Big Moves for the Sabres this NHL offseason? - Season Finale: Sabres Semantics - The Armchair GM's Sports Network

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
Time to sharpen those swords. You're listening to Saber Semantics,
a hard hitting, just interview and discussion show featuring players, alumni,
media and all others who have or still cover the
NHL's Buffalo Sabers. With interesting stories from the past and

(01:00):
current objective analysis. This show is sure to provide an
entertaining and unique perspective for both Savers and hockey fans alike.
Exclusively on the armchaired GM Sports Network. Now here's your
host of Sabers Scenantics, Brandon Capudo.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
Welcome back to our season finale episode of Saber Semantics
right here on the armshair GM Sports. That we're probably
brought to by the Nagar Employment Health Center helping people
find work in Nagresses nineteen eighty three. Checkout throughout day
job board at ehd DO on dot C to find
your next work opportunity. Today, Brandick Puto and Austin brought
her with you to discuss the Sabers upcoming off season here.
Haven't had an episode for you guys in a little

(01:42):
bit here obviously with the season ending, but definitely some
Sabers news that we can discuss. We're gonna have talk
go over four topics today. We will talk about if
you're watching on the video version, I've got the show
topics up on the screen for you. We're gonna go
over best senior advisor choice for Kevin Adams. That was
something that they had discussed in the exit interviews about
them gonna be hiring somebody to help out Kevin Adams.

(02:04):
Who are the best option would be there? Kevin Adams
and Lindy Ruff both returning next season. Was that a
good or bad move? Moving forward, we'll go over the
Sabers ninth overall selection in the twenty twenty five NHL Draft.

Speaker 3 (02:15):
Will they keep it, will they.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Trade up, trade down? What's the best thing to do
with that draft pick? And sort of some players to
watch around the number nine pick, although we will probably
have a draft pri you for you guys later into June,
and then as well, we'll finish off with the early
offseason needs of what the Sabers should be doing come
free agency and via trade when July first opens up.

(02:38):
So with that said, Austin, it's you know, when we
talk about Lindy Ruff and Kevin Adams both coming back
this season or next season. That was something that was
heavily discussed and sort of debated not only us on
this show, but throughout Sabers Media and Sabers Twitter throughout
the whole season. Would Kevin Adams turn as a general

(03:00):
manager and would Lindy Ruff return as the head coach?

Speaker 3 (03:02):
We got our answer, both are.

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Going to be coming back despite the team having a
thirteen game losing streak, playing better down the stretch, and
missing the playoffs for our fourteenth straight year.

Speaker 3 (03:10):
What are your thoughts on it?

Speaker 4 (03:15):
Expected? I guess I feel like there was probably more
of an argument for Rough to come back for one
more year than there was for Adams. Like I said,
I don't know how many gms get as long as
Adams has gotten without making the playoffs but also getting
statistically worse over the last three years. But we also
know the owner of this team, if he likes you

(03:37):
and trusts you, doesn't really matter how bad you are
at your job, You're gonna stay. I also think the
fact that both of them only had one like, but
they both run two year deals, when so like Adams
had two years left on his deal and then he
hired Rough on the two year deal I think that
comes into play here, where essentially it's like, you don't
make the playoffs, I just don't have to resign you.

(03:58):
I don't have to pay you to go away. I
just don't have to sign you. But the danger there is, well,
if you don't make the playoffs next year, I imagine
two or three of your stars aren't gonna want to
be here next year. So it's a risk when we
get into the senior advisor thing, that'll kind of come
in to play here. But it's a very big risks
organization is taking. I don't like it. Rough. I have

(04:20):
no problem with I. He's a Hall of Famer. He's
one of the best coaches that's ever played coached, so
I have no issue with him coming back. The issue
is with Adams necessarily, because, like I said, I just
don't get how any serious organization could allow him to
still be the GM here. But who knows. Maybe this
advisor that they hire will come in and write the ship.

(04:44):
But I guess, yeah, it's I never really expected significant.
I never put like this. I never expected Adams to
get fired. Maybe he was moved like Ron Francis was
in Seattle, but I never expected him to fired.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
No, And I don't think they were gonna get just
give Lindy Ruff one season and if anything, it seems
like he was going to be on you know, a
two to three year window here anyway. And whether seth
Appert the assistant coach, was going to be the guy
that they were quote unquote grooming to take over for
Lindy Rouff that in that scenario, who knows. But you know, obviously,
with how bad the power play was this year, that's

(05:18):
something that they're going to want to address going into
the offseason. But as you mentioned, Adams coming back and
it being announced that he's going to be hiring a
senior advisor to kind of help him out there. One,
do you like the fact that they are looking for
a senior advisor? And two or two, I guess you
could say, do you think that that why does Adam?

Speaker 3 (05:38):
The group of.

Speaker 1 (05:39):
People saying why does Adams need a senior advisor when
he's already you know, four or five years into his job.
If he can't do the job, then why is he's
still here? But you know, where do you sit on
the fence with hiring this advisor and how hands on
do you think he's going to be in Adams's ear.

Speaker 4 (05:55):
I'd still say it's about five years too late. This
probably should have happened when Adams was named the GM,
because he had no experience. That being said, adding another
probably the specific criteria that they have outlined for this
guy where they want him to be a former GM
who sat in a prominent seat in a hockey ops thing.
I like that because I think they need someone with
respect and credibility amongst these NHL gms to be brought

(06:19):
in and help Kevin Adams. Unfortunately. Yeah, it is a
little sad that your six year veteran GM needs a
senior advisor, but this team has been so bad they
should never turn away anyone with any credibility in the
hockey world. So I like it. I think it's a
little bit too late. Not groundbreaking news there. I think

(06:40):
most fans would agree. Most people would agree, but they
desperately need someone to come in and not only help
Kevin Adams, but just bring some respect and credibility back,
Because if we're being honest, I don't know like Adams
feels like he has a reputation of know we know

(07:00):
he has a reputation of either failing to pull the
trigger on these deals or taking way too long to
get them done. And I don't necessarily know if that's
all on Adams. Like i'd maybe this gms around the
league just don't expect the guy, so they try to
take him to the you know, to the back to
the backyard and take him to the woodshed on these
deals and he's stock. I don't know, I don't know

(07:20):
what it is. But another voice with credibility who can
help Adams with these things, whether it be trades or
free agents, is desperately needed. And that's why, like you
saw those Lil Lambarello rumors flying the other day, like
I'm willing to take anybody. It's we need it.

Speaker 1 (07:35):
So we'll get into that right now with our next topic.
They're a best senior advisor choice to help Adams. Is
there a clear best option for Kevin Adams to hire
as a senior advisor to help him move the franchise forward?
And are their best options? So that goes into our
first Twitter poll again, make sure to give us a
follow on Excess Saber Semantics get get in on our
fan polls that we do for our shows. So the
options that I provided here were Yarmo kick a line

(07:57):
and Rick Dudley, Lou Lamborello and all. There were no
other options that were given, so armokik Aline and obviously
the former Columbus Bluejackets general manager Rick Dudley, you know,
is one of the most well respected guys within the
hockey world. Was a Sabers player, was a Sabers coach,
was a general manager in this league for a long time,
has been the director of scouting. He's been basically every

(08:19):
position within a hockey management that you could think of.
Now as a as a senior scout with the Florida
Panthers still around this Buffalo area, I have seen him
a little bit covering some Ohl games. He's been over
an Agra a few times, you know, still in the
western New York area, but there with the Florida Panthers.
And then the last one, obviously Lou Lambrella that you
touched on, was let go by the New York Islanders.

