Hockey Heaven!

[DarthEbriate]

18 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

The problem is you need an OWNER who also wants a team in Buffalo.

And we have one. He's just ineffective.

[Kristian]

3 hours ago, John Tucker said:

Every squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.  Pegula lucked out with the Beane/McDermott hires.  I go back to the Lafontaine fiasco.  Something felt fishy about his departure back then and it should've been a red flag right from the start.  I really think that Lafontaine would've been a great team president, overseeing the hockey department.  Pegula gets his hockey ignorant hands on too many decisions.

Today, my guess is Lafontaine smelled trouble right from the get-go, and decided to get the hell outta Dodge, as soon as he could.

[mjd1001]

10 minutes ago, Kristian said:

Today, my guess is Lafontaine smelled trouble right from the get-go, and decided to get the hell outta Dodge, as soon as he could.

Back then when that whole situation went down, I put it on Lafontaine. Pegula was still rather new here, he told us about hockey heaven, he told us he would do what was needed, spend the money to make the Sabres a winner. If there was friction, well, it wasn't because of our glorious new wonderful owner, could it be? No way!

After years have gone by, I look at that as possibly a little bit different.

[steveoat87]

If the team is sold say goodbye to a team in Buffalo.  There are too many big market teams who would love a franchise.  

The best solution is pressure on Pegula to improve the team management and structure.

[Thorner]

11 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

Back then when that whole situation went down, I put it on Lafontaine. Pegula was still rather new here, he told us about hockey heaven, he told us he would do what was needed, spend the money to make the Sabres a winner. If there was friction, well, it wasn't because of our glorious new wonderful owner, could it be? No way!

After years have gone by, I look at that as possibly a little bit different.

It’s a little scary looking back at the decisiveness with which Pat made that decision. What a canary in the coal mine 

I remember there was even some speculation at the time Pat was a little sporadic 

 

[#freejame]

I used the AI for the first time to make this 

[SwampD]

5 hours ago, Carmel Corn said:

Selling the team means moving the team as well…..which may seem like the lesser of the evils after last night’s embarrassment.

Can we just stop with this nonsense?! I'm so sick of hearing this every time someone mention the team being sold. The Sabres aren't moving. 

2 hours ago, Cranky old man said:

I’m sorry, did Pegs blow a four goal lead last night? 

Yes. By not caring or demanding wins.

[inkman]

15 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Terry you have driven this franchise into the ground.  Do yourself and the city and the fans a favor fire your Yes-Man Adams and sell the team.   Give a willing owner the chance to hire competent management to fix this team.  There is actually enough here to build from, but you and Adams are not the men for the job.

The sad thing is that there is a core of something that could work, but the team is so mismanaged and the roster so poorly constructed the puzzle pieces will never work without a fresh look

This is what we really have 

????? Tage Tuch

Benson ????? JJP

Quinn ?????  Greenway

?????? McLeod ??????  

 

Dahlin  ??????

Byram ??????

??????  ?????

 

UPL

??????

To make this work Power, Cozens, Byrson, Joki, Krebs, Samuelsson, and Clifton all need to go.  I like Zucker and I'd keep him until the deadline, trade him and then bring him back on another one year smaller deal.  We need two playmakers hopefully at center.  We need partners with a bent toward defensive play for Dahlin and Byram.  We also need our D to be tougher and more physical.  

He’s not reading this, just like me 

[PerreaultForever]

We all have to accept the fact that Pat LaFontaine saw where this would go right from the start and he was right. 

After that, the team missed a moment where they could have hired Rick Dudley as a president/director of hockey operations/whatever you want to call it above the GM but that guy is never here and that guy is always Terry Pegula and that sums up all that. We all know it, and we are all helpless to do anything about it. If you keep paying him money to go to these games you are an idiot. You'd be better off buying a banana and some duct tape. 

[PromoTheRobot]

17 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Terry you have driven this franchise into the ground.  Do yourself and the city and the fans a favor fire your Yes-Man Adams and sell the team.   Give a willing owner the chance to hire competent management to fix this team.  There is actually enough here to build from, but you and Adams are not the men for the job.

The sad thing is that there is a core of something that could work, but the team is so mismanaged and the roster so poorly constructed the puzzle pieces will never work without a fresh look

This is what we really have 

????? Tage Tuch

Benson ????? JJP

Quinn ?????  Greenway

?????? McLeod ??????  

 

Dahlin  ??????

Byram ??????

??????  ?????

 

UPL

??????

