Dame, sign before the end of May? He is eligible to become an UFA if not signed by June 1. (It is unknown if TM would have prevailed, but if the lose him, the Pegulas will forever get blamed.)

Otherwise, this is going to be a critical offseason - using one of my preferred terms - the Sabres are at an inflection point. They are going in another trajectory next season: that could be sharply higher, but it could become a train wreck.

If things go well, then the Pegulas will be lauded. I think that anything more than a passing notice of the number of coaches the Bills & Sabres have had under their ownership is plain silly. The teams have sucked, and that's what happens to coaches of sucky teams. The more common problem in sports is that an owner retains ineffective GM's and coaches too long.

I personally do not think that a highly interested, but non-meddling, owner is a problem. I also believe that if his teams do not show significant improvement* this next season that they will have heaps of shit piled on them. (* Success for both teams will be measured, at a base minimum, as having reached the playoffs.)