Honeymoon in Hockey Hell officially over

[Punch]

The post-season press conferences engineered by Larry Quinn were patronizing and 100% posturing. Making fat promises and crying crocodile tears meant nothing when virtually no effort was made to improve the roster in the offseason. Quinn used press conferences to pump his own tires whilst simultaneously planting excuses and lowering expections.

 

I suppose a presser of some kind would have been nice but the Pegula regime has already shown it is willing to dismantle an ineffective core and seriously upgrade several roster spots--- not to mention the organizational transparency exhibited weekly by Ted Black on WGR. I didn't hear any excuses from Black this week but rather emphatic statements that the roster isn't good enough and needs to get bigger and tougher.

 

When Larry Quinn said they were going to make moves it was always tempered with the condescending "three legged horse" model of operations, and followed up with something like swapping out Tallinder and Lydman for guys like Montador (minutes wise) Shoane Morrissonn, and Leopold (I like Leo but he's not a gamechanger). When Ted Black says they will be aggressive this summer I fully expect moves similar to last summer when Montador and Morrissonn were swapped out for Regehr and Ehrhoff. I don't need a press conference to tell me that.

[TheChimp]

Nobody is arguing that the presser, itself, fixes anything about the team. A presser simply says, "Hey here we are, you wanna say something to us? We're right here." It is simply a way to show the fans that they are willing to accept criticisms in person. It's a matter of respect.

 

I don't doubt that Terry Pegula is angry right now. The problem is, his actions make me believe he's actually more angry at US than he is his own goddam team.

 

Juvenile moves like this will sour his welcome FAR faster than his team simply performing badly, and if you don't believe me, just watch. The guy thinks he is above the rest of us and he's shown it more than once already.

[deluca67]

Nobody is arguing that the presser, itself, fixes anything about the team. A presser simply says, "Hey here we are, you wanna say something to us? We're right here." It is simply a way to show the fans that they are willing to accept criticisms in person. It's a matter of respect.

 

I don't doubt that Terry Pegula is angry right now. The problem is, his actions make me believe he's actually more angry at US than he is his own goddam team.

 

Juvenile moves like this will sour his welcome FAR faster than his team simply performing badly, and if you don't believe me, just watch. The guy thinks he is above the rest of us and he's shown it more than once already.

i think he expected fans to react different. Maybe he is a man who doesn't expect his decisions to ever be be questioned. This is professional sports, if his thin isn't thick enough to take the criticism that's a problem. Because he ain't seen nothing yet. If this team spends next season around 9th-10th place it is going to get much worse.

 

Fact is, I couldn't care less if Jesus himself owned the Sabres at this point.

 

I'm just tired of a franchise that expects me to be happy about mediocrity at best.

 

Like I said, watching the playoffs at the moment illustrates for me just how far the Sabres have to travel before they can be expected to win a round.

 

Forget about toughness, learn to hit a teammate's stick with the puck first.

Win a round? They have a long way to travel to just make the playoffs. Winning a round seems as far fetched a dream as a Stanley Cup does at this point.

[Punch]

Nobody is arguing that the presser, itself, fixes anything about the team. A presser simply says, "Hey here we are, you wanna say something to us? We're right here." It is simply a way to show the fans that they are willing to accept criticisms in person. It's a matter of respect.

 

I don't doubt that Terry Pegula is angry right now. The problem is, his actions make me believe he's actually more angry at US than he is his own goddam team.

 

Juvenile moves like this will sour his welcome FAR faster than his team simply performing badly, and if you don't believe me, just watch. The guy thinks he is above the rest of us and he's shown it more than once already.

 

This sounds like a pretty extreme overreaction. I have no idea how anyone can come to this conclusion.

 

If Ted Black is the organization's mouthpiece then their disappointment with this past season and corrective steps for the future have already been made public, many times over. Darcy himself has stated their intentions. I'm not sure how much more explicit it can be. Perhaps I'm just fatigued from the Quinn years, but I get the same sense of bloviating self indulgence after listening to Brian Burke stroke himself this past week.

