Cranky old man

Matt and Marty are Kevin’s guys. He’s protecting them for sure. One would think someone of Ruff’s stature would control the rest. I wonder if Doug Houda might make a reappearance. They worked together in Long Island, and Ruff coached Dougie for a couple seasons. Linked is a list from ‘23. It’s neat to see so many familiar names still in the game. https://www.diebytheblade.com/where-are-they-now-buffalo-sabres-nhl-alumni/

I love the sabres glory years but jeez, I was really hoping for more. I have no faith in KA. What a ***** up. Lindy took Ted Nolan’s Team to the finals, then never got back. His recent record is pretty underwhelming, so I don’t get the rush to hire him. There wasn’t enough time to even talk to other coaches. KA can’t get off his hands to help the team for two years, now he’s firing and hiring coaches in one weeks’ time? Cripes, what’s your deal Judy Garland, up- down -up-down- up- down. Aaaaaagggggghhhhh.

Given the youth and general inability to deal with criticism, hard feelings or discomfort the group performed as expected. Pimlach is on it. They were given talking points and they each gave their own spin on the same general statement. “We need tough love and all that.” It’s an attempt to keep these guys from wandering off into statements that smack of dissension. Adam is trying to attract a coach. He can’t have it sound like the team is in ruins. Looking back at the last two years you see a GM who is responsible for holding this team back. If KA had just got us right in goal, the last two years could have been playoff years. Well nothing like “oh crap I’m next” to end brain constipation.

Availability is this kid’s downfall. I would not oppose packaging him with a draft pick for an established, reliable player or two. Find a deal Kev.

Rod Brind’Amour would be fabulous but after another tremendous year I can’t believe the Canes would be dumb enough to let him leave. That said, I thought we were stuck with Donny, so maybe Lady Luck is walking in Allentown. This is a story from 2023 about coaching candidates. There are a couple interesting names though KA’s emphasis on experience eliminates (it would seem) those with tons of success outside the nhl. Not on that list is Jay Woodcroft, who is young and whose Oilers played an up tempo style suitable to the corp of this team. Such fun. Well thanks Donny for all you gave, good luck. https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2023/05/an-overview-of-nhl-head-coaching-candidates.html

If the rebuild has just begun, were the last three years lost in some episode of Dallas? So no I will not have any patience at all for the knuckleheads who are running this hockey club on and above the ice. The speculation that there are spending restrictions has not stopped the rendering of monstrous seven year deals to five players. Why would a gm tie up all his money and leave himself to sign Tyson Jost ? I don’t buy. It looks like dum dum to me.

Talent is hard work. The majority of the sabres stars lack work ethic in the hockey sense. We always hear how young they are, but in the first period they look old. Poor team conditioning. Lack of commitment. Dahlin, and Thompson are the exceptions. Too often the other Sabres stay on the perimeter, don’t keep their heads on defence; won’t get their hands dirty. It’s been the same refrain for two years: Lack of accountability, lack of consistency, lack of effort. Without those elements having talent is being average.

Don Granato is a bad head coach whose team went bad even before they got good. How is he going to improve this group? They don’t seem to care what he says. Their first period floundering says it all. I just cannot picture success with Uncle Don leading a group of men. He needs an experienced new staff. Terry baby, blow the moths out of your Sabre wallet, hire a couple hard edge, high experience assistant coaches. Find a way to get Skinny off your team (pay some salary and a draft pick); move on from girgs. We don’t need zero playoff veterans. Your new coaches will have guys they know and like around the nhl who can shape your team. KA could use guidance in this matter. If I were GM NOBODY listed as team core would be untouchable. One has to have an open mind. If trading Thompson or Cozens could get you three pieces, you have to consider it. KA has quickly moved us towards a cap team with a lot of long term contracts, and nothing to show for it ( it’s like he never did this before). We have a butt load of scorers with potential not on the sabres. They have to be in play, if not now—-when.

Dammit!

Dispite our long term mismanagement, dysfunction, lousy coaching, and poor nhl level player performance, we have gathered many young talented minor league players. It fills me with pride.

Detroit 3 Buffalo 0, after 7:37 of play in the first period. Same old Sabres. Could $58m Owen Power be any less physical? Just saw Skinner stare at the puck on the wall, wanting no part of a physical altercation with the Red Wing who skated the puck away. If this team would wear out opponents like they wear out us fans, we’d be in the playoffs.

