The Instigator Podcast

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 ninth overall (15:53) The 2025 class isn't exceptional after the first...

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 the NHL playoffs (:30) and TNT calling games from the studio (5:01). We also...

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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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 initial concern that the Sabres could alienate another star.

G...

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.

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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.

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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 best Sabres teams of all time. 

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 West (and the Sabres pursuit of Elias P...

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. 

Would you rather see the Sabres finish with a lottery pick or make a heroic run to 9th place? That's one of our topics on this week's episode. We chat about the potentail outcomes if the Sabres were to finish with a top 3 draft pick vs. a run to 9th or 10th in the East. Prior to that, we talk about reports of a future NHL salary cap at $100 million in addition to the latest on JT Miller's trade saga. We also touch on Connor McDavid's suspension and whether or not the punishment fit the crime. (It did.)

Yet another horrible loss from the Sabres led to damning comments from Lindy Ruff. With the team firmly in the Eastern Confernce basement, all the talk of accountability feels like ancient history now. We talk about the shortcomings behind the bench, in the locker room and the front office. We also touch on how other teams that have struggled this year haven't been shy about improving, while Kevyn Adams sits on his hands. 

Rumors are swirling around Vancouver as the reported animosity between JT Miller and Elias Pettersson won't go away. As the Canucks are said to be listening on both, many are wondering whether or not the Sabres can, or should make a play for the former 100-point scorer. We break down Pettersson's credentials, what sort of package the Sabres would need to fork over and where he would fit if the Sabres were to pull the trigger. 

The second half of the show is devoted to a bit of a midseason check in. We hit on a few o...

The rumors of the Sabres and Wings scouting each other have sparked rumors that a deal between the two clubs could be coming. We spend some time talking about what the two teams could be working on and which players could be involved. From big ticket trades to lower stakes swaps, we try and work out what could be on the horizon.

Beforee getting to the trade discussion, we open the show with a chat about the UNLV vs. Denver game and UNLV's impreessive upset of the defending NCAA champs. Our conversation touches on what the win...

Terry Pegula trekked to Montreal for a meeting with the Sabres on Monday. The takeaway from the meeting was that Pegula believes in the group and the team trusts that the solution to their struggles is in the room. They responded to that meeting with a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the Montreal Canadiens. We discuss what the fallout of Monday's meeting could be, especially given the unbelievably flat and underwhelming response from the team in the wake of the highly publicized event. The answers for what ails the Sabres are thin despite the litany of issues they're...

Kevyn Adams set Sabres Nation ablaze with his press conference replies on Friday and while we hoped the space between his press availability and our recording may be long enough to discuss something else about the local hockey club. But the Sabres lost two more games, carrying their skid to seven-straight and putting his comments into sharper focus. Thus, our conversation is centered around Adams performance at the podium on Friday. what his inaction and the team's performance may mean for his future, and how Terry Pegula's stewardship of the Sabres is the root cause of the team's issues.<...

Buffalo's losing skid hit four games after a dreadful loss to the Colorado Avalanche, erasing the club's playoff advantage and leaving many questions about the current state of the team. We devote the first portion of this episode to breaking down the root causes of their issues, landing on roster construction as the primary issue with what could be another stalled season.

We close the episode with a breakdown of the rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off, specifically the US and Canadian rosters. We talk about the decision to bring more role players than overall talent on the...

Sabres Showdown, a limited series presented by The Instigator Podcast and Straight Up Sabres, will break down and debate the best teams in Sabres franchise history. In the first episode of Sabres Showdown, we debate the merits of the first matchup of our bracket, the 1979-80 vs. 1992-93 Buffalo Sabres. This episode breaks down the pros and cons of both the 79-80 and 92-93 Sabres teams and we make a determination which of the two were the better side when reflecting on franchise history.

We begin the show with a fun discussion about some of the teams...

On Thanksgiving Eve we fired up the mailbag to field a few questions from our listeners and run through some hot topics in Sabres nation. We hit on Jiri Kulich, Kevyn Adams trade activity, playoff positioning and more in this holiday special. 

It's time for Sabres After Dark but Devon Levi will have to participate like the rest of us as the goaltender was sent to Rochester. James Reimer will be taking over backup duties while Levi gets to take over as the starter for the Amerks. We talk about how this move is the best option for Levi's development while also reflecting on how his play led the Sabres to this decision. 

We also touch on the need for the Sabres to perform well on this California swing if they hope to make any headway in the standings. A...

The Sabres exited their disappointing loss against the Canadiens with some concerning injury potential but they enter the end of the week with a bit of good news on that front. Both Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Tage Thompson couldn't finish the game but are considered day-to-day, a huge victory as the pair are among the players the Sabres can't afford to lose. News wasn't as strong for Mattias Samuelsson as he will be out long term. We talk through the injury news and dig in on the injury-prone nature of Samuelsson and if it's time for the Sabres to consider...