(08:41):
Is that a long tenured career as a general manager
and as a hockey executive with the Toronto Maple Leafs
and long time with the New Jersey Devils before that,
and even a coach, but before that, a guy that
you know, is one of the guys that you'd mentioned
in the Old Boys Club the quote unquote air quotes
if you're listening to this in audio. So with the
with the results of the poll, Rick Dudley one with

(09:01):
forty seven point four percent, your Moochika Lineen was twenty
six point three percent, Lula and Morello fifteen point eight
and other. So I guess there were people would want
other as a ten point five but the Austin, what
are your thoughts on it and what direction you think
they're going here?

Speaker 4 (09:18):
Okay, so up until about I don't know when the
news broke a couple hours ago, the Shanahan news. Is
it yesterday? I whenever that whatever beside the point I
would have I would have broken it down either to
Dudley or tech a line In as my two favorite options.
And realistically it depends on exactly what the Sabers are
looking for, because we don't really know. Are they looking

(09:39):
for someone to essentially be the GM in waiting, you
know what I mean, Like if things go wrong with Adams,
they have already someone in the organization who can just
kind of step in, or are they literally looking for
someone to help mentor Adams to help him be the
long term solution here, because if you're looking for that
mentor guy, I think Dudley should be the clear cut option,
the clear cut favorite. If you're looking for someone to

(10:01):
kind of be the GM and waiting, that's more of
a Keck a Linan because to me, like whether you
whatever opinion you have of him, with what he did
with Columbus, he did do some solid work with the
Blue Jackets and he's been a GM before. So like,
to me, those are the two options there. I'm throwing
both of those out the window. Now they should go
all They should, in my opinion, go all out to
bring Shanahan here. They're not going to. But to me,

(10:24):
that's the clear cut option. But if we're going off
of what the polls were, yeah, I think if you
want a GM in waiting, that should be Keck a Linon.
If you want a pure advisor, Dudley feels like a
slam dunk with all his connections to Buffalo.

Speaker 1 (10:35):
And with him still being in the area as well.
I found it interesting with Matthew darsh being named the
general manager of the Islanders because that was somewhat of
where Shanahan was rumored to be going before they let
go of Shanahan. The Leaf said that they had granted
Shanahan's request from the Islanders to speak with him. So

(10:55):
now that he's a free agent, I don't know if
that's still going to be an option for him to
go there. You know, the Sabers have tried this before
with trying to bring in a high profile guy. Would
Shanahan want to come in here? And again, what level
of control would they want to have in the organization.
Do they want to just be, you know, that that
voice for Kevin Adams, the voice of reason or do

(11:16):
they want to come over and take over the organization,
because I think certain guys on that list would be
more so wanting to be hands on. The Shanahan's of
the list of lamb Morella's want to have implement their
plan to kind of overwrite Kevin Adams. As you mentioned,
maybe a Rick Dudley or somebody like that would more
so just be you know, there for Adams when he
needs it. That don't really want to come in and

(11:37):
change their their organization, the culture into what they want
it to be. So I think it's more so going
to be leaning that way. I don't think they want
to bring in necessarily you said, they want like somebody
that's been a high profile general manager, but not somebody
that's going to come in and want to change make
swooping changes, change Adams because, as you mentioned, I think
Terry Pagula wants to keep Kevin Adams around at least
for this season because he trusts him and wants to

(12:00):
see him in this general manager role.

Speaker 3 (12:01):
So I'm with you.

Speaker 1 (12:03):
I think it's going to be if it's if it's
not going to be you know, a Brendan Shanahan, as
you mentioned, I think Rick Dudley would be my choice,
just given you know, his respect and credibility within the
League of hot in the sport of hockey. Everything he's
done from still going to games you know now you know,
he's he's on the ground, he's he's one of those
guys that you look at as one of those at

(12:24):
least I look at as a as a guy that
to look up to within the hockey world. So it's
it's interesting, but I think I don't know, I'm still
confused as to.

Speaker 3 (12:33):
What exactly their criteria is.

Speaker 1 (12:36):
But I definitely like the idea of giving some giving
Adam's help if they're not going to just get rid
of them completely.

Speaker 4 (12:41):
So that is also my fear. Right So, fourth period,
this was before Holland accepted the King's job. Fourth Period
reported that the Sabers approach Lamorello and Holland in both declined.
Obviously a lot of people got mad about that, but again,
these are guys who are well expected hockey guys who

(13:03):
have had success in this league. My fear for the
Sabers is twofold one. Are they approaching people they know
are going to say no so they can kind of
just save face and say, hey we tried or two Again,
Not to be overly negative, but like, why would why
would Lula Morello your arm Ocaca lineup? For that matter,

(13:26):
Sure as hell, Shanahan, Why would these guys want to
come here and report to Kevin Adams, Because that is
the report that we have seen so far is this
person will report to Kevin Adams. Why why why would
a well respected guy come here to a team on

(13:46):
a fourteen year playoff drought and report to the GM
who we talk about this fourteen year drought. The dude's
been here for six of those fourteen years. He's been
here for almost half of it, So I think all
their criteria has been to help Kevin Adams and report
with Kevin Adams and blah blah blah and all that stuff.

(14:08):
If you want someone with credibility, you're gonna have to
give them power, and you should for that matter. It's
why when the rumors came out like they were thinking
about naming a GM and having Adams go to president,
people laughed at it, but like I would have preferred that,
because that means the decision maker that everyday guy would

(14:28):
not have been Kevin Adams. This is setting up this
team to be a joke, to get rejected by people
because why Dudley is different, Because that's why the Dudley
thing is starting to make the most sense to me.
Because one, he's not gonna report to Kevin Adams. I'm
not worried about that. But Dudley doesn't seem like you said.

(14:49):
He's boots on the ground and all that stuff. But
at his age, he's not a guy who wants I'm
assuming does not want the daily grind of a GM job.
So him being an advisor makes the most sense and
helping Kevin Adams, but getting someone else with credibility somebody
else like a Shanahan or Lamborello or a kack of
Lining for that matter, or anybody even Bergervan, because I
know Berjeavan was they didn't get the Islanders job. He's

(15:11):
the first name that jumped to my brain. But turns
out he's staying with Ken Holland in LA. Like these
types of guys, I can't see them wanting to come
here and work under Kevin Adams if they had influence
and actual power and we're working collaboratively, which maybe they will.
I have no idea, but to me, it's just I
think they're setting themselves up for failure, or the worst

(15:31):
case scenario is they are doing this on purpose to
try and a pease the fan base, and hey, we tried.

Speaker 1 (15:38):
Do you think that Kevin Adams is like rep around
the league is like, do you think he's respected enough
where somebody wants to come in and actually and work
out for him.

Speaker 4 (15:48):
I don't think Kevin Adams and Terry Pugugli are respected
at all amongst NHL people. If they were, we wouldn't
be in this situation.

Speaker 1 (15:58):
They wouldn't have got rejected by guys that have been
let go by multiple teams in the last years, like
Ken Holland.

