THN predicts Sabres at sixth.

[Stoner]

You really need your own sports talk show. It looks like you already have that one faithful listener who will stick with you no matter what you say.

 

Would I count in the ratings as a listener? What about my other 22 personalities?

 

Suzy, shut up, you scumsucking ######.

[thesportsbuff]

Those are some lofty expectations for a player that has yet to break the 20 goal plateau and has a career high of 65 points.

 

Maybe "lofty," sure, but I don't consider it all that unrealistic. He scored 18G in a little more than half a season two years ago and 17 in a slightly-shortened season last year-- is it really so impossible that he happens to find the net an extra 6 or 7 times? That's the beauty of sports -- it's 2010-11 now and anything can happen. Not saying it's likely, but for all we know Staff & Timmy could score 25, Ennis could put up 28, Vanek might score 50, etc. (Now there's some lofty expectations ;) )

[deluca67]

Maybe "lofty," sure, but I don't consider it all that unrealistic. He scored 18G in a little more than half a season two years ago and 17 in a slightly-shortened season last year-- is it really so impossible that he happens to find the net an extra 6 or 7 times? That's the beauty of sports -- it's 2010-11 now and anything can happen. Not saying it's likely, but for all we know Staff & Timmy could score 25, Ennis could put up 28, Vanek might score 50, etc. (Now there's some lofty expectations ;) )

For years people on this board have been using the Briere/Connolly prorating stats calculator. Talking about the points the player should have scored and not the actual points they do. That is why Tim Connolly is the NHL's all-time leader in imaginary points scored.

 

I don't expect a jump in in any players goal production. If they don't make any changes why would I expect different results? Connolly and Stafford don't come across as the type of players to put the work in to make a huge improvement. Vanek needs a center that the Sabres failed to get. Ennis? It would be shocking if the little guy could put up that type of numbers while taking a NHL level pounding 82 games.

[Bullwinkle]

Because, as a long time Sabre fan, I like lost causes.

 

I know I'm changing the original question a bit, but do you really think there are fans all over the league that are envious of what we have here in Buffalo? I doubt it. With the exception of most of the calendar year of 2006, the hockey has not been great since the lockout, and the franchise is mismanaged up there with the best (worst) of them. The Sabres have no iconic superstars -- although the Olympics/NHL PR machine tried to make Miller one. No great tradition. No history of winning Cups. No can't-miss arena experience. This isn't Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Toronto, New Jersey, San Jose, Philadelphia, Rangers, no, not even the Island...

 

NHL players consider Buffalo one of the worst places to end up, and free agent fans would probably feel the same.

 

Can we at least get real about the franchise we're rooting for? With the exception of a few magic early seasons, one run under Bowman, lucking into Dominik Hasek in his prime and lightning striking briefly after the lockout, the Buffalo Sabres have been the definition of mediocrity through their history. We have no soapbox to stand on.

 

Trust me on this one, shrader. Trust the Gorton's Fisherman.

 

This is BS. For a Grumpy Old Bastard, you have a short memory - or perhaps Alzheimer's is kicking in, I don't know.

 

I am an Old Bastard too. I was there for the first dropping of the puck. I'll never forget "Thank You Sabres" spontaneously erupting from the crowd. I was there for the love affair which lasted until they raised the roof and let in the football clowns. Boos were never heard until they did that, no matter how poorly they played.

 

Memories? Schoenfeld's three fights in three periods against Boston...Lorenz playing Batman...beating the Soviet Wings decisively...the fog games...and of course The French Connection.

 

But there's more than that. I remember seeing Hasek play here for Chicago and thinking how good this guy really was. Obviously someone agreed with me because a week or two later we traded for him. That wasn't luck, that was seeing promising talent and going after it. Of course then there's the Peca era and our near miss with Carolina.

 

And as mentioned, the most recent adventures with Drury and Briere.

 

I realize I've left out more memories than I've mentioned. But this franchise does have a history to be proud of. There are moments that I will never forget. Moments that not every franchise can match - nor have the rabid fans around to remember them.

 

In short, the Sabres have a proud tradition. These memories are our soapbox.

 

The mediocrity PA speaks of rests with ownership and the lack of resolve to make this franchise a winner every season like Detroit. If they can do it, so can we. However it takes resolve, commitment, and guts from ownership... something that is in short supply these days.

[FolignosJock]

De Lua hysterical i had to make it my signature

[DR HOLLIDAY]

This is BS. For a Grumpy Old Bastard, you have a short memory - or perhaps Alzheimer's is kicking in, I don't know.