To make this work Power, Cozens, Byrson, Joki, Krebs, Samuelsson, and Clifton all need to go.  I like Zucker and I'd keep him until the deadline, trade him and then bring him back on another one year smaller deal.  We need two playmakers hopefully at center.  We need partners with a bent toward defensive play for Dahlin and Byram.  We also need our D to be tougher and more physical.  

 

17 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Terry you have driven this franchise into the ground.  Do yourself and the city and the fans a favor fire your Yes-Man Adams and sell the team.   Give a willing owner the chance to hire competent management to fix this team.  There is actually enough here to build from, but you and Adams are not the men for the job.

The sad thing is that there is a core of something that could work, but the team is so mismanaged and the roster so poorly constructed the puzzle pieces will never work without a fresh look

This is what we really have 

????? Tage Tuch

Benson ????? JJP

Quinn ?????  Greenway

?????? McLeod ??????  

 

Dahlin  ??????

Byram ??????

??????  ?????

 

UPL

??????

To make this work Power, Cozens, Byrson, Joki, Krebs, Samuelsson, and Clifton all need to go.  I like Zucker and I'd keep him until the deadline, trade him and then bring him back on another one year smaller deal.  We need two playmakers hopefully at center.  We need partners with a bent toward defensive play for Dahlin and Byram.  We also need our D to be tougher and more physical.  

A new owner would absolutely guarantee all are problems will be solved, yessiree. Then a new GM, new coach and new players. And if that doesn't work, we do it again.

[LabattBlue]

6 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

A new owner would absolutely guarantee all are problems will be solved, yessiree. Then a new GM, new coach and new players. And if that doesn't work, we do it again.

So you are in charge as of right now, what do you do?

[inkman]

17 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Terry you have driven this franchise into the ground.  Do yourself and the city and the fans a favor fire your Yes-Man Adams and sell the team.   Give a willing owner the chance to hire competent management to fix this team.  There is actually enough here to build from, but you and Adams are not the men for the job.

The sad thing is that there is a core of something that could work, but the team is so mismanaged and the roster so poorly constructed the puzzle pieces will never work without a fresh look

This is what we really have 

????? Tage Tuch

Benson ????? JJP

Quinn ?????  Greenway

?????? McLeod ??????  

 

Dahlin  ??????

Byram ??????

??????  ?????

 

UPL

??????

To make this work Power, Cozens, Byrson, Joki, Krebs, Samuelsson, and Clifton all need to go.  I like Zucker and I'd keep him until the deadline, trade him and then bring him back on another one year smaller deal.  We need two playmakers hopefully at center.  We need partners with a bent toward defensive play for Dahlin and Byram.  We also need our D to be tougher and more physical.  

They need to change the roster completely. I don’t think you have enough changes.  Tage, Rasmus aren’t part of the solution either.  If they were, last night wouldn’t have happened.  

[LGR4GM]

44 minutes ago, inkman said:

They need to change the roster completely. I don’t think you have enough changes.  Tage, Rasmus aren’t part of the solution either.  If they were, last night wouldn’t have happened.  

Rasmus Dahlin wasn't on the ice last night when it happened. He has back spasms and was in the locker room for the 3rd.

But he's the new ROR... I mean Eichel... I mean Reinhart. 

[GoPuckYourself]

18 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Terry you have driven this franchise into the ground.  Do yourself and the city and the fans a favor fire your Yes-Man Adams and sell the team.   Give a willing owner the chance to hire competent management to fix this team.  There is actually enough here to build from, but you and Adams are not the men for the job.

The sad thing is that there is a core of something that could work, but the team is so mismanaged and the roster so poorly constructed the puzzle pieces will never work without a fresh look

This is what we really have 

????? Tage Tuch

Benson ????? JJP

Quinn ?????  Greenway

?????? McLeod ??????  

 

Dahlin  ??????

Byram ??????

??????  ?????

 

UPL

??????

To make this work Power, Cozens, Byrson, Joki, Krebs, Samuelsson, and Clifton all need to go.  I like Zucker and I'd keep him until the deadline, trade him and then bring him back on another one year smaller deal.  We need two playmakers hopefully at center.  We need partners with a bent toward defensive play for Dahlin and Byram.  We also need our D to be tougher and more physical.  

Why does Quinn get a pass? His achiles has nothing to do with him not being able to score goals, dude is lost in every sense of the word. Also wouldn't you try an bulk up a bit to be able to at least absorb hits? Not saying this so he can turn into a grinder/fighter just more so he can take those hits better. He goes down like a sack of potatoes way too often.

