I think for many, myself included, Jack became the symbol or embodiment of the Tank and all the other poor decisions this organization has made over the last decade. We wanted him to be the savior but he simply wasn't. Was it his fault? I feel he was a contributor but just one of many. Yet it seems almost as though the instant he was traded away the team's fortunes changed.
I don't much like Jack. When he was here it was kind of.... "He's a jerk, but he's our jerk, dammit!" and I supported him because I supported the team. But now he's just a jerk to me.
Now that he's gone it feels to me that the air has cleared around the Sabres. How much of that was the symbolic Jack and how much of that was the person Jack I don't know, but in either case I'm glad Jack's gone. And to further justify that inclination, I hope he never makes the playoffs while the Sabres win the Cup in the next handful of years.
Is that mature? No. Is that spiteful? You bet yer dupah. Such is sports.