 

We want results not words, so why complain because they didn't go through the motions and mindlessly blow hot air by repeating what has already been said? To satisfy egos for the likes of Bucky Gleason, Mike Harrington and Jerry Sullivan?

 

I never get the sense that end of season press conferences are meant to appease fans but rather to produce soundbites to be aired ad nauseum throughout the summer as a marketing tool.

[TrueBlueGED]

Win a round? They have a long way to travel to just make the playoffs. Winning a round seems as far fetched a dream as a Stanley Cup does at this point.

 

Seriously stop, you're just making a fool of yourself at this point. The Sabres missed the playoffs by 3 points. By no objective or subjective measure are they a long way away from being Florida, Washington, or Ottawa.

[deluca67]

Seriously stop, you're just making a fool of yourself at this point. The Sabres missed the playoffs by 3 points. By no objective or subjective measure are they a long way away from being Florida, Washington, or Ottawa.

Washington was begging for the Sabres to take that final playoff spot and when the chips were down the Sabres resorted back to their true selves. The only "fools" are those that overvalue a historic run to 9th place. This team is a long way away from being a playoff contender.

[Robviously]

Washington was begging for the Sabres to take that final playoff spot and when the chips were down the Sabres resorted back to their true selves. The only "fools" are those that overvalue a historic run to 9th place. This team is a long way away from being a playoff contender.

What the hell is a "playoff contender"? One post ago you said they "had a long way to travel just to make the playoffs." Obviously that's not true. They finished 9th this year and all of their key players are young. Presumably they're going to get better. Even if they make zero trades this offseason (which would be awful), they're a team that should be in the playoff hunt next year.

 

Also, just by definition, a team that misses the playoffs by 2 wins in an 82 game season was not a "long way off."

[deluca67]

What the hell is a "playoff contender"? One post ago you said they "had a long way to travel just to make the playoffs." Obviously that's not true. They finished 9th this year and all of their key players are young. Presumably they're going to get better. Even if they make zero trades this offseason (which would be awful), they're a team that should be in the playoff hunt next year.

 

Also, just by definition, a team that misses the playoffs by 2 wins in an 82 game season was not a "long way off."

The Sabres had to go on a tear just to reach that level of disappointment. The Sabres are where they belong, with the other 13 teams that missed the playoffs. Is there anyone here that truly believes the Sabres would be giving the Bruins the battle the Caps are with Braden Holtby in net.

[bunomatic]

The Sabres had to go on a tear just to reach that level of disappointment. The Sabres are where they belong, with the other 13 teams that missed the playoffs. Is there anyone here that truly believes the Sabres would be giving the Bruins the battle the Caps are with Braden Holtby in net.

 

Good point and no, I certainly don't think they could. But then again there were many on this board that thought the Sabres roster last year could give the eventual Stanley cup champs a good go in the playoffs a season ago.

[Robviously]

The Sabres had to go on a tear just to reach that level of disappointment. The Sabres are where they belong, with the other 13 teams that missed the playoffs. Is there anyone here that truly believes the Sabres would be giving the Bruins the battle the Caps are with Braden Holtby in net.

1. They also had to go on a 2-9-2 run. You can't deduct a hot streak from their overall record any more than you can deduct an 11 game run where they were awful. It's an 82 game season.

 

2. No one is saying the Sabres aren't "where they belong."

 

3. The Caps-Bruins has nothing to do with your original point about them having "a long way to travel just to make the playoffs." Actually, none of what you just said does. It was just three different non sequiturs because you were really exaggerating how bad the Sabres were this year and apparently don't want to admit that.

[I am Defecting]

Hockey Hell, for me, is having the highest payroll in hockey, and grossly underperforming. I'm 31, so I was initiated into hockey with the Mogilny years, and I was a die-hard teen fan for the hardest working team in hockey. We had superstars in those days, at least to me they were. Hell, even Peca was a major figure. Hasek is the greatest goaltender I've ever seen. Then there was Coach Ruff, and "no goal." Then darkness. Then Briere and Drury. I don't really get the people who idolize Miller, or Vanek.

