Is it safe to be a Sabres fan again?

0:00Hey guys, this is Matt Norlander, co-host of the Ion College Basketball Podcast with Gary Parrish. We are part of the CBS Sports Podcast Network and College Hoops is turning toward what's going to be a phenomenal march. So be sure you are tuned into the show. We're going to be publishing at least four shows every week. Follow and listen to Ion College Basketball free on the Odyssey F or wherever you get your podcast. March is coming. Let me ask you this Brian, if they add Robert Thomas, going into the playoffs, the Buffalo Savers are what? They're fighting for, in my opinion, the third best odds to win the East, which is still worthy of going for it. It's reasonable to expect that it could happen. Everything's come together. When you go on a heater like this, everything's coming together. I think Tampa and Carolina deserve the benefit of the doubt based on their pedigree, their history, their coaching. Is Buffalo better than Montreal, Detroit, Pittsburgh, the Outers? Yeah, I think they could make that case.

1:02Is it a bad look when a host of a radio show in Buffalo says the show that his show just played a clip of from Toronto is his favorite radio show? I know I could listen to other time. I'm not one who, and I'm grateful for all of you that do do it. I should probably listen to over. That's TSN's overdrive, Toronto, Brian Hayes, Jamie McClendon, and Jeff O'Neal. They used to be on like noon to two, and I would catch them driving in here. Now they're on in this time slot because, well, they're awesome. That's them talking about the Savers and this rumored trade for Robert Thomas. I love that Hayes put it just like Carolina and Tampa, okay, sure, they're better than you. Who else? Nobody. So go for it. You just, you just never know when your best opportunity is going to be, and this year

2:06could be it. That's why I love the energy behind this Robert Thomas conversation. Get right back to the phones here at 803-0550. Want to share this? I'm Mark Salinger, producer and one of the hosts of the Moth podcast. For nearly two decades, the Moth has brought live storytelling to stages around the world and to millions of listeners. These are real people telling true stories from their lives, stories about a lost family recipe, about working to free a wrongfully convicted man, about realizing you need to leave your May-December romance, stories that will move you, surprise you, make you laugh, stories you can't forget. Join us. Follow and listen to the Moth wherever you get your podcasts. Our buddy Chad Deedham minutes is with expected buffalo. Chad was on our show just a couple of weeks ago, I think during the Olympic break. And he shares this just his thoughts on what could be going on here and what a return to get Robert Thomas to the Sabers could look like.

3:06He says he believes it would be headlined with futures and minimal of any NHL roster impact. Logically that almost has to mean Helenuse and or Murtka are a part of the return forgot all about red and red in Murtka playing junior hockey But the sabers first round pick last year Along with the first to start probably three Four pieces overall is what Chad is betting on and that that lines up with a lot of the reporting We've seen on this already and a lot of the speculation that we've shared with you What it does is protect your NHL roster So you know, you're not pulling something out to bring something in You're simply bringing in a great player in using mostly futures to make it happen Which I mean I'm a hundred percent here for that 80305 50 again is the number Tim will be first up this segment Hi Tim. Thank you for calling you're on the air here on WGR Hold on thanks for taking my call. I appreciate it. Love listening to you

4:10especially when hockey is good again So thank you for that. I also Feel very fortunate to be able to listen to your son in the mornings. He's you He is absolutely you as mannerisms. I just love it. So thank you for for both I appreciate you saying that Tim. Thank you. Yeah, true story So I am the fan that you talked about the last couple of days in terms of how things have changed for me You know, I definitely went into a hole My son would come home and say aren't the sabers playing and I'd say yes. So what And now of course, you know, I can't you know, I can't make a make an appointment when there's a game So with that said this is where I talk out of both sides of my mouth and commit that bless for me But I mean, this is Kevin Adams roster, right? Yeah And so I guess the question is you know, are we doing and I completely understand why we made the move. I get it

5:13I lived it. I get it But at some point in time, are we doing a disservice and not giving some sort of credit for what he's put together Well, I think he'll I think he'll get credit Tim You know, it will not be to me and afterthought because it is quite literally true Right now anyway, I mean, we'll see about a Robert Thomas trade um This team was built by Kevin Adams The majority the vast majority of the draft. I mean he was on the job for this was his sixth season So it stands to reason right a lot of the draft picks a lot of the guys that are here our guys that he chose not all of them you know, I mean But but most of it and if they make this trade for Robert Thomas using largely futures Those are all those are all Kevin Adams picks It is um, I think right and fair to point that out of course, right the the the the trade that netted them