Of course the team is invested, they have their own individual interests to consider at this point even more than the 1.7% playoff shot. Whether it’s Coach G or one of the millionaires, none of them can afford to look like they are preparing for golf season. The trade of Mitts showed that popular guys aren’t safe, even ones they could afford. KA put his faith in this group and they failed. This will be his last non playoff year as a Sabre GM. This team will not be the same next year. All the players want the best look for their new team whether it’s here or elsewhere.

Murray and Botterall both came the Sens and Pens respectively. While neither was a GM at the time of hire, they were considered up and comers. Their coaches—-Dan Bylsma and Ted Nolan both won the Jack Adams Award before they were hired or re-hired in Nolan’s case. How many of us cheered when Nolan was rehired? I did. Krueger and Housley were not poorly regarded hires. Their team performances were terrible. By that time Pegs was reactive. He started over with someone he knew KA. Am I mad ? Yes pissed about another playoff blank. But let’s not reinvent history here.

I’m sure change from savior to hated absentee owner must be quite perplexing for Pegs. The guy has dropped a but ton of money into the sabres over the last 13. He hired experienced guys, and they failed. Now he has inexperienced guys he knows and they aren’t getting it done fast enough. He plans a partnership with his wife and catastrophe strikes. I don’t see an uncaring man. I see a guy who has tried to do well by Buffalo and the Sabres are the one horror among many successes. I don’t minimize it but, assassinating his character because he feels the need to make money while owning sports teams is garbage. I’m a thousandaire, and I value money, watch what I spend. No doubt it is the same for him. How about we don’t assume that we know this guy just because he has some bucks. Personally I hate class warfare I hear on these pages sometimes.

Power needs work there is no doubt, but unless he is a trade piece( rather move Sammuelsson) it is too soon to give up on him. Jost, Comrie, Olofsson are on expiring contracts I believe——their time is done. I’m not against Girgs coming back though his spot could use an upgrade. Kulich, Rosen, R Johnson, Weissbach, Novikov, Murray; bring up the youngbloods! Trade Dylan C for a talented veteran and get some sand paper. Goal is set with UPL(new 3yr contract) and Levi.

“ On the right and left two seas enclose you, without your possessing even a single ship for escape. The river Po around you; the Alps behind hem you in. Her soldiers, where you have first met the enemy, you must conquer or die; and the same fortune which has imposed the necessity of fighting hold out to you, if victorious, rewards than which men are not wont to desire greater, even from the immortal gods." Hannibal 218 BCE

Wanted: Coach willing to teach professional hockey to group of millionaires. Call 1-800-sabr. Ask for Kevyan

Terry, Baby, Sweetheart——how long buby; how long? Just make Kevyn grab us some goons, some muscle, some angry dudes. If we could at least be given some nightly ass blasting, Donnie brooking, rough and tough tumble old time hockey, the stadium would scream with delight. This bunch of sweethearts led by that lazy villain Jeff skinner lack fortitude. That thing you built your business with. This under 500 millionaire boys club is soft as charmin. (Original—I know) We are exhausted by these losers. PS: best wishes to Mrs. Pegs.

Hey, you millionaires get out of the garbage.

This just in: we are making the playoffs!

It’s so the sabery that the team has kept the playoff zero core of Girgensons, Okposo, Skinner. What if next year all three were gone. Replaced with players who have been in the playoffs—-even the AHL plays in the last year. When young players look at these guys and zero playoffs, are they moved to greater heights?

Okposo has been a gigantic bust his entire career in Buffalo. Talk about wasted money. The Islanders were laughing their ***** off when we picked up that contract. Sabres fans don’t need some fake salute, we COULD use a decent effort every night.

Move them out. Our veteran leadership hasn’t changed much for this club. We are worse than last year. KA’s big moves! Wow, finally the playoff are in sight.

Poor GM, poor coach, poor team. Poor us.

Patience? The coaching staff still can’t get through to the team, they don’t know how to play defense. patience?The general manager keeps bringing in odd pieces from around the league, overpaying them and then sending them to Rochester. patience? We have the same team back from last year that didn’t make the playoffs with no substantial changes. Soft players who come out and given up tons of first period points. we don’t need to burn the team down. We just need a general manager who knows how to construct a roster, and a coaching staff that knows how to teach defense. we’re not inpatient we just expect some incremental results, some basic competence. You have to be garbage in the NHL to miss the playoffs and we’re still garbage, but will wait patiently with you Bob .