tom webster

I get that you prefer to play the pessimist and I understand why you would get there. What I don’t understand is why you have such disdain for those who don’t choose to wallow in misery.

Actually, they don’t do this every year but….,

I go back and forth on the internal cap. Trades that came close only to fall apart, usually because of NMC or free agent choices would seem to indicate that he was given freedom to go higher. On the other hand, they just might be good at getting their story of “trying” out to just enough people.

If Tampa plays .500 for their next 18 games Buffalo would have to go 14-8 to play for the right to make the playoffs assuming the other teams continue to falter. Is it a long shot? Certainly, just not impossible

I didn’t say I had hope. I’m just making a point that the numbers don’t jive with the way the narrative is going. Have they been a disappointment, certainly. Am I preparing to put a deposit down on playoff tickets? No.

I know, I’ve shared my frustration with management and how this season has unfolded ad nauseum. I also get that it’s a long shot. I just don’t think it’s necessarily over. I will not be satisfied with a valiant run to ninth place. I blame KA for mishandling the last two years. I’m not wavering in my belief that they could have done a lot better but UPL has been a revelation and they are not as bad as some would have you believe

I’m sorry the article is full of garbage(Skinner a center, 42-33 record, blah blah) and JR is JR. Skinner might not be a great team player but no one player is responsible for his team’s record.

It’s not Sabres media, it is how all sports team and their media relations work in 2024. There may be scattered exceptions but they all right the same stories.

They weren’t trying to sign free agents. It’s why Hasek wanted out. It’s why Peca forced a trade. The Rigases were not competing for top veterans and because there was no cap there were few free agents anyway.

They did not have trouble getting guys to come here during the Hasrk days. Ownership chose not to compete. I never once heard of any reservations from Geoff Sanderson. That being said, obviously Buffalo isn’t first choice of younger guys that have a choice but if “fans that have expectations” fall anywhere on the list of reasons to sign for free agents, and I doubt it, there are about 29 cities were fans expect more.

Z will be a significant player on a playoff team. There are about seven to eight players on this roster that are a bigger problem then him.

The fact of the matter is Buffalo is twelfth in even strength goals and last time I checked, top ten in five on five. The bigger problem has been consistency and special teams. The real problem is more about perception and the fact that has been twelve years and counting. We are all just tired of waiting

It’s funny because when I first heard this rumor my first response was that all the people that hate on the two of them may have to eat their words as I could see the two of them being decent contributors to a long run.

Can’t argue that it’s Chief’s conference but I can come up with a play or two to make the opposite argument.

A big part of this is that in any team sport, athletes play slower when they have to think and learn to trust in the system and their teammates. In theory, as they better learn any system as well as learning to trust their teammates, an athlete will play faster.

There you go, if the the New York Post said it, it must be true

Not to mention that there is no evidence that Peca would be any better then who they have. Again, what evidence is there that Peca will be a good coach? I too, loved the player and hated the way that ended but it has nothing to do with his coaching abilities.

Dillon Dube as well.

Thank you for the mention. I agree with all of the other mentions and would like to add @LGR4GM, @JohnC and I miss @Eleven and @deluca67

He gets way too much credit for the first Super Bowl over the Bills. I think they even have his game plan notes in the Hall of Fame. What is fact is that the Bills scored 20 points in 19 minutes of action. It was the Giants offense and it’s controlled domination that beat the Bills that day. All that being said, like everything, the answer is somewhere in the middle. You can’t blame him for everything before or after Brady but give him no credit for the Brady years. In my opinion his best quality was being able to adapt and bring a year or two ahead of everyone else. He won with defense and a running game and then he won with throwing the ball all over.

As I said in another thread, I think Levi can be a very good back while he learns to adapt to an NHL schedule. UPL looks like something changed the last couple of weeks. He’s much more under control. I’ve heard people downplay his play by saying it seems leek the pucks are just hitting him but that is precisely the point, he’s now more in position to make the save. UPL becoming a legitimate starter would be a game changer, one i admittedly did not see coming.

I’m with John here. Levi has shown he can be very good with a workload closer to what he is accustomed to. I know the obvious response would be that playing in the AHL will better indoctrinate him to a more strenuous workload but I disagree and as John stated, if Levi playing every fourth game instead of Comrie is better for the team, then it’s gotta be Levi whether you think the season is done or not.

Former Mr. Hillary Duff, Half-brother of a Eric, heir to a fortune and a perfect example that talent without drive doesn’t amount to much. Barnaby is poster child for the “men with some money can get away with anything” crowd. Ill find my way out, thank you.

Feels like this is were I remind everyone that salary cap is going up $4.2M next year and is expected to skyrocket in the next five years.

Will be 64 in February