The Sabres' Fan Mutiny Has Begun

[LGR4GM]

Quote

That letter also took a hopeful tone. Guelli wrote that the team is “on the doorstep” of where it wants to be, despite having the fourth-worst points percentage in the NHL. He wrote about the “massive steps” the Sabres have taken on the penalty kill, even though the unit ranked 21st in the league at the time. After that letter, the Sabres lost six straight games.

“They’re lying to your face almost right now,” Gott said. “I get that there’s not too many answers right now, but they’re very tone-deaf as an organization right now.”

...

Guelli declined to comment for this story.

Hints are everywhere that consumer satisfaction has waned. In The Athletic’s recent ownership rankings, Sabres fans submitted the most responses and rated owner Terry Pegula 32nd in the league by a wide margin. Of the more than 1,300 fans who responded to our Sabres fan survey last month, 67 percent rated their confidence in Pegula a zero or a one on a scale from zero to five. The same was true for GM Kevyn Adams.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6216350/2025/03/26/buffalo-sabres-attendance-season-tickets/?source=emp_shared_article

The breaking point has been reached. I know ppl with seasons who have stopped going and won't be renewing. I also know of several ppl who got/kept seasons when Ruff was hired and most fully admitted it was partially nostalgia but also hope that Buffalo could turn it around with a "real" coach. I'd be shocked if the Sabres end up with 9k season ticket holders next season, especially if Adams and 95% of the team is back, which it looks like will be the case. There's no hope left and Pegula is an absentee owner in the fans eyes regardless of his shenanigans and bs behind the scenes. 

Congratulations Terry Pegula. You brought one of the best hockey markets to the brink of destruction and it only took you 14 years and countless stupid and inept decisions to do it. I am firmly convinced this board could have run the team better over the last decade. What a dumpster fire. 

[Pimlach]

Season ticket sales will be down.  

The Pegula's have always been tone deaf.  Remember the weird comments from Kim on Sabres fans not being the same as Bills fans, most of that was simply not true.  She doesn't know the history.  

Regarding the great job Botterill was doing, we fans "don't see everything that is going on", then he gets fired 3 weeks later - and not for the teams performance but for refusing to carrying out their stupid plan.  

Unless the league steps in and helps them hire real Hockey Execs, I do fear this franchise could die.  Unfathomable to think that after living through their birth and their entire history.  

No doubt the Pegula's have ruined the hockey team and its entire culture with it. 

I think they try to be good stewards but they lack the trust to let qualified people run the Sabres.   The irony is the Bills and their success - the league put McDermott out there along with several other qualified candidates, McDermott brought in Beane, Beane drafted Allen and re-tooled everything.   McDermott replaced the vets that did not buy in and he elevated the Vets that did.   What a difference between the two franchises 

Is there a hockey McDermott that will come to Buffalo and fix this?  It is the only hope.  

Edited Wednesday at 03:05 PM by Pimlach

[GoPuckYourself]

You can only take so much pain. 

[Mustache of God]

At this point Pegula is using the Sabres operating losses as a giant tax write-off to offset the new stadium overages. He's not making any changes because this is what he wants.

[mjd1001]

I get the point, but I don't think the breaking point with the fanbase exists..meaning there is not one point where things fall off the cliff. The decline in interest with this team and fan support has been there, but it has been a consistent, month after month, year after year decline.

Yep, its worse now than earlier in the year...worse than last year, worse than 5 years ago....but its not a 'breaking point', its just a continual slide down.

As far as changing things, it seems to me to come down to money.  At least since Covid, how often has Pegula made a decision, or allowed the team to make a decision, where he made a big-time investment?  Taylor Hall?  But that was a 1 year deal.  The extensions to certain players? You kind of had to lock up Dahlin, and while Cozens didnt work out, the Tage/Cozens extensions were not out of whack with what others were playing.  Investment in coaches/scouting/hocker people? he's paying 'fired' guys when he didn't have to, but he certainly doesn't seem to be looking to pay top dollar, or at least 'competitive' rates to attract the best people.

