The NHL Athletic Players Poll

[Brawndo]

82 players polled 
 

Buffalo ranks second in the first team that would be on players No Trade List behind Winnipeg 

Here are some quotes 

But just across Niagara Falls is another frequently cited spot, as the Sabres hurtle toward their 14th straight season without a playoff appearance.

"The way it's going there, Buffalo — it's just been kind of mucky there forever,” one player said. “And for me right now in my career, I don't really need that. It's not gonna help me."

 

High taxes, the organization hasn't been that strong recently,” another player said. “They haven't made the playoffs in like 14 years. In saying that, I have some friends there and they love playing there."

“All they do is lose,” another player said.
 

Nothing about Palm Trees though.

Lindy did not receive a single vote of the 82 players poll as a HC they would want to play for.

He was 5th on those who they would not want to play for, behind Torts, Cassidy, Babcock and Cronin.
 

Lindy Ruff got a handful of votes, too.

"I just think he's too old,” a player said. “I don't think he understands the game anymore. That's what I hear from the guys that play for him, that he just doesn't know what's going on most of the time."

[inkman]

In case anyone needs a push over the end it all today line…

[inkman]

I’ll keep beating the drum until I can’t anymore.  The Sabres are the Washington Generals.  The patsy here for everyone to chide and rag doll as their real team makes them look foolish.  We are the league’s doormat.  Wipe the ***** off your skates all over us, we practically enjoy it.  Laugh at us, beat us up, score the dumbest goals you’ve ever seen.  It’s all here.  

[Stoner]

Why do players love playing here? I think it's an important question. What kind of player loves playing for a dysfunctional organization that doesn't value winning? Is it the chance to play and earn big money before you would in a normal franchise? Is it the lack of pressure to win? Is it the tamed media?

Byram cited lack of traffic.

I dunno, give me a bunch of miserable pricks and stick them in a two hour rush hour. Make them deal with equally miserable pricks in the media.

The creative tension would be so much better.

Edited February 5 by Stoner

[spndnchz]

19 minutes ago, Stoner said:

Why do players love playing here? I think it's an important question. What kind of player loves playing for a dysfunctional organization that doesn't value winning? It is the chance to play and earn big money before you would in a normal franchise? Is it the lack of pressure to win? Is it the tamed media?

Byram cited lack of traffic.

I dunno, give me a bunch of miserable pricks and stick them in a two hour rush hour. Make them deal with equally miserable pricks in the media.

The creative tension would be so much better.

So you have no answer?

[Stoner]

1 minute ago, spndnchz said:

So you have no answer?

No, just questions. Now that we know it's something players say to each other and not just jock talk to reporters, I'm intrigued.

Is it the arena atmosphere? Proximity to home for some of them? The nightlife?

And yet again they almost lead the league in places players don't want to go.

[spndnchz]

Hmm good question.  Maybe they feel at  home?

[In The Buff]

the players who are here have it pretty good, as long as you dont care too much about the losing. They get paid pretty well... we may even over pay since we dont have the palm trees, & even if their production isn't that great. And if they make a mistake, its no big deal. Just keep collecting that pay check & after a 10 minute drive back home, they can completely forget about it & focus on other things, like their personal lives. Bars stay open til 4am & from things ive seen with my own 2 eyes, the women in the area throw themselves at the guys. I'm sure its like that to a degree everywhere. But in a city like Buffalo, we're not exactly flush with star power & celebrities. A pro sports player can live the life of a king here.

I imagine the guys make the best of it. As we see, they love it here. Winning must not be everything 😂

[msw2112]

Buffalo is a great place to live for a lot of people.  Most hockey players come from northern US states, northern parts of Europe, or Canada.  Buffalo being a smaller US market has a similar feel to where many of these guys grew up, so they feel comfortable.  Southern Ontario is very close by, and Quebec not far, so it's close to home for these guys and it's easy for their families to come and see them play.  The winter weather is familiar, so a non-issue (as it might be for NFL players).

Since Eichel's departure, most of the guys on the team seem like good guys, and Granato, Ruff, and Adams (and even Pegula too) seem to be good people who treat the players with dignity and respect.  They have a nice locker room and with Harbor Center, great facilities.  Regardless of why, the Sabres pay their players pretty well, overpaying for many.  As stated above, being a small market, hockey is big and the players enjoy some level of celebrity that they may not have in other markets, and I'm sure this doesn't hurt for the single guys on the team.  For the married guys/guys with families, it's a great community to raise a family.  Great real estate is affordable and commutes are short.

For all of these reasons, I can see why players like to play in Buffalo.

The only thing that's an issue - and it's a big one - is the losing.

Aside from all that, the comments about Ruff are pretty sobering.  I've always been a huge fan of his, both as a player and a coach, but I wasn't high on re-hiring him this time around.  The game may have passed him by a bit.  When seeing him in the bench, he just doesn't look as engaged/confident/in tune with the game has was in the past.  The results so far seem to support this notion.  That said, the 4-game winning streak is nice and let's see if they can build on it.  Nobody would be happier than me if they can turn it around with Ruff at the helm.

