Reality Is...Nobody Has An Answer

[HumanSlinky39]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

I’m kinda expecting it to only get worse.  I think we might see a sports organization plummet to depths we haven’t seen before.  I’m kinda excited. 

The Cleveland Clowns set a pretty high low bar post-rebirth. We still have a little way to go to equal their abject ineptitude, but we have some momentum.

[Gatorman0519]

Now that the drought is all but certain to reach an epic year 14, I wonder what the fan reaction will be over the course of the rest of the year.

[Stoner]

4 minutes ago, Gatorman0519 said:

Now that the drought is all but certain to reach an epic year 14, I wonder what the fan reaction will be over the course of the rest of the year.

It's scary how fast we went from the Sabres need to play at a 98 point ish pace the rest of the way to be a playoff team to now 115 ish points. IOW they need about 70% of the remaining 100 points available.

Not sure how the fans react. What the team dreads is apathy. KA and TP are inviting it. If there's any passion left maybe we'll see humor, sarcasm, creativity. You can yell Fire Adams! only so many times.

[Pimlach]

9 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:

Now that the drought is all but certain to reach an epic year 14, I wonder what the fan reaction will be over the course of the rest of the year.

There will lots of empty seats.  Many will be paid for but empty.  Good hockey has skipped a generation of fans in Buffalo.  

9 hours ago, Stoner said:

It's scary how fast we went from the Sabres need to play at a 98 point ish pace the rest of the way to be a playoff team to now 115 ish points. IOW they need about 70% of the remaining 100 points available.

Not sure how the fans react. What the team dreads is apathy. KA and TP are inviting it. If there's any passion left maybe we'll see humor, sarcasm, creativity. You can yell Fire Adams! only so many times.

On yesterdays show Duffer said they just need win 4 in a row and their back in it.  Marty mentioned that there are 7 teams ahead of them but Duffer said that doesn’t matter.   I guess all of those teams will promptly lose 4 in a row for the Sabres?  

Edited Thursday at 01:47 PM by Pimlach

[GASabresIUFAN]

“Nobody has the answer”.  

I don’t think that’s true.  There are plenty of answers, but we have a meddling owner, an incompetent GM, and the wrong players to implement the necessary change.

Answer 1:  Terry Pegula needs to take a step back if he doesn’t sell the team.  
 

Answer 2:  The step back needs to occur after Adams is relieved of his duties.  He needs to be replaced by an experienced President of hockey ops and a new GM.  The new GM will decide on coaches.  I’d fire everyone but Lindy and let Lindy and GM work together on a new staff.  I’m not saying Lindy’s been great or even good, but he does know his to win and what it takes to win.  I’m not sure another head coaching change helps at this point and we need to see what Lindy can do with his coaches.  
 

Answer 3:  Start the process of revamping the roster under the new GM.  Cozens, Power and Samuelson should be at the top of the transition list.  Also all UFAs except Zucker and Greenaay should be allowed to walk.  
 

Answer 4:  Fix the roster with veteran players with the skill sets needed such as defensemen who can play defense and centers who can create offense.  
 

I fully acknowledge that none of this is easy, but there is a way forward but not if Adams remains as GM and Terry is involved in the day to day manage of the club.  Go drill a well Terry.  

Edited Thursday at 01:59 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[LGR4GM]

4 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

“Nobody has the answer”.  

I don’t think that’s true.  There are plenty of answers, but we have a meddling owner, an incompetent GM, and the wrong players to implement the necessary change.

Answer 1:  Terry Pegula needs to take a step back if he doesn’t sell the team.  
 

Answer 2:  The step back needs to occur after Adams is relieved of his duties.  He needs to be replaced by an experienced President of hockey ops and a new GM.  The new GM will decide on coaches.  I’d fire everyone but Lindy and let Lindy and GM work together on a new staff.  
 

Answer 3:  Start the process of revamping the roster under the new GM.  Cozens, Power and Samuelson should be at the top of the transition list.  Also all UFAs except Zucker and Greenaay should be allowed to walk.  
 

Answer 4:  Fix the roster with veteran players with the skill sets needed such as defensemen who can play defense and centers who can create offense.  
 

I fully acknowledge that none of this is easy, but there is a way forward but not if Adams remains as GM and Terry is involved in the day to day manage of the club.  Go drill a well Terry.  

I'd keep the goalie coach. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

21 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I'd keep the goalie coach. 

I agree and almost included that in my previous post but believe Lindy is smart enough to figure that out on his own.

By the way everything I wrote above isn’t groundbreaking or new.  In fact everyone knows what must be done they just don’t have the will to do it or Terry just doesn’t care to do it.  Either way the team is dead for the foreseeable future.

Edited Thursday at 02:24 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[LGR4GM]

Just now, GASabresIUFAN said:

I agree and almost included that in my previous post but believe Lindy is smart enough to figure that out on his own.