Edited Wednesday at 02:52 PM by mjd1001

[bob_sauve28]

[JustOneParade]

This was the line from that article that has me shaking my head (referring to the subject season ticket holder):

'He almost gave them up a couple of years ago, but the Sabres’ employees in the ticket office went to great lengths to keep his business'.

We've gotten to the point that ticket office employees are having to do what the product on the ice should be doing.

 

[inkman]

25 minutes ago, bob_sauve28 said:

Except they aren’t tanking.  They are winning and probably will win their way out of a top 4 pick.  

[That Aud Smell]

56 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I think they try to be good stewards but they lack the trust to let qualified people run the Sabres.

Maybe? I think there is a uniquely toxic combination of pride and stupidity that underlie and inform everything that Terry does with the Sabres.

Well, that and being a cheap-ass mofo. #EEE

[K-9]

49 minutes ago, Mustache of God said:

At this point Pegula is using the Sabres operating losses as a giant tax write-off to offset the new stadium overages. He's not making any changes because this is what he wants.

The new stadium overages have been offset and then some by the equity sale of the Bills alone and Pegula doesn’t need a dime of Sabres money to meet his cost overrun obligations for the new stadium. I think he simply doesn’t give a crap about the Sabres, simple as that.

[bob_sauve28]

10 minutes ago, inkman said:

Except they aren’t tanking.  They are winning and probably will win their way out of a top 4 pick.  

I was thinking more along the lines that the mutiny will be crushed, not about tanking 

[shrader]

It has begun?  Why did it take so long?

[DarthEbriate]

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

I get the point, but I don't think the breaking point with the fanbase exists..meaning there is not one point where things fall off the cliff. The decline in interest with this team and fan support has been there, but it has been a consistent, month after month, year after year decline.

Yep, its worse now than earlier in the year...worse than last year, worse than 5 years ago....but its not a 'breaking point', its just a continual slide down.

As far as changing things, it seems to me to come down to money.  At least since Covid, how often has Pegula made a decision, or allowed the team to make a decision, where he made a big-time investment?  Taylor Hall?  But that was a 1 year deal.  The extensions to certain players? You kind of had to lock up Dahlin, and while Cozens didnt work out, the Tage/Cozens extensions were not out of whack with what others were playing.  Investment in coaches/scouting/hocker people? he's paying 'fired' guys when he didn't have to, but he certainly doesn't seem to be looking to pay top dollar, or at least 'competitive' rates to attract the best people.

The best people are not interested in working for the Sabres unless they have the authority to act as GMs do in normally run franchises. Our owner hired a congenial fellow who is a sycophant. That's why the silent owner hired him. I'm more concerned about the owner's willingness to hire a competent GM than about the owner's willingness to spend money when needed. The owner is the main reason why this team has been flailing for nearly a full generation. That's beyond being simply absurd, it's laughably absurd. Until he is willing to provide a competent prospective GM the right conditions to do the job, the situation will remain unstable. 

Edited Wednesday at 04:09 PM by JohnC

[JohnC]

8 minutes ago, K-9 said:

The new stadium overages have been offset and then some by the equity sale of the Bills alone and Pegula doesn’t need a dime of Sabres money to meet his cost overrun obligations for the new stadium. I think he simply doesn’t give a crap about the Sabres, simple as that.

I agree with most of your commentary that the football operation has little to do with the hockey operation. Where I have some variance is that I don't see the problem is that the owner doesn't care about the Sabres as much as he is too stubborn to recognize how inept he is when it comes to hockey. His own hubris is sabotaging himself and the franchise. 

[K-9]

Lindy knows what’s needed to construct a competitive hockey team. Kick him upstairs to president in charge of hockey ops and let him hire a gm who also knows what it takes. But I wonder if Lindy would even want to do that at this point. 

[JohnC]

7 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Lindy knows what’s needed to construct a competitive hockey team. Kick him upstairs to president in charge of hockey ops and let him hire a gm who also knows what it takes. But I wonder if Lindy would even want to do that at this point. 