 

I am an Old Bastard too. I was there for the first dropping of the puck. I'll never forget "Thank You Sabres" spontaneously erupting from the crowd. I was there for the love affair which lasted until they raised the roof and let in the football clowns. Boos were never heard until they did that, no matter how poorly they played.

 

Memories? Schoenfeld's three fights in three periods against Boston...Lorenz playing Batman...beating the Soviet Wings decisively...the fog games...and of course The French Connection.

 

But there's more than that. I remember seeing Hasek play here for Chicago and thinking how good this guy really was. Obviously someone agreed with me because a week or two later we traded for him. That wasn't luck, that was seeing promising talent and going after it. Of course then there's the Peca era and our near miss with Carolina.

 

And as mentioned, the most recent adventures with Drury and Briere.

 

I realize I've left out more memories than I've mentioned. But this franchise does have a history to be proud of. There are moments that I will never forget. Moments that not every franchise can match - nor have the rabid fans around to remember them.

 

In short, the Sabres have a proud tradition. These memories are our soapbox.

 

The mediocrity PA speaks of rests with ownership and the lack of resolve to make this franchise a winner every season like Detroit. If they can do it, so can we. However it takes resolve, commitment, and guts from ownership... something that is in short supply these days.

 

Awesome post man....... :beer:

[Stoner]

This is BS. For a Grumpy Old Bastard, you have a short memory - or perhaps Alzheimer's is kicking in, I don't know.

 

I am an Old Bastard too. I was there for the first dropping of the puck. I'll never forget "Thank You Sabres" spontaneously erupting from the crowd. I was there for the love affair which lasted until they raised the roof and let in the football clowns. Boos were never heard until they did that, no matter how poorly they played.

 

Memories? Schoenfeld's three fights in three periods against Boston...Lorenz playing Batman...beating the Soviet Wings decisively...the fog games...and of course The French Connection.

 

But there's more than that. I remember seeing Hasek play here for Chicago and thinking how good this guy really was. Obviously someone agreed with me because a week or two later we traded for him. That wasn't luck, that was seeing promising talent and going after it. Of course then there's the Peca era and our near miss with Carolina.

 

And as mentioned, the most recent adventures with Drury and Briere.

 

I realize I've left out more memories than I've mentioned. But this franchise does have a history to be proud of. There are moments that I will never forget. Moments that not every franchise can match - nor have the rabid fans around to remember them.

 

In short, the Sabres have a proud tradition. These memories are our soapbox.

 

The mediocrity PA speaks of rests with ownership and the lack of resolve to make this franchise a winner every season like Detroit. If they can do it, so can we. However it takes resolve, commitment, and guts from ownership... something that is in short supply these days.

Maybe you have a touch of senility. The roof was raised after the first season at the Aud. The love affair lasted one season?

 

It sounds like we agree on this. All of your great memories coincide with mine. Apparently, you don't have any great memories from 1977-1992, 2000-2005 and 2007-2010, either.

 

Almost every franchise has moments they can hang their hat on.

[SabresneedaCup]

You really need your own sports talk show. It looks like you already have that one faithful listener who will stick with you no matter what you say.

i would listen to his show.

[bunomatic]

every franchise has something they can hang their hat on but we certainly can't hang our hat on the cup. Thats all that really matters in this sport because thats what its all about. :worthy: The friggin stanley cup

[gregkash]

PA is the glen beck of this board. The Sabres have an important History. And I have moments every year where I hang my hat on and go this is why I'm a Sabres fan. No Matter the outcome of the season. Whether it was vanek and kotalik tumbling to the ice after a goal or the game against the San Jose sharks after the plane crash. We missed the playoffs both those seasons but I'll always remember those moments because of the emotion I felt at the time. I was born in 84 so I never got to see the early years but not every franchise has a defining line like the French Connection. Who is Detroits French Connection? They've had great players for sure and I'm sure they've had great lines. But please tell me what banners hanging over three players uniting all their numbers along the line they played for.

 

The Sabres are probably responsible for the NHL as it is today, being an international game. In 1989 we are the ones who smuggled Mogilny out of Russia. Mogilny goes on to be The first Russian to do pretty much everything. 92-93 was one of the most fun season I've ever been apart of and we got swept by the Canadians in rd 2. We didn't luck into Dominik Hasek either. We traded for him, Straight up. Muckler saw the potential and acted. You wanna talk about losing a trade, whoever was Chicago's Manager at the time got fleeced.

