Everyone who wants to blame Regier...

[inkman]

Yea, and the job Golisano wants Regier to do is SAVE him money. Golisano doesn't care about a championship. If he did, he would tell Regier to spend spend spend. And Quinn's job is to MAKE Golisano money. TG is nothing but a fat greedy swine.

As much as we like to joke about OSP, he's donated more money to causes, LIKE KIDS WITH CANCER, than most of us combined will make in a lifetime. Say what you want about how he runs a business but let's leave it at that.

[North Buffalo]

As much as we like to joke about OSP, he's donated more money to causes, LIKE KIDS WITH CANCER, than most of us combined will make in a lifetime. Say what you want about how he runs a business but let's leave it at that.

 

I don't know either man, so I won't comment on his motivation, but it does appear that the sticking point was the two-way deal. Understood. However, I do think that given the problems Regier has on this team with Connolly and Stafford among others this was definitely a business decision. That being said, I think he underestimated how fans would feel about making a business decision on a hometown boy in light of his other bad ones in Connolly, Stafford, Hecht.

 

If Darcy had let go or traded those two and then let go of Kennedy, people would not be happy, but would have carped a lot less and understood that he was trying to better the team. Not taking care of the Cancers on this team first creates an incredible PR debacle which could have been avoided by doing something in the very least about Stafford and bringing in a number one or two center.

 

What about Savard in all this?

[SwampD]

Defending Darcy Regier

 

http://www.diebytheblade.com/2010/8/9/1613369/regier-takes-another-pr-hit-for#storyjump

 

Interesting read actually, although I don't agree with some of the analysis.

I don't agree with almost all of the analysis. Getting rid of Kennedy had NOTHING to do with getting Morrisonn.

 

It's a garbage piece that celebrates Status Quo.

 

EDIT: He was right about one thing tough, we will compete for the division title. Not the Stanley Cup, but the division,.. Yea?

[FogBat]

As much as we like to joke about OSP, he's donated more money to causes, LIKE KIDS WITH CANCER, than most of us combined will make in a lifetime. Say what you want about how he runs a business but let's leave it at that.

That, and the fact that he donated a wad of cash to RIT a few years ago.

[henysgol]

Golisano is a businessman. The goal is to make money.

Yea, but he'd make tons of money if he'd spend some and acquire a couple more superstars to win the Stanley Cup for Buffalo.

[FogBat]

I don't agree with almost all of the analysis. Getting rid of Kennedy had NOTHING to do with getting Morrisonn.

 

It's a garbage piece that celebrates Status Quo.

 

EDIT: He was right about one thing tough, we will compete for the division title. Not the Stanley Cup, but the division,.. Yea?

I guess apuszczalowski's signature says it all, doesn't it? (From the Best to fighting for a playoff spot, in Buffalo, thats considered an improvement????????)

[Eric in Akron]

Golisano is a businessman. The goal is to make money.

 

You make money by selling a product people want. The Sabres right now are not an entertaining group to watch and the industry is sports entertainment. A quality contender = tickets sales and (more importantly) merchandising sales.

[FogBat]

You make money by selling a product people want. The Sabres right now are not an entertaining group to watch and the industry is sports entertainment. A quality contender = tickets sales and (more importantly) merchandising sales.

How true. The Sabres made a profit in 2005-06. Coincidence? I think not!

 

BTW, +1.

[nfreeman]

You make money by selling a product people want. The Sabres right now are not an entertaining group to watch and the industry is sports entertainment. A quality contender = tickets sales and (more importantly) merchandising sales.

They were entertaining enough last year to sell out most of their games, place 9th in NHL attendance and be above 99% of capacity. If they continue to win and improve a bit (which is likely) they will again have very strong atttendance.

[Stoner]

They were entertaining enough last year to sell out most of their games, place 9th in NHL attendance and be above 99% of capacity. If they continue to win and improve a bit (which is likely) they will again have very strong atttendance.

 

Or they could model themselves after the Bills, and continue to sell out (the arena, I mean) for years, and suck into infinity.

