What’s Going On With The Buffalo Sabres?

from Luke Fox of Sportsnet, A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. According to league sources, it's still early. Hearing there's no need to panic. Confirming plenty of runway left. With all due respect to the slow start in Edmonton and the absence of saves in Colorado, we're not sure first month tensions run higher than in Buffalo. The new/old coach has summoned just one win through six games, and the new captain is fighting Peyton Krebs at practice after throwing a low bridge. Sure, "boys will be boys," as Lindy Ruff puts it, and we have no doubt Rasmus Dahlin and Peyton Krebs have indeed buried the hatchet. Still, this is a bad look. Moreover, this is bad roster construction. The Sabres are supposed to be trying to turn the corner on their forever rebuild, yet they've already dug a standings hole that puts them on track for extending their NHL-record playoff drought to a 14th(!) season. Frankly, GM Kevyn Adams has too many "boys." With an average age of 25.1, the Sabres are the league's youngest team by a full year (the rebuilding Flyers are second-youngest, at 26.1). Adams has locked up some great, raw talent, sure. But he has failed to surround those enticing pieces with the proper mix of veterans to set a standard, establish a culture. No doubt, the GM is on the hot seat. However, we're not certain how an off-ice change can solve the on-ice product in the immediate future. Considering the strength of the Atlantic Division, the Sabres still feel like a long-term project — and the fans of Buffalo deserve better. many more topics...