 

I was fortunate enough to be at game 3 and game 6 the Stanley cup games played in Buffalo during the 99 cup. That's an atmosphere I will never forget. taking part in the next generations thank you sabres after the end of that triple ot game will always stick in my memory.

 

Game 7 in 97 against Ottawa I'll always remember. I was 7 rows up in front of Derek Plante when he took that shot. I remember the crowd cheering USA USA USA during that game.

 

The point I'm trying to make is if you hate the team so much, then freaking leave. You can be dissatisfied but you literally hate everyone involved with the sabres. I haven't seen you say one positive thing in 3 years on this board and it's just like, dude, if you can't get behind the team then just go to one of your teams with all this tradition you speak of.

 

This is my team. I'm not always happy with everything. But it's my team till I die. I take enjoyment in watching them play, even if they lose. I don't want to be a redwings fan. I don't want to be a pittsburgh fan. I don't care how many stanley cups montreal has won, i don't want to be a montreal fan. I'm a sabre fan now, and i'll be a sabre fan when i die, whether we have 10 cups or 0 cups. 1 win or 82 wins.

 

If you don't feel like that, then you should just go imo.

[jad1]

Good thing we're not basing the bet on Islander fans that you personally know.

 

The point remains that, for a fan, changing coaches and changing GMs and picking first and throwing gobs of money around is entertaining. We can sit around with our noses in the air, thinking how superior the Sabres' franchise is to the Isles', but that would be -- wait for it -- nonsense.

 

Both franchises fail; it's just a bit more fun to watch happen on the Island. Wang vs. Golisano? Milbury vs. Regier? Nolan vs. Ruff? Come on.

 

Maybe you should base it on something more tangible, like attendance figures. The Islanders have finished 30th in attendance 3 out of the last 5 years. Since the strike, they're averaging around 80% capacity. (The Sabres average around 99% during the same time period).

 

Maybe you should spend some time working with the Isles PR staff while you're waiting for Ruff to be fired. You can help them to convince their fans to get off their butts and come to the colessium to see such an exciting product in person; just like ol' boring Tom, Darcy, and Lindy have managed to do with Sabres fans.

 

NHL Attendance

[jpgr909]

It sounds like we agree on this. All of your great memories coincide with mine. Apparently, you don't have any great memories from 1977-1992, 2000-2005 and 2007-2010, either.

Wow, that's a pretty sad and telling comment. How can you not have great memories for such long stretches? Thank God I don't feel that way, and I'm guessing most on here don't feel that way, because if that's really how you look at things, then why are you here and why do you watch Sabres hockey? I guess there's nothing necessarily wrong with not having great memories for those long stretches, but if true, then why watch/follow the team? Passion and disappointment are part of sports, but if you have well over 20 seasons of watching/following a sports team that provided no great memories for you, then you've quite clearly wasted a good portion of your life. We all agree that winning the Cup is the way you measure success, and not winning it is a disappointment, but the journey is still pretty exciting. If I didn't feel that way, especially for such long stretches of time, I'd have abandoned my devotion decades ago, as would most others. I mean, why watch if you're getting nothing out of it?

[Stoner]

PA is the glen beck of this board. The Sabres have an important History. And I have moments every year where I hang my hat on and go this is why I'm a Sabres fan. No Matter the outcome of the season. Whether it was vanek and kotalik tumbling to the ice after a goal or the game against the San Jose sharks after the plane crash. We missed the playoffs both those seasons but I'll always remember those moments because of the emotion I felt at the time. I was born in 84 so I never got to see the early years but not every franchise has a defining line like the French Connection. Who is Detroits French Connection? They've had great players for sure and I'm sure they've had great lines. But please tell me what banners hanging over three players uniting all their numbers along the line they played for.

 

The Sabres are probably responsible for the NHL as it is today, being an international game. In 1989 we are the ones who smuggled Mogilny out of Russia. Mogilny goes on to be The first Russian to do pretty much everything. 92-93 was one of the most fun season I've ever been apart of and we got swept by the Canadians in rd 2. We didn't luck into Dominik Hasek either. We traded for him, Straight up. Muckler saw the potential and acted. You wanna talk about losing a trade, whoever was Chicago's Manager at the time got fleeced.

 

I was fortunate enough to be at game 3 and game 6 the Stanley cup games played in Buffalo during the 99 cup. That's an atmosphere I will never forget. taking part in the next generations thank you sabres after the end of that triple ot game will always stick in my memory.

