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Another important point. Peak Leaf fan obnoxiousness came in the 90s and early 00s in those few years they made the conference finals. It was so unbelievably bad. It's only by the grace of Matthews' and Marner's ineptitude that we don't have to go through that again. All that far pre-dates Pegula's ownership.

If Marner would sign you do that. A 100 point playmaking Selke finalist you don’t turn down. His playmaking would elevate Tage.

It shouldn't be a surprise that when players play with a better cast of players their performances usually improve. Conversely, when players play on a team with a lesser talent base their production numbers decline. Basically, if you improve the team, it will rise the production tide for other players.

I agree but I I don’t think he stinks in the playoffs, any current Sabre would need to elevate their career regular season per game rate significantly upon entering the playoffs to match Marner’s playoff rate

Qualifying to make the playoffs might be a minimal achievement for most teams but as a Sabre fan I would be ecstatic. You can't have high expectations until you prove that you can meet lower expectations. When going up on a ladder you take one step at a time.

Marner is also one the most consistent Leaf underperformers in the playoffs.

Yup. And that Maple Loafs stink can wash off after a few dips in the Niagara. Not big on discussing him though, because really don't see any possibility of him coming here actually happening. And yeah, he stinks in the playoffs. 1st world problems. Worry about THAT when the Sabres don't have to cross a mile long minefield bordered by razor wire with armed drones hovering overhead to even think about it. (How getting to the mid-90s is equivalent to that for them is unfathomable, but yet, here we are staring at the possibility of reaching year 15 with the streak intact.) He'd help navigate the minefield. Still need extra help to get through the barbed wire and evading the drones; but it'd be a start.

I understand the sentiment you are referring to. My response is not so much about being petty as it is a reflection of a mind-set coming from a person who gets teased as if they are an inferior. No one likes being treated in such a demeaning way. But the ugly truth of the matter is that the Sabre franchise is an inferior franchise relative to the rest of the league. We have an owner who has presided over this franchise for a generation of failure. It's a chaotically and amateurishly managed operation competing against organizations that are professionally managed. Neither of us enjoy being ridiculed. However, it shouldn't be surprising that this unserious franchise does get mocked. The scorn that this faltering franchise attracts is well deserved. The best way to respond is to become a serious franchise that is a factor in the league other than being a doormat. My ire is targeted to the owner who has debased the franchise and its fading fan base and not outside targets. Don't get angry with them when the problem is within our own house. That's my basic point on my commentary on this topic.

lol I never said they reflect the board as a whole, liger’s classifier was “no one” It’s the idea we’d be “no happier” even if we made the playoffs. An absurd hypothesis given we haven’t even been able to test it in 14 years

You quoted @PromoTheRobot who's takes don't necessarily reflect the attitudes of the board as a whole. Just sayin'. Personally, would take the last 14 years of any squad EXCEPT the Yotes and Seattle. The Yotes because sneaking into the dance through the Covid play-in (that the Sabres would've qualified for had the league shut down 2 days earlier; & likely would've qualified for if it shut down 1 day later) is in no way shape or form worth the annual will we or won't we lose our team with that answer eventually finally ending up last year being "yup, you lose your team" and Seattle because their non-existance for the 1st 10 or so years of the drought and missing the playoffs in all but 1 of the few remaining years is less desireable than having what we've had for the last 14. Might take the Sabres plight over that of a handful of others; would have to think about it. But ottomh, the Yotes and Kraker fan bases are the only ones that haven't had an appreciably better 14 years than the Sabres fans have had. But that doesn't make watching the Biff Tannens of the league get their comeuppance any better or worse. They are 2 distinct items and some can view them in that light. To Biffs everywhere, enjoy your carload of digested oats as I get ready to take another run at that football. Know I'm gonna kick it THIS time. For sure. Well, maybe. Possibly.

Well, that's incorrect. Dislike of the Leafs predates Pegula. A lot of it has to do with Leafs' fans, and some of it has to do with the NHL Official Review in Toronto, and the partisan rooting by ex-players and sense of entitlement.

His playmaking would be such a goldilocks fit

I literally quoted a post dude Not only does he say it he claims it’s how we ALL feel deep down

Matthews is not a bad player dragging the team down, but I think he is their biggest issue. You simply cannot have one of the highest paid guys (Is he THE highest paid right now) in the league that doesn't do much in the playoffs. A guy who scored at close to (or over) a 50 goal rate/pace for most of his career, scores at barely a 30 goal rate in the playoffs, and just doesn't seem to have any 'extra gear' in the playoffs like other superstars do, or if he has it he doesn't care enough to use it. Great player, but not so in the playoffs. For what he is getting paid, he needs to be more than a regular season wonder-kid.

No one here, impo, thinks that. I'd take the Leafs last 14yrs over Buffalo's

Tavares would not even be buffalo's best forward, let alone best player. Marner might be but also, it's a different team makeup. You never know how ppl will react but I don't think Marner at all, he's not coming here and Pegula won't call anyways.

You mean 9 years ago when we earned Okposo the big Sabres UFA contract against a Panthers team that was years from becoming what we know them as now? And who then disappeared in the second round against Tampa? He’s not the chosen one. He’s a 3C now.

I guess I was on acid when I saw him in person at Barclays Center win a playoff series almost singlehandedly against... (Irony alert) The Panthers.

True. But none of the ex-Sabres were brought in at UFA max plus prices to be the savior. Even Eichel who was definitely a missing piece, was just a guy. Marner or Tavares would be hailed as this team’s best and maybe highest paid player (Marner, Tavares would be cheaper than TNT). But they’re not that. They aren’t the key guy, either of them.

You could sign Marner for 12 and trade Norris for defense help and the Sabres are probably better overall. Won't happen, just saying.

All the Ex Sabres were losers, until they suddenly went elsewhere and weren't.

No ex-Leafs. They’re losers. And the point totals in the regular season are irrelevant has-been stats because their core four was great — in the regular season. Big deal. Marner is a complimentary piece on a winning roster. He’s not deserving of 10+ and being the centerpiece.

I don’t want Tavares. He's not a playoff winner. The Sabres need someone who is a winner to be the other Zucker on the squad. Preferably at RHD. Sheevyn is here forever until he stops listening. It’s the worst part of the whole situation.

Relax guys; it’s not that bad. Look, we could be the leafs!