Speaker 4 (16:04):
We'll say Ken Holland was offered the GM job at
the Kings. Clearly you take that job over the senior
advisor to the bat like to a GM, right like that,
I'm that is totally fine. But for a guy like
Lula Morello to be like, no, I'm good. Right, Maybe
he's just done with hockey. I don't know, but it
doesn't seem like it seems like he's still pretty involved

(16:26):
with the Islanders right now. I found it what happens
now that darsh is there, but up until this moment,
he was still pretty involved. So like he's not a
guy who's done with hockey. Shanahan's not a guy who's
done with hockey.

Speaker 3 (16:35):
Nope.

Speaker 4 (16:37):
Right, I'm not trying to be mean, like I am
a Sabers fan, but like they're clearly not respected around
the league.

Speaker 3 (16:46):
Is Bruce Boudreau a name we can throw it there?

Speaker 4 (16:49):
Good luck?

Speaker 3 (16:51):
Yeah, I know he's in the air.

Speaker 4 (16:53):
Eric the Eric's tall thing, which I don't know if
we're actually gonna talk.

Speaker 3 (16:55):
About it, right, you can you can go ahead and
mention that.

Speaker 4 (16:58):
Which I have no problem with the air by the way,
I don't think it's good. I also don't think it's bad. Like,
there's no negative to doing what they just did.

Speaker 3 (17:04):
He played with him and Carolina Kevin Gadams play.

Speaker 4 (17:07):
There's no negative, Like, no, no one's gonna be like,
oh my god, they're a joke. They hired of future
Hall of Famer to be the special assistant to the
Like no he.

Speaker 2 (17:15):
Was.

Speaker 4 (17:15):
I'm saying, like, there's no downside to it. I questioned
the upside to it. But at the end of the day,
if he gets even one guy to walk through that
door to come play for the Sabers, that's a win, right,
Like if he reaches out to I don't I don't
know whoever, like somebody from the Panthers, somebody from the Wild,
somebody from Carolina, and he's like, hey, come here, and

(17:38):
like gets you a meeting with a guy like he's
he's that's a success. So Like, but what I'm saying
there is that can't be the only move, right And
also this they hired that strength and conditioning guy who
apparently seth Appart had connections with, So like, I don't
know what happens if Kevin Adams is in the GM.
We don't have to worry about it. But all all
indications are if Kevin Adams is still the GM going

(18:00):
forward and this works out, seth Appart is still going
to be the coach going forward, the head coach of
the future. It still seems like, you know, he was
asked about Josh Norris and the embedded episode he had
this high performance strength coach come in who is people
are raving about and said, this is great yet for
the Sabers. I can't pretend that I have any opinion
on that, but people smarter than me who know say

(18:22):
that this is a good hire for the Sabers, and
Appart apparently had that connection. So all intents and purposes
are if Adams is still here going forward, it still
looks like seth Abbert's going to be the head coach
of the future. So just yeah, this advisor needs to
be a home run higher and somebody who actually has respect.
And you just got to hope Eric Stall can do anything.

(18:42):
If Eric Stall gets yet one free agent, that's a
win in my books. So like, I wasn't that mad
about the Eric Stall thing. I joked around about it,
but there's no doubtside to that.

Speaker 1 (18:52):
Yeah, I mean, if a future Hall of Famer right
after his playing career who only played a half a
season with Buffalo wants to come here, you know.

Speaker 4 (19:00):
Put like this, replace the name Eric Stall with Kyle
Oposo because I don't know whatever, But if it was
Kyle Oposo as a special assistant, I don't think Sabers
fans care. I think they're mad because it's Eric Stall.
I don't personally care.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
Just because just because he beat them in the conference
finals at seven then went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Who Adams played with on that team. Again, I don't
care about the Eric Stall thing. It was the same
thing when Spetsa got hired by the Leafs. It's like
former player wants to get into management and this is
a good first step for him. So Eric Stall now
part of the Buffalo Sabers organization with Kevin Adams.

Speaker 3 (19:32):
I don't know, as you.

Speaker 1 (19:33):
Mentioned, what the upside is and what his actual role
is going to be. If it's recruiting, then all the
power to him, and maybe he's a bridge. He can
go in that locker room and players respect him because
he's just recently out of the game.

Speaker 4 (19:44):
Right That's like I said, there's no downside.

Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (19:50):
Oh. Also, I don't know if we want to touch
on it, but I don't know how true it is.
But there was rumors that Carmanos will be leaving when
Rochester season's over.

Speaker 1 (19:56):
That would suck, Yeah, I mean they hired him to
help out Kevin Adams with Rochester because you needed an
assistant GM to monitor things down there, and I think
Carmanos has done a good job, so that would be
unfortunate if he were to go.

Speaker 4 (20:09):
Yeah, I can't say I blame him. I don't know
what his intentions are, right, Obviously he's not getting an
NHLGM job somewhere because those as far as I know,
I don't I think the Islanders was the last one
for a GM. I can't think off the top of
my head. So it'll be interesting to see if he
does leave. I really hope he doesn't because that's a
good voice and he's been the boots on the ground

(20:30):
guy for Kevin Adams. Like when they were tailing Detroit
heavily around Christmas time, he was the one going to games,
so he's been heavily involved. Maybe that'll be not running Rochester,
but like the boots on the ground guy, maybe that'll
be stall going for I don't know, but it does
feel like scouting combines in like two weeks. You would

(20:52):
think you want your front office fully formed by that time,
So I guess we kind of have the deadline. Again.
There's no rules to adding someone to your organization whatever,
blah bah blah blah. But if you're legitimately adding a
senior advisor who has power and say on this team,
you would imagine he's in place by the scouting combine.

(21:13):
So we'll see what happens in the next two weeks. Yeah,
because my biggest fear be if they don't have an
advisor by then, Really, what is this advisor going to do?
Is he just a face for us to be like
they calm down, fans, we hired somebody. I don't know.
I don't know.

Speaker 1 (21:27):
I guess we'll have to see as the off season
goes on. Here, we'll get onto our next topic here.
Actually no, we will not, because we still have to
go over in this second segment about the draft pick
and as well biggest off season needs for the team.
We are going to come back and do a draft preview,
you know, closer to the draft and maybe after the

(21:48):
combine maybe they've hired somebody. But quick thoughts on Rochester Austin.
Obviously you know in the final four right now, we
have been your thoughts of what they've been doing.

Speaker 4 (21:58):
Yeah, I believe they're currently beating Laval as we are recording.
So if that holds, that'll even the series back up. Good, right,
I mean, Levi has been a little bit. Laval's are
very good team, so I'm not gonna sit there and
rag on Rochester, but Levi a little bit shaky through

(22:19):
the first three games of this series. Seems to be
playing a lot better tonight. We'll see, Like again, we'll
see how the game ends. I don't want to jeas
anything knock on wood, but I think if they get
past Laval, they have a real shot to make some
noise here. To me from what i've again, I don't
pay attention to like the Western Conference HL teams very
well because one that they play they play late, and

(22:39):
two like it's just a lot of hockey to pay
attention to. But I obviously do pay attention to the
North Division the Ammarcks, Syracuse, Toronto, Laval, et cetera. And
Laval's a really good team. So I think if Rochester
can get by here. They have a chance to make
some noise. They they have good to the mix of
prospects and veterans, you know, cool each is down there
helping out. I was playing, hopefully playing a lot better.

(23:01):
They have a really good decoor. I like the job
that Carmanos has done building that team. I like the
job Michael Leone and Denny prospell and I think Nathan
Page is the other assistant coach. So I'd like the
job that they've done there.