 

Game 7 in 97 against Ottawa I'll always remember. I was 7 rows up in front of Derek Plante when he took that shot. I remember the crowd cheering USA USA USA during that game.

 

The point I'm trying to make is if you hate the team so much, then freaking leave. You can be dissatisfied but you literally hate everyone involved with the sabres. I haven't seen you say one positive thing in 3 years on this board and it's just like, dude, if you can't get behind the team then just go to one of your teams with all this tradition you speak of.

 

This is my team. I'm not always happy with everything. But it's my team till I die. I take enjoyment in watching them play, even if they lose. I don't want to be a redwings fan. I don't want to be a pittsburgh fan. I don't care how many stanley cups montreal has won, i don't want to be a montreal fan. I'm a sabre fan now, and i'll be a sabre fan when i die, whether we have 10 cups or 0 cups. 1 win or 82 wins.

 

If you don't feel like that, then you should just go imo.

 

Detroit doesn't need to hang a banner honoring a line. Probably no room for one anyway.

 

I don't care if people like me or my message. I'm like DeLuca. Trying to drag kicking and screaming people into the light, to demand something better. Really, it's OK. You can do that. It doesn't mean you hate the team. You can reasonably want a new coach after 13 non-Cup years.

[Stoner]

Wow, that's a pretty sad and telling comment. How can you not have great memories for such long stretches? Thank God I don't feel that way, and I'm guessing most on here don't feel that way, because if that's really how you look at things, then why are you here and why do you watch Sabres hockey? I guess there's nothing necessarily wrong with not having great memories for those long stretches, but if true, then why watch/follow the team? Passion and disappointment are part of sports, but if you have well over 20 seasons of watching/following a sports team that provided no great memories for you, then you've quite clearly wasted a good portion of your life. We all agree that winning the Cup is the way you measure success, and not winning it is a disappointment, but the journey is still pretty exciting. If I didn't feel that way, especially for such long stretches of time, I'd have abandoned my devotion decades ago, as would most others. I mean, why watch if you're getting nothing out of it?

 

Of course I'm talking about great memories we can all share as a fanbase. Yes, every fan has great personal memories. I can recall games my dad took me to those years -- great memories, but they won't mean much to you. Tell me, as a franchise, what great memories were we collectively given in those years after the finals appearance in 75 up to May Day? You want to guess how many best of seven series the franchise won those years? (I did gloss over sweeping the Habs in 83, which was pretty cool -- still, it was just a first round best of five.)

 

Again, I'll repeat: it's OK to ask for more from your team. Really, it is. It doesn't make you less of a fan. Or someone who is then required to fall on his Sabre.

[deluca67]

Detroit doesn't need to hang a banner honoring a line. Probably no room for one anyway.

 

I don't care if people like me or my message. I'm like DeLuca. Trying to drag kicking and screaming people into the light, to demand something better. Really, it's OK. You can do that. It doesn't mean you hate the team. You can reasonably want a new coach after 13 non-Cup years.

That is such a great line.

 

There is such a tremendous fear within the Buffalo sports fan that prevents the allowing of expectations and the demanding of excellence. It's a part of being a sports fan. It's part of the payoff when expectations are fulfilled and excellence achieved. Fans need to realize that it is OK to raise the bar. As you said, it is "reasonable" to question the team you route for.

[nfreeman]

This is BS. For a Grumpy Old Bastard, you have a short memory - or perhaps Alzheimer's is kicking in, I don't know.

 

I am an Old Bastard too. I was there for the first dropping of the puck. I'll never forget "Thank You Sabres" spontaneously erupting from the crowd. I was there for the love affair which lasted until they raised the roof and let in the football clowns. Boos were never heard until they did that, no matter how poorly they played.

 

Memories? Schoenfeld's three fights in three periods against Boston...Lorenz playing Batman...beating the Soviet Wings decisively...the fog games...and of course The French Connection.

 

But there's more than that. I remember seeing Hasek play here for Chicago and thinking how good this guy really was. Obviously someone agreed with me because a week or two later we traded for him. That wasn't luck, that was seeing promising talent and going after it. Of course then there's the Peca era and our near miss with Carolina.

 

And as mentioned, the most recent adventures with Drury and Briere.

 

I realize I've left out more memories than I've mentioned. But this franchise does have a history to be proud of. There are moments that I will never forget. Moments that not every franchise can match - nor have the rabid fans around to remember them.