 

I've loved cheering for the underdog Sabres. It wasn't as much fun in '07-08. It felt like we lost our identity, and it's exponentially worse now. This is a team that thinks that they can buy success. That's their identity now.

 

Epic thread, PTR, by the way. Many different aspects have been addressed in 3 pages.

[Taro T]

Nobody is arguing that the presser, itself, fixes anything about the team. A presser simply says, "Hey here we are, you wanna say something to us? We're right here." It is simply a way to show the fans that they are willing to accept criticisms in person. It's a matter of respect.

 

I don't doubt that Terry Pegula is angry right now. The problem is, his actions make me believe he's actually more angry at US than he is his own goddam team.

 

Juvenile moves like this will sour his welcome FAR faster than his team simply performing badly, and if you don't believe me, just watch. The guy thinks he is above the rest of us and he's shown it more than once already.

How is holding a press conference where the only questions fielded are from journalists showing less respect to fans than actually fielding questions from fans directly?

 

Why the need for the middle man?

 

Does anyone here honestly believe that a question supplied by Jerry Sullivan would be more probing or deal more directly about the actual game of hockey than one supplied by Chz? Might Bucky have more insight into the game than X? I'd much rather have THEM asking questions of Ted Black or Darcy Regier than most of the media (local and national).

 

Washington was begging for the Sabres to take that final playoff spot and when the chips were down the Sabres resorted back to their true selves. The only "fools" are those that overvalue a historic run to 9th place. This team is a long way away from being a playoff contender.

 

If you'd stated 'they're a long way from a SC contender,' I'd give you that. But a LONG way from being a playoff contender? Two more W's and they were there. And that's out of 82 games. Columbus is a long way from being a playoff contender. The Sabres aren't. But being a playoff contender isn't what anyone cares about.

 

You really don't need the hyperbole to make your point IMHO.

 

Hockey Hell, for me, is having the highest payroll in hockey, and grossly underperforming. I'm 31, so I was initiated into hockey with the Mogilny years, and I was a die-hard teen fan for the hardest working team in hockey. We had superstars in those days, at least to me they were. Hell, even Peca was a major figure. Hasek is the greatest goaltender I've ever seen. Then there was Coach Ruff, and "no goal." Then darkness. Then Briere and Drury. I don't really get the people who idolize Miller, or Vanek.

 

I've loved cheering for the underdog Sabres. It wasn't as much fun in '07-08. It felt like we lost our identity, and it's exponentially worse now. This is a team that thinks that they can buy success. That's their identity now.

That's one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that this is a management team that understands that to make money you need to spend it. They've invested in facilities, in the trenches (scouting, purchasing their AHL affiliate), maxing out the prospects they are allowed to have, and have been willing to spend for players that they believe upgrade what they currently have and in doing so maxing out their big league spending as well.

 

To me, a team that thought it could buy success is the Rags. Pre-lockout, they needed to have every big name available. They didn't bring in 'small' names, and a big part of the reason they only won once in their high spending era was because you can't expect a team with aging 1st liners getting 3rd line ice time and 3rd line responsibilities to NOT be disfunctional. Now that they're actually building from within their organization in addition to bringing in big names rather than ONLY buying guys that other teams developed they challenged for the Prez's Silverware.

 

The Sabres tried to land the biggest name available (Richards) but didn't even bother to meet with him when it looked like he really would sign with NY. They could have made a bigger pitch. They could have gone after Jagr, they didn't. They brought in 2 FA's in the last off season and made 1 trade for a veteran. Teams that are trying to 'buy' a championship without building the infrastructure to get there organically bring in a lot more outsiders. To me, teams trying to buy a championship punt draft picks and prospects for guys that are in their prime and usually on the downside of it. They go through the boom and bust cycles.

