mjd1001

I think Dreger was the one just a few days ago on an inteview in Calgary (brought up buffalo) that said no one would be interested in owning the Sabres with their 'building' being as bad as it is.

My whole point is that they shouldn't be outmanned. It has nothing to do with getting a grip. People like you who tell others to 'get a grip' on a message board are probably the ones that actually do need to get a grip. This is a message board, a place to vent, to complain, to cheer (when its appropriate). Some of us don't take it any more seriously than that. Someone that feels the need to tell others to not be so negative on a message board...that is the prson that needs to breathe and relax. For the rest of us (at least me), venting/talking/complaining on here is cathartic.

I agree with you. I know we all want a downtown arena, but I agree with the above comments. The only issue is, the Sabres players fly in and out a lot more than the Bills players do, and access to the airport would be more important for not only the players, but the coaches, equipment, etc. Someplace in the Northtowns would make more sense for that reason.

It's not basketball and football. I'm not sure why you're not reading my post. The ones I know about are Florida, salt lake City, and Seattle that I posted videos for. I don't have the link of it but the CNBC money in ports special talked about all sports and they said that all owners, including NHL owners, are looking to put more money into this in the future. I'm not saying winning. Doesn't matter, but Buffalo trails those other cities in winning... And weather... And market size.... So if you want to be successful this is one area that you would think they actually can exploit and not fall behind. Darren draeger was just on a appearance in Canada.. yesterday I believe and he mentioned the sabers building... I assume the key Bank center.. is becoming a liability. Facilities aren't everything, but they matter. The sabers training facilities, and the arena where they play are becoming a liability. Is it a small liability? Maybe, but this franchise can't fall any further behind... Especially when you have a multi-billionaire owner.

Good point. I have always thought there are 2 ways to enjoy a season by one of your 'teams'. 1.) Win the championship. 2.) exceed expectations. Falling short of expectations is very frustrating and not fun. For me (and many other fans), a 95 point season where you make the playoffs (and lose in the first round) in a season you weren't expected to be in the playoffs....can be MUCH more enjoyable than a 105 point season where you make the playoffs (and lose in the 2nd round) when you were going into the season thinking you were a cup contender.

If you check out youtube, there are videos on 'practice facilities' showing a lot of this. -Florida, Salt Lake, Seattle. https://www.nhl.com/news/utah-arena-practice-facility-crazy-nice There are spacious locker, training, equipment and meeting rooms, of course. There is natural light in the rinks, and there are glass walls and collaborative spaces in the offices. The flow creates what Tourigny calls "constant collisions," people naturally running into each other, coming together. There is a recovery lounge, including massage chairs, an infrared bed and a sensory deprivation room. There is a hydrotherapy area, including a pool with reverse currents and an underwater treadmill. Guenther said he has used it -- not for rehab, just to try it out. Apparently, the guys, being guys, have had swim meets. The weight room alone is 8,000 square feet. It's so big, Chris Armstrong said, a player asked, "What other team are we sharing this with?" It has a strip of black artificial turf long enough to run 40-yard dashes. Just off the weight room is a barber shop. That's right. A barber shop. There are two barber chairs, and the team will bring in a barber a couple of days a week. "I was visiting another team, and they had one in their facility, and it was just another great point of camaraderie," Chris Armstrong said. "You've got a guy in the chair, a couple guys waiting, a couple guys in the doorway, and they're shooting the [bull]. Hey, this is another congregating point, another reason to stay here longer and be more invested in what we're all doing." CNBC did the segment a couple months ago saying how pro sports teams all over the world are adding these things (pools, Massage areas, private parking facilities with services to take care of your car as you take a golf cart to practice) Its not all hockey facilities that have them, some colleges (Nebraska), and some Europen league soccer teams. Its all in an effort to attract the best players and coaches. Seattle has multiple videos of theirs where it is open Kraken family members, and even some public events. As for the pools, Utah has a smaller one. The Lakers along with other NBA teams have ones that are larger. The Lakers even have the facilities open for community events. This is what new, rich, (generally) younger owners are doing. If you watch enough of the below videos, Youtube AI should figure out you are watching this stuff and recommend a lot more like them.

