[Hired: Tim Murray, GM and Craig Patrick, Advisor]

You are absolutely right about change for the sake of change, except in this instance. Regier was going no place and had no chance of going any place. Making a change was the only way out of that mess. It might turn out worse, it might turn out better but a change had to be made. I find Murray as GM interesting and with Patrick and Lafontaine along with him, I think the Sabres have a good chance to be on the right track.

 

I like the tact Murray has taken up to this point. He came in took his time and looked around, hopefully has created a plan and will begin executing the plan leading up to the deadline. I would be far more worried if he had come in and made significant moves immediately. He would then be in a ready, fire, aim mode and that almost never ends well. The key evaluation will be in 3-4 years after two drafts and two free agency periods and some of the current crop of youngsters have possibly moved up to the NHL. Then we will know if Murray was the right guy or not. Even if Murray is in over his head the Sabres have Patrick and Lafontaine to whisper advice in his ear.

 

Given the triumvirate of Murray, Patrick and Lafontaine I can't think of too many, if any, scenarios where the Sabres would be better off.

 

 

 

Caveat up front: I'm pretty vocal as the number 1 fan of the anti-TM fan club.

 

Change for the sake of change does not always beget positive change. Things can go sideways or even backwards. Murray is about as exciting to me as throwing cucumbers into a salad.

[Hired: Tim Murray, GM and Craig Patrick, Advisor]

Any doors that Murray needs opened this year, Patrick and Lafontaine can open for him. While it remains to be seen how Murray does, just taking a chance on him is an improvement over Regier.

[Mr Ryan Miller....]

I will be very surprised if Miller resigns here. He wants to play for a Stanley Cup contender and that won't happen here for at least two-three years and most likely 4-5. By that time he'll be at the end of his career with a team that is just getting to the point where it can compete. The timing is just off for him with Buffalo.

[All About Ted Nolan]

I'm not sure Nolan is the right guy, but the Sabres have the rest of the season to find out. Rolston was a victim of circumstance, lack of talent mostly, a bit in over his head and the team didn't play hard for him since day 1. I think they will play hard for Nolan, and if they don't I'm pretty sure Lafontaine will have no problem changing the players or the coach.

 

In any event the team moved forward today, whether right or wrong, and that is a start. The team was going nowhere under Rolston and Regier.

[Worst team in Franchise History]

It is truly amazing how bad they are. If they worked hard and just didn't have the talent, I would think they would get better eventually with a few additional pieces and upgrades. But how will they ever get better if they don't have the work ethic. Another year of this, which seems inevitable, and the rookies and 1 year players may never pan out. They may become part of the problem. So far this season the Sabres have done absolutely nothing to create any confidence that they will eventually get better.

[Vanek Traded to NYI for Matt Moulson, 1st in 2014 (or 2015!), 2nd in 2015; 4 Months Later: Moulson to MN for 2014/2016 2nd Rounders]

If the picks pan out, then the Sabres got the best of this deal. I have no confidence that they will though. Outside of the top handful of players in each draft (give or take a few) the draft is a crap shoot. Regier has said that they are building through the draft. I take that to mean there will be very few free agents signed. We're looking at at least 3 years before contending for a playoff spot and it is 50-50 at best that we are not in the playoffs in year 4 from now. All depends on how well the sabres draft 17 & 18 year olds and how they are at 21 or 22.

[Draft Day 2013]

It seems that the Sabres took BPA for their picks. That's fine as long we plan to suck next year, maybe that's the suffering Regier is talking about. If that is the case and their doesn't seem to be a plan to make the playoffs next year then let's trade Miller and Vanek for whatever can be gotten, have the worst record possible next year and get that first pick. However I hope the plan is not to try as hard as possible, miss the playoffs by 2 pts and get the 8th pick in the draft again. That just prolongs the suffering and serves no purpose.

[Draft Day 2013]

I was hoping for an impact offensive player to be drafted today. It seems the Sabres took the best available player with each of their first round picks that probably are at least a year away. The Amerks probably just got better on defense next year, but I'm not sure the Sabres did for the foreseeable future. Hopefully free agency will be better.

[The Walking Dead]

Just one of those things you notice....

Last scene before commercial break shows walkers eating the guts of the home owner on the porch. First commercial is for Kentucky Fried Chicken. :wacko: