Are you ready to give up on the team?

[PerreaultForever]

[LabattBlue]

Since I dropped out of my STH group right before covid, I have lost interest more and more.  Don’t think I have watched even a minute since around Christmas.  I cannot stand Pegula for what he has done to my hockey fandom, which dates back to 1970. 
 

SELL THE TEAM….PLEASE!!!!!!!

[PASabreFan]

I'm ready. What do I do first?

[GoPuckYourself]

12 minutes ago, Stoner said:

I'm ready. What do I do first?

First give all of your slug jerseys to charity, they’re hideous!

[Cityo'Rasmii]

Short answer, never

[HOUSE]

I been quitting for 14 years now.

So yes, I am quitting again

Why not?

 

[PASabreFan]

24 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

First give all of your slug jerseys to charity, they’re hideous!

I've never owned a proper jersey, er, sweater.

[MISabresFan]

I won't give up.  I'll watch when I can.  Until there are signs of improvement I won't spend any money on jersey's, tickets, or expanded tv to watch the games.

[Thorny]

We’ll see what they say about Adams tomorrow 

[Taro T]

On 4/17/2025 at 6:37 PM, repster said:

I think the more important question is: are season ticket holders ready to give up on the team?  Before this latest stretch of meaningless winning, I thought the base could go down to the 6000ish level again next year.  Then I thought, maybe the hardest of the die-hards would buy into the faint hope the team was actually and too late again, buying into Lindy’s style - which doesn’t really fit with the type of player mostly on this team, yet had them winning.  However 4 losses in a row hopefully has brought most back to reality again that changes are needed and the loudest message is to say no to next year.  It would be easy to re-up when they become a playoff team again (Bwahahaha), or at least a better team that passes the eye test, but actions speak louder than words with Terry and co.  This team does not play with enough intensity to remotely begin to imagine how they would perform in the playoffs, much less get close to it.

The 4 game losing streak came after the "early renewal" period.  So, doubt THAT factors in much at all as to whether people renew or not.

As for the compete (intensity) level; fix the coaching and you'll fix a lot of the compete issues.  Moving towards the median on team age would help in that regard as well.  Fixing the goaltending too would be hitting the trifecta.  Know Ruff would like to see the 2nd item addressed, he's pretty much advocated for hit; expect he'd like to see the 1st and 3rd addressed as well though haven't heard him actually state it out loud.  

[7+6=13]

Giving up? Absolutely not!

I don't hate Pegula and my guess is he still wants to win.  He tried the spending route, tanking route, fan approval route and then the patient route (probably mostly out of necessity).  Nothing has worked but I'll give him credit for trying.  He's paid multiple people to not work for him to move on, etc etc.

I like a lot of our players and feel like we're better than our record.  I'm a bit confused on why we suck.  We've been making changes to this roster so much, it's hard for me to believe in this "roll it back" narrative.  

I want a goalie, two much different defenders and another forward with a two way game and toughness.  I think we're close or could be with the right moves.  I haven't felt that way in a while.

[Thorny]

21 minutes ago, 7+6=13 said:

Giving up? Absolutely not!

I don't hate Pegula and my guess is he still wants to win.  He tried the spending route, tanking route, fan approval route and then the patient route (probably mostly out of necessity).  Nothing has worked but I'll give him credit for trying.  He's paid multiple people to not work for him to move on, etc etc.

I like a lot of our players and feel like we're better than our record.  I'm a bit confused on why we suck.  We've been making changes to this roster so much, it's hard for me to believe in this "roll it back" narrative.  

I want a goalie, two much different defenders and another forward with a two way game and toughness.  I think we're close or could be with the right moves.  I haven't felt that way in a while.

There are different reasons depending on the regime. Speaking of the one that’s contributed to the drought the most, the current: the faces may change but being the youngest team in the league every year has remained the same. It’s statistically proven that very young teams struggle to make the playoffs, AND teams that don’t spend to the cap don’t make it (that not the same as saying spending GUARANTEES it, either!), and we have not spend to cap under Adams

it is hard to say we can’t identify the issues when two very demonstrable factors in not making the playoffs (youth and low spending) have both been consistent as variables under this regime 

[7+6=13]

45 minutes ago, Thorner said:

There are different reasons depending on the regime. Speaking of the one that’s contributed to the drought the most, the current: the faces may change but being the youngest team in the league every year has remained the same. It’s statistically proven that very young teams struggle to make the playoffs, AND teams that don’t spend to the cap don’t make it (that not the same as saying spending GUARANTEES it, either!), and we have not spend to cap under Adams

it is hard to say we can’t identify the issues when two very demonstrable factors in not making the playoffs (youth and low spending) have both been consistent as variables under this regime 

Definitely the low spending is a significant contributor but I just don't think we've had someone in FA we have the opportunity to pay and I think we're way done over paying.