Speaker 1 (23:13):
It's got to be a win for them this season
for sure. Yeah, And I think Adam said he wanted
to see players playing deep into May and June, so yeah.

Speaker 4 (23:23):
I think last year. I think last year Affart took
him to the conference final and Hershey ended up beating him,
and Hershey was one of the best teams in the league.
I think they won them to call their cup. So
I think if they can get bio Levall here, that's
that they're setting themselves up pretty well. HL playoffs is
just wild, like I think the Amerks played like. The

(23:43):
playoff schedule is wow. There's like five days off between
games sometimes it is. It is a crazy scheduling process.

Speaker 1 (23:49):
It definitely is, but it's good to see Rochester doing
well again. We always talk about when is it going
to translate to Buffalo, but uh, you know, for them
to be in the spot two years in a row,
it definitely a credit to as you mentioned, two different
coaching staffs within that, and the prospects that the Sabers
do have going forward, which we'll get into.

Speaker 3 (24:08):
What are their biggest off season needs.

Speaker 1 (24:10):
And what moves do we expect them to make come
July first and going forward.

Speaker 3 (24:14):
So we're gonna take a quick commercial break. Were going
to come back.

Speaker 1 (24:16):
We're going to talk about the ninth overall pick really
quick in the upcoming NHL draft and off season needs.

Speaker 3 (24:22):
So stay it here.

Speaker 1 (24:22):
We're right back on Saber semantics right here on the
ARMPRGM sports that work back after this.

Speaker 5 (24:27):
Are you currently looking for work in the Niagara region.
If so, you owe it to yourself to check out
the services provided by the Niagara Employment Help Center, located
at sixty one hundred Thoroldstone Road in Niagara Falls. There
are many free services include a fully staffed resource area
open to the public, resume and cover letter writing, local
labor market information, job search strategies, assistance with clarifying employment,

(24:49):
training and career goals, employment counseling and job search support
and better Jobs Ontario information and registration assistants. Check out
their website at EHC dot on dot or call nine
oh five three five eight is zero zero two to
one for more information. The Niagara Employment Health Center helping
people find work since nineteen eighty three.

Speaker 2 (25:09):
This Employment Ontario program is funded by the Government of Ontario.
Pets bring immense joy to our homes, becoming in integral
parts of our families, but this living, love and experience
often requires a little extra care and attention. That's where
Global Pet Foods comes in, with owners and staff ready
to support to you every step of the way. Check
out one of their locations today thirty six forty three

(25:30):
Portage Road and Niagara Falls, one sixty Highway twenty in
font Hill, or four hundred Scott Street and three forty
four Glendale Avenue in Saint Catharine's. Global Pet Foods, where
pets are undeniably part of the family, productive sponsor the
Dog Pound Podcast, the official podcast of the Nigera Ice Dogs.

Speaker 5 (25:48):
Wild Bill's Auto Repair is your local center for auto
maintenance and repair in the Niagara region. Since twenty twelve,
Wild Bill's Auto Repair and Body Shop has been helping
customers stay safe and confident on the road, knowing their
vehicle is in top running condition through the garage's services.
Located at seventy eight sixty eight oak Wood Drive in
Niagara Falls, the garage started as a tribute to the

(26:08):
owner's father, William Robert Hunter, who passed away continuing the
same community spirit and high level of service which customers
can expect from him back at Hunter's Auto Repair. Their
multi award winning auto shops earned the trust of the
Niagara community with its fair treatment of all customers who
could feel confident they'll get trustworthy advice and repairs during
their visit. Their experienced crew loves meeting new people and

(26:29):
looks forward to forming a lasting partnership for the care
of your vehicles. To find out more or to book
a service, contact them today at nine oh five, three five, eight, seven,
eight six eight or wild Billsauto dot CA. Wild Bill's
Auto Repair helping customers stay safe and confident on the
road since twenty twelve. Celebrating a birthday, wedding, graduation, or

(26:49):
just watching the Big game. Carmines Pizzeria Italiano is there
to satisfy your pizza needs, serving handmade Italian pizzas created
with the freshest, top quality ingredients, loaded subs, and their.

Speaker 6 (27:01):
Famous chicken wings.

Speaker 5 (27:03):
Platinum Award recipients of community votes Niagara for best pizza
and wings in.

Speaker 6 (27:08):
All of the Niagara Region.

Speaker 5 (27:09):
Three years running open three pm to nine pm, seventys
a week from their brand new location at seventy one
fifty six strum.

Speaker 6 (27:16):
And Road in Niagara Falls.

Speaker 5 (27:17):
All payment options accepted to fit your convenience.

Speaker 6 (27:20):
Available for call ahead, pickup or delivery.

Speaker 4 (27:23):
Place to order.

Speaker 6 (27:23):
Today at nine oh five three.

Speaker 5 (27:25):
Seven four four four zero zero or check out their
online menu for the best quality pizza and wing combos.
You'll find a Niagara at Carbinespizzeria dot Ca. You've tried
the rest, why not try the best Carbines Pizzeria Attaliato,
proudly serving the Niagara community since twenty thirteen.

Speaker 2 (27:44):
You're listening to the Armchair GM Sports Network, the NIGA
region's best local source for North American sports podcasting coverage,
Buy sports fans for sports fans.

Speaker 7 (28:02):
Hey, here we call it's Talking Night and boy. Here
we call the Poison Blue. Here we call me some
noise getting into so from one and one, let's hear
you from your ons, Same go, Same.

Speaker 1 (28:33):
Welcome back to part two of today's Saber Semantics season
finale episode right here on the arms Share GM Sports Network.
Thank you everybody that's tuned in on the YouTube channel.
Make sure to hit like it subscribed to smash that belt.
Stay up to day with all of our coverage here
on YouTube, and thank you to those listening on your
favorite on demand audio platform. You can give us a
follow on Exit Saber Semantics as well as Facebook, Instagram,
and TikTok for of our short reels and content.

Speaker 3 (28:56):
Brandon and Austin brought her back with you.

Speaker 1 (28:58):
Continuing to go over our topics list for the Sabers,
going to discuss the ninth overall selection in the twenty
twenty five NHL Draft.

Speaker 3 (29:04):
What should Buffalo do with this pick?

Speaker 1 (29:05):
Use it, trade it for a roster player, try to
move up in the draft, move down in the draft
best of Aila but nine, or reach for a specific
need as well, We're going to discuss biggest offseason needs.
What the biggest offseason need is for the Sabers come
free agency or via trade to help make them a
playoff contending team and what position possibly they are looking
for here going forward. So, Austin, we're gonna start off

(29:27):
here with the draft pick. Obviously, after the draft results,
Buffalo had made it pretty far. They were one of
those last five teams there that could possibly move up.
They end up not being one of the teams chosen.
They moved down to the ninth overall selection from where
they were slotted in where they slotted in A seven.

Speaker 3 (29:46):
Or eight yeah seven seven.

Speaker 1 (29:48):
They moved down twice, with Utah skyrocketing up to the
fourth overall pick. And I have my thoughts about the
whole draft lottery process and what teams should and should
not be picking high, but we can save that for
another day. But regardless, the Saber is gonna be picking
ninth overall in the upcoming NHL Draft, Austin, before we
get into the list of players available that they could
possibly pick with that selection one, do you want them

(30:12):
to keep it or trade it for a top six forward,
which is probably one of their biggest needs right now?

