Jump to content

What is the jolt this franchise needs?

PASabreFan

By PASabreFan
in The Aud Club

 Share

What is the jolt this franchise needs?  

49 members have voted

  1. 1. What is the jolt this franchise needs?

    • New owner
      17
    • Trade Thompson and/or Dahlin
      3
    • Terry confers complete control to kid/kids
      3
    • Unexpected breakout (Power, for example)
      1
    • New leader for hockey department (with Terry withdrawing himself from an active role)
      33
    • New leader with status quo Terry
      1
    • Appert named head coach
      0
    • Someone else named head coach
      7
    • No jolt is needed, only patience; the team is closer than most think
      1

Recommended Posts

JoeSchmoe Second Liner

JoeSchmoe

Posted
Posted

Our offensive numbers are good.

Our defensive numbers are good (they actually are this year).

Our goaltending stinks. 

If we get a breakout goalie to play at or near the top third of the league like our offense and defense, then we are jolted.

Weave Hall of Famer

Weave

Posted
Posted

It genuinely feels to me like the only way out starts with a new owner.  Outside players don’t respect the team.  We fear every good, established player on the roster is on the verge of bailing out.  Our stars aren’t star enough to carry the team for more than a game or two.  The coach isn’t the answer.  The AHL coach isn’t the answer. The GM is over his head.  We have quite a few good, young kids, but none of them project into stars.

Eli Cash Prospect

Eli Cash

Posted
Posted (edited)

How about Terry transferring managing control of the team to one of his children?  What’s the worse that could happen?  They fail to qualify for the playoffs for a decade +?  I am not sure a sale of the team helps those who care for a NHL team in WNY.

Edited by Eli Cash
  • Like (+1) 2
Weave Hall of Famer

Weave

Posted
Posted
10 minutes ago, Eli Cash said:

How about Terry transferring managing control of the team to one of his children?  What’s the worse that could happen?  They fail to qualify for the playoffs for a decade +?  I am not sure a sale of the team helps those who care for a NHL team in WNY.

I am not sure that Pegula ownership helps those that care for an NHL team in WNY.

Archie Lee Third Liner

Archie Lee

Posted
Posted

I understand the frustration with ownership.  GMs and coaches are replaced all of the time in pro-sports, and fan dissatisfaction can even play a role in such changes. Ownership is different though, and changes at that level are comparatively quite rare. I think once I get to the point of thinking it is hopeless with Pegula as the owner, it will be time for me to take a break from following the team closely. I will always be a fan, but the Sabres are probably one more bad GM/HC hire away from that being the case. 

So, ownership aside, in the long-term the Sabres need a new GM and HC. While I have opinions on who the candidates for those roles should be, the reality is that when that time comes it is most likely that the new GM and HC will not be people with histories of overwhelming success. It will be people with histories of middling success (Jarmo), or a relative newcomer. I have no faith that Pegula will make the right decision, but any change will give me at least momentary hope, if only because the current GM/HC combination, based on their track records, could not realistically be worse.

In the short-term, if the Sabres were a real NHL team and did not start the season with a lame-duck GM, replacing Ruff would be a no-brainer. The single thing that the Sabres could do that would potentially reverse their fortunes this season, is replace Ruff. It happens in the NHL all the time and it is often the case that such a move has at least a short-term positive impact. We should ask ourselves why Granato was fired and Ruff was hired.  The rationale laid out by Adams was that the team was needing (craving) structure and accountability. The clear implication, though Adams has always been reluctant to plainly state it, was that it was time to win and Ruff was the guy who could take the team to the next step. Ruff has failed across the board. No structure. No accountability.  They win less than they did under Granato. Replacing Ruff mid-season would guarantee nothing, but staying with him seems pointless.

Lastly, a prediction.  If Adams is fired or promoted at year-end (and I'm not certain that will be the case), the new GM will be Jarmo and the HC will be Pascal Vincent.        

 

thewookie1 First Liner

thewookie1

Posted
Posted
29 minutes ago, Weave said:

I am not sure that Pegula ownership helps those that care for an NHL team in WNY.

Well there aren't a whole lot of billionaires lining up to not only fund the Sabres but keep them locked in Buffalo in perpetuity 

  • Like (+1) 1
steveoat87 Prospect

steveoat87

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Eli Cash said:

How about Terry transferring managing control of the team to one of his children?  What’s the worse that could happen?  They fail to qualify for the playoffs for a decade +?  I am not sure a sale of the team helps those who care for a NHL team in WNY.

To me this is the best solution -- they hopefully are of the generation where they respect outside help (consultants) to help put together new management.  Selling the team most likely means no more Buffalo Sabres (Atlanta, San Antonion, etc.)

St. Pete Gogolak Prospect

St. Pete Gogolak

Posted
Posted
15 minutes ago, steveoat87 said:

To me this is the best solution -- they hopefully are of the generation where they respect outside help (consultants) to help put together new management.  Selling the team most likely means no more Buffalo Sabres (Atlanta, San Antonion, etc.)

Atlanta???  I guess the thinking would be third time’s a charm.

  • Like (+1) 1
#freejame First Liner

#freejame

Posted
Posted
53 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

Well there aren't a whole lot of billionaires lining up to not only fund the Sabres but keep them locked in Buffalo in perpetuity 

The Jacobs family are one of the most powerful families in the NHL. Jeremy is on the board of governors. When he approves the relocation of the Sabres to another city, that’s when I’ll believe it. Billionaires don’t get to simply decide to pack up and move a team. 

quill Prospect

quill

Posted
Posted (edited)

Other than the obvious priority of cleaning the entire house of KA and the entire coaching staff, I think a necessary jolt for this inconsistent team would be hiring a head coach who is in the mold of someone like Iron Mike Keenan. He might have coached like a borderline psychopath, but he was very effective at making his players do what he wanted them to do. I remember hearing how scary he could be to play for. Hopefully there is a potential head coach out there for us who can get it through to our players that they better follow orders or else.

Edited by quill
Weave Hall of Famer

Weave

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, thewookie1 said:

Well there aren't a whole lot of billionaires lining up to not only fund the Sabres but keep them locked in Buffalo in perpetuity 

The fans of the Sabres have not had an NHL team to root for in 15 season now.  Stop being afraid of the unknown.  The known is enough to be afraid of.

  • Awesome! (+1) 1
thewookie1 First Liner

thewookie1

Posted
Posted (edited)
17 minutes ago, Weave said:

The fans of the Sabres have not had an NHL team to root for in 15 season now.  Stop being afraid of the unknown.  The known is enough to be afraid of.

The Devil I know is better than the one we don't far more often than not

 

No sale is worth it if the likelihood of the team moving is there

Edited by thewookie1
  • Disagree 1
LTS First Liner

LTS

Posted
Posted
3 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

The Devil I know is better than the one we don't far more often than not

What if you knew that under Admiral Pegula the Sabres would never make the play-offs?  Would that change your mind?

The whole ownership debate simply boils down to when has each person had enough. Frankly, I'd rather they sell the team and let whatever happens happen than be the damned laughing stock of the league.

I have Sabres gear, do you think I wear it when I travel?  Hell no. It's embarrassing. That's what the good Admiral has done to this franchise and thus to the fans of this franchise.  Do you think this franchise is worth a investments in Key Bank Center?  Why should a franchise that owns the league record for not making the playoffs and continues to extend that lead deserves taxpayer support?

Right now the Buffalo Sabres organization is unworthy and it has been unworthy since Pegula took ownership. I'm done with him and his whole family. 

 

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...