My Lowest Point of Sabres Fandom

[Stads]

This is me today:

This is probably me by December:

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, Stads said:

This is me today:

This is probably me by December:

Screw that ####.  We're makin' it to at LEAST January before we become irrelevant THIS time.  😀 

[Stads]

3 hours ago, Taro T said:

Screw that ####.  We're makin' it to at LEAST January before we become irrelevant THIS time.  😀 

[PerreaultForever]

17 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

The Sabres drafting the last 2 years in particular has been, very meh. Probably because because the GM ordered them to draft rhd with every other pick. 

Considering how high and how many picks they have had I'd say their drafting has been meh for longer than that. Probably through the entire Pegula era. Unless I'm forgetting somebody Samuelson and UPL are the only non first rounders that they drafted still on the roster and they were both JBot picks. In any event considering 15 years of no playoffs their prospect pool should be ranked higher than 13th wouldn't you say? Top ten at least. 

[That Aud Smell]

On 8/26/2025 at 5:20 PM, Taro T said:

Well, supporter implies a rationality.

Fanatic implies an irrationality.

At this point in time, other than @dudacek who's attempts at rationality actually hint at an irrationality 😉,  can ANYONE here be labeled as fully rational?

Sad truth is, we're FANS, not supporters.

And though it was said of the Bills in the greatest football game ever played, am looking longingly towards the day the Sabres and their fans can have their own moment of "it is bedlam, it is pandemonium, it is fandemonium, it is fan-tas-tic."  And know that should it happen at home, this kid will be there.  (And after the fact, fully expect to have had 100k others there too; and heck, with the return of the party on the plaza; maybe we really will have 100k joining in the celebration in the moment.)

I disagree for several reasons.

Being "rational" has little to do with being a "supporter." Quite the opposite really. Being a supporter implies levels of commitment, loyalty, and devotion that go well beyond what most "fans" would generally exhibit. A supporter is a true stakeholder -- a person who truly sees the team as theirs (in part anyway). A supporter's commitment to the club is unconditional and unwavering. They support the club in much the same way they breathe. 

You hear the idiom "fair weather fan," and often that shoe fits. Fans can be fickle. Supporters are not.

[Wyldnwoody44]

This teams sucks, flat out. 

But, I am quite partial to date nights when tix are cheap, leaving extra dough for grub and other fun things to do. 

It's also nice knowing that we're trash, and I can laugh at the team when we're getting plastered. Last year I was at the infamous avs game and the guy behind me was an Avs fan and he was getting all butt hurt.. I remember talking with him and telling him, I still think we're gonna lose.... He was all like no way... Sure enough.... 

The anxiety Bills games bring is nonexistent in that arena. That's not a good quality but does allow for a stress free eve

[dudacek]

8 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

Considering how high and how many picks they have had I'd say their drafting has been meh for longer than that. Probably through the entire Pegula era. Unless I'm forgetting somebody Samuelson and UPL are the only non first rounders that they drafted still on the roster and they were both JBot picks. In any event considering 15 years of no playoffs their prospect pool should be ranked higher than 13th wouldn't you say? Top ten at least. 

Well in terms of Pronman's prospect pool ranking, it's only the past 5 years that matter.

Their top picks were 9th, 14th, 13th, 9th and 1st, so I'd say 'yes', but maybe not as much as 14 years would imply: that's one guy picked in the top 8.

That said, it's a ranking. 🤷‍♂️

[Taro T]

17 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

I disagree for several reasons.

Being "rational" has little to do with being a "supporter." Quite the opposite really. Being a supporter implies levels of commitment, loyalty, and devotion that go well beyond what most "fans" would generally exhibit. A supporter is a true stakeholder -- a person who truly sees the team as theirs (in part anyway). A supporter's commitment to the club is unconditional and unwavering. They support the club in much the same way they breathe. 

You hear the idiom "fair weather fan," and often that shoe fits. Fans can be fickle. Supporters are not.