 

In the '90's, the Wings supplanted their core with veteran FA's, but they didn't give up on their kids to get those guys. Even in the post lockout world they don't sacrifice their future to bring in guys long in the tooth like Modano. Would you say that they 'bought success' or did they earn success by doing things the right way? I know what my answer would be to that question, and the Wings are the model the Sabres have professed to follow and to date they seem to be walking the walk on it IMHO.

[I am Defecting]

Bucky and Jerry aren't actually journalists. They are clearly columnists, as they do not report events, but rather, feelings. Journalism is something different, but columnists should not attend press conferences. Journalists should attend press conferences. I think the Buffalo News is doing the public a disservice by mucking news events up with these columnists. The Buffalo News is letting the lunatics run the asylum.

[SwampD]

Bucky and Jerry aren't actually journalists. They are clearly columnists, as they do not report events, but rather, feelings. Journalism is something different, but columnists should not attend press conferences. Reporters should attend press conferences. I think the Buffalo News is doing the public a disservice by mucking news events up with these columnists. The Buffalo News is letting the lunatics run the asylum.

None of this changes the fact that the Sabres ended up in 9th place.

[I am Defecting]

I feel incapable of posting right now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great. Now, I have a hernia.

[Taro T]

None of this changes the fact that the Sabres ended up in 9th place.

Nor does the holding of a press conference, e-mail chat, phone Q&A, other, or none of the above alter that fact.

[spndnchz]

"If we don't make the playoffs next year I'll eat this microphone".

[TheChimp]

Bucky and Jerry aren't actually journalists. They are clearly columnists, as they do not report events, but rather, feelings. Journalism is something different, but columnists should not attend press conferences. Journalists should attend press conferences. I think the Buffalo News is doing the public a disservice by mucking news events up with these columnists. The Buffalo News is letting the lunatics run the asylum.

Well then maybe Uncle Terry can buy the News, too, and then he can simply stop putting out the paper when he feels that his audience isn;t worthy of reading it.

 

I'm done. I feel that the team disrespected the community by this decision. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees it that way.

[blugold43]

no you're not the only one.

 

it is a bush league move to cancel the press conference. not that i'd expect them to do it, but i'd love to see darcy and lindy go up there and try explain why/how this bunch of softies is going to harden up and play for lindy when they clearly didn't want to this year. ted black had an hour on wgr and he couldn't handle it, so why should those two be able to?

 

and i find both laughable and predictable that people who post here would have problem with buff news columnists criticizing this team (or the bills, for that matter). sullivan and gleason are always either "too negative" or they're "just making the same point anyone could make."

 

and 12 months from now the sabres will be in about the same place and we'll be sitting here making the same complaints about the team.

[X. Benedict]

no you're not the only one.

 

it is a bush league move to cancel the press conference.

 

Cancel? Don't you have to call one to cancel one.

[wonderbread]

 

 

Trust me. It wouldn't make us feel any better.

 

PTR

 

Speak for yourself

[Kristian]

Fact is, they probably ran out of new and exciting excuses.

[TheChimp]

Even if they just brought Leino out and had Lindy punch him in the back of the head, I'd be satisfied. :w00t:

[Neo]

I have no objection to reporters being reporters and opinion columnists being opinion columnists. I read them differently and appreciate both. The Bucky and Jerry venom has always confounded me. It seems to me that many disparaged columns would, had they appeared here, be followed by quotes of "this" or "good post."

 

With regard to the season ending press conference, I offer this. What we're missing more is "why wasn't it held" and less "what would have been said."

[TheChimp]

I have no objection to reporters being reporters and opinion columnists being opinion columnists. I read them differently and appreciate both. The Bucky and Jerry venom has always confounded me. It seems to me that many disparaged columns would, had they appeared here, be followed by quotes of "this" or "good post."

 

With regard to the season ending press conference, I offer this. What we're missing more is "why wasn't it held" and less "what would have been said."

This. :flirt: