Can the Sabres fold and re-brand?

[Familykwi]

it seems to me that the recent NHL expansions has provided teams that did not even exist 10 years ago the opportunity to build from scratch and have at least reasonable success from the onset.  Of course what happened to the Knights is ridiculous, but even the Kraken are better than the Sabres.  I think a hard reset would be more enticing to players who won't consider coming to us in a trade over the environment we have now.

Can we fold the organization and ask the NHL to let us start over as an expansion team? 

[Andrew Amerk]

44 minutes ago, Familykwi said:

it seems to me that the recent NHL expansions has provided teams that did not even exist 10 years ago the opportunity to build from scratch and have at least reasonable success from the onset.  Of course what happened to the Knights is ridiculous, but even the Kraken are better than the Sabres.  I think a hard reset would be more enticing to players who won't consider coming to us in a trade over the environment we have now.

Can we fold the organization and ask the NHL to let us start over as an expansion team? 

This is a noble thought, but what happens to the players currently on the roster?

Do they all get banished to the KHL?

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, Familykwi said:

it seems to me that the recent NHL expansions has provided teams that did not even exist 10 years ago the opportunity to build from scratch and have at least reasonable success from the onset.  Of course what happened to the Knights is ridiculous, but even the Kraken are better than the Sabres.  I think a hard reset would be more enticing to players who won't consider coming to us in a trade over the environment we have now.

Can we fold the organization and ask the NHL to let us start over as an expansion team? 

If the Sabres leave, there will never be an NHL team in Buffalo again.  

[Gatorman0519]

In 2027 it will be 20 years since we had an elite hockey team. 20 years my god. 

[SabreFinn]

5 hours ago, Familykwi said:

it seems to me that the recent NHL expansions has provided teams that did not even exist 10 years ago the opportunity to build from scratch and have at least reasonable success from the onset.  Of course what happened to the Knights is ridiculous, but even the Kraken are better than the Sabres.  I think a hard reset would be more enticing to players who won't consider coming to us in a trade over the environment we have now.

Can we fold the organization and ask the NHL to let us start over as an expansion team? 

Think we are in a better position than most expansion teams with all the young players and prospects. Pegula just needs to sell the team, GM and the rest of the front office fired, and the coaching stuff replaced. Then trade away the players and other assetts and remake the roster to change the culture. 

Easy 😀.

[Huckleberry]

This is a fan forum right ? 

[LGR4GM]

14 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

This is a fan forum right ? 

No, this is an emotional support group for neglected Sabres fans.

[rickshaw]

How about this. In the off season we fire everyone. Trade or cut every single player on the team and start from scratch. Boom, expansion team vibes.

[DarthEbriate]

10 hours ago, Familykwi said:

it seems to me that the recent NHL expansions has provided teams that did not even exist 10 years ago the opportunity to build from scratch and have at least reasonable success from the onset.  Of course what happened to the Knights is ridiculous, but even the Kraken are better than the Sabres.  I think a hard reset would be more enticing to players who won't consider coming to us in a trade over the environment we have now.

Can we fold the organization and ask the NHL to let us start over as an expansion team? 

Pegula would never pay the expansion fee for the re-entry/expansion draft rights. He needs to make money from this venture and the league isn't going to force him to sell the team unless they start playing in a 5,000-seat arena or have no season ticket holders. Otherwise, the other teams are happy to have one hapless sack amongst them to feed them talents like Eichel and Reinhart for picks.

[mjd1001]

9 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:

In 2027 it will be 20 years since we had an elite hockey team. 20 years my god. 

Another way to look at it that I don't think has been brought up.

256 playoff series have been played since the Sabres last won a series.

256 times a team has left the ice shaking the hands of another team and moving on to the next round since the Sabres did that.

256 times the national media, sports media, fans have thought about a playoff matchup since the last time the Sabres won a series.

[OverPowerYou]

10 hours ago, Gatorman0519 said:

In 2027 it will be 20 years since we had an elite hockey team. 20 years my god. 

Feels like 30

[Gatorman0519]

Even if we got a really good GM, we are probably years from relevancy. This team is poorly constructed as evidenced by being at the bottom of the conference in January, 

[mjd1001]

9 minutes ago, Gatorman0519 said:

Even if we got a really good GM, we are probably years from relevancy. This team is poorly constructed as evidenced by being at the bottom of the conference in January, 

I go back and forth on that.

Some days I feel that way.

Other days I think "One 27-29 year old GOOD vet defensemen.....Swapping out Cozens for a good/responsible 2nd line center that is a playmaker who doesn't make dumb plays away from the puck....and UPL playing at last year's level or a different goalie playing at UPL's last years level" ....and I think they are in a playoff spot right now.

