SabresFanInRochester

Adding $1M to an offer to make him overwhelmingly the highest paid coach is dirty? Mike -- we want you and if $5M isn't going to work, how about $6M? I don't see what is dirty about that.

Apparently two different reports. MacKenzie tweeted it, and then some "Philly Guy." Probably not as credible since I do not know that source, and they could have received their info from MacKenzie.

I think the visit to San Jose and Babcock's other due diligence was to see what offers he would receive. He will take (or he took) that to Detroit and presented his market worth. If Detroit is offering a 2-year contract at $3.25M per year, and they don't budge, I don't think he can walk away from that. I would be shocked unless Detroit antes up to $5M. Can you imagine the conversation between Babcock and Mrs. Babcock? Earn $6M in Buffalo or about half of that in Detroit. If Detroit doesn't budge from $3.25M, I like McKenzie's long shot that Babcock comes to Buffalo for $6M.

I tend to think you need a support cast, regardless of the title of wing or center. I like your Derek Roy point, but don't forget there was a time when Luke Adam had everybody fooled. It was his support cast. The center position is certainly important because that is typically your playmaker and puck-handler. If you have a winger that does that, then titles are not as relevant.

Not sure if that was pointed to me. I was using Kelly as an example of how some members of a fanbase will always hate a player, regardless of the success in their career. It is too early to determine if Grigorenko will be a solid NHL player, but I would rather give him the benefit of the doubt and watch him mature, than call him a bust and ride him out of town. I really like what Grigorenko showed over the final couple weeks of the season. IMO, he surpassed Larsson, but since it is such a small sample, and other factors -- like linemates -- come into play, I want to see it play out. In determining would I rather see Grigo or Larsson, I think Grigo has more upside, but either would suffice as a serviceable center (3rd or 4th line.) I would love to see them challenge for 2nd line center, but if the roster depth chart places them on the 3rd line, I am thrilled with the development of the team. I don't think there is anything wrong with keeping both, but if a deal must be made to bring in a key component, than I would prefer to keep Grigo over Larsson.

This is one thing that bothers me in sports. I remember Jim Kelly had naysayers and detractors. Every year, this portion of the population hated him and frankly, thought he sucked. Even through the Super Bowl years. And maybe even into Canton. Some people get that mindset and there is nothing that can overturn it. Maybe there is too much pride for people to admit when they're wrong. I would rather take the opposite approach -- give someone the benefit of the doubt until they are verified hopeless. Not that my approach is right, but is a little more optimistic way to go through life. And I can admit when I am wrong -- I used my approach when Leino came to Buffalo. When I finally turned on him, I was very vocal and critical of his lack of performance. But at the end of the day, does the skeptic who hated from Leino from day one a better or smarter person? You can wake up every day and say it's going to rain and eventually you'll be right. I would rather wake up thinking it's going to be a beautiful sunny day today. As long as I don't live in a tropical rain forest, that's my perspective.

A bowl full of cheeries. I was trolling SS and I wouldn't normally answer a question that is off-topic, but I had just reached to put a cherry in my mouth as my eyes read "What are you eating?" I felt obligated to answer.

I don't want to be loud because I am trying to drown out the cheers of the opposing team. I didn't want to see Toronto win the draft lottery because it's already unbearable being at a game with their fans... if their team was good? Argh! The hockey has been bad, but how quiet it has been is not a new thing. I will concede that it matters, but when there's a fight, a pretty goal, or the successful kill of a 5v3, you should hear a pretty substantial roar. I brought my kids to a couple of games. They play hockey and I want them to experience a game to see the speed and the players. I do not attend many games with them because it's a long drive from Rochester and taking a 5 and 7 year old to a game with an hour-plus drive before and after gets us home late. Kids don't do well when the game basically starts at bedtime. So, maybe the solution is a couple of Saturday or Sunday matinees where the emphasis is family day, and the remainder are 7:30 starts, or even 8:00 to discourage young kids from going. Lastly, I will say my 5-year old was cheering loader than 95% of the people in our section. And maybe instead of Sabretooth at the games pounding on a drum, it is an "ice girl" trying to fire up the team. I mean, Sabretooth appeals to the family, but aren't we trying to say that family environment is leading to quiet games? Tough one because I remember some debate on here years ago about ice girls and some people are adamantly against it.

