PromoTheRobot

Tough beat but what a game. This season's Hail Murray. They have 2 weeks to mull this over. Let it burn.

Certainly sounds like it will be easy to exceed your expectations.

Right. Just wanted to be on the same page. In short: first time GM, internal hire. Shorthand for "doesn't know what he's doing/brown noser," right? His first three big decisions: 1) Trade away Sabres most talented players. 2) Hire a new coach. 3) Deal with Eichel situation. On #1, he actually got decent value for Risto and Reinhart. But why did he do it? Why did McDermott ship Sammy Watkins and Marcel Dareus out? Is this an analogy? On #2, he decided to go with a first-time coach, albeit with a solid resume working with young talent, rather than making a name hire that some people wanted. That is sticking his neck out. On #3, Adams and the Sabres have been pilloried in the hockey press for the handling of the Eichel situation. But all that media stuff is pretty one-sided toward Eichel. Probably because 90% of it is being leaked by Jack's agent. That's how his surgeon just shows up on Elliott Freidmann's podcast to talk about how awesome artificial disk surgery is. This is where I think Adam is proving himself. He is under immense pressure from the press and other NHL GM's but he hasn't caved. He could have easily taken a bag of pucks for Eichel just to have this mess over. Instead he's made it clear to everyone that 1) Eichel will not be traded for anything less than fair value, 2) The Sabres will not assume the risk of an unapproved surgery and 3) The NHLPA CBA gives the Sabres all the rights here. It's too early to judge his drafting since he's only had one draft. And everyone is so unimpressed with being 2-0 (including beating the Stanley Cup runner up 5-1) because it's just 2 games. But keep in mind most hockey pundits called the Sabres an "AHL roster" that would be lucky to win 10 games. But here they are at 2-0. And the goalies who were rated the worst combo in the NHL have a .962 save %! So if you ask me he's doing pretty good so far for first time GM and internal hire.

What do you already know about Adams qualification?

I don't think they will struggle. They might lose games but it won't be for lack of effort. Hustle is a skill and these guys hustle. I've watched nearly every Sabres game for the last 20+ years and I haven't seen this level of effort since 2005. Teams that play the Sabres will have to skate with them to beat them. Answer me honestly: Have you watched these two games? Not highlights, not looking at a box score. Watched all 60 minutes.

Base things on what you see happening, not on what happened. The Pegulas were screwing up everything with the Bills, until they hired Sean McDermott. Skill or dumb luck, it doesn't matter how he landed here. Same with the Sabres. Many many bad decisions. But I think Adams is going to get this on the right path at the very least. In fact the Sabres are very much following the Bills playbook: get rid of the locker room lawyers and cancers and start fresh with young and hungry players that will give 110%. Then unlock veteran leadership in Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons. This team is no accident. Granato is the perfect coach for this team. So Brandon Beane is just a yes-man for McDermott? See above tweet. There's no patting themselves on the back for getting to 2-0.

The Holy Grail is an invite to the Big Ten. Academically we are slam dunk as a member of the American Association of Universities. Athletically we are miles away.

I'm heavily invested in the a Sabres this year because I think Don Granato is the Sean McDermott the team has needed since Lindy Ruff. And two games in my ridiculous belief them is being rewarded.

I remember when Lance and his 109-6 won/loss record arrived at UB. He promptly lost to FCS Albany. (Or "smAllbany" as they call them on the UB chat boards, lol.) So I try not to overreact early in a coaches tenure. And this year was a total mess for all involved. That said, it's a healthy sign for UB's fan base to have high expectations. We are getting used to success and want it to continue. Sadly we are always going to be just a stop for coaches on the way up. If you aren't an elite blue blood program, that is your lot in life.

You hate to see the Patriots lose like that. Who am I kidding. I love it!

Did Dan Campbell save some tears for today's post game presser?

Maintain some perspective. Linguist got here 100 days before the first kickoff. Not to mention losing starters that followed Lance to Kansas. This year is a mulligan. I think 6-6 would be a miracle at this point. Like I said, this year is not a measure of Linguist as a head coach. Check back in year 3. Don't forget Leipold sucked out loud for a couple of years.

60 for me plus parking. There's a reasonable lot about a ten minute walk away. Money talks. If you can guarantee him a decent crowd every Sunday that spends money he'll set his fandom aside for 3 hours

Yes it's really confusing this year. Luckily I get all those services. But still.

Every table upstairs was filled, downstairs half-full. Good crowd but nothing like the Bills-Texans playoff game when it was mobbed.

Bravo. Same is true with the Jack Eichel mess. You'll understand it better reading posts on sister site SabreSpace than any NHL insider relaying propaganda from the agents.

The Bleacher Bar is the second Bills bar in Boston. The Bills Backers of Boston official bar in The Harp in Causeway by TD Garden. A group called the Fenway Bills Backers split off and set up at the Bleacher Bar. I avoid Lansdowne St. when the Sox are playing. But I'll probably get to the Bleacher Bar once later this season. Already did The Harp for the Miami game.

Ohio @ Buffalo today at noon on ESPN+. I'll watch it on-demand after the Sabres game. Priorities.

Sabres on NHL Network at 1pm this afternoon vs the Coyotes.

The Pegulas don't play the games. They already did their job flushing Botterill out. Fixing the team is not a flipping a switch. Just be patient.

You're trying too hard. BTW, check yesterday's highlights to see how "icky" the Sabres were. If anything the Blue& Gold have absorbed some Bills juju.