Sabres fan coming in peace...
Replying not to joshjull (actually, he'll understand exactly what I've saying) but to the posters who are disappointed in Kevyn from Accounting's (thanks
@TehDoak, nice moniker) statements. I am on vacation this week, have kept up on mobile, but haven't listened to any direct press statements, etc. but many have responded negatively to Adams public statements.
Ask yourself what good he does by publicly stating the truth?
What if he publicly says he has no faith in the current youngsters to ever develop enough internally to get over the hump and play as a team and make the playoffs? What good does that public disclosure do to motivate the remaining team?
What if he publicly declares the guys he gave high-dollar long-term deals to aren't earning it?
"Looking for a 4th line center" signals to Krebs he's going to get a shot at a bigger role.
If Kevyn declares he needs big changes in the top forwards, on top of the non-stellar years they are already having, one or more adjectives describing each of their seasons to date as inconsistent, setbacks, under-achievements, beset by injuries, etc., then he dramatically weakens his trading position for any offseason deals and doubles the price he needs to pay for whomever he tries to bring in, regardless of whether the player he targets is available or not.
It just doesn't make sense for him to bid against himself for any potential offseason acquisitions, and anything other than the pablum he declared this afternoon would be bidding against himself.
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As I see it:
Thompson - often skates like a drunken baby giraffe, doesn't widen his stance, easily pushed off the puck, not good at winning corner battles, can't pass / distribute like a #1C should be able to. Too easy for opponents to shut down. I don't see him leading a team - any team - on a deep playoff run. There is nothing in his game which screams "must have" for Sabres to challenge for the Cup.
Tuch - one of the few Sabres who can win a corner battle. You can stay in BUF as long as you want, has had a rough year, am hoping an underlying injury is responsible. Hoping he can put on 10-15 pounds as I think it would help his stamina for a full season. Players like him need to be added to the roster.
Skinner - Is what he is. A complementary piece on a playoff team. Nothing essential.
Cozens - hot and cold. I agree he'd be better on the wing, but they can't afford to not play him at center.
Peterka - has a lot of burst, and fun to watch, but disappears in his own zone, or arrives below the faceoff hashmarks after the puck is behind his own goalie.
Quinn - heal up. You can stay in BUF.
Greenway - Outplayed expectations since joining BUF a year ago. You can stay in BUF. Always gives the effort, and with frequent good results in all zones.
Girgensons - You're welcome back if you want it. If you resign, I'm sure your psychiatrist will write a JAMA article on you someday.
Krebs - Stop tapping your stick on the ice every time you dish it then want the puck off the rush in the attacking zone. If your teammates felt you wouldn't turn it over, they'd return-pass it to you.
Benson - Nice job rookie. Can we brain-transfuse just a little but of yours to a half-dozen of your teammates?
Robinson - Excellent example of how a waiver acquisition can earn a spot on the Sabres roster from north-south responsible play. Hope he re-signs.
Dahlin - the only current BUF player essential for a deep playoff run.
Samuelsson - heal up. ~$4M per when healthy is a fine value deal.
Power - nothing about your game screams "must have", especially at $8+M per year starting next year. Big but not physical (and I don't mean hitting, I mean pushing guys off the puck or taking a stance and claiming the ice down low and preventing guys from moving you out of the way). Too often caught 1-step too late when the puck is in the back of his own goal.
Joker - good year. Can you play like that next year.
Bryson - Kevyn did you a solid with that poison-pill 2-year contract to keep you getting plucked off waivers. Never again. (although you haven't been bad once injuries hit the rest of the d-corps).
Ryan Johnson - thanks for signing, you can stay in BUF (waived to ROC today for AHL playoffs, I assume?)
Clifton - I thought you were fine this year.
UPL - showed us you can handle a workload at a decently high level of performance. Can you repeat?
Levi - showed us you need games, and they'll have to be in the AHL for now.
Comrie - showed us you like Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Donnie G. - showed us you have a long way to go with this squad, and that you may not be up to the task. Perhaps my personal biggest enigma, especially after last year's growth from the team.
you made my day