For me this may be the best team we've had since the drought. Id have to give that more thought, to say definitively. Yet we suck. 

The youth part is just something we just know is there and I don't think it's crazy bad, because I've wanted mostly all of them to play for the Sabres.

[thewookie1]

2 hours ago, Thorner said:

There are different reasons depending on the regime. Speaking of the one that’s contributed to the drought the most, the current: the faces may change but being the youngest team in the league every year has remained the same. It’s statistically proven that very young teams struggle to make the playoffs, AND teams that don’t spend to the cap don’t make it (that not the same as saying spending GUARANTEES it, either!), and we have not spend to cap under Adams

it is hard to say we can’t identify the issues when two very demonstrable factors in not making the playoffs (youth and low spending) have both been consistent as variables under this regime 

Low spending isn’t exactly correct to be honest; he does sign big contracts. That being said he isn’t exactly breaking out the bank either so I’m not entirely sure how to interpret it.
 

Like a cheap owner is more akin to the Pirates in baseball who will trade away anyone looking for money and only signs cheap players and brings up youth.

Pegula sort of falls in an odd category of being willing to spend on players but not always willing to go that extra step to make sure there’s success

 

[triumph_communes]

Run it back

 

but really

 

anyone who thinks splurging on names makes a difference- look at Nashville. It ain’t. Let the kids grow 

Edited Saturday at 03:40 AM by triumph_communes

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, triumph_communes said:

Run it back

 

but really

 

anyone who thinks splurging on names makes a difference- look at Nashville. It ain’t. Let the kids grow 

 

In large part they will run it back.  But they CAN'T (they really can't, right?) be planning on having a team that if everything goes right then they could sneak into the playoffs; so they can't just run it back.

Goaltending has to be set.  It's possible that UPL will regain a year ago's January form; but even Adams doesn't seem to expect that.  In that GR interview he said he really believes UPL CAN BE a top 15 goalie.  Top 15 isn't where he was there (it was actually better than that; he was like top 5 when he was in his all too brief grove); but it seems telling that the GM views that as the ceiling he's willing to expect publicly.  It's possible that Reimer can do what he did down the stretch; but expect the odds are better that some regular from this board ends up winning the Sabres alumni's 50-50 draw opening night.  Levi still is likely the future, but can't believe Ruff will go along with gifting him the starter's role heading into camp.  So, they pretty much have to either spend player/prospect capital on a guy that has been a top 15 (or more ideally top 10); or spend capspace on a FA that'll be more of a crapshoot.  Personally would trade UPL in either a different deal or in the deal for that guy that is reasonably proven and bring in a Reimer to back him up with Levi biding his time 1 more year; or would trade Levi in that package (that one would hurt, personally) and pencil in UPL as the backup.

Would do what it takes to get another top 6F in house (ideally a C, but a W can do) and would also bring in another Greenway caliber player.

Would also finally get a partner to play with Power.  They may see Bernard-Docker as that guy; but personally would rather see more of a vet for that role.

Expect Byram and Peterka will be pieces going out the door to make some of these other moves that are necesary; but not happy about losing either (Byram because Power will probably take 1/2 a season to get even to where he was and it likely means that Samuelsson is back with Dahlin next year; and Peterka because he's fun to watch).

 

Lines would be something like:

Kulich - New Guy - Thompson

Zucker - McLeod - Tuch

Benson - Krebs - New Guy 2

Malenstyn - Lafferty - Kozak

Spares - Norris (when in, bumps Kulich to 2nd Line and McLeod and Krebs each down 1 line with Lafferty or Kozak odd man out) and Greenway who bumps New Guy 2 to 4th line and Lafferty or Kozak out of the lineup)  and because one of those 2 will almost always be out, normal spare is Quinn or a kid called up from Ra-cha-cha.

 

Samuelsson - Dahlin

Power - New Guy

Bernard-Docker - Clifton

Spare - Bryson (yuck)

Maybe give New Guy to Dahlin and slide B-D to 2nd pairing and Muel to Clifton pairing with bottom 2 pairings effectively 2/3 interchangeably

 

New Guy 3

Luukkonnen

 

With all new assistant coaches who can actually implement a defensive system and run a PP that isn't bottom 5; is that enough to get into the dance?

[spndnchz]

Look in the mirror. I heard from many players. A few Should be gone in a month. 

[Doohickie]

I wouldn't sleep on Tage next season.  I bet he comes out flying.

 

[Thorny]

Addition by subtraction! 

They are actually going with that as the message, as the plan.

i hope they are prepared for fan base crossover on that point 

- - - 

Today is a big day 

Edited Saturday at 11:53 AM by Thorner