6:18Kesslering and don't I mean don't don't don't hit so well here so fast that he's already on a contract extension Pay them seven times when he was making when he walked in the door um There have been good hockey moves here What what they're what they're heading been was any Real faith in the direction of the organization and that comes on With year over year of inaction To improve the roster when something's going wrong And I think it also comes from just year over year of the players being treated like punchlines because of Everything that went on you go back to Reinhard Eichel and Bristol Einen being traded in one off season while Eichel was a little later Those guys were in the summer and then Eichel got traded once the season got going but you you get the point um their reputation

7:20Took a huge hit when Adams took that job It within the league within within the the players within their peers the sabers were being laughed at regularly And so I Look that that all doesn't necessarily Come down as being fair to Adams But I cannot imagine this team playing With the the heart and desire that they play with now If the move hadn't been made I just don't think you can overstate how important it was to have a credible NHL experienced level of executive executives plural brought in here To sort of jumpstart this whole thing I just don't think any of this would be happening if he were still the jam Uh, it does it speaks a lot to faith in Leadership and belief and the kind of things that get you to really dig in and play as hard as you possibly can

8:28Every every opportunity doesn't mean you're always going to be at your best your best some nights Uh is not going to be good enough Like that that's the sport that's how it happens you can you can have the best intentions every night and physically Emotionally you maybe just can't get there All the time But if you can get there often enough like this team has That piece the the belief piece Matters a lot Because you're seeing it right here the talent is basically the same And what they've gotten instead with the exception of lion. I mean lion was Adam brought lion in that was his idea um His contribution shouldn't be underestimated They they've had a stability in goal That with like if they they were just looking in and leave I or looking in and your name here Um, they would have been in real trouble, but lion has really propped that up and helped them a lot um

9:31But basically it's the same it's the same team And lion was here at the start of the year when things weren't going well and it just turned as soon as There was word in the wind credible word in the wind that a move was going to be made when they got home from that road trip Everything changed and look I don't have a other than the record. I don't have a data point to give you that proves it But it's just too much of a coincidence to me. So yes, give him credit And I do think he will get it Um as we go here once everyone really believes like boy wow They he really did a look at these guys like he built this team that's correct So I don't I don't I wouldn't want to like try to Change that in any way But if you think this was all possible with him still as the GM I mean again, I can't I can't write down or show you a chart

10:35As to why I disagree vehemently with you I just don't think the previous five years tell tell me all I need to know about it The attention to detail their best players have now did not exist With him is GM just didn't taged Thompson is a perfect case in point I don't think I'm just whitewashing it now like watching Thompson because they're good and going oh Well his defensive liabilities don't bother me anymore because they're getting results I just don't see him Making the sorts of decisions That I was used to seeing him make in the first month and a half two months of the season I think it changed. I think they're dug in Anyway, thanks for the call really appreciating yet Rob is up next hi Rob. Thanks for calling around WGR My bulldog. I wanted to um ask you about I think it was about four years ago three four years ago you wrote an article Um titled is it safe yet to be a savers fan?

11:37And I can't tell you how many times I've asked myself that and A few times I've said yes, and then it comes back to haunt me I thought maybe you should probably write a You know what hard to do to that I I appreciate you uh remembering that I don't recall that specific Theme but I I believe you I just don't I don't have I don't have recall of it um I do think it is safe. I mean I've been saying for for weeks here. They're good This isn't a fluke This isn't just shooting percentage and save percentage. I mean some of that sure But they defend well they convert their chances They're not a hot power play really team. They're just good And that is months long now So I think them going big you know big game hunting here If they're really in on Robert Thomas from the blues. I think it's absolutely warranted

12:40Because I do not think the conference is so top heavy that you're looking at numerous teams that you just think I how do I beat that team To me it's Carolina and Tampa and the last time I played Carolina I got I got I got goldied I mean they had a great day. That was an afternoon game right Martha Luther King day. I think Martin Luther King day That was um great great outing they lost two to one to Carolina um Take just whooped Tampa in their place those are the kingpin teams in the east Toronto's done Boston's sort of like level with you Montreal Detroit same thing Those seems I don't want anything in a long time But they they they are probably going to be playoff teams You're going to absolutely see Then handling any of those teams in a first round series Carolina and Tampa are the only two and if this goes well and you get a second or a third in the division You don't don't worry about them until the second round at the earliest

13:42So I I think it's it's called for to treat this like you got to look at it And that's why that's the thing I love the most about this story today 80305 50 Sonoma got to hit up a break We're about 15 20 minutes away from Sabre's pregame with Paul Hamilton That's on the way at the top of the hour. I'm the bulldog, and this is W looking for something smart Soulful and full of heart. I'm Jin Hatmaker Post for the love the podcast where we talk about what really matters love and family Faith and purpose every week. I'm joined by in Reddible guests for honest conversations that invite all of us to live with more intention More laughter and more connection Join us on for the love wherever you get your podcasts