Speaker 4 (30:20):
Yeah, real quick, I don't know about you lottery aside.
I actually enjoyed the production, like the live drawing and stuff.
I thought that was relatively cool.

Speaker 3 (30:27):
Yeah, it's nice to see how the process actually plays.

Speaker 4 (30:29):
Out this time, but the NHL doesn't get a lot
of credit. But I think that was actually most people.
I've had a lot of people complaining. I thought it
was pretty cool in terms of trading or keeping the pick.
I flip flop, flip flop back and forth because I
think two things. One, they don't really need to add
another top ten prospect.

Speaker 3 (30:47):
Got a lot in the in the hopper, all righty.

Speaker 4 (30:49):
Right, But also this draft class is relatively weak according
to most scouts that you talk to once you get
past like the top three to four. So it's like,
all right, I would like them to trade the pick.
I don't know what else needs to be added with
that number nine to get the true piece that you need.
I don't know how much teams are gonna be wanting

(31:10):
that number nine pick if the draft classes quote unquote
weaker after the top three. So it's kind of a
really bad situation for the Savers. But I would lean
towards what I want them to do is still trying
to find a way to turn it into an asset.
What I think they're gonna do is that I think
they're gonna stay at nine and take a prospect because

(31:32):
I don't know. I just like I said, Kevin Adams
has yet to act like he's worried about losing his job,
so I wouldn't be surprised to say I can develop,
this guy will develop in our system here because he
probably thinks he's still gonna be here longer.

Speaker 3 (31:45):
Trade down, trade up, I mean, it just.

Speaker 4 (31:48):
Doesn't happen all that often in the NHL. There's no
point in trading down because again, like I just said,
the draft class gets weaker, so.

Speaker 3 (31:58):
You want to pick up an extra second.

Speaker 4 (32:00):
Maybe I don't know, Like I said, worst case scenario
either package. It was like trying to remember what year
it was whenever Eckman Larson went from Arizona to Vancouver.
I think it was like Eckman Larson to Vancouver for like, no,
it was Eckmand Larsen in Garland. So that was the Yeah,

(32:25):
it can be done, like you can't get effective pieces,
but it just it just doesn't. It just doesn't feel
like you're gonna get teams clamoring to trade for a
pick where this this the the general opinion of this
class is not good, Like it's a weaker draft class.

(32:46):
If you talk to people smarter than me and I
you know me, Like, I'm pretty involved in the scouting community,
and a lot of people I talked to just said
it's not worth it. So we'll see. I think if
the right trade comes, like I said, if the right
trade comes for any piece, whether it's ninth overall or
anything else the Sabers roster, they the dude better listen.
But I wouldn't be like, I would be shocked if
they're not picking at ninth.

Speaker 1 (33:06):
So you'd be shocked if some team come came calling
for the ninth pick for a top six forward.

Speaker 4 (33:12):
Uh, depending on the fourth depends on your definition of
a top six forward, right, Like right, could I see like.

Speaker 3 (33:20):
The guy with term that a team wants to get
rid of.

Speaker 4 (33:24):
Yeah, I'm trying to think, like if you remember that
the trade that uh.

Speaker 3 (33:30):
Chlory Sani for Bohorvett that got the Yeah, yeah, it's just.

Speaker 4 (33:33):
Like I was trying to think of that one. I
was trying to think, like the last time the Sabers
were involved with the top ten pick being traded, it
was like Matt Murray nicked it. Matt Murray was gonna
come to the Sabers with like the sense seventh overall
pick for the Sabers like tenth overall pick, So like
it's even that, like how big of a trade is that?
Actually it's not like they just don't seem to be
that big of a deal. But like if a team

(33:54):
like like you're not getting like a Jason Robertson for
the ninth though overall pick, you know what I mean,
Like you're not getting like that true blue impact top
six four, but could you get a could you get
a twenty eight year old version of Jason Zucker for
ninth probably, but I don't know if also if that's
worth it. Also, I don't even when we get into
that later in the episode. I also don't think top

(34:16):
six forward is necessarily the top of my list for
what I'd be going after. But again, if any trade
comes their way, Adams has to be on the phone
and be thinking about it.

Speaker 1 (34:25):
So our second poll there, what should the Sabers do
with their first round pick? According to the Twitter poll,
seventy five percent would be trade for a roster player
and then tied with select a forward and trade up
into the top five, trade down and pick up more
was zero percent. So I guess the fans are with
you that trade for a roster player if that deal
is available, just good luck finding somebody to that would

(34:48):
want to do that. Like you said, given that this
draft class may not be looked at as impactful, there
are still some solid players, a lot of HL players
this year.

Speaker 3 (34:57):
Austin has been incredible.

Speaker 1 (34:59):
We could have three of the top five players taken
from the OHL, which is is great for us, you know,
cover in the league, but it's uh, you know, from
the general consensus, you know what would be available there,
what teams are willing to get rid of. You know,
you look at teams like Nashville that would probably look
to love to get rid of, like a contract like
Jonathan Marchiso because he hasn't worked out there. I think

(35:19):
him to the Leafs makes a lot of sense, given
if they're gonna lose Marner for fourteen mils. So you know,
maybe if those teams there's some if there's a team
that's looking for to go after a Marner or some
one of these other top free agents, maybe they're trying
to unload a guy that makes a little bit of money,
maybe in his late twenties. Would the Sabers even want that,
knowing that they have some big contracts that they're gonna

(35:40):
have to be given out the Patercas, and you know
Tuck's gonna need a contract if he's back in a year.

Speaker 3 (35:44):
So you know, it just seems more likely as you said,
that Kevin Adams is probably just gonna stay at nine
and pick somebody.

Speaker 4 (35:51):
Yeah, like sorry, Like the name that kind of jumped
off the page to me is like Day's got trade protection,
but Pittsburgh has Ricard Rachel, He's got trade protection. They
have Ryan Rust, who I actually think would be a
great ad he loses his trade protection. But it's also like,
I don't know who you might trade in the ninth
overall pick for Brian Rust. I'd probably be okay with it,
but I know that's not exactly the player that people
would want for the ninth overall pick. But I also

(36:12):
think we have to realize the ninth overall pick doesn't
hold the value that like it does in an NFL.

Speaker 1 (36:17):
Draft, And also because the Sabers have so many prospects.
We saw the move Matt Savoy, who was a top
a first round pick for a third line center, and
Ryan McLeod, which has actually worked out well with how
Will McLeod played this year.

Speaker 4 (36:30):
Yeah, that's what I mean. So like it's just if
the right deal is there, you gotta move it. But
if you're you know, like you said, the we'll see.
I am firmly in the camp if I want them
to trade it. But I am firmly in the camp
of while wanting that, I also don't expect them to right,
I'm not. I'm not gonna do what I did last
year expecting this big move and then on day two
of the drafted move that he makes his back Mallenstein.

Speaker 1 (36:53):
We'll look at at this year with the mock draft
here and again I've got it up on the screen.
Friend of the show, Steven Lli from Daily Faceoff dot
Com just going to quickly go over who he has
on the list and get Austin's thoughts on who he
would like at number nine. We're gonna go from seven
to twelve there with the area because, like Austin mentioned after,
the top three, four or five could pretty much be

(37:14):
a crapshoot depending on who's available. Brady Martin from the
Sue Greyhounds, Jackson Smith from the Tri City Americans, Victor
Ecklund is who Stephen has the Sabers taking there with
the pick there with the ninth overall pick. Right winger,
tenth Jcobrien from the Branford Bulldogs of center, eleventh Kaishawn
Ahison defenseman from the Barry Colts, and Redee Murca from

(37:38):
the Seattle Thunderbirds the right handed defenseman and Carter Bear
center left wing from the Everett Silver Tips. Austin, what
are your thoughts on those? Just maybe that group of players.
You assume that like a Caleb Denier with being in
the Memorial Cup, he's gonna skyrocket up a little bit,
possibly into the top five. But who do you like

(37:58):
in that area of that the Sabers are picking?

