No changes coming in the near future

[Oakstream]

Got this from ESPN:

 

Buff-a-low

 

Somewhat overshadowed by the drama in New Jersey, at least on a national level, is the equally stunning start to the season for the Buffalo Sabres.

 

The defending Northeast Division champs carried a 3-7-2 record into Wednesday night's game at home against red-hot Boston, good for 14th place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of those famously maligned Devils.

 

The team that brought home the Vezina Trophy (Ryan Miller) and Calder Trophy (Tyler Myers) last season can't buy a win. This is a team I had pegged for another playoff berth, and I'm not the only one who is surprised at what has transpired.

 

"Yes, I'm somewhat surprised," Sabres GM Darcy Regier told ESPN.com on Tuesday. "It's hard to put a finger on what it is. I don't think it's just one thing, but generally, we haven't played well enough. It's something we have to rectify."

 

Regier is as patient as they come among the league's 30 GMs and, for the most part, it has served him well. Panic trades are not in his DNA. The offseason is usually when he does his personnel work. But, yes, he's looking around.

 

"Working the phones is happening now," Regier said. "I think that's something that happens in the background for most managers regardless. It's one thing to work the phones, and it's one thing to get something that works for you. And there's times where maybe you're looking a bit more than others. ... For now, we're going to continue to take a patient approach and I'll continue to talk to my [GM] counterparts and hopefully we can right this season in the near future."

 

When a team that has high expectations struggles in the opening month, the question that gets asked is about the coach's job. Of course, this isn't just any old coach, it's the NHL's longest-tenured bench boss in Lindy Ruff, a former Jack Adams Award winner. Personally, I don't see how replacing him could possibly solve anything, and it's not something on the GM's mind, either.

 

"No, it's not," Regier said. "We've been through a lot of these situations together and we'll get through this situation, as well."

 

If the losses keep mounting, a trade seems like the most obvious path, even for the ultra-patient Regier.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/1480/midweek-rumblings-kaberle-rumors-gms-patient-in-buffalo-and-anaheim

 

My question is, how much more losing can this team take and still have a shoot at the playoffs? Bad starts can be overcome, but at some point, it will be too late. If Darcy doesnt do anything, and we are pegged to miss the playoffs come trade deadline, I would like to see us get in to a rebuild mode and get a new staff.. Thoughts?

[nobody]

From that link:

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Dire Ducks

 

The Anaheim Ducks are off to another shaky start at 4-7-1 (14th in West), and it hasn't taken long for the coach watch to start with Randy Carlyle. GM Bob Murray quickly jumped on those rumors, telling local media Monday his coach was safe, a comment he reiterated to me Tuesday.

 

"I've got a good coach and he's got a hell of a record," Murray told ESPN.com. "He's won a Stanley Cup. He knows how to win."

 

The message from Murray is simple: The coach isn't going anywhere, so the players have to play better, or else there might be trades.

 

"They've got some time still ... but eventually, at some point, I've got to say, 'What the heck is going on here?'" Murray said.

 

Reading between the lines, here's my take on all this: Carlyle doesn't have a job for life if the losing continues, but Murray is going to move some bodies before he considers canning his coach. I could be wrong, but that's my read.

 

In the meantime, Carlyle and Murray need to light a fire under their players. The Ducks got waxed in a one-sided loss to San Jose this past Saturday night and lost the previous night at home to a New Jersey Devils team that can't beat anyone else these days.

 

"As troublesome as people might think the San Jose game was, more troublesome to me was the flatness coming out against New Jersey last Friday night," Murray said. "That should have been two very desperate teams. But the first eight minutes, there was only one desperate team -- New Jersey."

 

The penalties have been damaging. The Ducks lead the NHL in penalty minutes per game, and that has to stop. "Our guys have to play hard and play smart," Murray said.

 

This GM is aggressive when it comes to trades. He's not scared to make one. I know from talking to other teams that Murray has been busy on the phone over the past few weeks. If the Ducks don't start winning, you might see a move or two before the end of November.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

So the only difference really is they have a GM who is willing to make trades while the Sabres have one who likes to take his time and only trade if he really really really needs to. But the comment in the article says you might see the GM that is willing to trade make a trade before the end of Nov. So can't really expect Darcy to trade before then?

[TheChimp]

Only in sports media can ineptitude be confused with patience.

[Kristian]

If the fans want changes, they should start by not giving the organisation their money.

 

Why would anyone want to change something that apparently is good enough to warrant a sellout on a wednesday?

 

As long as Larry the Moron sees people in the seats, NFW things are changing, and they shouldn't.

 

Change starts with the fans demanding it.

 

The Sabres can't force anyone to spend money on them, so don't.

[lalalalalaFontaine]

Don't hold your breath waiting for Darcy to do anything. If by some act of God he does, it will be of the minor variety to "skake" things up. His "patience" makes me want to vomit. He is one egotistical SOB. He won't admit fault with his moves and especially his draft picks which is why you don't see him make trades with guys that he drafts. No need to panic down there in Florida Tommy Boy. Buffalo fans are still buying tickets so all is good up here. We have been blessed with owners from Hell in this town!!!

[inkman]

He is one egotistical SOB. He won't admit fault with his moves and especially his draft picks which is why you don't see him make trades with guys that he drafts.

Dan Paille, Brian Campbell, Keith Ballard, Clarke MacArther, would like to disagree with you.

[carpandean]

"Yes, I'm somewhat surprised," Sabres GM Darcy Regier told ESPN.com on Tuesday.

He had a division-winning team that he felt was good enough to not make any significant changes to, but he's only somewhat surprised?! :blink:

 

If he felt that he made the right decisions in the offseason, then he should be mystified, stupefied, and downright ###### metagrabolized!!

[bunomatic]

Obviously Regier was dead wrong about the make up of his team. But I don't believe he has it in him to admit he was wrong. Its clear to anyone on the outside that the chemistry and make up of this squad is sorely lacking in a few key areas and has been for a good many years.i.e. the powerplay,the back up goalie situation,size and toughness, and I would have to add the entertainment value of the games.I'm sure there are those of you that can add to this list. What has to happen for Regier to admit that maybe the guys to get us beyond these problems are not on our roster and we'll have to look outside the organization? Or perhaps he truly has lost the ability to wheel and deal. Is Regier simply gun shy?

[TheChimp]

Obviously Regier was dead wrong about the make up of his team. But I don't believe he has it in him to admit he was wrong. Its clear to anyone on the outside that the chemistry and make up of this squad is sorely lacking in a few key areas and has been for a good many years.i.e. the powerplay,the back up goalie situation,size and toughness, and I would have to add the entertainment value of the games.I'm sure there are those of you that can add to this list. What has to happen for Regier to admit that maybe the guys to get us beyond these problems are not on our roster and we'll have to look outside the organization? Or perhaps he truly has lost the ability to wheel and deal. Is Regier simply gun shy?

Regier is incompetent, but the larger problem is the incompetent owner duo who don't see or care about any of it. This was bound to take a while, but this is eerily like the Ralph Wilson situation. Regier is Golisano's Modrak.

[billsrcursed]

Regier is incompetent, but the larger problem is the incompetent owner duo who don't see or care about any of it. This was bound to take a while, but this is eerily like the Ralph Wilson situation. Regier is Golisano's Modrak.

 

This is why I try and stay away when the team's not doing well.... :rolleyes:

[Stoner]

Regier is incompetent, but the larger problem is the incompetent owner duo who don't see or care about any of it. This was bound to take a while, but this is eerily like the Ralph Wilson situation. Regier is Golisano's Modrak.

 

And is there any doubt Quinn is Brandon?