 

I would not equate their success at the gate with the level of entertainment they provided, which was nil. I would never dredge up the arena atmosphere issue again. Eleven is lurking, and I wouldn't want to kill his perpetual Sabre buzz.

 

Likely improvement? Darce, is that you?

[nfreeman]

Or they could model themselves after the Bills, and continue to sell out (the arena, I mean) for years, and suck into infinity.

 

I would not equate their success at the gate with the level of entertainment they provided, which was nil. I would never dredge up the arena atmosphere issue again. Eleven is lurking, and I wouldn't want to kill his perpetual Sabre buzz.

 

Likely improvement? Darce, is that you?

Not sure the Bills and Sabres are really comparable. Bills tickets are much cheaper since there are many fewer games -- e.g. I'm an out-of-towner but still a Bills season ticket holder -- so they can stink endlessly and still sell out the stadium. The Sabres' attendance fell off the table when they started to stink post-Dominik.

 

As for entertainment, I'd posit that winning is inherently entertaining. I suspect many here would feel differently about the entertainment value they provided if they had beaten Boston in the 1st round.

 

Improvement is indeed likely from guys like Stafford, Vanek, Ellis, Niedermayer, Myers, Rivet and Sekera. Do you disagree?

[Kristian]

Not sure the Bills and Sabres are really comparable. Bills tickets are much cheaper since there are many fewer games -- e.g. I'm an out-of-towner but still a Bills season ticket holder -- so they can stink endlessly and still sell out the stadium. The Sabres' attendance fell off the table when they started to stink post-Dominik.

 

As for entertainment, I'd posit that winning is inherently entertaining. I suspect many here would feel differently about the entertainment value they provided if they had beaten Boston in the 1st round.

 

Improvement is indeed likely from guys like Stafford, Vanek, Ellis, Niedermayer, Myers, Rivet and Sekera. Do you disagree?

 

I consider improvement from those players needed. Not likely.

 

BTW, I assume you mean Ennis not Ellis?

 

Also, I think's it a little early to say we need improvement from a guy who's yet to play a game for the Sabres?

 

Also, where is Roy, Pominville and Tiny Tim in that crowd?

[nfreeman]

I consider improvement from those players needed. Not likely.

 

BTW, I assume you mean Ennis not Ellis?

 

Also, I think's it a little early to say we need improvement from a guy who's yet to play a game for the Sabres?

 

Also, where is Roy, Pominville and Tiny Tim in that crowd?

I agree on "needed", but I also think it's "likely" from each of them (and therefore that we'll see improvement from most of them as inevitably a couple won't deliver).

 

Yes on Ennis, and I meant that the team would be improved based on his contributions (same with Niedermayer).

 

I'd also like to see improvement from Roy, Pommer and TC, but there is where the "likely" ship is torn asunder on the jagged, merciless rocks of SGM-ness. I think at this point, improvement from those 3 isn't nearly as likely as it is with the other guys. Those 3 have all been around the block a number of times. They've found their natural slots in terms of productivity. I'd like to see what a healthy TC can do in the playoffs, but I think it's been proven that TC staying healthy isn't "likely."

[Stoner]

Improvement is indeed likely from guys like Stafford, Vanek, Ellis, Niedermayer, Myers, Rivet and Sekera. Do you disagree?

Rivet likely to improve? I guess it's possible -- he has nowhere to go but up. Then again, at his age...

 

I will give you Myers.

 

The others are WYSIWYG. Vanek could be a much better player, but you know why I think that's not going to happen in Buffalo.

 

Why are you lobbing me a softball like this? Do you need money? A place to stay? What gives?

[nfreeman]

Rivet likely to improve? I guess it's possible -- he has nowhere to go but up. Then again, at his age...

 

I will give you Myers.

 

The others are WYSIWYG. Vanek could be a much better player, but you know why I think that's not going to happen in Buffalo.

 

Why are you lobbing me a softball like this? Do you need money? A place to stay? What gives?

The softball was to lure you out of your spider hole.

 

At the risk of repeating myself:

 

Stafford -- contract year

Vanek -- healthy (and with career scoring averages well above last year's numbers)

Ennis -- full time

Niedermayer -- tough, size, good faceoffs, a grownup, Cup winner -- this will be an improvement over last year.