That's the stuff that I referencing, and I really don't want to accept -- wait until the team is better. It's a changing culture and a switch is not going to be flipped when the Sabres start winning because the same fans will be attending the games. Complacency to sit without cheering has become commonplace and that environment is now a disease that needs to be eradicated.

As someone who sits in the lower bowl -- row 4-- maybe some people down there are like that, but that doesn't speak to me. I sit there because although seeing the play develop is a little more challenging, seeing someone get jacked into the boards is incredible. The action is awesome! Don't get me wrong, I can still see the play develop, just not as easily as someone looking down on the play. Now, I need to go so that I can make sure my landscaper is putting in the correct shrubs this year, and I need to call our nanny. I wish my Mercedes had a better hands-free device, but I will be at my mansion soon enough. I will defend that this behavior exists. Pisses me off that it's even an issue. I mentioned the a-hole Sabres fan that was upset when the "Let's Go Buffalo" chant got going at the last game. The kicker is that if you continue to disrupt someone's game day experience, security views you as the problem, not the stiff who refuses to get out their seat and enjoy the game.

I guess an outdoor arena with 70,000 fans helps too.

I am with you. I think seeing a competitive team that has a winning tradition on their home ice would be awesome. That attitude and swagger has been lacking for too long.

I hope you're right, but I think you're an ostrich with your head in the sand. There will be as many people on here defending the current situation, as you are, and saying a better team is all the fans need. But there are also just as many saying it needs to be better. Maybe it's different expectations. Out of the responses, we have learned: some fans do not like the white out Some fans do not like waving towels (they don't make noise, and frankly, I never saw the point) some fans might be Chet and Muffy and don't want someone yelling behind their seat (wouldn't want a beer spilled on their fur coat) some fans might prefer to watch and analysis the game, and they'll cheer for a goal but anything else is a distraction some fans might see it as a failure if the wave doesn't go around more than 5 times (that's not my thing either) It's expectations, and I think it would be fair to know -- what do you want the environment to be like at a game AND at a playoff game. Should it be different? Do we only watch and clap a little during the regular season because the game doesn't mean as much? Or do we think our noise will inspire the team so we need to have the dial on "11" at all times. IMO, the answer is somewhere in the middle. I kind of want the person that doesn't cheer "Let's Go Buffalo" to feel ostracized. Is it asking too much to yell that 7 consecutive times a couple times per game? And I also think you should be removed from your seat if you have the ability, but do not stand up and celebrate following a Sabres goal. I think the proper tone and attitude is a great start.

That was it for me too. When Vanek was traded, it was a shock, but I thought the pieces they received back would improve the team without having to do a full gut. But when Miller left, I saw the writing on the wall. I decided I was not going to buy another Sabres jersey until the new core was established. My jerseys: Vanek, Miller, and Myers. When Myers left, I had already conceded to the rebuild, and was just pissed that I didn't have a current jersey any more. Might be time for an Eichel though.

I am so happy to hear that. I sit in the 4th row by the Zamboni entrance and granted the glass blocks noise from the ice, there are a lot of fans beside and behind us. Our seats our great, I just wish we the atmosphere in our section was more like what you described. I didn't feel like I was at the game you described. That's a little what I feel like. I sat in the 200 section once for a playoff game and it may as well have been a preseason game. I agree, and that's why I bring it up. I knew there would be a lot of defending the fan base: the team sucks, why cheer? or it's a meaningless game, blah. I would love to see a solution put into place. I don't know what the answer is, but I appreciate the fact that we can create a forum to try to suggest and figure it out instead of just say "wait until our next playoff game and you will see the fans magically come to life." I hate when I hear the mainstream media or even the Buffalo media pump Buffalo's tires for being a good market because I think it feeds the ego and it is not justified.