I want Ruff gone. I would cut/fire most (60%) of the front office with a few exceptions. Those few exceptions I would sit down with and formulate a literal plan of what we need and possible options to fill those roles. Once that was all sorted, would take a couple of months, you start the serious roster surgery. You can make some moves before (Jokiharju, sorry buddy but we need to move on), but you put the team in place before you start making those moves. Buffalo needs to hang on to the talent they have while shipping out the dead weight. As much as this place wants to crap on Tage Thompson, you should keep him. Tuch I would keep. Benson and Dahlin too. After you identify the players you are moving on from, you start at the deadline and work into the summer to move them. All the while your new coaching staff puts in a system and every practice you work on that system. No practices are canceled. At the draft, you need players with high motors, smart, and with heart/grit/toughness (Zeimer, Benson, Helenius) and hopefully a little size (6'1" and up) where possible. 

Next year is not about "rebuilding" or "getting the piece in place" it is about making the playoffs and winning a round. Practices have to be highly structured at first to teach and embed the system. We are talking running a drill over and over over and over and over. Amateurs practice until they can get it right, professionals practice until they can't get it wrong. The PP would be burned and the drop pass of stupidity killed. Through this you always adjust, understand your players limits, understand your teams limits, and adjust your overall plan based on what you are missing. 

And through all of this Terry would be told what was going on. But he would not have input. After 14 years, he has lost his right to that and IDGAF about him owning the team. 

[JohnC]

What drives the futility in this absurd situation is that the origin of the problem relates to the owner. He's the person who has made the consequential hires. Until he comes to the realization that he is in over his head and needs outside guidance, this insular organization will continue to chase its own chewed up tail. My sense is that TP doesn't have many meaningful relationships with the other owners or experienced hockey people. The consequences of having an operation that is so parochial is reflected in its generation of failure during the Pegula ownership. 

People here are yelling we need to do this or that. If the owner is too stubborn to seek and consider outside advice, then the cycle of futility will continue on. What's perplexing is that the owner has models for success within in his own sports businesses: the Bills and Bandits. What the owner has to recognize is that stubbornness is self-sabotaging trait. 

[Mr Peabody]

My solution is forget trying to play in a structure.  Use the rest of the season to let loose and let them play without restraint.  Get them scoring to raise their value for trades and then bring in someone to build a balanced team.   

[Scottysabres]

S9meone has an answer. Over 8 billion people on the planet, not to mention 16 other teams have those who have the answer every year.

Finding that someone, well, that's a different story.

[Phil Goyette]

My feeling is that Adams carries the lion share of the responsibility for what this team has become.

The talent is there, but it is still one of the youngest rosters in the league.

Had Adams brought in a couple vets to show the young guys the ropes, perhaps things might be going differently.

I think the worst thing you can call an athlete....is soft, so I say this with all respect.

This team has a minimum of 5 or 6 marshmallows on it.

I actually feel sorry for Tuch and Greenway, because they are the only two guys on the entire team who consistently give effort.

 

[Ross Rhea]

On 12/18/2024 at 10:21 AM, JP51 said:

Lets look at this a little closer for more info... Was it Lindy that cancelled the practice? I some how doubt that.. Which means it was Pegula that cancelled the practice after likely Ruff was Voluntold to agree with it... talk about Meddling in the micro day to day.. I think we can see plainly that Pegula is actively engaged in the day to day dysfunction...  I did see Ruff in his press conference looking a combination of defeated, disgusted and helpless... I wonder how much , obviously not all, was TP stepping into his world and dictating the practice schedule... 

Terry absolutely is meddling in day to day. In his mind why not its working and working well for the Bills.

He obviously thinks his way is best as he probably did the same kind of meddling in his oil businesses, which were also successful. 

Will he change, who knows but until he realizes the Sabres need to have a different approach from him nothing will change. 

 

 

[JP51]

15 minutes ago, Ross Rhea said:

Terry absolutely is meddling in day to day. In his mind why not its working and working well for the Bills.

He obviously thinks his way is best as he probably did the same kind of meddling in his oil businesses, which were also successful. 

Will he change, who knows but until he realizes the Sabres need to have a different approach from him nothing will change. 

 

 

total agreement from me

[HumanSlinky39]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

There will lots of empty seats.  Many will be paid for but empty.  Good hockey has skipped a generation of fans in Buffalo.  

On yesterdays show Duffer said they just need win 4 in a row and their back in it.  Marty mentioned that there are 7 teams ahead of them but Duffer said that doesn’t matter.   I guess all of those teams will promptly lose 4 in a row for the Sabres?  

I suppose it's their job to try to convince us there's still a chance for them to get into the playoffs, and that is technically true, I guess; but they have to play ELITE hockey the rest of the season to do it. I'm curious how many teams have dealt with double digit losing streaks in a season and still made the playoffs in the modern era. I'd venture to guess it's not a big number. 

[Flashsabre]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/scouts-analysis-why-the-sabres-potential-isnt-paying-off/
 

Really good article on an outsider’s POV of the Sabres. He nails it in my opinion.

[Weave]

8 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/scouts-analysis-why-the-sabres-potential-isnt-paying-off/
 

Really good article on an outsider’s POV of the Sabres. He nails it in my opinion.

JFC I was bitching about the lack of vets to teach the kids the season after Eichel was drafted.   The issue spans 3 GMs FFS.

Terry, read this damned article.