[HumanSlinky39]

5 hours ago, Pimlach said:

We already know that a competitive team in Buffalo, with a few legit NHL stars, equals sell out every night and a passionate venue.  

It's depressing watching home games now. Remembering how raucous our home crowds were before this 14 year death march and seeing a half-full building now sucks. It looked like the crowds were starting to come back in a little in March/April 2023 as they started playing some good hockey for a while and particularly to honor RJ...but that momentum was quickly snuffed out when last year's team couldn't get going. There's a fanbase here itching to re-embrace the Sabres, but after 13 (probably gonna be 14) years of bad teams and no playoffs, who can blame them for staying away? Going to a game ain't cheap and who wants to shell out their hard earned dollars to watch performances like last night?

Edited December 4 by HumanSlinky39

[PerreaultForever]

2 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

It's depressing watching home games now. Remembering how raucous our home crowds were before this 14 year death march and seeing a half-full building now sucks. It looked like the crowds were starting to come back in a little in March/April 2023 as they started playing some good hockey for a while and particularly to honor RJ...but that momentum was quickly snuffed out when last year's team couldn't get going. There's a fanbase here itching to re-embrace the Sabres, but after 13 (probably gonna be 14) years of bad teams and no playoffs, who can blame them from staying away? Going to a game ain't cheap and who wants to shell out their hard earned dollars to watch performances like last night?

Well I do think the fans have crossed over the breaking point. They were booing with about 30 seconds to go and the team was only down a goal with the net empty. I have never seen that in my entire life. After it's over sure, but never when a team is down by 1 late. It's understandable, but I think it's a new low. 

[HumanSlinky39]

Just now, PerreaultForever said:

Well I do think the fans have crossed over the breaking point. They were booing with about 30 seconds to go and the team was only down a goal with the net empty. I have never seen that in my entire life. After it's over sure, but never when a team is down by 1 late. It's understandable, but I think it's a new low. 

Well, given they gave up 5 unanswered goals to get there, I'm not surprised. Maybe that's part of the reason they are so below average playing in their own barn...too uptight about pissing off the already surly fanbase. 

[LabattBlue]

4 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Well I do think the fans have crossed over the breaking point. They were booing with about 30 seconds to go and the team was only down a goal with the net empty. I have never seen that in my entire life. After it's over sure, but never when a team is down by 1 late. It's understandable, but I think it's a new low. 

I also found it odd. 

[mjd1001]

6 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

It's depressing watching home games now. Remembering how raucous our home crowds were before this 14 year death march and seeing a half-full building now sucks. It looked like the crowds were starting to come back in a little in March/April 2023, particularly to honor RJ...but that momentum was quickly snuffed out when last year's team couldn't get going. There's a fanbase here itching to re-embrace the Sabres, but after 13 (probably gonna be 14) years of bad teams and no playoffs, who can blame them from staying away? Going to a game ain't cheap and who wants to shell out their hard earned dollars to watch performances like last night?

There is another issue related to the above that I don't think is addressed enough.

Getting the games off of a cable-only TV package and/or making them easier and cheaper to watch.

I will speak of 5 people I know all between the age of 20-30.  2 nieces that I used to watch hockey games with when they were younger baby-sittting them, our daughter, her boyfriends, and a 2nd cousin. None of them are now Sabres fans, and all used to be at least to a small extent.  Why? They do not have cable. They only have streaming, and they are not going to get a cable package.

The problem is, when people can't SEE your product, they grow away from your product. They do not buy merchandise, They do not go to games...if they lose exposure to your product, they withdraw from it and stop caring.

Most of them are still Bills fans. Our daughter's boyfriend goes to his parents house to watch the Bills game every week (its only 15-20 times per year and usually on a weekend, much easier than the Sabres).  My 2nd cousin watches every Bills game via an antenna.  I think my two nieces do a combination of both.

I know this isn't the case with everyone. But for a lot of younger people who are new to being out on their own, an expensive cable package or a buggy, glitchy, expensive, streaming service that can't even keep the same name for a few years...that isn't a solution.

[PerreaultForever]

16 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

Well, given they gave up 5 unanswered goals to get there, I'm not surprised. Maybe that's part of the reason they are so below average playing in their own barn...too uptight about pissing off the already surly fanbase. 