Elliotte Friedman reported last week that Kevyn Adams is among the busiest GMs in this young season as he likely shops around for a forward who can supplement Buffalo's offensive attack. We talk about the many challenges Adams will be facing in trying to make a deal at this stage of the season and the (very) short list of players available to him to acquire given how few teams would be willing to shop a higher end piece of their roster. 

We talk through some potential scenarios, in terms of players who could theoretically be targted while a...

The Sabres are getting scary play from their second line and it isn't scary good either. We talk about the struggles of Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn and Buffalo's limited options to solve the issue. We also talk about the performance of Buffalo's goaltenders and how a bit more consistency from the pair could pay dividends through a friendly upcoming schedule. 

The show kicks off with a conversation about the recent Sportico team valuations and the Sabres 26% increase to a reported $1.13 billion. 

The Sabres sluggish start has overshadowed some positive play from the roster. It's also been driven by a few notable, questionable performances from players who many were counting on driving the bus for the Sabres this season. We talk about Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn underperforming and how a resurgence from that pair could push the Sabres into contention in the East. We also discuss how Buffalo's third line has helped carry the mail for the struggling second line. 

Along the way we touch on Frozen Frenzy and the news that a pair of USHL teams approached t...

The Sabres enjoyed two strong performances upon their return from Europe, though they only came away with one win. One reason is the team's power play has yet to score this season. We devote this episode to discussing what has and hasn't worked for Buffalo's power play and what areas we think could serve to improve the unit's potential for success. 

Along the way we touch on the rumors that the Bills may sell a stake to a group of former athletes with ties to no other city but Toronto and we offer some reflection on the t...

The Sabres fell flat in their opening games against the Devils in Prague, with many key areas of their game serving to derail the pair of losses. We discuss the disappointing opening games and what will need to be fixed if the Sabres hope to get back on track. Along the way we touch on James Reimer moving on to Anaheim after being claimed on waivers, the injuries the Sabres are working through and when the right time will be for fans to hit the panic button.

The Sabres desperately need to snap their playoff drought and if they're to do it, there are several key factors that will get the job done. In a different type of season preview, we discuss which players will serve as the key drivers for Sabres if they're to get back into the playoffs. We also touch on other factors that will be at play, such as the power play, and if all of the things the Sabres need to go right, will be too much for a team with a lengthy run without postseason hockey. 

The Sabres roster has officially split as the team's 27-man traveling group departed for Europe on Tuesday. The players remaining in camp are made up of the bulk of the Rochester Americans roster. We discuss the final choices to round out that traveling party and how Lindy Ruff may have a tough choice to make in terms of how he handles his goaltenders once the team arrives in Europe. We also offer up some thoughts on the team's progress early in preseason while running through where some Sabres landed on The Athletic's player tier rankings. 

The Sabres hit training camp with 59 players but very few questions about what the final 23-man roster will look like. Kevyn Adams' offseason yielded a number of new additions and has left very few openings for a training camp surprise like Zach Benson last season. We run through Peyton Krebs' new contract, the new roof and scoreboard along with Buffalo's roster as they prepare to open camp on September 18. 

Hockey will be played by players wearing Buffalo Sabres uniforms this week as the Prospects Challenge kicks off on Friday. The Sabres are bringing a few star prospects along for the ride. This episode highlights some of the key players to watch for this weekend at The Prospects Challenge along with others who will have an opportunity to make an impact over Buffalo's trio of games. Each position group is touched on, with the likes of Nikita Novikov and Anton Wahlberg getting some added focus. 

Episode three of the PipelIne Update series is here, featuring an in-depth conversation with Kris Baker of Sabres Prospects on the state of the Buffalo Sabres forward group at forward. We touch on several of Buffalo's top prospects, along with others who haven't gotten quite as much attention compared to the likes of Jiri Kulich or Noah Ostlund. Kris gives a thoroguh breakdown of the season outlook for the likes fo Brodie Ziemer, Kulich, Ostlund, Konsta Helenius and many more. We also touch briefly on how things may shape up for next week's Prospects Challenge and Sabres training camp. 

As summer winds down, we field some listener questions on the state of the Sabres and the world of hockey. On the docket is Pete Guelli's tenure thus far, Peyton Krebs' contract status and, perhaps most important of all, the red and black jerseys. 

Our offseason series highlighting Buffalo's prospect pipeline continues with a conversation with Scott Wheeler of The Athletic on Buffalo's defensive prospects. We discuss the formidable collection of right handed defenders in Buffalo's system, including Vsevelod Komarov, Adam Kleber and Maxim Strbak. We also talk about the outlook for the likes of Nikita Novikov and how the top-end talent on the Sabres roster puts Kevyn Adams in a unique situation when adding talent to this group. Thanks to Scott for joining the show, you can find his work at The Athletic.