 

In short, the Sabres have a proud tradition. These memories are our soapbox.

 

The mediocrity PA speaks of rests with ownership and the lack of resolve to make this franchise a winner every season like Detroit. If they can do it, so can we. However it takes resolve, commitment, and guts from ownership... something that is in short supply these days.

PA is the glen beck of this board. The Sabres have an important History. And I have moments every year where I hang my hat on and go this is why I'm a Sabres fan. No Matter the outcome of the season. Whether it was vanek and kotalik tumbling to the ice after a goal or the game against the San Jose sharks after the plane crash. We missed the playoffs both those seasons but I'll always remember those moments because of the emotion I felt at the time. I was born in 84 so I never got to see the early years but not every franchise has a defining line like the French Connection. Who is Detroits French Connection? They've had great players for sure and I'm sure they've had great lines. But please tell me what banners hanging over three players uniting all their numbers along the line they played for.

 

The Sabres are probably responsible for the NHL as it is today, being an international game. In 1989 we are the ones who smuggled Mogilny out of Russia. Mogilny goes on to be The first Russian to do pretty much everything. 92-93 was one of the most fun season I've ever been apart of and we got swept by the Canadians in rd 2. We didn't luck into Dominik Hasek either. We traded for him, Straight up. Muckler saw the potential and acted. You wanna talk about losing a trade, whoever was Chicago's Manager at the time got fleeced.

 

I was fortunate enough to be at game 3 and game 6 the Stanley cup games played in Buffalo during the 99 cup. That's an atmosphere I will never forget. taking part in the next generations thank you sabres after the end of that triple ot game will always stick in my memory.

 

Game 7 in 97 against Ottawa I'll always remember. I was 7 rows up in front of Derek Plante when he took that shot. I remember the crowd cheering USA USA USA during that game.

 

The point I'm trying to make is if you hate the team so much, then freaking leave. You can be dissatisfied but you literally hate everyone involved with the sabres. I haven't seen you say one positive thing in 3 years on this board and it's just like, dude, if you can't get behind the team then just go to one of your teams with all this tradition you speak of.

 

This is my team. I'm not always happy with everything. But it's my team till I die. I take enjoyment in watching them play, even if they lose. I don't want to be a redwings fan. I don't want to be a pittsburgh fan. I don't care how many stanley cups montreal has won, i don't want to be a montreal fan. I'm a sabre fan now, and i'll be a sabre fan when i die, whether we have 10 cups or 0 cups. 1 win or 82 wins.

 

If you don't feel like that, then you should just go imo.

I don't agree with everything in these posts, but both are still great posts.

 

A great Sabres memory is a beautiful thing. Most recently, the win over SJ after the plane crash was incredible.

 

I think PA gets bored at times and starts playing the provacateur.

 

Maybe you should base it on something more tangible, like attendance figures. The Islanders have finished 30th in attendance 3 out of the last 5 years. Since the strike, they're averaging around 80% capacity. (The Sabres average around 99% during the same time period).

 

Maybe you should spend some time working with the Isles PR staff while you're waiting for Ruff to be fired. You can help them to convince their fans to get off their butts and come to the colessium to see such an exciting product in person; just like ol' boring Tom, Darcy, and Lindy have managed to do with Sabres fans.

 

NHL Attendance

Not to mention the fact that the Islanders have a much greater population base to draw from.

[jad1]

That is such a great line.

 

There is such a tremendous fear within the Buffalo sports fan that prevents the allowing of expectations and the demanding of excellence. It's a part of being a sports fan. It's part of the payoff when expectations are fulfilled and excellence achieved. Fans need to realize that it is OK to raise the bar. As you said, it is "reasonable" to question the team you route for.

 

So change for the sake of change is a reasonable way to demand excellence? Throw sh#t against the wall and see what sticks is the way to win the Cup?

 

PA mentioned the Sabres from the mid-80s. I remember those teams: big-name GM, lots of coaching changes, high draft picks, multiple trades. The Sabres couldn't win a playoff series during that era, much less a Cup. It's the same path that the Islanders are following. Is it "reasonable" to ask why going that route will generate better results?

[bunomatic]

What results have going the route we've been going gotten us. Thats right,nada. Zip,el zilcho. NOTHING. Some would say not even an entertaining team. I ,like many others would like to see the fan base demand more. We don't have to settle for mediocre. We can expect to compete on the same stage as the Detroits or the other storied franchises. We don't have to swallow the line that we are competetive when we all know that 1 and out in the playoffs doesn't equate to a winning season regardless of how many wins we put up in the regular season. We can demand to compete for the cup. Thats what its all about,nothing less.

