MBHockey13

Because there is no way to learn how to improve yourself or to do anything better. I'm not sure why there are coaches at all. Draft players who coach themselves, and put them on the ice and let them go at it! I'm not sure why the Sabres have been selecting players who don't know how to pass and shoot, hoping to teach them how to do it when they get here. Crazy. No one ever improves.

Zemgus, after getting asked about the NHL All Star Skills Competition: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=749787&navid=DL|NHL|home&cmpid=nhl-fb Which skill competition do you think you will be the best at? Zemgus: "I don't know. Being a young guy, they will probably throw me in the skating competition. That's probably what I am best at, so I don't mind that."

I don't think any reasonable person can question a skating coach - even at the highest levels of the game. Playing hockey is the player's sole job and the team should do everything they can to work with them to help improve every aspect of their game. I still remember lessons I received when I first started playing hockey - and I'm sure the guys on my two teams now would welcome me getting a refresher course!

I have to admit, my feelings about Kim Pegula have changed from "Absolutely Adore" to "Absolutely Adore Because I Have Already Forgot About This Stupid Fake Controversy I Never Cared About In The First Place".

No, I agree, when you put it that way. Scouting using video tapes and trading for guys like Bob Corkum was going to take us to the promised land. Golisano saved the Sabres from moving and helped right the ship after a few tenuous years - and I will be forever grateful. But Golisano wasn't the Knox Brothers, and he isn't Pegula. He's also not the Regas's or the NHL owning the team, so I'll give you that. And honestly - it doesn't matter if you buy the Bills and the Sabres and build Harborcenter - if you screw up a jersey retirement ceremony, you really haven't done anything, have you?

Terry is a huge part, along with the medical corridor, stuff actually happening at Canalside, and the general increased pride in downtown, of the revitalization of downtown Buffalo. Before Pegula, we generally had the feeling that the Sabres would be forever stuck in neutral, and just doing enough to maybe make the playoffs with the hope they get lucky on hitting with a Hasek or a Miller in a draft and then riding him and his team of second, third, and fourth liners into a playoff round or two. We'd never be a player in free agency - we'd never be able to keep any talent we developed ourselves before they were poached by a higher-value team in free agency - and we'd go cheap on everything including our scouting department. In one afternoon, and one statement, Pegula changed that - and has put his money and his efforts where his mouth is. Now, we feel anything is possible - the Sabres are never moving, the Bills are never moving, we'll eventually be top-tier franchises in both leagues, with the money and drawing power of anyone - in world-class facilities, all situated in a well-developed and integrated area in the core of the city and the Western New York region. He's helped to make Buffalo become a choice - not just for sports, but for people looking to be where the action is. And Terry and Kim do everything with tact and grace and humility. Just wait until that new Bills stadium is downtown - it will be phenomenal. We can joke, but that area will be named Pegulaville for real eventually.

I agree. LeBrun is pretty good.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/12209280/nhl-accused-tanking-buffalo-sabres-insist-part-rebuild I'm sure a lot of you have already seen this. Both Murray and Black know we "get" it. ""'Tanking,' I think, has become a shorthand for 'rebuilding,'" said Ted Black, Sabres president. "We're rebuilding. Every game, I talked to 25 or 30 season-ticket holders; we have a reception for them, it's an open question and answer session. And they get it, they get the plan."" "Murray, for one, thinks the Sabres can turn this around sooner rather than later. "I'm optimistic that we can do it quicker than some people think," the Sabres GM said. "It won't be forever," Black said of the rebuild. "But it's not a quick fix. It requires patience. And fans and society in general today isn't wired for patience and deliberation. I think our fans are exceptionally smart with a very high hockey IQ. I think they've seen the consequences of rebuilding a little bit, but at the same time going for it. Those worlds don't mesh together. I think they understand the methodology. I think they have giant faith in Terry's commitment.""

I remember the Sabres being without LaFontaine and Mogilny, and Muckler insisting on playing an obviously gimpy Fuhr instead of Hasek. But what I mostly remember is Dale Hawerchuk single-handedly trying to win that series on sure will. He put that team on his shoulders and played with a fire that I have only seen a few other times - mainly, Doug Gilmour when he took the Leafs to the Conference Finals. I remember Keith Carney coming into the Stereo Advantage in the summer, and when I asked him about how amazing Hawerchuk was in that series - he was in complete agreement and you can tell how much he admired Dale. And not to derail the thread, but when I read about Butch Goring, I looked it up and found this article about the 10 Ugliest Hockey Helmets. http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2010/09/29/hockeys-16-ugliest-helmets/

Don't ask me how I stumbled upon this article, but apparently the Sabres hired a new skating coach back in October. http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/local-sports/the-skating-edge-coach-pat-malloy-brings-his-magic-touch-to-the-nhl I guess he worked with Tyler Toffoli, among others, which had something to do with his hiring.

The NHL Central Scouting's 2015 midterm rankings are out today, and of course McDavid is #1 and Eichel is # 2. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=749385 It appears the top goalie is Mackenzie Blackwood. If we don't use the St. Louis or Isles picks in a trade, or are able to move up, we should grab him just for his name alone.

This made me literally laugh out loud. And as far as the Pegulas owning an OHL team, I think I've seen in a couple of places that Terry was looking at buying the Erie Otters and moving them to the Harbor Center but his owning the Bills precludes that ownership for a couple of years. Remember Jennifer Smith - Doug Moss's "girlfriend"? I just saw her resurface hosting some web show about retired football players overcoming their concussions. http://www.jensmithonline.com/ I still remember the Sabres show on Empire where they dunked her in the dunk tank while she was wearing a white top.

http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/buffalo-sabres-next-team-launch-rsn.html Someone did make the point that with Pegula now owning the Sabres, Bills, Bandits, and Amerks, along with maybe a junior team in a couple of years, they'll have plenty of product. Throw in Canisius hockey, regional college basketball and hockey, UB football, and anything going on down at Harbor Center, and you could have a pretty awesome network. Unless people will miss seeing Spike Lee break down the Knicks offense.

Look at the moves on this hockey playing 11 year old from Japan!

If you unable to get any news about the Sabres except from an isolated feed of Rob Ray's commentary, you'd swear we were 82 - 0 last year. You'd also lose brain cells because you can only hear the phrase "good job" with no variation so many times without losing your mind.

I lived in Philly for three years and sat on I-76 for 45 minutes each way every day and still wouldn't even think of switching.

I haven't owned a car with an automatic in about 25 years. I actually feel safer driving a stick. When I get a rental with an auto (and they are always autos) I'm frustrated until I get my car back. Every male and every female under the age of 55 should be driving a stick - period. When I see a sports car or sports sedan with an auto the person driving it automatically loses points with me.

Thanks. Surprised his dad didn't try to get him in Colorado's system.

Seemed like a hard worker and a glue guy for them down there. I can't find anything about him.

I'm planning on going to the game, but literally every Sabres fan I know is out of town or has to work. I have a crew as usual for the game on October 14 but the drive from Greensboro to Raleigh for a pre-season game is a tough sell for those who don't visit every Sabres fan site every day.

Over at Die By the Blade, they have one of the most reasoned articles about being patient with Reinhart's development that I have seen on these here internets. http://www.diebytheblade.com/2014/10/2/6890833/understanding-reinharts-game-is-a-key-in-viewing-his-development

It's insane to call a 18 year old a bust after one development camp, one prospects tournament, and three preseason games. I hate to see what people say if we're blessed enough to get McDavid or Eichel and he doesn't put up four points in his first exhibition.