Rivet -- healthy

Sekera -- experience -- like Soupy, he's got all the tools and is a terrific skater. He just needs to be more consistent.

[Stoner]

The softball was to lure you out of your spider hole.

 

At the risk of repeating myself:

 

Stafford -- contract year

Vanek -- healthy (and with career scoring averages well above last year's numbers)

Ennis -- full time

Niedermayer -- tough, size, good faceoffs, a grownup, Cup winner -- this will be an improvement over last year.

Rivet -- healthy

Sekera -- experience -- like Soupy, he's got all the tools and is a terrific skater. He just needs to be more consistent.

 

Stafford -- don't see him as one to be motivated by money. Free spirit/stoner

Vanek -- so if he gets back to 08-09 levels, that's an improvement? You are diabolical.

Ennis -- you said Ellis, sorry.

Niedersotomayor -- you're saying he won't improve, but in his role he'll be AN improvement -- sheer evil.

Rivet -- dude is held together by duct tape now; he's in ICU as we speak

Sekera -- maybe, but his eyes are deader than Joanna Pasceri's

[SwampD]

The softball was to lure you out of your spider hole.

 

At the risk of repeating myself:

 

Stafford -- contract year

Vanek -- healthy (and with career scoring averages well above last year's numbers)

Ennis -- full time

Niedermayer -- tough, size, good faceoffs, a grownup, Cup winner -- this will be an improvement over last year.

Rivet -- healthy

Sekera -- experience -- like Soupy, he's got all the tools and is a terrific skater. He just needs to be more consistent.

While I agree with almost all of this, and would also add that I think Roy is going to have a monster year (yes, I said monster year), it's frustrating to me that it is still all based on hope. When Philly got Pronger, they immediately knew they were a better team. I want to get a guy that I know the team will be better with, not a guy that I have to hope they will be better with.

 

As of right now, Niedermayer, Leopold, and Morrisonn don't make the rest of the team, even with the improvements that we are hoping for, any better.

[nfreeman]

While I agree with almost all of this, and would also add that I think Roy is going to have a monster year (yes, I said monster year), it's frustrating to me that it is still all based on hope. When Philly got Pronger, they immediately knew they were a better team. I want to get a guy that I know the team will be better with, not a guy that I have to hope they will be better with.

 

As of right now, Niedermayer, Leopold, and Morrisonn don't make the rest of the team, even with the improvements that we are hoping for, any better.

What makes you think Roy is going to bust out? Not arguing -- just curious.

 

As for the bolded part -- me too, but there aren't that many guys like that out there who are available and don't have NTCs.

[SwampD]

What makes you think Roy is going to bust out? Not arguing -- just curious.

 

Not really sure why I think that. Roy doesn't really have to play that much better to have a monster year. I think he was forced into the leadership role way too early and is finally going to come into his own. It seemed like he started to get it this year (obviously not in the playoffs but I think he'll learn from that too). It seemed like he got more GWGs and learned how to win.

 

Also, looking at other guys similar to him, it's right around this point in their career when they turn it up. He has been a fantastic point producer for us so far and I don't see anything in his play that says he won't continue to improve.

 

So, I guess my final answer is,.. just a hunch.

[jpgr909]

Stafford -- don't see him as one to be motivated by money. Free spirit/stoner

Vanek -- so if he gets back to 08-09 levels, that's an improvement? You are diabolical.

Ennis -- you said Ellis, sorry.

Niedersotomayor -- you're saying he won't improve, but in his role he'll be AN improvement -- sheer evil.

Rivet -- dude is held together by duct tape now; he's in ICU as we speak

Sekera -- maybe, but his eyes are deader than Joanna Pasceri's

You didn't exactly hit the softball out of the park. More like a weak squibber back to the pitcher.

