Ghost of Dwight Drane

I'm sure he had no idea whatsoever. Given Cliff Benson was the Financial Chair of Second Mile Given the Second Mile was informed over 10 years prior of Sandusky's behavior and again in 2008 Given the Lawyer who was the same for both Second Mile and Penn St. was fully aware and involved in the Sandusky investigations Given Attorney General Tom Corbett was in charge of the investigation of Second Mile Given Second Mile was a major campaign donor to Corbett and Pegula was his biggest donor Given Cliff Benson is also Financial Chair of Republican Senator Pat Toomey's campaign Given 75% of Second Mile board members are Penn St. graduates Given Cliff Benson secured Pegula's donation to Penn St after all parties were aware of Grand Jury and previous incidents Given that donation was made directly to the AD also charged in the coverup findings Given Cliff Benson is a top executive of the Buffalo Sabres and bio was scrubbed days after story went public I have no way of knowing what if anything Pegula knew. All I know are these facts. And I know that belittlement when evil is involved leads to more long term evil.

It's a cult, that's for sure.

Again.....I'd like to hear what people define the term "elite" as being. Ryan Miller played like an elite goalie for a stretch of 3 or 4 months, a few years ago. Thomas Vanek can play like an elite forward for a few weeks at a time. Drew Stafford looks elite 3 or 4 games a year. Here is the chain of command in ascending order.........Disgusting, Horrible, Bad, Poor, Mediocre, Decent, Good, Very Good, Awesome, Elite Maybe in Darcy's world....all Sabres start at Decent and curve up. If you show me Lindy's track record and attempt anything over Very Good with a straight face, you are a joker. I would peg him at decent to good. I would also peg eating cottage cheese for a week as decent to good. Make of that what you wish.

Hmm....I know a lot of people rave about Bar Bill and their wings......and they were fine and good.....and it was a good dive atmosphere.....but I'm going B+. There was nothing that would draw me out there again other than friends.....although I guess 9:15 was too late to try their roast beef. I had just seen it talked up so much...I was expecting Sidney Crosby and got Daniel Alfredsson. Nothing wrong, just could put it in the rotation with a few dozen other places in town.

As far as who is here still.....Vanek, Pominville, Stafford, Miller......those are all your captains and take up 1/3 of your salary cap....and have heard Lindy for a cumulative of 30 years. The only outliers on this team are Regehr, Ott, Lieno, Ehrhoff, Leopold, McCormick.....................everyone else was under Lindy since a baby, or are still very young.

I've actually approved of just about everything this offseason so far. I think I have been pretty patient and supportive. It was hearing Regier's voice that triggered me......and my reaction which triggered you.......which just may be a sign that no matter how much things look like they are changing on the surface, you react off of instincts and how you really feel. That alone is probably the best reason to either get rid of Ruff, or totally gut this roster so the group of losers that have been tainted can't fall back on their cowardess at the first sign of trouble. Some people judge Regier since Pegula took over.......I judge someone from a total body of work...which includes 15 years and surviving 4 major ownership changes....2 groups which admitted to not having winning or the fans best interests in mind...........that's how I judge a person.

He also said 3 years prior the team needed to be tougher.....and needed to get bigger. It's drip drops. Never a bold move in that direction. Well then.....let's see what other moves are made. If it was a mandate from Pegula, he got Ott...drafted big...and signed Scott. If Darcy is throwing the dog a bone, it stops there more than likely. Let's see who else comes in. I want to believe he admitted he has been wrong all these years, but I don't know. I have been patient and remain, but I hear that political hack speak come out of his mouth and am reminded he has spent more time working on creating spreadsheets and Corsi numbers to justify his job than he has in actually improving the team. It's very frustrating....... I think this offseason has been a success so far. Ott and Girgensons are just what the team needs.....but they need more. I applaud the diceroll on Grigorenko. Let's see if Darcy believes what he is saying. You still need Doan on this team or a trade for another REAL leader. That is more important than a Stastny or Ryan. RJ....yes Rip is too busy reading the Racing Form.

1) No- not at all....but many throw the word "conspiracy" around for what is actual critical thinking. I think Pommer clarified that he was actually talking about Darcy having some hidden agenda, not using the word to belittle critical thought. 2) So Babcock and Lindy are the 2 elite coaches in the league? That's what I want to know...what is Darcy's definition of elite? Who does he value Ruff's ability along with? Is it 2...5....10...30 coaches? I can see Darcy backpeddling..."Well, just to be able to coach in the NHL makes you elite in some sense because there are only 30 jobs in the world available." That's what has me going. There isn't one member of the organization that is elite, save Pegula's wallet.

I agree that they believe in their vision. I also have expressed before though that Regier is a "survivor" and will do whatever is neccessary to keep his cushy job. So much so that it leaves me questioning how many of these moves so far were because he truly believes these are the right moves for a hockey team, or because someone else is "suggesting" he make these moves. I have given him the benefit of the doubt and have even suggested patience to see what other moves are made since the lightbulb may have gone on. Then he throws around the word "ELITE" to decribe Ruff and claims he is getting better...........and then I hate myself for letting him off the hook. Survive and collect baby.......survive and collect.........

