Remember when folks were mad at the lockout? When they couldn't wait for hockey to start? I watched my son's soccer team on Sunday play. The other team had just one sub and my son's team had 7 subs. This was the most exciting game of soccer I have ever watched. Not because it was high scoring, which it was. But because these kids laid everything they had on the line. The undermanned team eventually succumbed in the second half, but they worked their tails off the whole time. The stands were going nuts as mistakes, misses, errant shots and goals were made.
And it hit me that was what was missing in the Sabres. You just don't get the sense that they are really trying anymore. They play lifelessly, uninspired and listlessly. They could learn a thing or two from watching this undermanned team play. They gave it their all, even in defeat, for the whole 48 minutes.
I don't think a coach fixes this without a major retooling. The problem is, even if you wanted to, the Sabres have some scary bad contracts to try and offload. Unless you are trading with cap floor teams, these guys will be hard to move.