Speaker 4 (38:01):
Yeah, so Danoie is my draft crush. Unfortunately, I think
he's playing his way out of the Sabers range, especially
because they drop down two spots. But I really really
like him. I think, you know, there's if they go
with Eckland or O'Brien or Martin, there's no wrong choice there.
I think the thing that makes the most sense if
he's there is Redeve Merka from Seattle six foot six

(38:24):
two and fifteen pound defenseman, right shot. One thing that
they desperately need is a potential top four right shot defenseman.
Sabers fans, sorry, not all Sabers fans, but the ones
who don't necessarily like Owen Power probably aren't going to
be super fond of Mercy either, because he is not
the bruiser, you know, big body defenseman. He's a lot

(38:45):
closer to a puck mover. But I really, really really
do like Murco a lot. I think he fills your
biggest need while also not being a total reach at ninth.
But if they come away with an O'Brien or a
Brady mart or you know, an equid, I think those
are all fine choices. I could see them if he's

(39:07):
there falling in love with Roger McQueen from the Brandon
whet Kings because he's just so big and has so
tools he as a forward. But to me, I think
it's there's, like you said, there's some decent options. Unfortunately,
none of these options are going to pull Zach Benson
and make the team right away. So that's why we're talking.
For people who want the pick to be traded, I
feel you, because the player is not going to probably

(39:29):
make an impact for this coaching staff. But I think
Redee Murka would probably be best case scenario just in
terms of filling a need, and he's a really really
good prospect.

Speaker 3 (39:38):
So you'd obviously lean more towards D than.

Speaker 4 (39:40):
Forward, depending on the forward. Like I really do like
Brady Martin a lot. He seems to be on the
rise publicly, I don't know how NHL scouts are feeling
about him. I know, again, Bob McKenzie kind of still
seems to be the the litmus test for scouts or
scouted rankings because he does talk to these NHL scouts

(40:01):
in terms of what NHL teams are thinking, not in
terms of who's actually the best players. But Martin or
O'Brien feel really really solid. But I think if you
can marry a need with a player in that range,
that is best case scenario. And we Disabers desperately need
a right shot defenseman who projects to be a top
four in the NHL because they have some decent right

(40:23):
shot prospects, none of them project.

Speaker 1 (40:25):
To be a top four, and they've got too many
left handed shot d right now. That like with the
Powers and the by Rooms and the Dallens, like it's pretty.

Speaker 3 (40:32):
Much set in stone. Yeah, the power. We've got more
on the byroom thing a little.

Speaker 4 (40:37):
Bit yafter, but yes, they definitely have, you know, the Dalliene,
the Samuelson, the power. Bernard Docker looks good as a
right shot defenseman, but also.

Speaker 3 (40:46):
Does he project to be top four?

Speaker 4 (40:48):
Probably not, But like I said, that's where I kind
of land with MRCA. But I think if they end
up with any of the forwards, it's it's relatively.

Speaker 1 (40:56):
Solid and if they could possibly somehow danoia, I don't
think he's gonna fall the nine. He would obviously be
a great pick or like a James Haggins or Frindell.
I don't think any of those guys have an opportunity
to fall to the Sabers at nine.

Speaker 4 (41:09):
I wonder again when we talk about the draft, this
will be more interesting. But I wonder about Mark Hen.
I don't know if he falls to nine, but I
think he falls, But again that's more for the draft preview.

Speaker 1 (41:22):
Yeah, and he's obviously a power forward that leaves you
a lot to be desired as far as what he
could possibly potentially be. Was on Team Canada or was
asked to be on Team Canada's a World championship team.
Obviously didn't end well for Canada the other day, pretty
disastrous losing to Denmark, but the fact that he was
asked to be there as a draft eligible player. People
are really high on Porter Martone from the Brampton Steelheads,

(41:42):
But obviously we'll get into all that when we come
on to do a quick draft preview, especially on the
Ohl guys, because we see them a lot more often
at least I do than most of the other prospects,
especially the ones overseas. So with that, we'll get into
our last topic at the day, which is the biggest
offseason need for the Sabers. What should be the Sabers'
biggest offseason target get targets in the upcoming offseason via
free agency, trade, or to help them become a playoff

(42:05):
contending team. Let's get to the Twitter poll first, and
that would be top six forward, top four defenseman, veteran goaltender,
or depth forward or defense. Top four defenseman won this
poll sixty two point five percent. Second was top six
forward and third was depth forward or defense. I was
actually kind of shocked given the veteran goaltender because I
still think that, you know, if Levi is going to

(42:25):
spend another year in Rochester. They're going to need somebody
to help you pl out. Rymer did a great job.
Whether he comes back or not, we'll have to wait
and see. Austin, what is your thoughts on the biggest
offseason need? And again this is all pending with the
bohem By room situation that has come up in the
last week or so.

Speaker 4 (42:42):
Yeah, and I think this will be more for our
offseason preview show, but I do want to kind of
we should do a nice little dive into that coal
tender situation because I'm not one hundred percent sure. Like
you said, I don't think veteran goalie is high on
the Sabers list in Teans either, because part of me
has a sneaking suspicion that they're going to let Levi
not only challenge for the backup, but part of me
is not fully out on them letting leave my challenge

(43:06):
for the starting job next year, but that is for
a later date. Top four defenseman by far, I think
you could argue two defenseman, maybe not two top four,
but two really solid defenseman. So whether it's a top
four and like a third pairing guy, but defense should
be their biggest needs. They should spend a lot of
their time revamping that decoor. That doesn't necessarily mean they

(43:28):
can't add to the forwards. I still think they should
add a veteran tweeer right like middle six. I'll say
they should definitely look to add a middle six forward
to help out with everything there. But if if they
come away with most of their offseason moves targeting that
top four defense and their solid moves, I think that's
a win. Again, you have to expect regression, but offense

(43:51):
wasn't the problem last year. It was goaltending slash keeping
the puck out of your net, which defense has a
big part of that. So wouldn't be surprised if that's
where a majority of their efforts are. But especially with
the rumored Bow and Byram news that you know the
Sabers are testing the market to see what they can
get for them. So if you lose Bow and Byram,
you you do need two top four deftsmen. So to me,

(44:14):
that's where I kind of lean. But I still hope
they add some forward depth as well. Quality forward depth,
not just like a Beck Mallinstein guy, like a real
piece that can play second or third line. But defense
should be eighty percent of their focus.

Speaker 1 (44:29):
In my opinion, putting another layer on that. Friend of
the show Joe Yard and obviously does a great job
covering the Sabers on a daily basis. He tweeted out
earlier today on the report of Sabers RFA Bow Byrom
requesting a trade. I've reached out to his agent, Darren Ferris,
who said Bow has made no such request and calls
it a total fabrication.

Speaker 4 (44:48):
So do you do you want me to explain why
he had to do that?

Speaker 3 (44:51):
Sure?