What you recommend makes a lot of sense. It's a basic recommendation that up to now the stubborn owner has not been receptive to. That's what so frustrating about this situation. What's obvious to most people is not obvious to the person who ultimately has the authority.

[Flashsabre]

The most frustrating part is that the team is not that far away. With a knowledgeable guy in charge and a couple moves this team would be right there in a playoff spot. 
 

Hire a Holland or Shanahan to oversee things. Hire someone like Kelkalainen  as GM. Kick Lindy upstairs to work with him. Identify a quality coaching staff that can teach defensive structure. A few roster moves later and the team would be in good shape.

But Terry doesn’t see it or isn’t interested in seeing it.

[K-9]

2 minutes ago, JohnC said:

What you recommend makes a lot of sense. It's a basic recommendation that up to now the stubborn owner has not been receptive to. That's what so frustrating about this situation. What's obvious to most people is not obvious to the person who ultimately has the authority.

If there is one person that Pegula loves more than KA, it’s Lindy. One can hope I guess.

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

1 hour ago, GoPuckYourself said:

You can only take so much pain. 

[Flashsabre]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6216350/2025/03/26/buffalo-sabres-attendance-season-tickets/?source=emp_shared_article

The breaking point has been reached. I know ppl with seasons who have stopped going and won't be renewing. I also know of several ppl who got/kept seasons when Ruff was hired and most fully admitted it was partially nostalgia but also hope that Buffalo could turn it around with a "real" coach. I'd be shocked if the Sabres end up with 9k season ticket holders next season, especially if Adams and 95% of the team is back, which it looks like will be the case. There's no hope left and Pegula is an absentee owner in the fans eyes regardless of his shenanigans and bs behind the scenes. 

Congratulations Terry Pegula. You brought one of the best hockey markets to the brink of destruction and it only took you 14 years and countless stupid and inept decisions to do it. I am firmly convinced this board could have run the team better over the last decade. What a dumpster fire. 

A great article and it just stacks on top of the pile of negative media stories on the franchise of late. I mean if Terry doesn’t take note and change things this offseason IDK when he will.  
 

I mean an end of season PC where Adams stands there and goes “this is on me. I need to be better and I will” will do more harm than good to this organization and fan base.

[Weave]

36 minutes ago, shrader said:

It has begun?  Why did it take so long?

Y’all are so behind.  I was mutiny-ing before it was cool.

Leading edge, baby.

[CallawaySabres]

4 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

The most frustrating part is that the team is not that far away. With a knowledgeable guy in charge and a couple moves this team would be right there in a playoff spot. 
 

Hire a Holland or Shanahan to oversee things. Hire someone like Kelkalainen  as GM. Kick Lindy upstairs to work with him. Identify a quality coaching staff that can teach defensive structure. A few roster moves later and the team would be in good shape.

But Terry doesn’t see it or isn’t interested in seeing it.

I think this is the main point to be made, how do we know they are not that far away? From where I stand, they not only don't have a #1 goalie, they may not even have an NHL backup that you can trust. They lack a #1 Center, their defense is arguably the worst in the NHL, they have THE WORST GM in town, a coach who I think is ready to retire, and an owner that does not give a crap.

Sorry, but add this all up and I think they are about as far away as you can possibly imagine. I think people like to believe that just because they have all these high draft picks and a farm system that "experts" say is one of the best, that they are closer than the standings show.

I see a consistent bottom-feeder year in and year out, and a team that NEVER seems to get over the hump. This team sucks from top to bottom and yet  somehow manages to still fool people as they have late season surges that mean nothing.

They are rotten, and I mean rotten to the core, and everyone outside the team knows it...

[pi2000]

Sabrespacers, I stand before you today with a simple message: never lose hope. We all know that this franchise has its ups and downs, mostly downs. There are moments that test our patience, our resilience, and our very spirit. But through all the trials, there is one thing that can never be taken away from us—hope.