I agree, but when Buffalo plays in Winnipeg during the regular season, they are loud. And it's been that way since they moved to Winnipeg, meaning they were not cheering for a playoff team. I think as fans, we kick the can down the road and think when the time comes, it will just happen, but I really think the atmosphere will continue to get drowned out by Leafs fans and Canadians fans who come and cheer even louder. It's sad stuff.

I was watching the Jets last night and a couple of times during the broadcast, it was mentioned how loud their fans were. I also noticed they did a white-out, where all the Jets fans wear a white t-shirt that is likely provided at the door. I know we haven't had a team to celebrate in years, but regardless, I don't think we have that environment. I recall during Sabres playoff games, when they would give out shirts, you certainly did not have a critical mass wear them. That's just lame, but some fans would rather wear their jersey. And as far as noise, my observation is that people watching the game inside the FN Arena would rather sit quietly than cheer or yell. Once we had the Tank position locked up, posters on SS were saying the Arena will be rocking now that we can all get behind our team. I was there for the Pittsburgh game. It didn't happen. Part of me is jealous because I like what Winnipeg has for a game atmosphere. And the other part of me is a little upset at our fan base. At the last game, when the organ started the "Let's Go Buffalo" chant, a fan behind me murmured a little too loud -- "Shut up." I was appalled. To each their own -- that a-hole paid for admission and can do as he wishes. I just really wish we could fill the arena with fans that felt more like me. I am comparing us to Winnipeg. A team that has just recently started to improve and make the playoffs. Yet every time Buffalo plays there -- meaning not a playoff game, Rob Ray comments about how loud the arena gets. I don't think you can argue that they are a larger market or better team so it's easier to support them. I think Buffalo fans being identified as great fans is overblown. Yes, fans will watch more hockey on television than any other market, but too many of them are stiffs when it comes to attending the game. Am I a dying breed. Gone are the days of a Buffalo crowd cheering loud? In a perfect world, what atmosphere do you want at a game?

I guess I do not understand the lottery. The numbers 1-14 are to be drawn, but none of the teams have #14 as their first number. I am assuming order of the numbers do not matter? So once they pick 4 numbers, rearrange them from low to high and whoever has that combination wins? Is that right? So if 14, 2, 1, and 3, are drawn, that's the same as 1,2,3,14 and we can start to party?

:thumbsup:

I agree with you. The point of the tank was to get low draft picks, and this year, the prize is McDavid. Even if it's Eichel, I consider it a success when these assembled low draft picks form a nucleus that takes the team on annual playoff runs. I would love a Cup, but you cannot consider it a failure if they don't earn the prize that only 1/30 can obtain. The years when the Bills made their 4 trips to the Super Bowl created some incredible sports memories for me. I want my kids to grow up around a winning culture and liking the Sabres.

This is one of the best opening comments on a thread I have ever read. To me, there is no further debate and you might as well close the thread to new posts. Great analysis!

Nice JJ or Syracuse, two other contrarians I have identified, would have fired back insults. With a sense of humor, we can always agree to disagree.

Correction -- the BRO/Manssiere.

I just figured it out. You are contrarian, like Bizarro-Jerry world. Other than wanting a Stanley Cup, and I cannot even be so sure you want that, do you agree with the majority on anything. I mean, there is something to be said for marching to the beat of your own drummer but just once, can't we be friends?

Yeah. I don't know why it took 3 pages for logic to kick in, but that's the real answer to winger. The player we acquire doesn't have to be a washed-up goon, albeit with offensive production. I think adding ROR and Stewart puts enough beef on the team where you don't need Lucic, whether it's for intimidation, fighting, or bringing the donuts to morning skate.