‘In general terms, the Sabres need more toughness both up front and on the blue line, if they want to get where they want to go. They have a terrific head coach in Lindy Ruff and an astute gm, despite his many critics, in Darcy Regier. While this season has been a huge disappointment, even though expectations were down after the key losses, it isn’t the time for wholesale changes, and many impatient fans and media will be saying and writing exactly that in the coming months.’