We are starting to see more and more the above is an issue. Players today really want great facilities. We have seen videos and read articles about places like Florida, Salt Lake, Seattle, and others (in other sports) building basically palace like practice facilities. They are located near the airport where players live, not a downtown area all the time (or in a nice part of downtown. They look like Spas, have community rooms and swimming pools for their families to show up and use at times, private chefs, even people to professionally wash and detail the players cars while they are at practice if they want. Those things matter. If the dollar in a conract are close, and the decision is close THOSE things are swaying where players want to play. When harborcenter was built and the locker rooms were renovated, the Sabres had one of the better facilities in the league. That is no longer true, no even close.

That is the ultimate goal, but I can live without any cups. For me sports are an entertainment product.....what I don't NEED is a cup...what I DO need is more nights where I am happy watching the team than I am upset, along with the thought that on any given year there is a CHANCE for a cup.

For the last year I have agreed with that 100%. First, it seems apparent that Adams is not a dictator, it appears he gathers his top advisors around when they make a decision and they all have input. So this roster is not just a result of Adams decision making, but those other guys have all had input into putting this roster together. Next, I want no one left around that can look at this roster and look at any player and think anything close to 'thats my guy'. I want whoever comes in to have no attachment to the current players. The funny thing is, many of us who never talked like this in the past are discussing "just how big will the purge of the front office be"? There's still a chance nothing will change.

Well, I'm not saying to give everyone away when I say 'up for auction'. Its more, whatever new 'front office' comes in, there is nothing off limits. Sure they may not want to trade Dahlin, but see what is out there. You can always say no. But guys like Tage and Tuch, they arne't getting better, you are at their statistical peak. IF a new front office comes in and realistically is making changes that mean the team is 2 years from competing...maybe you listen to offers for those guys if you can maximize their value now in relation to what they will be at the end of the 'plan'. So when I say entire roster up for auction, I mean that. See what is out there for EVERYONE...that does't mean you make all those moves. But you don't hang up the phone on anyone, and maybe you pick up the phone and put everyone out there just to see what they are worth.

If we can put aside the pursuit of the playoffs for a moment, I have said/argued in the past I can get some enjoyment out of watching a non-playoff team on a nightly basis and enjoying a win. If they don't make the playoffs, but they win a game and play well, its 2 hours of entertainment, right? Great, but they have now not had a single regulation win in 9 games. 8 of those are losses. How can you even be a fan of a team if you are WILLING to give up on the playoffs and just watch them looking for a 'feel good' win, when over the last few weeks you have gotten: Loss Loss Loss Shootout W (not even a 'game' win but awarded it based on a skills contest) Loss Loss Loss Loss Loss I am having a hard time watching this team at all. THIS is why they have to blow things up. Total, 100% new front office. Entire roster up for Auction. I'm ready for another multi-year teardown run by a new front office and rebuild because they may lose during it (not any different than what we have now) but at least I can push myself to have some 'hope'.

Outmanned. Anyone 30 years old or under should still be in their prime. That takes you back to the 2013 draft (13 drafts). From that draft on, that should be the prime of your roster to make sure you aren't 'outmanned'. Since then, the Sabres have had: -2 #1 overall picks. -4 total top #2 overall picks (including the 2 above) -11 top 10 overall picks -18 overall first round picks. On top of that, 18 additional 2nd round picks, many of them at the top of the round. How can you be outmanned against ANYONE with that opportunity, with that many 'kicks at the can'. How about the 13 years before that, when they made the playoffs often and that was with a team with unstable ownership that hardly ever spent any money? The 13 years before that when they were much, much more successful they had: -0 #1 overall picks. -0 total top #2 overall picks -1 top 10 overall picks (Vanek at #5) -15 overall first round picks (many of them in the bottom half of the first round) -Only 12 2nd round picks, very few at the top of the 2nd round.