No.  Being a supporter is in large part rational.  Taking a stakehold in something you hold dear is extremely, dare we say, rational.  We have prearranged songs that we sing to bring our club extra energy when they need it.  We have prearranged chants to try to demoralize the opponent.  That's the stuff supporters do, and those are both rational things to do.  Supporters try to influence the outcome in planned ways - that's logical and rational.  They support their team regardless of the emotion - "they support the club in much the same way they breathe."

Fans are irrational and emotional.

Being a fanatic means you have a love of whatever it is you're fanatical about.  What could possibly be more irrational than holding a fair weather love?  I do love you honey, but only when you're smoking hot.  THAT ain't love.  That's lust.

And a casual fan is NOT a fanatic, just like a casual supporter isn't a TRUE supporter (in the way you impy) going to bother to learn all the chants nor buy the new kit just because they don't already have the one done up in green.

[That Aud Smell]

3 hours ago, Taro T said:

No.  Being a supporter is in large part rational.  Taking a stakehold in something you hold dear is extremely, dare we say, rational.  We have prearranged songs that we sing to bring our club extra energy when they need it.  We have prearranged chants to try to demoralize the opponent.  That's the stuff supporters do, and those are both rational things to do.  Supporters try to influence the outcome in planned ways - that's logical and rational.  They support their team regardless of the emotion - "they support the club in much the same way they breathe."

Fans are irrational and emotional.

Being a fanatic means you have a love of whatever it is you're fanatical about.  What could possibly be more irrational than holding a fair weather love?  I do love you honey, but only when you're smoking hot.  THAT ain't love.  That's lust.

And a casual fan is NOT a fanatic, just like a casual supporter isn't a TRUE supporter (in the way you impy) going to bother to learn all the chants nor buy the new kit just because they don't already have the one done up in green.

By these metrics, I'd posit that being a supporter is far more irrational than being a fan. 

Supporters stick with their club even when all competitive inputs and outputs associated with that club are complete and utter sh1te. That's not a rational response to your favourite team sucking.

Fans can be fickle or even fair weather when the club runs aground and takes up residency in the league's basement. That's a rational response to your favourite team sucking.

Supporters involve their hearts and souls and will stick with a club no matter what.

Fans are more transactional and may jump ship if the team doesn't give them what they want.

[Thorny]

Fan or supporter? Tomato or tomato? We’ve found the nadir 

[Weave]

Just now, Thorny said:

Fan or supporter? Tomato or tomato? We’ve found the nadir 

[Taro T]

58 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

By these metrics, I'd posit that being a supporter is far more irrational than being a fan. 

Supporters stick with their club even when all competitive inputs and outputs associated with that club are complete and utter sh1te. That's not a rational response to your favourite team sucking.

Fans can be fickle or even fair weather when the club runs aground and takes up residency in the league's basement. That's a rational response to your favourite team sucking.

Supporters involve their hearts and souls and will stick with a club no matter what.

Fans are more transactional and may jump ship if the team doesn't give them what they want.

Well, disagree, but you're being a fan.  😉

[That Aud Smell]

40 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Fan or supporter? Tomato or tomato? We’ve found the nadir 

Words matter, guvnah.

[Thorny]

8 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Words matter, guvnah.

But not for the reasons either of you are laying out

the Dallas cowboys don’t have “supporters”. It’s cultural, not a commentary on severity 

This discussion involves telling people the correct way to follow a team and applying definitions to it.

was joking at first now I’ll just double down: nadir 

[bob_sauve28]

Athletic supporter 

 

[PerreaultForever]

6 hours ago, dudacek said:

Well in terms of Pronman's prospect pool ranking, it's only the past 5 years that matter.

Their top picks were 9th, 14th, 13th, 9th and 1st, so I'd say 'yes', but maybe not as much as 14 years would imply: that's one guy picked in the top 8.

That said, it's a ranking. 🤷‍♂️

Well if you are going to look at it that way you have to factor in the bonus this group got from trading Eichel, Reinhart and Risto. Extra picks. Should be better as a result.

