Dahlin’s Meeting With Adams Was About Club Direction, Not An Ultimatum
The kerfuffle raised by TNT panelist and Spittin Chiclets co-host Paul Bissonette earlier this week regarding a meeting between Buffalo Sabres team captain Rasmus Dahlin and GM Kevyn Adams received some clarity courtesy of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast on Friday, as he indicated that the meeting was not to provide an ultimatum, but to inquire about the plan for the direction of the club.
“I have never said I want to out of here. I'm not happy where we're at. I don't want to lose, we have to get better, but I've never said I want to out of here.” Dahlin said. "I'm pissed off by that. I haven't even mentioned the word leave. So that's just how it is."
Dahlin has not made the playoffs in seven seasons with the Sabres and has seen teammates Ryan O’Reilly, Jack Eichel, and Sam Reinhart all leave Buffalo and win Stanley Cups. Friedman indicated that the new team captain met with Adams more as an inquiry to what the plan was for the club going forward in the wake of another core piece in Dylan Cozens being moved out last week,
"We have to do a lot of stuff. It takes work every day. (Kevyn and I) had a real good discussion. We're very honest with each other. Stuff has to change. That's how it is. I absolutely hate losing. I don't think that's a part of who I want to be, so stuff has to change." Dahlin said. "I haven't played good enough. We haven't won games, so I take responsibility, but (things )have to change……we have to build. We have to get better every single day, each individual has to get better, and we have to play a better team game."
Friedman said that the moves made to re-sign Jordan Greenway and Jason Zucker were constructive and that Dahlin was satisfied with what he heard from Adams and that the plan now has to be put into action. The Sabres have regressed this season under Lindy Ruff on a number of fronts, with goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen not putting the numbers that earned him a long-term contract extension, the team defense showing remarkable inconsistency and the power play continuing to be one of the worst in the NHL.
What that plan is and who will be implementing it will be questions that owner Terry Pegula and possibly Adams will have to answer after the season ends.
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