You think someone is dictating lines to Lindy? Did you ever get the feeling they were doing that to Donnie?
- Lunaion

How is the writing not on the wall for Jokiharju?

Lindy is going to decide to play him in the top 4 or the top pair when he's on the roster of another team?

How is the writing not on the wall for Jokiharju?

Lindy is going to decide to play him in the top 4 or the top pair when he's on the roster of another team?
- kingcong39

Hasn't this been about Samuelsson? I don't think Lindy will be barred from playing him 3rd pair.

Joker is the odd man out on paper. He may not be the easiest to move and/or get reasonable value for. I think that leaves a slight chance he's not qualified or comes back next season. Not exactly out there on a limb, suggesting anything could happen here.

Hasn't this been about Samuelsson? I don't think Lindy will be barred from playing him 3rd pair.

Joker is the odd man out on paper. He may not be the easiest to move and/or get reasonable value for. I think that leaves a slight chance he's not qualified or comes back next season. Not exactly out there on a limb, suggesting anything could happen here.
- Lunaion

If they don't get reasonable value, they should keep him?

In hopes of what happening: A reverse Olofsson?

If they don't get reasonable value, they should keep him?

In hopes of what happening: A reverse Olofsson?
- kingcong39

We're talking about KA. No concern he holds on to someone too long again?

He loves the position of strength speech.

He plays more than 55 games a year. In fact, paying a guy over $4 million to play just half the season EVERY year sounds like bad cap management.
- Powerslave

Good Post

it's a decent 4-7 group

I just think if your looking to have a cup contending team, you need a little better for your second pair than one of these 4
- homiedclown

Year 5 of the Pegula/Adams plan:

Two #1 OA's on D and Adams is still looking for top end defensemen....the offense traded away two #2 OA highly skilled forwards for a less talented forward group, which now is looking for game breaker talent, while goaltending is in question.

Solution: Lindy Ruff

Does an individual players skill/talent matter if they don't make the others around them better?

That's Lindy Ruff's job....

You're saying they overplay him? So, you sound like you believe he's a bottom pair D. He makes over $4 million/per. That was my point. In your eyes, if Joker is overpaid being slotted there, why isn't Sammy?

And they can believe that Sammy is a top 4 all they want. I'm just saying, they better have really good depth, because he's GOING TO get hurt.
- Powerslave

The difference is that Sammy already has his contract, right? Joker is an RFA in need of a new contract, right? If you believe Sammy is overpaid, why would you double own on that by signing Joker to $4M for Bottom Pairing minutes?
Does 't make sense to me

Year 5 of the Pegula/Adams plan:

Two #1 OA's on D and Adams is still looking for top end defensemen....the offense traded away two #2 OA highly skilled forwards for a less talented forward group, which now is looking for game breaker talent, while goaltending is in question.

Solution: Lindy Ruff

Does an individual players skill/talent matter if they don't make the others around them better?

That's Lindy Ruff's job....
- washedup20

That's Top Secret! Shhh

We're talking about KA. No concern he holds on to someone too long again?

He loves the position of strength speech.
- Lunaion

Do you think heading into year 5 of a job that has an average tenure of 5.5 years he still regurgitates, he won't sacrifice the long term for the short term? What is short term for him?

The difference is that Sammy already has his contract, right? Joker is an RFA in need of a new contract, right? If you believe Sammy is overpaid, why would you double own on that by signing Joker to $4M for Bottom Pairing minutes?
Does 't make sense to me
- IonSabres

Bad thing is Joker might be the more stable D man for the 4mill with Samuelsson's history

Bad thing is Joker might be the more stable D man for the 4mill with Samuelsson's history
- Buff36

More stable in terms of being consistently available for games, yes, but in terms of play style the team needs, I'd say no, and I think you agree.

Found the most boring hockey interview ever:

The delusion in the Sabres front office is astonishing. Mono-tone corporate boring dorks, the roster emulates the identity of it. A bunch of below average (at best) workers tossing out organizational terminology, get promoted.

This is the same front office as last season, assuming they will make dramatic changes is the same as thinking linear progression would get last years team into the playoffs.

12.25.24

Samualsson was hurt and Ryan Johnson was in an ahl playoff run

Duhhhhh. Joker also played with Byram for a majority of it.
- Sabretooth9

you do know we have a different coach and nobody knows how he is going to set the lineup

my guess is whoever he is most comfortable with, will be getting top 4 minutes

DUH

Found the most boring hockey interview ever:


- washedup20

al pacino could have used this in alaska

al pacino could have used this in alaska


- homiedclown

He says word for word the same crap as Granato, it's a group of yes-men for a billionaire. Pathetic

"It's a learning experience"

UPL - 4 years, $5.2M per
Jokiharju - 3 years, $4M per

Martin Necas - 8 years, $8.8M per 😬😬😬
- kingcong39

UPL is not getting that money and neither is Necas. Jokiharju I buy.

remember last summer when almost all of you said DeBrincat stunk


well he had more 5 on 5 points this past season than any buffalo sabre
- homiedclown

he was horrible on Ottawa. Better in Detroit.

Fun fact. Jeff Skinner provided twice the positive impact last season as Debrincat did.

he was horrible on Ottawa. Better in Detroit.

Fun fact. Jeff Skinner provided twice the positive impact last season as Debrincat did.
- TheSabresTaco

I do not think Skinner stinks, despite what those with flaming pitchforks think

Nobody is going to disagree with you about Samuelsson, but what matters is what the org thinks, and they weren't constantly putting Samuelsson on the top pair, or at worst giving him the difficult assignments on pair 2 for no reason.

They clearly love him, and they're big fans of Byram.

I'm a big believer that they only have 2 core defenseman, but they don't believe that.

They think they have 4 now, and Jokiharju is not one of them.
- kingcong39

Samuelsson was 4th in QoC and 3rd in EVD. Sans injury problems, Samuelsson did his job.

He was actually 2nd in EVD/60

I do not think Skinner stinks, despite what those with flaming pitchforks think
- homiedclown

he stinks every other year

OK, so they're overplaying him?

Then why should it be OK to play Samuelsson on the bottom pair and pay him over $4 million, and not Joker?
- Powerslave

not according to the numbers. He's more than capable playing against top 6 comp.

They clearly love him, and they're big fans of Byram.

I'm a big believer that they only have 2 core defenseman, but they don't believe that.

.
- kingcong39

who is the second one?

Samuelsson is a 3rd pairing defender to me.

Doesn't matter what I think when it's obvious they don't agree with that.
- kingcong39

he isn't in every sense. don't let the lack of offense distract you.

He's top 4 in every non-offensive metric

who is the second one?
- homiedclown

Captain Ras, but there's more than 2 here. He knows that.