Kruppstahl

I can think of almost nothing that is less valuable and important than watching a professional sports game for entertainment. That's part of its charm.

Same here, but there are a ton of Yankees fans in WNY. Unfortunately, there are a ton of Yankees fans everywhere.

Dunleavy is not the worst play by play guy I've ever heard. Compared to John Gurtler or Kevin Sylvester, he's downright fantastic. But you're right; there is something very sanitized about his delivery and I just don't like the guy. I have no idea what their real plans are for the job once RJ is gone for good, but I hope they re-examine the position and move on from Dunleavy. Or he moves on himself before that day arrives. I fear he has been assured he will be "The Guy" going forward once RJ takes off the headset for good.

That's where I am too, always. Always going to watch, though all we have left is the hope of a good, entertaining game, and the Sabres provide maybe 8-10 of those a year. But you never know. Losses are better than wins at this point, of course.

I'm amazed the emergency goalie has had to go into action only twice in 60,000 games!? OK, I've been watching hockey since the '70s and I honestly don't recall ever seeing it myself, so you now it's a weird, rare thing. But that rare? I agree to just leave it as it is and enjoy the publicity this recent event generated.

Don't know about center ice or Sabre ticket prices generally, but I keep reading at forums like this one how tickets are commonly available for $8 or something like that. $50 should buy you a hell of a seat!

I'm pretty much on your side in this. This is why I have wanted an experienced PHO for a long time, b/c I think Pegula needs someone like that to tell him what's going on in clear language, and who actually knows what's going on in the first place. And someone who slots in between ownership and the GM, b/c the GM is always going to cheat toward self preservation, surely as Botterill is doing right now. You need another layer there to act as the intelligent Pegula, b/c Pegula is not intelligent himself (in this context). Terry may have experience at running a fracking company but he quite clearly doesn't know jack ***** about running a hockey team, or the sport of hockey in general. He's the least informed "big hockey fan" you've ever known.

Risto has "transformed" under Krueger?! What does that even mean? He's the same player he always was, with slightly improved stats in some areas b/c he has gotten some reduced minutes and has been sheltered a bit more than he used to be. He remains horrific as a defenseman.

Certainly not at the GM level, no. He may roll back into a position similar to what he was doing in Pittsburgh. Hey, Whaley had tons of supporters too! I kept pointing out how bad he was and noting that he would not be working in the league again once he was eventually fired...and of course people attacked me like crazy (at TBD). It's pretty much how these forums tend to roll.

This team had zero passion and heart long before Ruff was fired. Though the team back in those days is very similar to the team now. Lots of changes in between but things have more or less remained the same. I have zero desire to return Lindy, Darcy, or GMTM. Evander Kane sucks. Let's not romanticize here and reinvent history. You may not be able to attract "experience" to Buffalo, NY these days. Bottom 5 destination in the league generally speaking, possibly worst run franchise for the last decade now, history and track record of churning front office/coaching staff, very little in the farm system to suggest things will get better soon. What high quality, experienced GM with options is going to choose Buffalo? I guess Pegula could just offer stupid money, like $20 million per, or something like that.....

And not to go too far off topic, but look at the number of NFL draftees that step into the league and make an impact either immediately or after a year or maybe 2. Lots of good athletes throughout the draft. And top picks almost always have a given level of skill. Like speed. If you don't have it, you don't play in the NFL, period. The NHL is not like that. Even low 1st round picks often prove to be duds, deeper round picks are almost worthless, and even very top level picks often have fairly major flaws in their game, like not enough speed, or not a very good skater in general. Pretty much ALL NHL draftees should be fast and great skaters, that's why they are in the NHL. There are too many slots to fill with not enough bodies, and not enough people playing hockey in the world. That's my conclusion.

I like Rick Dudley and would KILL to have him as our HC (with his roster) right now. These games would be a hell of a lot more entertaining than they are. Having said that, he is not the way forward as GM in the year 2020. A huge part of this franchise's problems over the decades has been its tendency to hire from within and keep the organization inbred. No former Sabres please! Hire from outside the organization with a focus on good credentialed up and comers, if it is at all possible to attract such people to Buffalo these days. It may well be not.