I doubt it. I honestly think there is zero pride in the jersey. It doesn't mean anything any more. Maybe to Tuch since he's a local boy but not to the rest. So many years of garbage have eroded any sense of pride in the jersey at all and they all know that they can move on to other places and have success as they've seen with others. Fans booing them just gives them an excuse to want out. 

[PerreaultForever]

14 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

The problem is, when people can't SEE your product, they grow away from your product.

Wouldn't this actually work in reverse for the Sabres? The more you see of it........................

To your whole point I think it's the losing that has driven away the younger fans or potential fans. Hard to get behind a perpetual loser. You need something to get excited about to draw you in. 

As you likely know I was a Bruins fan first. I was drawn into that watching Orr flying through the air and winning a cup. They seemed awesome. (and they had uniforms like my home town Tiger Cats, I was young). When I saw the young French Connection knock off the hated Habs I got hooked on the Sabres. Yes, there was local tv to see them more but it was that exciting energetic dynamic that won games that mattered most. 

You can't draw in many new fans to a loser team. 

[inkman]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

Rasmus Dahlin wasn't on the ice last night when it happened. He has back spasms and was in the locker room for the 3rd.

But he's the new ROR... I mean Eichel... I mean Reinhart. 

He’s also the captain. 

[TRIP65]

19 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Terry you have driven this franchise into the ground.  Do yourself and the city and the fans a favor fire your Yes-Man Adams and sell the team.   Give a willing owner the chance to hire competent management to fix this team.  There is actually enough here to build from, but you and Adams are not the men for the job.

The sad thing is that there is a core of something that could work, but the team is so mismanaged and the roster so poorly constructed the puzzle pieces will never work without a fresh look

This is what we really have 

????? Tage Tuch

Benson ????? JJP

Quinn ?????  Greenway

?????? McLeod ??????  

 

Dahlin  ??????

Byram ??????

??????  ?????

 

UPL

??????

To make this work Power, Cozens, Byrson, Joki, Krebs, Samuelsson, and Clifton all need to go.  I like Zucker and I'd keep him until the deadline, trade him and then bring him back on another one year smaller deal.  We need two playmakers hopefully at center.  We need partners with a bent toward defensive play for Dahlin and Byram.  We also need our D to be tougher and more physical.  

Adams has to go. We have needed a Top 6 Forward for a few years now.

 

You can't have 4-5 guys that need to score NOT score

Cozens, Quinn, Benson, Krebs and Greenway (been hurt)

Forgive Benson but he hurts us with the other 4's Failures

 

Only 5 Offensive guys doing there job

Tuch

Tage

McLean

Zucker

Peterka to a degree

 

Dahlin just isn't making it Defensively!!!!!!!!

Does anyone know for sure why he can't be a Center with his offensive Skill set. Then might be an asset as a two way Center.

 

If McLean can't be 2nd Center then that is our 1st need but I would try for a week or two

 

First line needs to go back with  Tuch  Tage  Peterka. PLEASE stop playing with this line!

Second line needs firming up      Benson  McLean  Zucker

Third Line                                      Malenstyn   Kulich  Cozens

Fourth line                                       Lafferty  Kosak Krebs

 

Extra  Quinn

If Greenway back then he goes to 3rd line Greenway Kulich Cozens and 4th line is Malenstyn Krebs Lafferty

 

Kosak goes back down

Edited December 4 by TRIP65

[TRIP65]

11 hours ago, zow2 said:

I've wanted Terry to sell the team for over 4 years now.  Any new owner would come in and accidently fall into better hires and player performances than what Terry has done.   

Like Gollisano did?

[TRIP65]

10 hours ago, Carmel Corn said:

Selling the team means moving the team as well…..which may seem like the lesser of the evils after last night’s embarrassment.

At First and then the Arena goes away, no more Concerts, Bandits go Stadium to costly for upkeep.

The Pegulas are winning in Football, AHL Hockey and Bandits

Bills sucked till they got Beane, he is the Key and a Good HC that might be evolving up in his 7th year finally!

 

The key is getting Players that play consistently and TOGETHER. Sabres do NOT have that. There is Talent but much is the same. Top 2 centers are Tall and Lanky with shots but no much else. Defense has offensive guys, NO defensive stalwart. The rest of the guys are all tweener Wingers. I think McLeod could be something Different but have been moving him too much. Make him the 2nd Line Center and get him a scoring Winger

 

Pegula is NOT the issue

 

Adams is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Granto wasn't since Ruff is getting almost the same results. We have the PROOF. Pegula spends money, bought out Skinner

Who makes these decisions????

 

ADAMS