Conspiracy has replaced the word "think" on this board. Do you want me to come up with Watergate tapes of Darcy and Larry Quinn? What is concrete evidence? A drunk Dr. can mow down a teenage girl and flee the scene then walk. Help me out here? I know what I see....I know what I know.....I know how I feel. It all comes down to "do you want to spend your time and $$ supporting THIS?" If you do...God Bless, free country. If you feel comfortable with the Sabres structure and want to invest in it........then that is why there is a free market. I just also have to question the discernment of those involved in investing in certain markets....that's all. Doesn't mean you are wrong or bad......just means it will take all the longer to fix inefficient and disjointed ideas when those at the top are constantly supported. I hope Schopp asks next time, "WHo else in the NHL is an elite coach?" or if he isn't willing to tell you....."WHo in the past has been an elite coach?" I would love to hear it.

When Chan Gailey speaks after a game or asseses players, he is totally honest. He is honest about his team as a whole...where they are...where they need to be and has given a running commentary the whole way. When they were hot to start last year, he admitted he didn't know if that group could handle the success. They weren't far off, but he was honest to a fault maybe. You know where you stand with him....can talk openly.....and if as Darcy says....players will complain about their coach when things are going poor or losing.....did you hear 1 of 45+ guys say ANYTHING bad about Gailey? Now how about 5 of the original 20 guys on the roster last year about Ruff (Lieno, Roy, Gragnani, Boyes, Vanek). Chan is an honest man who admits his own flaws, and wants to understand where his guys are coming from to make them better. Buddy doesn't spew BS. He evaluates and is honest. He isn't telling everyone they are great. He said 2 years ago they had so many holes, the needed to bring in viable bodies just to get to the point of being able to compete. When he felt they had enough bodies, then it's time to go and make a splash and get some real difference makers in here. That's what he did. Now he knows that on any given Sunday this team at their best can compete with any other team.....not just if they are having an off day, but at their best as well. That's the key. He is brutally honest as well. It isn't a top 5 team yet, but with the moves they made, they position themselves to be one 1-2 years down the road. It was honesty in assesing how bad the team was......asking for real patience, and now you get the honey pot over the next few years hopefully. When the Bills make a mistake with Nix and Gailey, they admit it, and cut their losses. They don't spin it. I think the community as a whole has figured it out with the Bills. Say what you want about ralph being cautious at times, but he's got the right guys for the right time in there now. The fans seem to appreciate the honest approach and have some guarded optimisim about their on-field results to follow. Again.....it's an interesting disconnect with followers of the Sabres. You've seen these people in charge for 15 years. The average marraige in the US doesn't last that long. You should know these people like family at this point if you are anything more than a casual follower. There are millions of people that have trusted Jim and Tammy Baker, Barak Obama, et al. That doesn't mean that their hearts are pure. It just means they buy enough time and support to stay in power. I know what I see.

I trust one group I don't trust the other group If you ARE elite....and not trustworthy, you can find a way to win. Ask the Patriots. If you are mediocre and not trustworthy.....you get what we have seen with the Sabres the past decade+ I'm trying to figure out why Sabres fans seem so intent on defending management no matter what. I think a big part of it is people are spending crazy money on seats and need to feel justified in doing so.....but it also seems we have a lot of white collar types on this board. Are people just so used to being fed BS in the corporate world that they accept the BS when fed to them by the Sabres? I really don't understand it. When the Bills had Donahoe and Modrak, I told them to blow it out their ###. It's not about the team, it's about the people that represent the team that represent my city. I'd go to war with the Bills and their brass. I'd hire a lawyer and take 3 showers when dealing with the Sabres over the years. Pegula is a better, but after jumping down the Penn St. rabbit hole, he can spin and scrub as good as anyone out there. It just sucks to remember who is running the show after I was able to put that aside for a few months and let the transactions speak for themselves.....then the "harmless" reptile opens his mouth and says something and I get mad at myself for giving these guys the benefit of the doubt. Right.....which is why Darcy exposes himself for the disaster that he is when he calls his Coach elite. I wasn't taking a snap at Ruff....it was Regier proving in a logical manner that he himself is what is wrong with the team. By using his political, "protect at all costs and just survive" mentality, he just leaves ripe zits out there for fans to pop.....but for some reason it just doesn't get to them.

Right....I have no respect for him. There you have it. Really...I squirm when I hear him say stuff.....the fiduciary responsibility that comes with being in charge of the city's hockey team.......egh!

I just squirm every time I hear the guy talk. He hangs himself one way or the other or shows his true colors. I've been quiet because I liked the draft and the Ott trade...but then he says something stupid like that and I lose hope. He said something a week or so ago too, and I shut up because I pound on him....but he isn't very sharp. He is so calculated that a poker player can read him from 3500 miles away.

If Chan Gailey said Ryan Fitzpatrick is an ELITE quarterback...he would get ridiculed. Say "we can with with him"......like Buddy does. If you have an elite coach and the highest payroll in the league...and suck....your GM NEEDS to be fired.

"Lindy is an ELITE COACH and is GETTING BETTER" Yikes! Talk about making yourself look like a worthless schmuck! Highest payroll...elite coach......no playoffs......wha happened?

Well, I've made my decision, and I trust his judgement over yours considering the material I've seen from him and his basic personality.

They were both born within 120 miles of each other

He would laugh....he did an entire episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm making fun of himself.

He probably gives quite the HJ

Shocking stat of the year..... Uwe Krupp had 151 PIM and 6 fights that year. I can't remember Krupp getting into a fight in his life.

That's something a graduate student would say. You chug because your body craves the alcohol after 18 hours. It's not to impress.....it's to stop involuntary tremors and your liver from drying out. After the first 2...then you can relax. Tell'm Eleven.....

I suck

I'm more like John Scott.....I'll only get 3 minutes of actual playing time in, and most days I'm left with an icepack on my right hand.

Too many men on the ice?