I have a dream that Gary Bettman will go away one day and be replaced by a completely different type of personality. And that the transition in power will usher in a reactionary "back to our roots" era for the NHL. This would involve going back to the old names for division and conferences and many other things. I've been waiting so long for this to happen now, I don't think it is ever going to. The NHL has been a horribly run organization for a very long time now, and that's not going to change any time soon.

I agree, but we were in this position last year. For most of last season I was posting that neither Ullmark or Hutton are the way forward, and they aren't. Why wasn't anything done leading to this season? Hutton can't be on the team next year. Ullmark can stay as #2. We need to find a #1 starting G in the off-season IMO. Upgrading save % significantly, if we can do it, is one of the single easiest ways to increase our point total next year. I feel like bridges have been burned between Lehner and this organization. I don't see him coming back here.

I am inclined to think she is more involved in the mundane, day to day, business side of the organization. There is a ton going on over there all the time that most hockey fans never discuss, because it's not particularly interesting, nor does it involve sports. I think the decision to hire/fire the GM comes from Terry, perhaps with a bit of input from Kim. I think you can fault Kim for lots of other things within the organization that focus on other things. I'm told the building is already somewhat dated in appearance and a bit "run down", for example. That's probably on Kim.

For Question 2, I voted "Points don't matter" but not because we have to make the playoffs. Obviously that's not happening. But I don't think point total is the key; I think the way the team plays will matter more, coupled with the atmosphere in the building. For example, a prolonged losing streak combined with lackluster performance and frequent booing at home games deep into March/April would go a long way toward forcing Pegula's hand, IMO. There has never been a greater need for FAN INVOLVEMENT at the games! SABRES FANS, PLEASE ENGAGE IN SOME BREATHING EXERCISES. BOO AS LOUD AS YOU CAN, FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN AT ALL HOME GAMES. The following chant would be very useful too: "HEY HEY, HO HO, BOTTERILL HAS GOT TO GO! HEY HEY, HO HO, BOTTERILL HAS GOT TO GO!"

As if Botterill's record wasn't already bad enough! He just did some buying at the trade deadline in an effort to play meaningful games in March so the team can "learn to win" or some such rubbish. That's over before March arrived. Yet another error in judgment from the clueless one. The problem, as always, is that Pegula himself is clueless. We as fans of the organization are always going to be put in a delicate position because of that. What does Pegula think right now? How has he arrived at his conclusions? Who is feeding him information and who does he trust to be telling him the way it is right now? Is he taking most of his information from Botterill himself? Does he realize there is a bit of a conflict of interest there? LOL. Having observed everything that Botterill has done to date, what are the odds he suddenly morphs into a sharp, competent GM in, say, the next 12 months?

I'm curious why you say that. There is a contingent among Sabres fans right now that believes the same. Where does this come from? Is this related to the theory that this season has gone "according to plan" and the real plan kicks in this summer? Botterill has gotten so much wrong, and so very little right, there is a damning mountain of evidence in support of his termination. I have no idea how Pegula could retain him any longer. Not sure why he still has a job now, to be honest.

A lack of consistent effort, period to period and game to game, has been this organizations primary problem for a long time now.

He has completely disappeared on this 0 for 3 road trip. He's a more talented version of Derek Roy. Send him packing. The only problem is our GM will NOT be able to get fair value for him in a trade, so I am reluctant to see him go.

"Losing a bunch of hockey games" does not equal a "tank." A "tank" is an organizationally structured and sanctioned attempt at losing by fielding the worst players possible. This organization isn't doing that this year.

It's too early to get a read on that one way or the other. The home stretch might help decide it. Botterill was a partial buyer at the deadline, which was stupid. He said he wanted to play "meaningful" hockey games in March. This team isn't going to play a single meaningful hockey game in March. If we go on a nice solid losing streak, he could easily be fired at year's end. Depends on how Pegula feels.

Indeed. I am honestly starting to wonder if we are ever going to solve the riddle during Eichel's tenure as a Sabre. Luckily he still has a long way to go, barring a trade demand of course.

Yes it would! That's the Florida Panthers of the 2000s and the recent Oilers. Both tied for longest droughts ever at 10 years. I feel confident this is a record that we can, and will, OWN with the passage of time. Let's Go Buff-a-lo!

I believe it was a 4% chance as of yesterday, depending on which website you believe most. No one has it more than around that number though.