To help get you through the dog days of summer, we are serving up a quick mailbag of listener questions. This mailbag tackles questions on Alex Tuch's extension, which prospects will see the most playing time and what sort of outlook there would be for this roster if they managed to snap Buffalo's playoff drought.
Bowen Byram will head to the arbitration table after the Sabres decided to opt for club-elected arbitration. We talk about the implications of Byram heading to arbitration and how that affects the short and long term outlook for the player and team. We also run down what looks to be a fairly set roster, exploring what looks to be yet another year of banking on internal growth to break Buffalo's playoff drought.
New Highmark Stadium will contain a range of features that are totally foreign to the confines of the Buffalo Bills current home and KeyBank Center is poised to get renovated any time now. With both of Western New York's major sports venues in the construction crosshairs, it was a perfect time to bring in an expert in the stadium industry to offer insight and background on the process. Ryan Aylmer of Brailsford & Dunlavey joins the show for a conversation that covers the changing trends and ...
Day one of free agency is in the books and the Sabres did a bit of work on Tuesday. They shored up their goaltending and signed a few depth pieces. We run down their work on July 1 and analyze it against the other moves they made at the draft and last week. We also provide some insight into the 2025 draft class and offer a few thoughts on Jacob Bernard-Docker and development camp.
Kevyn Adams held fast at pick number nine and selected Radim Mrtka, a gigantic defenseman out of the WHL. Adams didn't get much more done on Friday and I offer up some thoughts on what has and hasn't gotten done in Buffalo this week. I also hit on a few aspects of the de-centralized draft, the CBA extension and Jack Quinn's extension.
Strap in for a big episode as Kevyn Adams' pre-draft press conference left people with far more questions than answers. We run through the big talking points, particularly the bizarre rebuke he gave to rumors of a Mattias Samuelsson buyout. We also serve up a discussion of our respective mock offseasons before diving into the 2025 NHL Draft. Our draft conversation hits on the handful of players we think the Sabres could take and the players we like best at pick nine.
Elliotte Friedman put JJ Peterka into the thick of the rumor mill last week, noting that the Sabres had ever so slightly altered their stance on the RFA winger. We break down the latest on Peterka (9:55) and talk through what it would mean to move him this offseason. We open with a conversation on this year's Conn Smythe trophy, and make our pick in the midst of game six and the Stanley Cup Final wrapping up (0:35). In addition, Rasmus Dahlin's selection to Sweden's first six players for the 202...
With Bowen Byram's name at the top of the rumor mill, we break down what it would look like for the Sabres to move on from him and how the return could shape their strategy this summer. We also break down another popular rumor target, Jason Robertson. The trade package, why he's on the block and just how much of an impact he could have on this Sabres roster. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem ...
The long awaited addition to the Sabres front office has been made as Jarmo Kekalainen has been hired as a senior advisor. We discuss Kekalainen's hiring (20:32), where he succeeded in Columbus and what made him a qualified candidate. We also touch on the potential speed bumps that Kekalainen, Adams and the Sabres may encounter as Kekalainen gets up to speed in Buffalo. We also talk about the reaction to the Sabres decision to use the Buffalo Bills war room (10:08) for this month's draft. Lastly...
Both Bowen Byram and JJ Peterka have become subject to trade rumors, as the pair have slotted in on trade boards ahead of the offseason. While there has been plenty of smoke around Byram for some time, Peterka is a bit more of a surprise. This episode touches on some thoughts on each player, the viability of each as a trade target and how it may shape Buffalo's offseason. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is availabl...
New York State has put the wheels in motion for Buffalo to become a port city for Great Lakes cruises, potentially as early as 2027. Patrick Kaler, CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, joined the show to provide some insight into this process. He paints a detailed picture of how Great Lakes cruises operate, how they benefit the cities where they stop and how Buffalo is poised to capitalize on them. We touch on a number of topics related to the news, including what set the Outer Harbor apart as the site...
The Maple Leafs suffered another game seven letdown, raising new questions about their core players, specifically Mitch Marner. We discuss the feasibility (or lack thereof) of the Sabres targeting Marner if he reaches free agency (21:01). We touch on the cap work the Sabres would need to fit his contract, the players who would need to depart to provide the needed flexibility and how Marner would complement the roster if he were signed. We also offer some thoughts on the conference finals (:45) b...
The Sabres made their first new hire in the front office, adding Eric Staal in a special assistant role under Kevyn Adams. We discuss Staal's hiring (1:05) and whether or not they can land a special advisor in a more senior position as the offseason progresses (9:40). We wrap up with a conversation on Connor Clifton, the first player in our offseason series analyzing the players who could (or should) be targets for trade this summer (32:51). Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York call...
A pair of teams leapt up the draft order after the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. The New York Islanders will be picking first overall while the Utah Hockey Club moved from 14th to fourth, locking in the San Jose Sharks at second overall (:20). The Sabres were bumped to ninth overall after two teams from behind them moved up. We walk through the lottery results and offer a few thoughts on the direction we'd go if we were in the GM chair with the Islanders (6:58). Then we tackle the Sabres options at ni...
While there was some expectation the Sabres could make some changes in the front office, it appears as if no changes are in store for the club. Meanwhile, teams across the league have made substantial changes at coach or GM. We ask why the Sabres haven't determined that this sort of action is necessary after another season without the playoffs and whether or not there is any sort of organizational standard here in Buffalo (29:30). We kick off the show with a conversation on the first round of th...
