JohnC

Patrick Chung is indicted on a drug possession charge. The league has not taken any action against him because they are allowing the legal process to run before doing so. I don't know if the woman's accusation has merit or not, at this point none of us do. So the best approach is to let the legal process run before taking any formal action against him. If the league wants to conduct their own investigation to see if there is merit to her claim then it should pursue it. But it wouldn't be right to sanction the player until there is more evidence against him.

I don't want to diminish the good vibrations that many are feeling about this coach and what he can do working with this roster. Within the hockey world and outside of it Krueger is an impressive man. The crucial issue beyond the coach is whether he has enough talent on this roster to elevate a struggling team into a playoff team, or at the minimum compete for a playoff spot up to the end of the season. I'm not sure that we currently have the requisite talent to get there this season. Last year, the GM dealt for Skinner prior to the season. That was a terrific pickup. During the season Botts traded for Montour. That also was a superb pickup. Is the addition of Miller, Vesey and Johannson significant? I believe that it added not only solid talent to the roster but added some grit to a soft team. What I would like to see if Risto is dealt is a second-line forward who will help to create a credible second-line that can take some scoring pressure off of the Jack line. By bringing in a good second forward that would also result in a player moving down to the third line and also making it a more contributing line. There are a lot of good coaches in this league. The biggest factor for success is the talent level on the roster. Do the Sabres have enough talent to be a good team? I'm not sure that we have enough talent on the roster this year to make a noticeable leap forward ? I would love to be wrong.

Whenever you hear Krueger talking about his philosophy in coaching, management and building an organization he always emphasizes the process. He frequently points out that before you get to Z you have to start with A. You build a foundation and then you add to it. For him (as you point out) there is always adjusting to what the individual player/s can handle and then you add on to the foundation. With Bylsma, maybe even more than Housley, there was a rigidity and zealous adherence to one's system without much regard to the makeup and capacity of the roster. It was reported that Krueger had a lunch with Okposo and some other players. Okposo stressed that he wanted to get away from complicated systems and play with more instinct and less thought. As great as the new coach is as a talker he is even more talented as a listener. That's an integral part of his process.

The below attached link is an article by Jourdan LaBarber about some of the young players who are ready and near ready to replace some of the veterans on the roster. This link was taken from the hockey side of TBD. There is a steady transition taking place with players such as Olofsson, Borgen, Asplund, Tage, Pekar, Jokiharju, Brysen etc. Not all will be ready to move up when the season starts but should be ready in the not too distant future. I see at least a half a dozen new faces on this roster when the season starts. I'm counting Olofsson as a new face. https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-prospects-challenge-recap-rasmus-asplund-casey-fitzgerald/c-308994092

The interesting question is whether it was better for his development to go to a bigger program and play less or go to a lesser player and play more? Fortunately, it worked out well for him. If handled smartly he should be a good pro.

Their new football coach, Mike Locksley, has strong ties to the local high school football programs. He is going to retain a lot of the local talent that has too often left the area for other programs. It seems that half his team is from DeMatha HS. He went so far as to put a DeMatha coach on his staff. Maryland should have hired him a long time ago. Given time he will uplift a struggling program and make them competitive with some of the big boys in their conference.

I don't believe that is his kid???? This kid was from Hyattsville, Md. and went to DeMatha HS. Don't know for sure but don't believe he is an offspring. He is a good player.

I have felt all along and still do that the problem with the team last year had more to do with its lack of talent than the coaching. Is Krueger a better coach? I would say so. But if Krueger had the team that Housley had last year with its many deficits such as a lack of secondary scoring and a credible second line the team would still not be successful. The GM brought in three players through free agency and trades such as Vesey, Miller and Johannson. None are top tier players but all are solid players who add to the talent base. In addition, the younger players that Housley had should be better with the added experience. In order to be a serious team the GM still needs to add players and continue on with the development of the younger players on the roster and in the system. I believe that is what is happening. There are maybe a half dozen players on this current roster working on the final year of their contracts. With the additional cap space next year that should allow the organization to add outside talent, and with the continued development of the younger players this team should be in a better situation. I still believe that we are another year away from that point. (My opinion.)

Krueger is such an impressive person to listen to. Housley seemed to have his system and wasn't flexible enough to changing it even when the players weren't able to adapt to it. Krueger is more likely to adjust his system to what the players are more capable of handling. The Risto trade issue still hovers over this team. My guess is that he will be dealt before the season starts if we can get a second line forward.

Not challenging the call was the right thing to do. Whether the call was right or wrong there wasn't enough evidence to overrule the call. I thought that Gore crossed the line but it was a close call one way or the other.

Why is that referee grabbing his crotch?

Gunner, Excellent observations as ususal. The best defensive player on the field was the Jets' Mosley. When he didn't play in the second half their defense lost its spark and seemed out of sync. I was really impressed with him and how one player can influence a unit. As you noted Shaq played a terrific game. He not only applied consistent pressure but he did what he usually does in keeping the play contained and inside of him. He is not an explosive player but he is consistent with his push and usually doesn't allow the play to get outside of him. I also thought Murphy played well. The defense overall was good. As you noted Edmonds not only is a physical talent but he possesses a cerebral talent for the game. In a year or two he is going to be a gem. John Brown was our best receiver. For a speed receiver I was impressed with his route running. He is a great addition. I like the fact that our TEs got some catches. Singletary obviously shined in this game. His running instincts are top notch. And what gives him an added dimension is that he is a good receiver. In another game or two he is going to be established as our prime back. The McCoy cut was not an easy decision. However, it needed to be made.

