msw2112

While I'm not a big fan of fracking, I largely agree with the comment above. Snyder is a giant a-hole and the NFL couldn't wait to get rid of him. Pegula is a good guy who has done a great job with his football franchise and a lousy job with his hockey franchise. When he ultimately finds the right management team for the hockey team, that team will be fine. It's been a long wait and the wait continues, but he'll eventually get it right, even if by blind luck.

It's not that bad. He can sing and leave. He's not being forced to stay and watch the game.

As usual, I'll replay the game with the sound on later tonight as I'm doing other things and will peek in if I hear there's a goal, power play, or fight. At this point, it's just not worth my time to actually sit down and watch with full attention. It's too bad, because I really enjoy watching hockey and really enjoy watching my team (the Sabres) in particular, but it's really just not very enjoyable right now.

I'm a Buffalo fan through and through, so not a whole lot of luck with pro sports. I am a Yankees fan and they've won a few in my lifetime, but it's just not the same as my hometown team (and a small market team) winning it all. I lived in Chicago during the Michael Jordan era, so I was there for all 6 titles, plus one for the White Sox and 1 for the Blackhawks before I moved away. I was not a fan of those teams, so while it was fun to be there, it didn't mean that much to me. I graduated from Michigan, so they've had a NCAA basketball championship, two additional final four appearances, and two football championships in the time I was there/since I graduated. Their hockey team also won it one year, but college hockey just isn't as big as the other two sports. I really enjoyed those victories, but again, they didn't mean as much to me as a Buffalo team getting to the top of the mountain would. Still holding out hope for the Bills and Sabres to get one in my lifetime. Obviously, the Bills are close and the Sabres are about as far away as could be imagined.

Done.

The sad thing is that the Sabres did play a pretty good game (outside of the abysmal PP), until the inevitable meltdown the 3rd period, and I would call it a meltdown. It started when Calgary scored the 3rd goal and completed during the power play when the goalie was pulled, resulting in the inevitable empty net goal (the first one, that is). They hustled, battled, scrapped, etc. during the 1st and 2nd periods and entered the 3rd tied 2-2 with a realistic chance to win. Then the wheels came off, as they so often do. I have NEVER seen a team give up so many odd-man rushes on the power play. I'm pretty sure that Calgary had significantly more scoring chances during the Sabres' power plays than the Sabres did. Has anyone here ever seen anything like it at the NHL level?

McLeod's production was pretty good when he was playing with Zucker and Greenway and he also produced when he got a couple of games on the top line. He has blazing speed and seems to be one of the guys that's a bit more responsible defensively and has some hustle to his game. His speed and hustle was what resulted in the empty net goal that sealed the win against Carolina. I see him as a good bottom-6 NHL player who can play up in the lineup on occasion when needed and a "young veteran" of the type that the Sabres need. There are a lot of problems on this year's Sabres roster, but I don't see McLeod as one of them.

I don't know if the premise of the original post has legs after only a game or two, but hey, given the miserable season that we're all experiencing, I'm OK with someone expressing a little optimism about some aspects of the Sabres. Kulich has looked good. Quinn has been scoring the last couple of weeks, after being left for dead earlier in the season. Zucker has played well and Kozak has shown that he may have a future as a hard-working bottom-six player. The Sabres won a game last night, with a third period comeback, and didn't give up a goal in a 6 on 5 situation. At this point, with the playoffs pretty much out of reach, and some of us masochists still watching all the games, why not enjoy at least the occasional positive? It doesn't mean that the Sabres don't need a major organizational shakeup sometime between now and the beginning of next season.

For one night, anyway.

You knew...it was inevitable.

What this says to me, is that, along with the arguably positive acquisitions of Zucker, McLeod and Malenstyn, that Adams did fine with the moves he DID make. The issue was the moves that he DIDN'T make. For what it's worth, I didn't like the Byram trade at the time, but it's aging well. The glaring lack of veteran DEFENSIVE defensemen is still the biggest problem with the team and went unaddressed by Adams.

I think it's mental. They've squandered so many leads that they mentally lose their focus and start running around like chickens with their heads cut off in their own zone, making passes directly to the other team, etc. rather than doing what they were coached to do. They panic. It really starts earlier in the third-period (pretty much when the 3rd period puck is dropped) and the mental issues are exacerbated when the opposing team pulls their goalie. Being the youngest team in the league without enough steady-handed and steady-minded veteran players, particularly on defense, also contributes to the problem.

Dahlin is a great hockey player and likely the best on the team. I personally did not see him as the best choice for captain. While he's an aggressive player, he comes across to me as more of a quiet guy that's not too vocal with the team. (That said, I have no idea how he is behind the scenes in the locker room, at practice, etc.) Tuch seems to me to be more of a guy who has a captain-like personality. In the past, I thought Cozens had captain-type vibes in his future, but with his drop-off in play the last couple of seasons, he's no longer viable. The bottom line, however, is that they gave the "C" to Dahlin and they have to live with it. To rip the "C" off of his chest at this point would embarrass and alienate the team's best player and would ruin whatever chemistry remains in the group. You only remove the "C" if you intend to trade the player and the Sabres would be fools to trade their best player (unless it was a Lindros-like haul in return). Captain or not, Dahlin is the type of player you build a team around, not one you trade away.

You may have failed to comprehend what I have written. I fully agree with you that Pegula has been an abject failure, to date, as a hockey owner. Looking at his record, how can one say otherwise? My position is that given a few factors, I believe that Pegula will eventually get the Sabres right and I strongly prefer him having the opportunity to do that rather than risk him selling to an outsider who could move the team to another market. These are the factors: 1. He has committed to the Buffalo and WNY markets and kept both pro sports franchises in the market. (Fact) Many other owners would not have done that. (Opinion) 2. He has been successful with another professional sports franchise. Even if it was by blind luck, it happened. (Fact) If it happened once, it could happen again. (Opinion) 3. He has very deep pockets. Deep enough to kept the team in Buffalo, despite low attendance, and deep enough to keep it there until things turn around. (Fact) 4. He is on record as being a long-time fan of the team. (Fact) In my opinion, he very badly wants the team to succeed. He's not simply looking it as a business venture. (Opinion) I have an opinion that I believe is well-reasoned. If you disagree, that's fine. You are entitled to have a different opinion.

The only thing we can do is stop buying tickets, stop watching games, and stop buying merchandise. We really don't have much say in the matter. We really don't "give him" time. But I'd personally give Adams and Ruff the rest of this season and then reassess. If the team ends up out with a losing record and out of the playoffs, a change in management is required.