[EM88]

I agree with others that its primarily the losing keeping players from here.

The Bills become good and have a franchise player like Josh Allen and all of a sudden it is a bit easier to get guys than it was when you had a playoff drought.

For every thing about high taxes, there is the affordable housing. For every bit of bad weather, there is the fact it is not worse and many times better than places like Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, and a lot of other norther cities. 

It is the losing. This team makes the playoffs 2 years in a row and wins at least one round, and Buffalo will likely quickly move up that list.

[Ctaeth]

This confirms what we already thought:  KA is full of it.  It has nothing to do with palm trees.  One out of three guys mentions taxes, but it's only as a secondary thing. 

The primary reason no one wants to come here is that we suck.  And have continued to suck for so long that free agents see Buffalo as a place that will negatively impact their career if they come here.  

KA had one really good opportunity, IMO, to attract free agents.  After we were 1 point off of the playoffs in 22-23, that should have been the time to attract free agent talent or make a trade for a player that has us on their ntc.  We were a young team on the rise with a bunch of talented/skilled players.  It was the easiest sell.  "Come here, be a part of breaking the drought and winning the cup once this group matures." 

What did he do instead?  He sat on his hands and changed literally zero of the forwards (and made only small changes on the defense).  That offseason will forever be the reason that I will not change my mind about KA.  IMO, it played a large part in what's going on today with no end to the misery in sight.  Unforgiveable    

[mjd1001]

13 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

Buffalo is a great place to live for a lot of people.  Most hockey players come from northern US states, northern parts of Europe, or Canada.  Buffalo being a smaller US market has a similar feel to where many of these guys grew up, so they feel comfortable.  Southern Ontario is very close by, and Quebec not far, so it's close to home for these guys and it's easy for their families to come and see them play.  The winter weather is familiar, so a non-issue (as it might be for NFL players).

Everyone is different. Yes, there are some guys that want year round warm weather, clubs, a nice downtown skyline to look at. But...thati s not for everyone.

If you put together a strong winning franchise, that will supercede most of the above for many players.

And then there are guys that just don't like the above.  In my early 20's I left WNY, moved and lived in Boston and for years in Florida.  We are back in WNY and when my relatives talk about living in Florida as a 'paradise', I'm like WTH are you talking about, its awful.

Everyone is different. Some love those things, and thats fine. But don't make the mistake of thinking everyone does, its not true....maybe more guys, espeically the younger ones want Vegas, Miami, New York.....but not everyone. But if you put together a winning team, most of those worries will fade.

[inkman]

13 minutes ago, EM88 said:

I agree with others that its primarily the losing keeping players from here.

The Bills become good and have a franchise player like Josh Allen and all of a sudden it is a bit easier to get guys than it was when you had a playoff drought.

For every thing about high taxes, there is the affordable housing. For every bit of bad weather, there is the fact it is not worse and many times better than places like Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, and a lot of other norther cities. 

It is the losing. This team makes the playoffs 2 years in a row and wins at least one round, and Buffalo will likely quickly move up that list.

We drafted two players 1st overall and and two players 2nd overall and are no better because of it.  Honestly, those 4 players should be the cornerstones of the franchise.  Instead we currently have a very good defenseman, a kid struggling to acclimate to defensive zone play in the NHL, a minor league goalie, a nice looking prospect but he’s only 21 and just starting to blossom, a 2nd line winger, and a 4th line center.  Not exactly what you’d build a franchise around. 

Edited February 5 by inkman

[shrader]

That age comment about Ruff stuck out to me.  I feel like it says a lot about today's NHL player, probably more than it says about Ruff.  They love to mock old people these days.  Arniel's at the top of the league.  The results don't have all that much to do with the two year age gap between the two.

[Thorner]

5 hours ago, Brawndo said:

82 players polled 
 

Buffalo ranks second in the first team that would be on players No Trade List behind Winnipeg 

Here are some quotes 

But just across Niagara Falls is another frequently cited spot, as the Sabres hurtle toward their 14th straight season without a playoff appearance.

"The way it's going there, Buffalo — it's just been kind of mucky there forever,” one player said. “And for me right now in my career, I don't really need that. It's not gonna help me."

 

High taxes, the organization hasn't been that strong recently,” another player said. “They haven't made the playoffs in like 14 years. In saying that, I have some friends there and they love playing there."

“All they do is lose,” another player said.
 

Nothing about Palm Trees though.

Lindy did not receive a single vote of the 82 players poll as a HC they would want to play for.

He was 5th on those who they would not want to play for, behind Torts, Cassidy, Babcock and Cronin.
 

Lindy Ruff got a handful of votes, too.

"I just think he's too old,” a player said. “I don't think he understands the game anymore. That's what I hear from the guys that play for him, that he just doesn't know what's going on most of the time."