If you are going to build a "she shed" you should have insurance for fires. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=burning+she+shed+insurance&view=detail&mid=B05940E495706CECE771B05940E495706CECE771&FORM=VIRE

I understand your sentiment about Pekar and the need for an infusion of energy and pugnacity to the team. The bigger issue is what is in his best interests for his development. If he went back to the juniors or played in Rochester he would get an abundance of playing time, maybe 20 minutes or more per game. If he started with the Sabres he probably wouldn't be getting more than 10 to 14 minutes per game. In the long run, or not too distant long run, playing more in the lower levels and using the time to more physically and emotionally develop and hone your skills might be the better approach to take. Last year, there was a consideration to have Olofsson start the season with the Sabres. The organization decided to start him off in Rochester where he thrived. They then brought him up at the end of the year dwhere he played well. Tage Thompson started last season with Buffalo and mightily struggled. He was eventually sent back to Rochester where he regained his confidence and his game. I had no problem with exposing him to the NHL but for the sake of his development he should have been sent down sooner. Yzerman is one of the best GM's in the game. He was instrumental in building two long term successful franchises in Tampa and Detroit. He recently went back to Detroit to take over that flagging operation. In an interview at the draft he was asked what would he do to help Detroit get back to being successful again. He succinctly stated: Draft and develop. That's the standard process for success in the NHL. And that is what Botts is currently doing.

The below link is an article by Mike Harrington from the Buffalo News. The article focuses on Eichel but the most interesting part is the last section on Risto and his attitude if he is kept. I may be over-interpreting that small segment but the impression is that there is a determination to move him. https://buffalonews.com/2019/09/06/buffalo-sabres-jack-eichel-nhl-mike-harrington/?view=getnewpost

You made the point that the players who are coming into camp will all be on the roster. It's obvious that isn't an accurate statement because they brought in three free agents who will be replacing players who were on last year's roster. I believe that there will be even more turnover of the roster. I don't think that is an unreasonable or inaccurate comment. I do believe the Sabres will be better this year than last year. I know you are a betting man so I would recommend to you that you don't bet on them making the playoffs this year. Hold off that bet and wait another year when the younger players get better and more talent is added. The reason why the Sabres have pooped for so long (your phrasing) is because the owner made stupid front office hires for the first few years that set this franchise back. Our current GM had to address the mess and run the operation in a more professional and rational manner. Whether you like it or not it takes time.

Miller, Vesey and Johansson will be on the roster this year. They will be bumping off some of the previous roster players. Last year Olofsson played at the end of the year. This year he will be a full time regular. Pilut will probably start off in Rochester coming off an injury. But some time in the season he will likely be with Buffalo. There is a good chance that Jokiharju will make the roster. If Risto gets traded he will most likely be with the big club. If Risto gets traded prior to the season or during the season the player who will come in the exchange will probably be a second line forward. The Sabres have approximately a half a dozen of players with expiring contracts this year. So by next season the roster will continue to be turned over even more. The point is that the players who were here last year will be steadily dispatched and replaced with better players and developing players. That's the process.

The attached link is an interview of Victor Olofsson on WGR's Instigator show. This is a 14 min. segment. It's impressive how some foreigners have such a good grasp of the English language and are so well spoken. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/09-06-hr-2-instigators

Randy Sexton the GM for Rochester spoke WGR's Instigator Show about the prospects who will be playing in the Prospect tournament. This is a 16 minute segment. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/09-06-amerks-general-manager-randy-sexton-instigators

I believe that what has hardened Mayock is that although the team supported AB in his helmet saga that most people knew he wasn't going to win against the league he continued to not show up while his team practiced. (As you pointed out.) Although the helmet issue was still being contested by the player he wasn't working out on the field while his teammates were practicing. I wouldn't be surprised if the team was attempting to work with him on his issues throughout the camp much more than what we are aware of. (Again, as you point out.) There is no question that the team gambled on a volatile player who walked out on his prior team. Now what Gruden and Mayock have to decide is whether this zany personality is salvageable. If they don't believe so I think that they will act sooner rather than later to dispatch him and recoup most of the money that they foolishly gambled on him.

The attached link is an article about Asplund written by WGR's Paul Hamilton. This link was taken from the hockey side of TBD. One player who will be interesting to follow is Ruotsalainen who played in Finland and is a little older than most of the players playing in the prospect camp. https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/sabres-asplund-ready-make-next-step?view=getnewpost

If you can't figure out what my position is from what I wrote then your confusion is your own manufactured confusion.

I'm not trying to be rude but your reasoning doesn't make sense to me. Risto seems to desire a change of scenery, and I get the sense that the team is more than willing to move him if they can get a reasonable return. I did state that I'm not worried about his psyche. So what? The bigger issue for me is the return we can get from him if a deal is made that makes the team better. If a proposed Detroit deal is better deal than a proposed Winnipeg deal then the team should take the Detroit deal even if Risto prefers Winnipeg. That's the hockey business he signed up for.

I think it was Marty Biron who brought it up. How legit is it? I can't say. There are also rumors that Winnipeg is interested in Risto. Some of the speculation is fueled by teams that need a defenseman and teams that after signing their free agents will have to move players to accommodate the signing/s. It shouldn't be surprising that a number of teams are interested in the defenseman. A while back Danny Gare who has contacts in Tampa said that the Lighting also have interest in him. The issue for the Sabres is what will they get back? As I said in the prior post if Detroit offered Mantha for Risto I would take it.

I don't know what you are talking about. It was reported that he wanted out. If traded he doesn't have a say where he will go. The change of scenery is not superfluous to the story------- it is integral to the story. It's what he wants and supposedly told the organization.