Kevyn Adams landed on his head coaching hire and it’s a familiar face. Lindy Ruff will be back behind the Buffalo Sabres bench for the 2024-25 season and we dig into the decision to bring Ruff into the fold after moving on from Don Granato. We touch on his tenure in Dallas and New Jersey and attempt to translate which traits and aspects of those seasons may serve the Sabres in trying to snap their playoff drought.
Buffalo Sabres
The Instigator Podcast 12.34 – Don Granato Out as Sabres Head Coach
Don Granato was relieved of his duties by the Buffalo Sabres. We break down the firing and begin to discuss who might come in to replace him as Buffalo’s bench boss. We spend some time on the likes of Lindy Ruff, David Carle, Bruce Boudreau and many others.
The Instigator Podcast 12.33 – What Sank the Sabres Season?
The Sabres were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs and, like last season, there isn’t one single reason they will miss out on the postseason. But that didn’t keep us from trying to pin it down. We spend this week’s episode running through the myriad reasons the Sabres couldn’t keep pace in the Eastern Conference and will be watching the playoffs for the 13th straight season.
The Instigator Podcast 12.32 – First Rounder on the Table
Should the Sabres first round pick be offered up in a trade this offseason? We run down just why we feel so strongly that the Sabres shouldn’t just be shopping their first rounder, but several other pieces this summer in an attempt to get the right mix with their group and to break their playoff drought.
The Instigator Podcast 12.31 – Ready for Prime(time)
The NHL will be highlighted in a new reality series that will air on Amazon. We spend some time talking about the outlook for the show and some of the players we’d like to see highlighted by the production. We kick off this week’s episode discussing the Sabres west coast trip and offer up some thoughts on how things should unfold in the offseason before jumping into a conversation about rule changes and the upcoming Amazon series.
Two in the Mailbox: Now What?
Thursday’s action dealt a devastating blow to Buffalo’s late surge for a playoff spot. Between a horrific third period and Detroit’s win over the Islanders, the Sabres likely need to run the table over their final 11 games to even have a shot at breaking their drought.
That sets us up for another summer of retooling and roster prognostication. That was front and center with the collection of questions for this latest edition of Two in the Mailbox.
Continue readingThe Instigator Podcast 12.30 – A Playoff Push?
The Sabres are trying to claw their way back into the Eastern Conference playoff picture. We talk through the challenges they face as they chase down the Red Wings, Islanders and Capitals for a potential wild card berth. We also field a couple of listener questions after breaking down the playoff race, touching on topics that relate to the future of Buffalo’s blueline and Zemgus Girgensons.
Thinking Out of the Box: Which Drought Brought the Most Pain?
Featuring Chris & @BuffaloWins
This series is supported by FOCO. FOCO carries an impressive line of team-branded merchandise and collectibles. They create unique, limited edition bobbleheads of some of the biggest stars in sports and they complement those lines with cool apparel, home decor and more. Check out their full Bills collection by following this link.
Chris: Joe, it’s yet another Sabres season with no playoffs and the top ranked prospect pool. You must be over the moon.
Joe: Ah yes, where’s Ted Black to send out another booklet stating we won the prospect title? Maybe Kris Baker can come out with his own beer called prospect IPA.
Speaking of beer, the only way you can get me through a Sabres game is a beer. Lots of beer. WTF has happened to me? It wasn’t too long ago we’d be fighting over importance of prospects, Derek Roy being a top 20 center, Cody Hodgson getting a lucrative deal, Tim Murray giving away draft picks like he’s giving away tips at the bar, and Kim Pegula telling us we don’t know anything. It’s dark times for me. I’ve watched probably six periods of Sabres hockey this season and while I can blame my newborn baby or 7-9 p.m. is Joe and wife TV time, I’m just beaten by the Sabres. The losing has killed. And as someone who has been around for 44 years and 17 of those happened during the Bills drought, I think this drought is worse somehow. What say you?
Continue readingThe Instigator Podcast 12.29 – Breaking Down the Sabres Deadline
Kevyn Adams made a big splash ahead of the deadline, acquiring Bowen Byram from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt. We dig into the deal, discussion what Byram can bring to the table for the Sabres and what this means for the next acquisitions Adams needs to make as he tries to shape the Sabres into a playoff roster.
We also touch on some of the deals from around the NHL, reviewing the work done by Vegas, Winnipeg, Carolina and Colorado at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline.
Unlocking Byram’s Full Potential the Key to Swap with Avs
Kevyn Adams exhibited quite a bit of patience over the last 24-plus months, making scant few trades since sending Jack Eichel to Vegas in November 2021.
That all changed on Wednesday when he acquired Bowen Byram from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt. A hockey trade in the purest sense, Adams made the acquisition that eluded him in the offseason as he bolsters his blueline with another U25 player with team control.
This trade won’t lack criticism. Mittelstadt had found his game over the last two seasons and he’d been one of Buffalo’s most consistent and effective forwards this season. He was delivering on his draft pedigree and provided the Sabres with three reliable centermen on a nightly basis. Mittelstadt’s next contract was going to be a challenge for the Sabres as the potential for the deal to upset their salary structure was a real possibility. Still, his contributions over the last two seasons were terrific. He had evolved into a two-way weapon, adept at winning battles along the wall with the impressive playmaking attributes that made him a high draft pick.
At 25, with team control, Mittelstadt was also a prime trade candidate, especially considering the extensions the Sabres had given to Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens. Extending him wasn’t out of the question, but he offered Adams a trade chip few other GMs had at their disposal.
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Two in the Box 