mrm33064

Agreed ... the "blowhard factor" is the most valued characteristic of the typical WNY fan. The team needs a leader. Someone who can turn the blowhard/buddy volume knob as needed, but whose fundamental respect and credibility is grounded in: "let me explain to you exactly what we did in [former Stanley Cup winner], and how I'm going to make that happen for you guys here if you do your part." Someone who can inspire some true buy-in, enough buy-in that even if that coach were out for a game or two, his vision would be peer-enforced and self-policed. I believe that every organization eventually takes on the personality of its (genuine, real-deal) leadership. And right now, this team does seem to look a lot like Housley, Botterill, and Pegula. Joel Q might work for us, but seems late we're late to that party.

As a hockey fan, I think my greatest fear is ruining Dahlin and, to a lesser extent, Eichel. The doom around this mess is palpable, and nobody (including me) has any good answers. Heck, Maybe Botts actually accidentally backed us into a decent negotiating position with Skinner by letting the wheels completely fall off. We might have “sucked” our way into being able to retain him without having to pay a Mario Williams style ransom now, with Skinner bottoming out with the rest of our brutal mess.

I heard Skinner's time on the Sabres has rekindled his love of curling, the kind of love that only an $11mm/year cap hit could squelch. Also told his agent was recently seen with Mario Williams at the Buffalo Chophouse.

Reports coming in that TP and TB were seen at the Chophouse last night with Taro Tsujimoto and the Spirit of Ted Darling. Hopefully we'll get some actual "news" soon about what happened, good grief already.

Well said. The Mackerel is Holy today, indeed.

Buddy Cloutier as GM ... Marcel Pronovost new coach ...

Fair point, maybe I spoke too soon ... it's a consequence of battered fan syndrome.

If this is the grand plan ... OK, I'll buy it. We all love LaFontaine, the guy is a prince.

We all love Pat LaFontaine, but it's a tad, eh, Marv Levy-ish? A terrifying - yet sincerely brilliant - forecast of what a Buffalo franchise typically does. Reach back into the past ... an overblown past that actually includes no championships ... with disastrous (predictable) results ...

On a semi-related note ... somehow this is real: " ... the Islanders will still be paying [DiPietro] $1.5 million per year through 2029." Feels like the best time ever to load up on the kids. I can't believe Vanek or Miller will be on this team at the beginning of the season; the last thing we need at this point are rentals. Darcy is going to get us a few prospects and some more picks ( ... he says ... wishfully ...)

Weber's new deal ... these 2 picks ... Does this mean Myers is on the way out?

They're holding back to announce a 5yr/$34million extension for Stafford.

Gents - come on, Darcy told us to expect some suffering. Stop acting like this is supposed to be fun. :-)

Well played.

True, with one caveat. Big, big things need to happen by Wednesday. Otherwise, Terry (who has the potential to be the most popular guy in WNY) is going to lose a massive amount of goodwill, goodwill that he really deserves. From the outside it looks like he (and Black) do so many things the right way, all the way down to backing their guys with a ridiculous amount of loyalty, he needs to stop this horrible PR snowball that's going 100mph downhill right now.