[Stads]

If the Sabres go 12-34-4 over the last 50, they tie the tank season. I have total faith in them

[msw2112]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I want Ruff gone. I would cut/fire most (60%) of the front office with a few exceptions. Those few exceptions I would sit down with and formulate a literal plan of what we need and possible options to fill those roles. Once that was all sorted, would take a couple of months, you start the serious roster surgery. You can make some moves before (Jokiharju, sorry buddy but we need to move on), but you put the team in place before you start making those moves. Buffalo needs to hang on to the talent they have while shipping out the dead weight. As much as this place wants to crap on Tage Thompson, you should keep him. Tuch I would keep. Benson and Dahlin too. After you identify the players you are moving on from, you start at the deadline and work into the summer to move them. All the while your new coaching staff puts in a system and every practice you work on that system. No practices are canceled. At the draft, you need players with high motors, smart, and with heart/grit/toughness (Zeimer, Benson, Helenius) and hopefully a little size (6'1" and up) where possible. 

Next year is not about "rebuilding" or "getting the piece in place" it is about making the playoffs and winning a round. Practices have to be highly structured at first to teach and embed the system. We are talking running a drill over and over over and over and over. Amateurs practice until they can get it right, professionals practice until they can't get it wrong. The PP would be burned and the drop pass of stupidity killed. Through this you always adjust, understand your players limits, understand your teams limits, and adjust your overall plan based on what you are missing. 

And through all of this Terry would be told what was going on. But he would not have input. After 14 years, he has lost his right to that and IDGAF about him owning the team. 

I agree that the drop pass on the PP rush seems ridiculous.  That said, in the last few years, every single NHL and major college hockey team that I've watched uses it.  It's certainly not a Sabres thing.

[SwampD]

9 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

I agree that the drop pass on the PP rush seems ridiculous.  That said, in the last few years, every single NHL and major college hockey team that I've watched uses it.  It's certainly not a Sabres thing.

The problem is, they are starting to do it out of habit, and when the aren't even on the PP, and no one is there to get the pass. 😂

It happened at center ice against the Habs and it got picked off and went the other way.

They really are awful.

[msw2112]

4 minutes ago, SwampD said:

The problem is, they are starting to do it out of habit, and when the aren't even on the PP, and no one is there to get the pass. 😂

It happened at center ice against the Habs and it got picked off and went the other way.

They really are awful.

I had the game on in the background while doing other things, so I didn't really focus on it.  At one point, I was actually picked up and started reading a book, as it was more interesting than the game.  What might happen in Chapter 32 was more interesting than the 3rd period.  It's the middle ground before I get to the point of not watching at all, which I'm very close to....As such, I did not see this particular play, but based on what I did see, I'm not surprised and it's pretty sad.

 

[Thorner]

5 hours ago, Pimlach said:

There will lots of empty seats.  Many will be paid for but empty.  Good hockey has skipped a generation of fans in Buffalo.  

On yesterdays show Duffer said they just need win 4 in a row and their back in it.  Marty mentioned that there are 7 teams ahead of them but Duffer said that doesn’t matter.   I guess all of those teams will promptly lose 4 in a row for the Sabres?  

Need way more than that, if we care about math 

if we win 4 in a row, that means we aren’t winning 5 in a row, so our record after those 5 games probably moves from about 11-17-4 to 15-18-4.

meaning even mounting a 4 game winning streak right now would leave us needing about 60 more points in the remaining in 45 games. Which is a 109 point pace 

[ska-T Palmtown]

2 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/scouts-analysis-why-the-sabres-potential-isnt-paying-off/
 

Really good article on an outsider’s POV of the Sabres. He nails it in my opinion.

"My experience in the league, when I worked for Nashville and Florida, was completely different than what I've seen unfold in Buffalo." Yup, that sums it up. Organizational ineptitude is the form of cancer we have.

[Sure-fire Hall-of-Fame] "Defenceman Shea Weber, for example, didn’t arrive full-time in the NHL until four seasons after he was selected."

Edited Thursday at 07:39 PM by ska-T Palmtown

[jad1]

Terry just needs to hire a good GM.  It worked for the Bills; it'll work for the Sabres.

How does he hire a good GM? Luck.  That's it.  It's no different than 95% of the other owners of any other franchise inany other sport.  Terry didn't hire Beane because he's some kind of football genius.

Of all the issues the Sabres have, this one is the easiest to fix.

So man-up Terry, fire Palm Trees and roll the dice on a new GM.  Your luck is bound to change.

[Thorner]

1 minute ago, jad1 said:

Terry just needs to hire a good GM.  It worked for the Bills; it'll work for the Sabres.

How does he hire a good GM? Luck.  That's it.  It's no different than 95% of the other owners of any other franchise inany other sport.  Terry didn't hire Beane because he's some kind of football genius.

Of all the issues the Sabres have, this one is the easiest to fix.

So man-up Terry, fire Palm Trees and roll the dice on a new GM.  Your luck is bound to change.

Agree totally. We have to try. Terry stays - fine. He needs to keep throwing darts at the GM dartboard at the very least, if he won’t contemplate changing and hiring an experienced candidate