I'm also a pretty big fan of Ruff but I think he messed with Tage too much. Called him out as a C last year, moved him to wing. This year mostly at wing, but then back to center. When the team started struggling to score goals you stuck him with 2 AHL guys who he never even practiced with. Hey, Tage isn't a perfect player but he's the best goal scorer this team has seen in a while...and on a team that has trouble scoring goals stop messing with him and his role on the team.

I have been very disappointed with McLeod this season. Over the offseason I was one of the posters banging the drum to get him signed medium-to-long term and loved his game last year. This year, not so good... With that said, he functions best with 3rd line even strength minutes/ice time (13-14 minutes even strength), and then being your #1 PK guy (another 2-3 minutes per game) so he totals about 15-17 minutes per game. He's getting about 18 minutes now. Not too much over what you want him to, but still over. The bigger issue though is what he is asked/expected to do in that time.

So far Timmins has played pretty well. Totally happy to have him get 3rd pair minutes, yet he looks like a guy who can move up to the 2nd pair/2nd pair minutes for a period of time and not hurt you too much. Also has the ability to fill in, in a pinch, if needed on the PP or PK. Happy with him so far. Coming from low expectations, but there are only 4-6 guys on this team I'm happy with so far.

Stepping up. Yeah, injuries hurt your team, but who is, and who is not, 'stepping up' in the face of them? On Defense, Timmins is playing decent, and Samuelsson is having his best year in a while. Everyone else? They have all played bad, I'd say worst than last year (Power, for all that he takes from the fans, he is the CLOSEST beyond Timmons and Samuelsson to playing well, but its still not good enough.) Bryam, Dahlin, Kesserling, all have played bad at times. Forwards: Doan, Benson, Kozak and Dunne look like the only guys out there who even care what they look like. EVERYONE else has been more disappointing instead of 'stepping up. So to me the guys who look like they care, the guys who are outperforming what you expect of them, are Timmins, Samuelsson, Doan, Benson, Kozak and Dunn. Thats it. You would think a handful of the other guys would show you something, noticable, some effort, some play beyond what they have shown in the past. But I haven't seen it. I really think Tage is one of the top goal scorers in the league and have defended him from criticism on this board many times, but he's not doing it this year. Tuch? I'm more on the trade him rather than sign him side of things now.

He was coming off of an injury, but he's played 7 games now. He needs to play better. -He has zero points. None. No goals, no assists. he's a -4 through just 7 games. -His corsi is 10 percentage points on the wrong side of even. Fenwick -6. Shots nearly -10. Actual goals for/allowed he's 20 percentage points below even. Hes negative in expected goals, negative in high danger chances, negative in pure scoring chances. -He hasn't been used on the PP. He's not even used all that much on the PK, so he's not giving you anything on special teams. -For me personally, take all of that away, and my 'eye test' doesn't see anything special. Its not based on his comment from last night, but in terms of his regular play he needs to step up. He's not playing like a top pair guy, he's not even playing like a 2nd pair guy.

Kia

Well that's the thing... There has been 14 plus years of no playoffs. That can turn a really good hockey market into a bad one. My assessment where I said pretty good... It's kind of the average of what it used to be, averaged out with what it is now. Here's why I think it's not that good anymore. When I was in high school, 80% of the guys in school knew about the sabres, talked about the sabres, followed the team. Now, I have a handful of nieces and nephews, some of them that used to... That don't even care anymore. They don't know anything about the team. There will always be hardcore hockey fans here, but the market has deteriorated.

Yeah, I agree... I was more thinking about the sentiment of it though. The speech afterward would just be the icing on top of the cake of making major changes. Yeah I get it. They have a lot of injuries but seriously if all those injured players came back... And who knows how long it'll be... With this team at full strength, are they contending for a cup? Anytime in the next couple of years? I don't think many people want to go through another rebuild. I don't think anyone wants to hear someone on this team saying we have to take a step back and we're going to build this and look to compete in 2 to 3 years from now. But honestly, I think that's needed. With the Right moves, you could go through a rebuild and still have this team be entertaining as it bottoms and turns back up.