 

While I hope to be surprised, I personally don't have any hopes for improvement from Stafford. That said, he has every reason in the world to put everything into this year. We know the guy has the talent, but he completely lacks the drive. But money is absolutely a motivating factor, stoned rocker or not, as we've seen in all sports. It can work miracles in one-year increments for those not named Pujols. Stafford also hopefully has come to the realization that his time is not only running out, it should've run out already on this team. Even if he has hopes of going to another team to show his stuff, he HAS to at least try to crank it up here if he wants to raise his worth. Then there's the humiliation factor like he felt after getting benched last year. He came back and was excellent, then he reverted right back to his old self. A little time on the pine early in the season and for an extended duration could serve to at least kindle some kind of spark. Again, I don't believe it'll happen, but there's plenty to back up nfreeman's hope.

 

With Vanek, an improvement over last year is precisely what he's talking about, not an improvement over prior years, so there's nothing diabolical there. An improvement over last year, getting back to "average" numbers, is what we all want. He's been productive in those years and injuries hampered him last year.

 

With Ennis, we all knew who he meant. Ennis only played about 10 games or so last regular season. Improvement for him would be maturing into an everyday Sabre, and one who brings it consistently. That would be an improvement over last year, where he spent his time in Portland, albeit very valuable and productive time. Save some newbie jitters, this improvement is precisely what I expect from Ennis. I personally think this kid has a very bright future. I'm hoping it starts this year with a bang.

 

He provided a caveat to his idea with Niedermayer, though really the Sabres signed him to provide what he normally provides, not looking for an improvement. He may improve the team, but that's for another discussion.

 

Rivet has been very solid in the past, and we found out after the season that he hasn't been healthy for quite awhile, so I think it's not only reasonable to expect improvement, we SHOULD see improvement. Not to say that he'll now become the second coming of Ray Bourque, but if he can get back to his previous level, that's a definite improvement over what we've seen. Will it happen? Maybe not, but no reason to question nfreeman's expectations, reasonable considering the injury factor.

 

As for Andrej Sekera, he was a different player in the Olympics. Maybe it's Ruff's fault, maybe Sekera just needs to get more comfortable in the NHL, maybe his role hasn't been fully defined, I don't know, but the guy has some skills that could very well come out. I think Sekera disappears way too much, but there's talent there and it's quite reasonable to expect an improvement out of him.

 

None of this justifies the DR's lack of action this summer, but expecting improvement in these areas seems reasonably based, even if pure negativity clouds the analysis AND even if all parties later fall flat.

[TheChimp]

It could be, but even when some of us vigorously disagree with each other, we at least try to show each other a modicum of respect toward one another. If we really step over the lines, either one of the mods or the HMFIC will step in. I've seen it happen, and so have others. Granted, there's quite a bit of snarkiness around here, but rarely is there any sort of extreme condescension. Last time that happened, username NHL_opinion (sp?) was gone just as quickly as he got here.

 

I don't think you've reached that point yet. Just trying to help out.

Yeah you really seem like a gem of a helper. You talk to me like I'm new or something. First you completely take out of context what I said to another person entirely and chastise me in the face of your own ignorance, but when I humor you with an explanation, you only double your effort to alienate and, oh the irony, condescend to me.

 

Lemme guess. High school debate team alternate? Am I close?

[FogBat]

Yeah you really seem like a gem of a helper. You talk to me like I'm new or something. First you completely take out of context what I said to another person entirely and chastise me in the face of your own ignorance, but when I humor you with an explanation, you only double your effort to alienate and, oh the irony, condescend to me.

 

Lemme guess. High school debate team alternate? Am I close?

nm. Talk to the hand. I don't need to put up with your condescension.

[SabresneedaCup]

nm. Talk to the hand. I don't need to put up with your condescension.

aww no gift avatar for me anymore? lameee.

[FogBat]

aww no gift avatar for me anymore? lameee.

Sorry. I change it out every now and then.

 

BTW, did you like it, or did you hate it? Granted, I know it was an athletic cup, but it was a way to show that it's a start for the Sabres in order to TRY to get a Cup.

[SabresneedaCup]

Sorry. I change it out every now and then.

 

BTW, did you like it, or did you hate it? Granted, I know it was an athletic cup, but it was a way to show that it's a start for the Sabres in order to TRY to get a Cup.

it was funny.