I don't over analyze it and simply look at how many potential NHLers they have not currently in the NHL? I see Helenius as one more than likely. Nobody else moves the needle for me. That doesn't mean we won't see some of them in the NHL and maybe even as good players but right now, at this moment, Helenius and that's it. 

[dudacek]

37 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Well if you are going to look at it that way you have to factor in the bonus this group got from trading Eichel, Reinhart and Risto. Extra picks. Should be better as a result.

I don't over analyze it and simply look at how many potential NHLers they have not currently in the NHL? I see Helenius as one more than likely. Nobody else moves the needle for me. That doesn't mean we won't see some of them in the NHL and maybe even as good players but right now, at this moment, Helenius and that's it. 

I think that's a fair if pessimistic take. Helenius, Mrtka, Levi and Östlund for me.

I think there are another 10ish that could and the odds say a few of those will.

Point is though, they've shot their shot in terms of their post-Eichel rebuild through the kids. The best of the bunch is already on the roster.

Edited 1 hour ago by dudacek

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, dudacek said:

I think that's a fair if pessimistic take. Helenius, Mrtka, Levi and Östlund for me.

I think there are another 10ish that could and the odds say a few of those will.

Point is though, they've shot their shot in terms of their post-Eichel rebuild through the kids. The best of the bunch is already on the roster.

Would add Novikov to that list.  

And do expect Johnson to be an NHLer as well, but could see him being a 7/tweener just as easily as seeing him be a 4/5.

The rest, yeah some will make it, but likely not in a particularly meaningful way.  (Maybe Wahlberg figures it out, and as he has tools not many of the prospects have, he'll get a shot at some point.)

[dudacek]

2 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Would add Novikov to that list.  

And do expect Johnson to be an NHLer as well, but could see him being a 7/tweener just as easily as seeing him be a 4/5.

The rest, yeah some will make it, but likely not in a particularly meaningful way.  (Maybe Wahlberg figures it out, and as he has tools not many of the prospects have, he'll get a shot at some point.)

Yep, if a Tuch level core player emerges from the system it will be a surprise: a Brodie Zeimer goes Brandon Hagel kinda thing. 

He’s got a lot of upside but I generally think a positive result for Mrtka is Myers, Östlund is McLeod. Maybe Helenius can be Derek Roy, but I think that’s probably stretching it.

 

[Taro T]

8 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Yep, if a Tuch level core player emerges from the system it will be a surprise: a Brodie Zeimer goes Brandon Hagel kinda thing. 

He’s got a lot of upside but I generally think a positive result for Mrtka is Myers, Östlund is McLeod. Maybe Helenius can be Derek Roy, but I think that’s probably stretching it.

 

Which, provided they don't drive the good guys away frittering away the present, will be good enough to keep the team in the mix.  And once it IS back in the mix, THEN you can actually start getting FAs that other teams also want and who don't necessarily have ties WNY/the NP to want to come here.  Heck, wasn't a big part of pushing for getting the combine in Buffalo to give the young players a chance to experience Buffalo when the weather is actually good and they can see there's way more to it than the seeming dystopia a 20 minute ride from the airport on the Kensington provides.  Get relevant and that strategy MIGHT be able to be somewhat successful.  (It's pretty much pointless when you're the NHL's version of the NY Jest.)

Edited 59 minutes ago by Taro T

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I think that's a fair if pessimistic take. Helenius, Mrtka, Levi and Östlund for me.

I think there are another 10ish that could and the odds say a few of those will.

Point is though, they've shot their shot in terms of their post-Eichel rebuild through the kids. The best of the bunch is already on the roster.

I agree with the last line. The best of them are already on the roster. We no longer have any rebuild advantages from those trades.

I didn't count Mrtka yet as he's new and very raw. Remains to be seen what he becomes. Likely plays but really unknown at this point. Levi idk. Can he become the guy here like Wolf has. Maybe. I certainly hope they give him this year in the AHL though. Then we shall see. I have no faith in Östlund making it at this point.