Pegula is looking old and mentally/emotionally paralyzed with regard to the Sabres. Do something! And by something I mean a lot. Not one token move. Show you care. Walk up to a microphone and say something like.... "We've tried a lot of different things in the past and some of them haven't worked, but what we're doing now isn't working.... so we're going to keep on trying, Even if we make mistakes again. Doing nothing is not an option." He has single-handedly taken what was a respectable NHL franchise with a pretty good fan base... And turned it into a laughing stock. Turned it into a floundering organization, With a crumbling building, With a terrible on ice product. Neither the fans want to support, nor do players even want to consider coming here. That's some good and impressive work!

If they are going to make management changes, and I don't mean promoting from within... They have to make them now. Why? So whoever they bring in can go through the inevitable period of evaluating the organization and the roster, before they start making moves. If you wait till the off season, you won't have that full evaluation. Before next year. I want the evaluation of everything to start now. My fear is that even if pegula wants to make a change, he's going to try to hold out until the end of the year when some contracts are up rather than having to pay people again not to work.

What does it look like? At this point it looks like a relief for everyone involved... Him, and the fans.

Too much automation (or whatever you want to call it) in cars today. Between the 2 cars we have now.... -Automatic climate control that seems to want to turn itself on whenver it wants. I want to pick where the air is coming from, and the speed. Yet, either by a GENTLE brush of the automaic 'non-button' controls by accident when looking to adjust something else, or by some ghost in the car, occasionally the system goes to 'automatic' and it will change where the air is coming from, and change the blower speed. And trying to turn it off of auto? I shut the entire thing down and restart it. You press the auto button and it just cycles through different speeds/levels of auto. No idea how to turn it off. - The wipers. It was raining yesterday and I'm driving and then it slowed down raining and I wanted the wipers on an intermediate setting. Well the car has an auto setting, it has high, it has low, and then it has all the little intermediate notches you could choose from depending on how fast or how often you want the wipers to go on but guess what? The car takes control of that. Let's say I put on the second lowest intermediate setting so the wipers go over the windshield. Let's say once every 5 seconds... But if the car senses there is a little bit more water on the windshield it will override that and take over and make them go quicker. So even when you pick the setting you want, it won't stick there. The car will override your choice. -Keep your hands on the wheel warning? I sometimes hold the steering wheel at "10 and 2", sometimes closer to the bottom of the wheel. Sometimes one handed. But yet, every once in a while there will be a loud (somewhat startling) beep/chime telling me to keep my hands on the wheel. They are though? -I love this one, another loud chime and my dashboard shows me an icon of a coffee cup and tells me maybe its time for a break. Really? sometimes it will even do that after only driving for 30-40 minutes. Other times I drive for 3 hours without it. And it has nothing to do with it sensing I'm going out of my lane or anythign like that. The lane centering thing, where it takes control of the steering wheel (thats another story) takes care of that. -Drive modes. So my car has a 'sport' mode, an 'eco' mode, and a 'smart' mode. No normal mode. Well, the sport mode holds gears WAY too high for everday driving, I'll be going down a side street at 30 mph and its in 2nd gear makign a lot of noise at 3000 rpms. Eco mode, it seems to either lower the battery assist (I have a hybrid) or lower the turbo boost (the gas engine) but either way, it is almost non-responsive. So "smart" mode? Well, its not a combo of both. It 'automatically" switches back and forth between Eco and sport, based on how it thinks I want to drive. If I make a bunch of very aggressive lane changes and hit the gas hard, it goes into sport mode (only for a few seconds though), but once that is over, back to "eco" mode. I have tried to manipulate it by my driving style, but nope, it does what it does. This email is getting so long, I won't even go into the quirks of the nav system after an update (it no longer allows you to choose the 'shortest' route in terms of time vs the 'shortest' one in distance. It chooses the route for you, and often changes it mid-route to roads in no way I want to take" I'm really, REALLY close to my next car being one of those small, simple, econo-boxes that are under $30,000 that don't have most of this stuff (or at least less of it)