Depends on what day you catch me on.

[JustOutsideChicago]

I’m onboard if the front office is replaced with competent leaders with track records. 

[In The Buff]

all of us fans have numerous stories from our childhoods, that connect us to & are responsible for our love of the Sabres. What kills me, and what should kill Terry Pegula or anyone who claims to love this team is that: Since Terry has been owner, whole generations of people havent had any similar experiences. For their entire lives, the Sabres have been the dumpster fire of the NHL. Looking at the big picture, demographically speaking, if this team cant turn it around soon, and with all of us older fans eventually going out to pasture, there wont be as many diehard Sabres fans around to support this team. Not to mention the fans who have just said enough.

This area is one of the best hockey areas around. With a passionate & loyal fanbase. But we're talking almost 2 decades now since we've been any good. Its so extraordinary one cant really fathom that number & all it represents. Its like with money & billions & trillions, we really cant grasp how much that really is.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It simply cant go on like this. Even for Terry as isolated as he may be, it has to all be coming to a head you'd think. If we cant right this ship soon, selling the team & rebranding might be the most logical next step. Because how much longer can this continue?

[Cascade Youth]

17 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

If the Sabres leave, there will never be an NHL team in Buffalo again.  

There hasn’t been an NHL team in Buffalo for many years.

[Night Train]

8 hours ago, rickshaw said:

How about this. In the off season we fire everyone. Trade or cut every single player on the team and start from scratch. Boom, expansion team vibes.

On your 4th marriage  ? 

[GASabresIUFAN]

2 hours ago, Cascade Youth said:

There hasn’t been an NHL team in Buffalo for many years.

so true.

[Pimlach]

Pegula has destroyed my team and the brand.  
 

That’s all I know and it is a fact.  

Edited 9 hours ago by Pimlach

[JohnC]

21 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

I go back and forth on that.

Some days I feel that way.

Other days I think "One 27-29 year old GOOD vet defensemen.....Swapping out Cozens for a good/responsible 2nd line center that is a playmaker who doesn't make dumb plays away from the puck....and UPL playing at last year's level or a different goalie playing at UPL's last years level" ....and I think they are in a playoff spot right now.

Depends on what day you catch me on.

What is frustrating about this franchise and the way it is run is that there doesn't need to be a major reconstruction of the roster to make it a more competitive roster. It could have been done this offseason, but instead our Howdy Doody GM with the consent of our Mr. McGoo owner tinkered with his offseason additions, which I considered to be on the right track but insufficient. 

Just think, if another Zucker-like or two caliber players were added to the roster and another veteran defensive defenseman were added to the blueline, the storyline for this embarrassing season would be so different. This was doable! The opportunity to better balance and season this fledging roster was attainable this offseason, even with the handicap of having to deal with this franchise's well-deserved scorn by available players on the market.

Before we can even talk about what players will make this team credible the issue becomes who is going to make those decisions. If our GM continues in his current role, this franchise will continue to repeat the never-ending loop of stupidity that it currently is on. 

The person who is most at fault for the debasement of this once proud team and fanbase is the owner. He should be ashamed of himself. 

[rickshaw]

On 1/3/2025 at 4:26 PM, Night Train said:

On your 4th marriage  ? 

Huh? Happily married just shy of 27 years. Not sure what you meant by that.

[mjd1001]

14 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Pegula has destroyed my team and the brand.  
 

That’s all I know and it is a fact.  

I like to re-read this article on occasion....its centered on the Bills but I think it really applies to the Sabres, they picked the wrong team. It seems to me that a large part of the issue with the team is just being cheap. Not signing veterans. Not wanting to pay veterans long term deals.  Forcing your brand new coach to keep the old assistants....etc.

Its a few years old..and coming out of Covid, but it would explain a lot about the Sabres...

https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-ownership-kim-pegula-toxic-culture-125825880.html

In a lengthy story on Monday, Tim Graham of The Athletic Buffalo detailed an increasingly “toxic culture” at Pegula Sports and Entertainment (PSE), Terry and Kim Pegula’s organization that includes the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, with current and former employees describing the atmosphere within the company.

Pegula, from her home in Boca Raton, Florida, met with employees from multiple PSE departments via video conference.

She told them to prepare for not just increased scrutiny on budgets, but for tough times and sacrifices.

As she spoke, Pegula had a video presentation, which included the slide, “Pegula Family Goals.” There were three headers listed: “Win Championships,” “Sustainability” and “Return on Investment.”

As she discussed return on investment, Pegula said it also meant maintaining the family’s lifestyle, current and former employees recounted to Graham. Vice presidents who circulated the printed slide presentation to different departments reiterated that maintaining the Pegula family lifestyle is a primary organizational goal.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by mjd1001