steveoat87

As a Knicks fan, I lived through this same nightmare with James Dolan. Not sure what convinced Dolan to hand over the reigns to the current management structure, but finally the Knicks have a good team. Like the Bills with Beane, Dolan was lucky to have a good hockey front office. So it possible things can change -- it has to be more than just luck.

True, but a good consultant would lay out the problems of the current organization and its structure. Terry would still have to buy into any recommendations and be willing to give up control if needed. Maybe if Kim was healthy she might be able to convince him. Maybe Jessica, when she retires from Tennis, might be interested. I guess we are all trying to figure out the leverage points on Terry.

Not really. Large companies do this all the time. Its not difficult to find out who the best consultants are, get bids and then pick one. That is, rational, non-emotional companies do this all the time.

My feeling is that the best way out of this is if someone (maybe Ruff, maybe his kids) could convince Terry that he needs to hire a head of hockey operations over Adams and Lindy who makes the best decisions for the organization. Most likely that person will get rid of Adams and Lindy and bring in his own people. I wish Terry would hire a consultant to show him where the problem(s) lie and maybe that would convince him to make that kind of change.

I think there is a very good chance a new owner would move the team to a more lucrative media market. Unless the owner commits to staying in Buffalo

I don't think you can give up on the season after 2 games. There is alot wrong with this team and I have some hope that Lindy will take steps to address this. They are too soft and am hoping he can inject some toughness into them. I am also hoping that Lindy can convince Adams and Terry to spend some money to improve this team.

Don't want him to sell the team. If he does, you will never see another hockey team in Buffalo. Better off hoping that eventually things will change -- he will either do what Dolan did with the Knicks where he hired someone competent and stayed out of their business, or his kids get more involved and either talk some sense into him or assume ownership themselves. I live in New York City and went through hell with Dolan where he felt he knew best. Eventually things changed and look where the Knicks are now.

I live in the New York City area and decided to not renew the YouTube NFL ticket. If I recall, the price was $450, which is crazy. In my area, at least 5 of the Bills games will already be on national TV, and I'm sure that if they are close to being in the playoffs at least a few more will be shown. This means they are asking for roughly $60 per game (for the games that may not be available) which is absurd.

Its official. This team stinks. On to the Knicks and Yankees for me.

"5. Tear out all the luxuries in the locker room. No ipads. No games. No between the stalls. No frills. No spas. You want it? You f'n earn it and then it'll come back and not before." If I had any artistic talent I would love to be able to draw a cartoon showing the Sabres locker room with a few players wearing fancy robes, getting massages and sipping champagne, and with one of the players saying "how does this get any better if we start winning?' Take out all the toys and make this all about being accountable and winning. You don't need a martinet to do this -- just someone who can sell his plan and push the right buttons. This coaching staff can't do this.

This is a good post. You need a coach who demands accountability. Watch a NY Knicks game. Watch what the coach does when the player does something stupid or doesn’t show enough effort. Also watch how the point guard Jalen Brunson encourages other players when they make a dood play, yet gets in their faces when something isn’t right. Haven’t seen this happen on this team. No leadership and no accountability. And this team doesn’t pass the smell test. Do they ever look like the dominant team. Do they ever look like they know what they’re doing or are they always hesitant and floundering. Enough said

While another goalie would be nice, the most fundamental change needs to be management. We will never win with this group. I believe we have enough of a core of players that with better coaching and scouting, including a few needed veteran additions, this team would be a playoff contender. We don't need any more draft picks -- we need a few decent select veteran players and real coaches.

Hard for me to fathom how Pegula sees the devotion and love of Bills fans, but totally neglects the Sabres. Say what you want about McDermott (he does have faults) but he and the GM have set a tradition of winning. This is the polar opposite of the Sabres. As they the say, the definition of insane is repeating the same things over and over again when they clearly don't work. How can someone as successful as Pegula not see this!! Hire a competent managerial structure (which he can certainly afford given that the Bills just hosted 2 playoff games) and make the Sabres a team that he can be proud of. How can he be proud of this team!!

I don't know if this has been mentioned but there was an article (either in the Buffalo News or Bleacher Report) where Dahlin has been trying to figure out what's wrong with the team and how he can help. I believe he mentioned that the guys on defense have to commit to defense, even if this means less scoring on their part. What surprised me about this is that Dahlin, who is not a coach, is try to take on the coaches job. If so, its clear we don't have coaches. I hope more players make comments like this and confront Adams with this reality. I really think the most pressing need is a new coaching staff. I think this group of players could be performing much better with a knowledgeable coaching staff.

Keep Gabe Davis off the field. Draft a wide receiver in the early rounds next year, as well as a developmental quarterback.

He is not cheap, which Pegula seems to be. With hockey, he seems to be relatively hands off. I would say that with the Rangers he has been generally good, but unlucky. With the Knicks, he has, until recently, been a disaster. When he hired Leo Rose and became more hands off, the team improved. The team has actually been enjoyable to watch and hopefully, in the next few years, a true contender.

Kind of like Dolan with the Rangers. He realized he knew nothing about hockey and hired great people. When he meddled in basketball, the Knicks were a disaster.

I made this same point on the Buffalo Bills thread. Look at the improvement in the Bills since they fired Dorsey. If they don't want to fire Granato, identify the assistant coaches that are holding the team back and make changes immediately.

Kevin Adams pay attention. McDermott correctly fired the offensive coordinator and this led to significant improvement in the Bills. Figure out where changes need to be made on the coaching side and please enact them.

I do care, but feel trapped by Pegula. There is clearly talent on this team, though some key pieces are missing. However, both the GM and Coach are way in over their heads, and don't see us getting out of this with the current regime. What's weird is that Pegula has had some success with the Bills, so it should occur to him that you need to get the right people in place. The players play without a scheme, have no accountability and no leadership. And, the coaching staff appears incapable of coaching. What will it take for Pegula to make a change?

Only if she dates and is rejected by an official.

Perhaps when Quinn and Tuch return it will also improve.

The players look stuck in cement during the power play. No movement, creativity. This is on the coaching. If Granato doesn't want to fire Ellis, at least bring in someone you can be a special power play advisor.

I share your sentiments. Will glance at the score, but will not watch the games until I see something worth watching. Still hopeful about the Bills and am happy the Yankees got Juan Soto -- maybe they will have a decent year. I fear we are in hockey purgatory, without a white knight (although we have Don Granato and his crew of headless horsemen)

What a horror, I am a Bills and Sabres fan. Being a Yankee fan used to give me respite, but alas no more. The Yankees have joined their ranks with a clueless GM and a cheap owner.