Speaker 4 (44:52):
Apparently Paul Hamilton said on WGR Bow requested a trade,
which is not what was reported by Friedman at all.
Friedman said that the Sabers are gauging the market for him,
and somehow that led to Paul Hamilton saying that Bo
requested a trade. So that's kind of where that came from,
because I think the Freedman report was Bo would welcome

(45:16):
a bigger role, which okay.

Speaker 3 (45:18):
But that doesn't how he went into the office that
he wants to be traded exactly.

Speaker 4 (45:22):
I do think the Sabers should move on from him
again strike while the iron is hot. I still think
a team might overpay for a puck mover like Byron
with Stanley Cup champion and also kind of fitting where Yeah,
unfortunately for Bo, he's not gonna get that big role
of Dollen's the number one guy and Powers the number two. Uh,

(45:46):
Biram has really been effective with Dollen offhand, Yeah, but
do you want to pay that guy who's only effective
with Dollen? What Bo is going to make, Like that
Jacob Chickrin deal really muddies the waters for Bowl and
Byron because he has better numbers than Jacob. I don't
want to pay Ball with Byron nine million dollars.

Speaker 3 (46:03):
You don't want to pay three defensemen over twenty million dollars.

Speaker 4 (46:06):
I don't care if it's three defensemen, but I don't
want to pay that defenseman nine million dollars.

Speaker 3 (46:10):
It's like if he's not even the number one or
number two exactly.

Speaker 4 (46:13):
Like, so that's where it's kind of like I expect
Birom to be moved, But yeah, if Byram's gone, you
need two top four defensemens. So that's kind of where,
like my my opinion is their biggest need by far
is defense, but they can't neglect the forwards either.

Speaker 3 (46:31):
Going into the free agent class here, and.

Speaker 4 (46:37):
It's not exactly the best. There's some decent forwards out there,
but nothing that I think Buffalo ull.

Speaker 1 (46:44):
Here we go, so again those I think people wanting
Mitch Marner, that's uh, you know, you might as well
keep dreaming for that. I don't think the Savers are
gonna be paying him fourteen million dollars a year in
the open market. And definitely the bidding war that's gonna
come for for a guy like Mitch Marner, you know,
would be to see him, you know, have revenge against
the least just down the QW there. But I think

(47:05):
that's just not something the Sabers are in a position
to do right now. Nor do I think Mitch Marder
would want to come to Buffalo, given that they're really
not in a position to win right now, and you
could probably get more money elsewhere. I don't think Kevin
Adams is in a position to give him what he's
looking for in the open market, and we've seen top
end free agents just not even really look at Buffalo
as a destination. And you know, Kevin Adams talking about

(47:26):
palm trees this last January, but going down the list
here just available UFAs. Obviously, John Tavera is probably gonna
resign with Toronto on a shorter deal. Matthew Shane thirty
four years old, Michel Granlin thirty three years old, nick Yelers,
Ryan Donado, Patrick Kine. You probably going back to Detroit.
Brock Nelson, Will he return to Colorado?

Speaker 3 (47:46):
I don't know.

Speaker 1 (47:47):
Sam Bennett's another big, big name free agent gonna get paid.
You know, when you go down the list here, Brock Besser,
Brad Marshan, Jamie Benn like Claude Drew, Kyle Palmery, you
know he's gonna be thirty five years old. Like really,
as we kind of as I'm scrolling through the free
agent list here, Austin, what are you kind of looking
at as somebody that you might be interested in and

(48:07):
who would actually want to come to Buffalo right now?

Speaker 4 (48:10):
So forward wise, and he kind of fits the middle
six forward. I like Mason Appleton as a target, solid
defensive from Winnipeg, two way guy. Yeah, I think he
could be a nice third line guy who could play
up in the lineup when needed. To UFA forwards is
tough because I don't think the impact that the Sabers
will want is kind of worth the squeeze, unless maybe

(48:32):
a Jack Roslovic again, but I feel like he's the
type of guy who will stay in Carolina because usually
those types of guys, Carolina is good at retaining defense,
you know, pipe dream. I don't know how good he
is anymore, but like there's the Eric stall connection to
Aaron eck blad I think again, very doubtful, but someone
to monitor. He's a name.

Speaker 1 (48:53):
If they moved by room, they would make some cap
space to be able to sign a guy like Aaronic
blad Butt.

Speaker 4 (48:59):
Yeah, some underrated defensive guys that I kind of like. Again,
I don't know if he gets to UFA from Columbus,
but like Dante Fabrau might not be all that expensive,
a guy like Nick Perbicks from Tampa Bay might not
be all that expensive. I do think. You know, if
you want that true top four defenseman, you're gonna have

(49:21):
to probably do it via trade. And that's where you
look at a Zach white Cloud from Las Vegas or
a Michael kessel Ring from Utah or he he's a lefty,
so it's kind of whatever. But like a guy like
Jonis Brodeine loses trade protection come July, he's the one
you can target. You do have a JJ Pitturkebo and

(49:45):
Biram type of trade chip that maybe Minnesota would be
interested in.

Speaker 1 (49:50):
I saw people floating around ROSSI, but like what with Brodein,
Like I saw that today and I just kind of
shook my head at that.

Speaker 4 (49:56):
That's probably yeah, that's probably not happening. But just like
the name Brodein is a fun one that he's got
a history with Dolly and you know, both playing on
the Swedish team.

Speaker 3 (50:05):
Can we get brock brock Faber.

Speaker 4 (50:08):
I don't want him.

Speaker 3 (50:10):
He's He's one of those guys that's very polarizing. Either
you love him or he hate him.

Speaker 4 (50:14):
Like I think he's a little bit overrated and definitely
not the type the type of defenseman that Buffalow.

Speaker 3 (50:19):
Point of order.

Speaker 1 (50:20):
It's just it seems like these trades are harder to
make for these roster players these days. Like it just
I don't know if it's because the thirty two teams
now and because the cap hasn't gone up in a while,
just seems like the top impact players aren't moving around.
We were not seeing Miko ranton In type trades every
single season with Penning UFA's Like, I just I think
it's harder to kind of make trades in today's NHL

(50:40):
with guys that have term unless they're just guys that
teams want to give away for free. Because he's thirty
five years old with four years left on his contract
making eight million dollars.

Speaker 4 (50:49):
Yeah, but to CAPSI to start going up.

Speaker 1 (50:51):
Yeah, hopefully it goes into a different direction. Just recently
it hasn't really materialized.

Speaker 4 (50:56):
Yeah, there's been. I mean there's been a decent amount
this year, but I definitely get you.

Speaker 3 (50:59):
There said middle stat form was.

Speaker 4 (51:02):
Yeah, one of them. That's where like again, unfortunately like
not to give Adams credit because you know, I'm not
a fan of him, but he is one of the
few gms that does make these roster player trades, right,
Josh Norris, Josh Norris, bow and byram he got greenway
for draft picks, like he has acquired players with turn McLeod.
Like the credit he deserves is like he has been

(51:22):
relatively solid at that.

Speaker 3 (51:24):
So last question for you would be sorry.

Speaker 1 (51:26):
It would be like if if Thompson's going to be
more of a winger going forward, you move Norris up
to the top line wing or top line center, then
you look for a number two center or Ryan McLeod.
You know, he's more known as the number three, but
he played really well this year. So I think it depends
on if they want Thompson to be still on the
wing or they want to move him back to center,
because then if he moves to wing, you've got Norris

(51:47):
down the middle. You probably want to get another center.