Kevyn Adams and Lindy Ruff wrapped up the Sabres season with a joint press conference, coming after two days of locker cleanout and player interviews. We run through some of the most notable talking points from the weekend, reflecting on the pros and cons of an eventful weekend for the Sabres. While Adams spent a lot of time saying very little, he still made a few comments that stood out against a 14th straight season without a playoff berth. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York cal...
It's time for a listener mailbag as game 82 of the Sabres season approaches. This episode takes on questions about Buffalo's offseason plans, what the blueline should look like, if Lindy Ruff will get any assistants of his choosing and more. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-7899-7777 or visit ccpg.org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (Ka...
The Sabres resurgent play won't get them in the playoffs as they were officially eliminated on Tuesday despite a shutout of the Hurricanes. This episode explores some of the bright spots and building blocks on the Buffalo roster, plus an Eastern Conference Wild Card race that inched along for the second straight season. We also celebrate Alex Ovechkin breaking the all time goal scoring record to open the show. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (46...
Alex Ovechkin is on the brink of breaking Wayne Gretzky's all time goal scoring record and we devote the opening portion of this episode to discussing his feat, where he fits in league history and whether or not we'll see the record broken this year. We also discuss the 180 Buffalo's goaltending hierarchy has undergone as James Reimer has seemingly taken the net from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Also, how has Noah Ostlund's hot second half altered his stock within the organization? Gambling problem? Ca...
The Sabres hosted a season ticket holder event that produced a few interesting tidbits and we frame a conversation on the boiling fan unrest around the event and the ongoing injury issue facing Josh Norris. We also pose a question of which Amerk you'd like to see recalled for a short look over the final few weeks of the 24-25 season. The show wraps up with a brief discussion of the upcoming NCAA National Tournament. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPE...
It was another week full of frustrating press coverage centered on thee Sabres and their struggles. Joe Yerdon joins the show this week to dig into the latest coverage while offering some insights on what has plagued the Sabres as of late. We talk about what's shaping up to be a new storyline for the end of the year and look ahead to yet another pivotal offseason for Kevyn Adams. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In New York call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369). In Connecticut, Help is ...
This week's episode runs through the aftermath of the deadline, looking ahead to what comes next for Kevyn Adams and the Sabres. We walk through the remaining holes to plug in Buffalo's lineup and how the Josh Norris acquisition fits within the larger scope of the club's ongoing build. Prior to that, we talk through the explosion of takes spurred by Paul Bissonnette over Rasmus Dahlin drawing a line in the sand with Adams. While Dahlin strongly denied the report, there was no getting past the in...
Josh Norris was the big addition for the Sabres on deadline day and Kevyn Adams did a fair bit of work moving out Dylan Cozens and Henri Jokiharju and extending Jason Zucker. This episode is a quick rundown of Friday's work by Adams, offering a brief breakdown of the Norris acquisition. In addition, this episode takes a look at a busy deadline around the league, highlighting the most notable deals made at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.
With the trade deadline just a few days away, we run down the players on Buffalo's roster who may be on the move by Friday. We touch on Jordan Greenway, Henri Jokiharju and Jason Zucker while also devoting some time to Alex Tuch as trade rumors around Buffalo's assistant captain won't seem to go away. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call 877-8 HOPENY or text HOPENY (4673699). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-7899-7777 or visit ccpg d...
Just a week remains until the trade deadline and the Sabres have won six of seven games. This episode shares a few Buffalo Sabres players I'm keeping an eye on ahead of the deadline before diving in to a few listener questions that touch on the potential downtown soccer stadium, Alex Ovechkin's record pursuit, Devon Levi and Buffalo's blueline. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred Gambler. In New York, call 877-8 HOPENY or text HOPENY (4673699). In Connecticut, Help is available for problem ...
The 4 Nations Face Off has been a massive success for the NHL, headlined by an excellent USA vs. Canada matchup on Saturday night. We run through the preliminary round results, not just breaking down the fight-filled game between the US and Canada but the results for the Finns and Swedes as well. In addition to our discussion on the hugely positive reaction to the preliminary games, we also offer up a preview for Thursday's rematch between the US and Canada for the 4 Nations championship.
The second episode of Sabres Showdown is here. Once again the Straight Up Sabres team joins us for the conversation over two of the most memorable teams in Sabres history. This time we break down the 2005-06 and 2006-07 Sabres teams, attempting to determine which of the two deserve the honor of moving on in our bracket to face the 1998-99 Cup Finalists. We also give some love to the 2000-01 Sabres team as one of the most notable honorable mentions to miss out on the larger conversation of the be...
The 4 Nations Face Off has arrived and we devote this episode to a breakdown of the four teams and how they may fare in the tournament. We offer up thoughts on how each team has looked in their early practices and how we expect the tournament to go once it gets rolling on Wednesday.
The Sabres were at the center of hockey discourse after failing to step up and respond to the hit taken by Tage Thompson on Sunday. We discuss the lack of response from the Sabres and how the lack thereof has shaped the discourse in the following days. We also run through the trades that came down over the weekend, including the JT Miller deal between the Canucks and Rangers. Our discussion covers the movement ahead of the start of 4 Nations Face Off and the implications for the teams in the Wes...
The Canes and Avalanche swung a blockbuster this weeknd as Mikko Rantanen was shipped to Carolina in the biggest trade since the Jack Eichel deal. We run through Saturday's blockbuster before wading into the latest developments on Elias Pettersson and the Canucks. We wrap up this week's episode with a discussion of Jiri Kulich's impressive stretch of hockey and the impact he's had as a rookie.