Hope is not just a feeling. It’s a force. A quiet, steady light that flickers in the darkest of times. Hope is the belief that even when we don’t see the way forward, there is one. It’s the whisper in your heart telling you to keep moving forward, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. It’s the courage to take that first step, even when you can’t see the whole staircase.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed when the season doesn’t go as planned. The challenges we face can feel insurmountable, and there may be moments when you feel like giving up. But I want to remind you of something: every obstacle you face is not a roadblock, it’s a stepping stone. Every time you get knocked down, you have the choice to rise again. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow stronger, to become more resilient, and to become the fan you are meant to be.

In times of hardship, remember that hope doesn’t always shout loudly—it often whispers. It’s in the small, quiet moments when we choose to believe that things can get better. It’s in the times when you choose to smile, even when it’s hard, when you continue to tune in and cheer on the Sabres. Those moments, though they may seem small, are the building blocks of resilience.

And the beauty of hope is that it’s contagious. When you hold on to it, you inspire other Sabrespacers to do the same. By staying hopeful, by choosing to keep moving forward with faith, you ignite a spark that can light the way for others who are struggling in the dark.

So when the franchise feels like it's lost it's way, when you’re unsure of where the journey is taking you as a fan, hold tight to hope. Trust that there is a purpose in every twist and turn. The storm will pass, the clouds will clear, and the franchise will emerge from it stronger, wiser, and more capable than ever before.

In closing, I want you to remember this: Hope is not the absence of fear, but the courage to face it. It’s not about having all the answers, but about trusting that the path will unfold, one step at a time. And with every step, the franchise is moving toward something greater than you could ever imagine.

So, no matter where you are in your fandom, no matter what you faced yesterday, today or tomorrow, keep your heart open to the possibility of better days. Hold on to hope, and let it guide you.

Edited Wednesday at 04:37 PM by pi2000

[jad1]

11 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

Sabrespacers, I stand before you today with a simple message: never lose hope. We all know that this franchise has its ups and downs, mostly downs. There are moments that test our patience, our resilience, and our very spirit. But through all the trials, there is one thing that can never be taken away from us—hope.

Hope is not just a feeling. It’s a force. A quiet, steady light that flickers in the darkest of times. Hope is the belief that even when we don’t see the way forward, there is one. It’s the whisper in your heart telling you to keep moving forward, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. It’s the courage to take that first step, even when you can’t see the whole staircase.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed when the season doesn’t go as planned. The challenges we face can feel insurmountable, and there may be moments when you feel like giving up. But I want to remind you of something: every obstacle you face is not a roadblock, it’s a stepping stone. Every time you get knocked down, you have the choice to rise again. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow stronger, to become more resilient, and to become the fan you are meant to be.

In times of hardship, remember that hope doesn’t always shout loudly—it often whispers. It’s in the small, quiet moments when we choose to believe that things can get better. It’s in the times when you choose to smile, even when it’s hard, when you continue to tune in and cheer on the Sabres. Those moments, though they may seem small, are the building blocks of resilience.

And the beauty of hope is that it’s contagious. When you hold on to it, you inspire other Sabrespacers to do the same. By staying hopeful, by choosing to keep moving forward with faith, you ignite a spark that can light the way for others who are struggling in the dark.

So when the franchise feels like it's lost it's way, when you’re unsure of where the journey is taking you as a fan, hold tight to hope. Trust that there is a purpose in every twist and turn. The storm will pass, the clouds will clear, and the franchise will emerge from it stronger, wiser, and more capable than ever before.

In closing, I want you to remember this: Hope is not the absence of fear, but the courage to face it. It’s not about having all the answers, but about trusting that the path will unfold, one step at a time. And with every step, the franchise is moving toward something greater than you could ever imagine.

So, no matter where you are in your fandom, no matter what you faced yesterday, today or tomorrow, keep your heart open to the possibility of better days. Hold on to hope, and let it guide you.

As a joke, I wanted to hit the disagree button, but it would have been too cruel.  Funny, but too cruel.

Instead, in the spirit of hope, Pegula can fix this with by hiring a good GM.  How he does it, I have no clue.  But a lot of what is wrong with the Sabres can be fixed with a single good hire.

So, hope, I guess.