Speaker 4 (51:50):
I I'm not saying this is a good idea, because again,
this is not what a real serious team would do.
But they did really seem to like Coole, each Benson
and Tom right now, you should not be penciling Yurik
cooleachin as your number one center going into next year.
Nothing against the player at all. I like Erik cooleach
a lot.

Speaker 3 (52:08):
He had a great breakout year.

Speaker 4 (52:09):
Yeah, but you should not be doing that. So I'm
interested to see what they do. Ruff does appear to
like Thompson at.

Speaker 3 (52:15):
Wing right he has the abidity to go in when needed.

Speaker 4 (52:19):
But I don't really care where he is. I prefer
him at center just because Thompson Norris McLeod top three
sounds pretty good. But here's the thing. Maybe maybe they
trade I mean, I get for a center, right, like
a name that I've seen thrown around by a couple
of Sabers people that I really actually am starting to

(52:41):
come around and not come around on, but like I
didn't think was realistic, but now maybe might be like
a Barret Hayden from Utah. M hm, he's the He's
given a little bit of McLoud vibes in terms of
could thrive in a different environment. And then all of
a sudden, if you have a Norris Hayden, McLeod is
your top three? No true number one there, but some

(53:02):
really quality depth there with the Thompson question looming, I
don't know. So there are like, there are names out there,
there are moves out there to be had. We've got
to hope this GM cannot only identify him, but he
can execute him because the moves he has made. And
you know, depending on your opinion of the Norris trade,
which obviously determines purely on health, but I think Norris

(53:25):
is a good player. He's made good trades, he's identified
good players and acquired them. He just hasn't done it enough.
So I really, like you were talking about free agents,
I'm not gonna sit here, and I would love Mitch
Marner to come to Buffalo. Obviously, two chance.

Speaker 1 (53:47):
If Thompson's your top line right wing and talks your
second you don't even really need to talk about that scenario.

Speaker 4 (53:53):
Uh again, I don't know what they're gonna do. I
also he's probably knock gone because I think they're gonna
try and jim and keep him here. THATKA smoke at
the trade deadline was pretty hard to ignore.

Speaker 3 (54:05):
But what kind of contracts he asking for?

Speaker 4 (54:09):
Right? Oh, that's the problem. That's why I think you
bridge him. He's the perfect bridge candidate. I know people
don't necessarily love that, but I just can't imagine this GM.
That's kind of what we talked about last episode is
he has to also improve the team, but he also
has McLeod Paca without any trades McLeod Paterca Quinn Byram,

(54:31):
Jacob Bernard, Docker, Devin Levi, I coult of your free
cap all his RFAs. Even if you trade BYROM, you
still have five RFAs. You have to sign it, like
Adams is going to have to be busy. All the
more reason to get him a senior advisor. But I

(54:51):
guess I.

Speaker 1 (54:52):
Said, Jack Quinn's not getting the long term daily thought
he was going to after maybe last year.

Speaker 4 (54:56):
Jack Quinn's lucky if they offer him a deal that's
more than a qualifying saying that he also did put
up a career high in points, which is insane how
bad he was, he still put up thirty nine points.

Speaker 1 (55:06):
Because he didn't he played a full, well more of
a full season than he did the year before.

Speaker 4 (55:10):
Yeah, so, like I said, it'll be really interesting. Yeah,
we're out a point where we have to have faith
in Kevin Adams. It's not the greatest feeling in the world,
but we have no choice. But for the third straight year,
we're saying this is a huge pivotal offseason. But maybe
finally he's gonna act like a GM who has no
job security and he's gonna go out there and go nuts.
That's all I can hope for, and I'm not hopeful,

(55:32):
but it's what I have left at this point.

Speaker 1 (55:35):
Yeah, so we'll have to see how that goes again.
We'll come back and you know, if there's any breaking news,
which I doubt is gonna happen between now and the draft,
maybe they hire a senior advisor who knows. You'd hope
that that would be in place, Like you said, by
the combine in a few weeks, which does take place
in Buffalo every year, so maybe some activity and some
conversations start to be had at the combine, which leads

(55:55):
to more activity near the draft.

Speaker 3 (55:57):
We'll come back and.

Speaker 1 (55:58):
Do you know a better solid draft preview for you guys,
Even though it is our offseason, we'll come back on
because it is an important time for the Sabers there gee,
you guys, a few quick episodes for the draft, and
then obviously with with free agency looming on July first,
that'll be definitely a big topic as we try to
grow the content here on the network.

Speaker 3 (56:16):
But thanks to everybody that tuned.

Speaker 1 (56:17):
In this season, it definitely wasn't the easiest for us
to come on and talk about and then I'm sure
it wasn't the easiest for the fans to listen to
at times the season, Austin, But you know, another season
of Saber samandics in the books and definitely big things
as we continue moving forward here with you know, our
best viewership and highest ratings that we've ever had five
years doing the show.

Speaker 4 (56:38):
Yeah, absolutely, and point of one more thing before we go.
I think it'll only be for this year, but with
the draft being decentralized, I think the combine is like
the only place we'll see all the GMS all in
the same building. Yeah, I wonder if that sparks anything.

Speaker 3 (56:55):
Good.

Speaker 4 (56:56):
Point. I know, it's not normal to see trades while
hockey is still like going on. But if we don't,
we're not gonna have all the GMS in the same
building for the Draft this year like we normally do.
So like I wonder, or at least at least there
will be some I expect there to be some like
rumors coming out of the Combine this year, at least
where I don't think we normally would. So that's the
last thing I wanted to say. Like you said, it

(57:16):
was a hard year. Every year has been hard, obviously
the last couple of years, like we had that high
where we were one point short and then it's kind
of the last two years has just been downhill since.
But hopefully here you know, next year is the year
all we can hope for. But like I said, like

(57:36):
I ended, this, guy Adams is gonna have to be busy.
So I at least expect our offseason like our you know,
our our draft preview and free agency preview and free
agency recap. I expect that to at least be fun
because at the very least, whether it's keeping everybody or
making some moves, he's got a lot of people to sign.

Speaker 1 (57:53):
Yeah, we'll see what Sparks and tigers being kicked at
the at the combine, and as you said, decentralized NHL
Draft this year, maybe some some more conversations than they
would have in previous years.

Speaker 3 (58:04):
So that's gonna do it.

Speaker 1 (58:05):
For our Saber Semantics season finale episode right here on
the arm Chair GM Sports Network. Thank you everybody that
tuned in live or tuned in on video on our
YouTube channel, those listening the next day in your favorite
on demand audio platforms.

Speaker 4 (58:18):
Here.

Speaker 1 (58:18):
By the time this comes out, the Sabers make a
higher and then the half of the show was ruined.
But regardless of that, thank you everybody that tuned into
this for Austin Brad, my name is Brandon Caputo.

Speaker 3 (58:27):
That's it, and we'll talk to you.

Speaker 1 (58:28):
Guys again very soon here in the upcoming off season
for the NHL Draft.

Speaker 3 (58:32):
We'll talk to you. Then. You're listening to the Armchair
GM Sports Network

All Episodes

Big Moves for the Sabres this NHL offseason? - Season Finale: Sabres Semantics

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Fudd Around And Find Out

Crime Junkie

The Breakfast Club

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Big Moves for the Sabres this NHL offseason? - Season Finale: Sabres Semantics