Hahhahhh told you Winnipeg was even worse

8 playoff appearances 

[Thorner]

Look at this. Just look. I’ve long known this to be the case but this chart is a belated Christmas present for me 

Winnipeg is in a spot more than 2 times worse attracting players. 8 playoff appearances 

Adams excuses obliterated 

Those excuses need not apply ever again 

Edited February 5 by Thorner

[msw2112]

4 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

Everyone is different. Yes, there are some guys that want year round warm weather, clubs, a nice downtown skyline to look at. But...thati s not for everyone.

If you put together a strong winning franchise, that will supercede most of the above for many players.

And then there are guys that just don't like the above.  In my early 20's I left WNY, moved and lived in Boston and for years in Florida.  We are back in WNY and when my relatives talk about living in Florida as a 'paradise', I'm like WTH are you talking about, its awful.

Everyone is different. Some love those things, and thats fine. But don't make the mistake of thinking everyone does, its not true....maybe more guys, espeically the younger ones want Vegas, Miami, New York.....but not everyone. But if you put together a winning team, most of those worries will fade.

I agree with what you are saying.  In my post, I said that Buffalo is a great place to live "for a lot of people."  I did not say it was a great place to live "for all people" or "for everyone."  I also went on to say why some NHL players might like playing in Buffalo based on where they are from or where they are in life.

The quote in the article was one NHL player saying that other NHL players love playing in Buffalo, so for those that do love it, I was speculating as to why.

But, yes, in sports, winning tops everything else.

[Ducky]

43 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Look at this. Just look. I’ve long known this to be the case but this chart is a belated Christmas present for me 

Winnipeg is in a spot more than 2 times worse attracting players. 8 playoff appearances 

Adams excuses obliterated 

Those excuses need not apply ever again 

Most players like playing here once they get here. They are on the road for half the time anyway. They can go back home or wherever they like in the off season.

Besides -40 isn't THAT cold...

[Broken Ankles]

50 minutes ago, Thorner said:

Hahhahhh told you Winnipeg was even worse

8 playoff appearances 

It would seem it’s more of a people thing than an organ-I-zation thing 😉.

[Thorner]

14 minutes ago, Ducky said:

Most players like playing here once they get here. They are on the road for half the time anyway. They can go back home or wherever they like in the off season.

Besides -40 isn't THAT cold...

And can say the same for the city of Buffalo 

[SwampD]

5 hours ago, spndnchz said:

Hmm good question.  Maybe they feel at  home?

A population of 275K with the infrastructure for 500K.

 

It's gotta be the traffic.

[Stoner]

Like playing there vs. like living there.

I'm trying to understand the allure of playing for this team. I keep coming back to lack of pressure and opps to play and earn early in your career. They shouldn't think this way but I'm guessing some young players figure the winning will come later.

[Jorcus]

3 hours ago, Thorner said:

Look at this. Just look. I’ve long known this to be the case but this chart is a belated Christmas present for me 

Winnipeg is in a spot more than 2 times worse attracting players. 8 playoff appearances 

Adams excuses obliterated 

Those excuses need not apply ever again 

 

Looking at the wording of the question and the time frame I think I can come up with most of the 16 players that said Buffalo is number 1 on their no trade list. To be number 1 on the no trade list for a player it almost has to be something personal. It's not about the area it's the team or the coach that makes you pick Buffalo over Winnipeg or Ottawa etc. For the most part it's going to be ex players that don't want to come back and we have a lot of them. 

Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhardt, Linus Ullmark, Nikita Zadorov, Jeff Skinner, Evander Kane, Will Carrier, JT Compher, Brandon Montour, Jake McCabe, Tyler Myers, Brayden McNabb. Somehow Girgensons has a no trade clause. Nick Foligno has one but may not hate on us. 

When you get past that group you are probably looking at Ruff haters mostly from the Devils or maybe Benn from Dallas. Possibly Pat Kane. Maybe a Toronto player.   

I am sure we are on most no trade lists but to be number 1 on a list would be more about how you were treated by the team or the coach in the past.  

Edited February 6 by Jorcus
grammer

[Pimlach]

6 hours ago, shrader said:

That age comment about Ruff stuck out to me.  I feel like it says a lot about today's NHL player, probably more than it says about Ruff.  They love to mock old people these days.  Arniel's at the top of the league.  The results don't have all that much to do with the two year age gap between the two.

Mocking old people is a time honored tradition.  There was just less media, and no social media, back in the 70's.  And back then when a player spouted off they got moved, and no one cared.  

Ruff was a very good coach, but from all accounts he is done as a coach in this league.   You can see it in his team, you can hear it in his interviews.  Maybe he has a role in the FO.   Maybe, but some coaches will never let go of coaching.  

[Pimlach]

2 hours ago, Ducky said:

Most players like playing here once they get here. They are on the road for half the time anyway. They can go back home or wherever they like in the off season.

Besides -40 isn't THAT cold...

Indeed.  It is a dry cold.