NMC's your thoughts

[PerreaultForever]

10 hours ago, JohnC said:

There are number of reasons why players put teams in their NMC. It’s a safe bet to believe that Buffalo is most often cited on that ignominious list due to a negative perception. For Buffalo, that perception is tough to shed because the perception matches reality. It’s bad enough that many players don’t want to come here but also some coaches also want to avoid this troubled organization. The moral of the story is that when you shoot yourself because of your own recklessness you become damaged goods. 

Definitely, the only way to get Buffalo back off those lists is a complete reboot. Pegula has to announce he's stepping back, hires an experienced and respected NHL guy to run the organization who in turn hires a coach players want to play for and then they spend and make serious moves designed to win. If they do that the perception changes and players will start to want to be part of that.

Younger fans (even middle age maybe at this point) might not remember, but Buffalo was once considered a top notch team and a good destination. 

[JohnC]

29 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Definitely, the only way to get Buffalo back off those lists is a complete reboot. Pegula has to announce he's stepping back, hires an experienced and respected NHL guy to run the organization who in turn hires a coach players want to play for and then they spend and make serious moves designed to win. If they do that the perception changes and players will start to want to be part of that.

Younger fans (even middle age maybe at this point) might not remember, but Buffalo was once considered a top notch team and a good destination. 

The Sabres’ organization is constructed and staffed the way TP wants it to be. It’s his toy to play with. He has the authority to make the substantive changes you listed. Will he make them? Probably not, at least right now. I really believe that it will take outside pressure (league office) to force him to act more competently.

 

[Darryl Shannon's +/-]

On 8/8/2025 at 9:47 AM, inkman said:

This is kind of a weird topic as this stuff is negotiated through the CBA.  Who would advocate for the fan’s desires in the CBA negotiating period?  The players?  ***** no.  The owners? Laughable.  I’m just not sure how we as fans would have any say in this at all.  

If they are interested in growing the game and making more money, you'd assume both parties would be interested.  This reeks of an owner's concession to pay less money.  Short sighted logic.  

If they didnt allow nmc's, you wouldn't have to worry about bargain deals in no tax states.

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, JohnC said:

The Sabres’ organization is constructed and staffed the way TP wants it to be. It’s his toy to play with. He has the authority to make the substantive changes you listed. Will he make them? Probably not, at least right now. I really believe that it will take outside pressure (league office) to force him to act more competently.

 

I don't believe that will ever happen. 

[JP51]

13 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I don't believe that will ever happen. 

I fear JohnC is right, is that is what it will take internally, but I am with you, I just dont believe that will happen... the league took over once... I dont think they will do it again, they would likely force a move before that...  I will be interested if we again flounder to another playoffless season... what will the attendance be  like will it look like NBA arenas pre Bird and Magic... or like the Altanta Thrashers or Cleveland Barrons... will it be acrimonious, home team getting booed every night... Palm trees.. Fire Adams, Sell the team Terry signs all over the place, players wanting out demanding trades...   if it does and it might... there is likely gonna be pressure... and there we sit. 

Edited yesterday at 05:06 PM by JP51

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, JP51 said:

I fear JohnC is right, is that is what it will take internally, but I am with you, I just dont believe that will happen... the league took over once... I dont think they will do it again, they would likely force a move before that...  I will be interested if we again flounder to another playoffless season... what will the attendance be  like will it look like NBA arenas pre Bird and Magic... or like the Altanta Thrashers or Cleveland Barrons... will it be acrimonious, home team getting booed every night... Palm trees.. Fire Adams, Sell the team Terry signs all over the place, players wanting out demanding trades...   if it does and it might... there is likely gonna be pressure... and there we sit. 

I think the league only steps in if there's bankruptcy issues which there isn't. From their perspective a rich owner is a rich owner and the league value of teams keeps rising so they really don't care. The NFL doesn't take over the Jets right? They should, but they don't and they won't. 

I think our only hope is he either has health issues with old age and decides to retire or he just gets fed up and gives it over to his kids who hire a director of hockey operations and let him run it while they just enjoy their luxury suite and other ownership perks. 

We have to face the reality that this is Pegula's toy and he's basically like a fantasy team GM but sadly for us he is the de facto GM and he never wins the office pool. 

[JP51]

17 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I think the league only steps in if there's bankruptcy issues which there isn't. From their perspective a rich owner is a rich owner and the league value of teams keeps rising so they really don't care. The NFL doesn't take over the Jets right? They should, but they don't and they won't. 

I think our only hope is he either has health issues with old age and decides to retire or he just gets fed up and gives it over to his kids who hire a director of hockey operations and let him run it while they just enjoy their luxury suite and other ownership perks. 

We have to face the reality that this is Pegula's toy and he's basically like a fantasy team GM but sadly for us he is the de facto GM and he never wins the office pool. 

I agree, I do not think the league is coming to save us, the only thing I see the league doing is looking to force a move or a sale if the attendance gets atrocious and the environment becomes untenable... players wanting out other refusing to come here fans with Billboards and signs etc...  the only thing to me is, have another crappy year, dont resign Tuch, have Dahlin looking to get out, attendance consistently below 50% maybe worse... that is a real possibility to me... 

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, JP51 said:

I agree, I do not think the league is coming to save us, the only thing I see the league doing is looking to force a move or a sale if the attendance gets atrocious and the environment becomes untenable... players wanting out other refusing to come here fans with Billboards and signs etc...  the only thing to me is, have another crappy year, dont resign Tuch, have Dahlin looking to get out, attendance consistently below 50% maybe worse... that is a real possibility to me... 

I honestly don't know how they get out of it. They've dug a deep hole. As the cap rises they will have more and more trouble keeping the team profitable. Revenues have to rise so higher ticket prices? That'll be a tough sell on a loser. Especially if another round of stars exit like you said. 

[JP51]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

I honestly don't know how they get out of it. They've dug a deep hole. As the cap rises they will have more and more trouble keeping the team profitable. Revenues have to rise so higher ticket prices? That'll be a tough sell on a loser. Especially if another round of stars exit like you said. 

Oh heck yeah its a horrible sell especially when the perception is that you are pinching pennies... people tend to not give you theirs...  they dont turn it around this year I see a real attendance issue as well as a player exodus issue... I hate the doom and gloom, but If we thought last year was it... the anger was high and the apathy was starting... this year... I think the apathy ends up being very high and people just wont go....