[deluca67]

So change for the sake of change is a reasonable way to demand excellence? Throw sh#t against the wall and see what sticks is the way to win the Cup?

 

PA mentioned the Sabres from the mid-80s. I remember those teams: big-name GM, lots of coaching changes, high draft picks, multiple trades. The Sabres couldn't win a playoff series during that era, much less a Cup. It's the same path that the Islanders are following. Is it "reasonable" to ask why going that route will generate better results?

Why is a change in coach, GM or direction of the team "change for the sake of change?"

 

Just because the changes didn't work in the mid-80's doesn't mean they were changes for the sake of change. They were changes in the hope of bringing success. It is a much better option than letting a franchise rot on the vine as is the plan of the current Sabres management.

[shrader]

Detroit doesn't need to hang a banner honoring a line. Probably no room for one anyway.

 

I don't care if people like me or my message. I'm like DeLuca. Trying to drag kicking and screaming people into the light, to demand something better. Really, it's OK. You can do that. It doesn't mean you hate the team. You can reasonably want a new coach after 13 non-Cup years.

 

I went to a game there this year and those rafters are one hell of a sight. But then again, the vast majority of the stuff up there is from before any of us were alive (aka. your youth). I'm not so sure how to weigh all those banners that came from when 6 teams were fighting it out for the cup.

 

And this isn't meant to be some sort of attempt to shoot down what you're saying. I'm mostly thinking out loud here.

[jpgr909]

Again, I'll repeat: it's OK to ask for more from your team. Really, it is. It doesn't make you less of a fan. Or someone who is then required to fall on his Sabre.

If you want to live in your self-described state of elongated misery, that's your choice. Really, it is. But please don't confuse yourself into believing that the constant whining about how terrible things are makes you the standard bearer for greater franchise accountability. Repeat whatever you'd like, but maintaining an overall enjoyment of the team, the game, and the journey toward the Cup, fruitless as it may be at times, along with demanding greater accountability from that same team, are NOT two mutually exclusive concepts. You can actually maintain those lofty expectations, expect the team to meet them (and express disappointment/anger/criticism when they don't), and still enjoy watching/following the team. The alternative appears to be a monotonous, all-negative whine about anything and everything the team does or doesn't do. What fun!

[Stoner]

If you want to live in your self-described state of elongated misery, that's your choice. Really, it is. But please don't confuse yourself into believing that the constant whining about how terrible things are makes you the standard bearer for greater franchise accountability. Repeat whatever you'd like, but maintaining an overall enjoyment of the team, the game, and the journey toward the Cup, fruitless as it may be at times, along with demanding greater accountability from that same team, are NOT two mutually exclusive concepts. You can actually maintain those lofty expectations, expect the team to meet them (and express disappointment/anger/criticism when they don't), and still enjoy watching/following the team. The alternative appears to be a monotonous, all-negative whine about anything and everything the team does or doesn't do. What fun!

 

And I would counter that enjoying watching the games and whining about the end result of lo these many seasons are not mutually exclusive.

[nobody]

Detroit doesn't need to hang a banner honoring a line. Probably no room for one anyway.

 

 

Sometimes people need to looks at history (not picking on you PA; I know if your memory still worked you would have some stories to tell about that time :) ). From the mid 60s through the mid 80s the Red Wings were mostly a very bad team - missing the playoffs in like 15 out of 17 years. Now of course we all know that since then they have become one of the power house teams in the NHL.

 

Gee - now this is the second thread I've come to talk about how bad a team has been in the past which has also won a ton of Stanley Cups in their history. :(

[jpgr909]

And I would counter that enjoying watching the games and whining about the end result of lo these many seasons are not mutually exclusive.

Maybe (I'll resist mentioning your lack of great memories for over 20 years of watching--oops, couldn't resist!), but you see, the key word here is "whining." I'm glad we agree on that part at least.

[Cereal]

For what it's worth, ESPN insider look at the Sabres

 

"

The Sabres rode the superlative goaltending of Ryan Miller to the division title last year, but the fact is that the rest of the team was average at best. The Sabres lost two of their top four defensemen in Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder, but with the continuing development of Tyler Myers, a good group of forwards in their prime should ensure that they challenge for the division again.

.......

"

 

I don't have insider so I can't really comment too much.