Buffalo Sabres have lost 13 in a row.

[PanniniClaus]

I'd be looking to get Jack Quinn for pennies on the dollar.

Pegula needs to hire a Director of Hockey Ops.. overpay them to come to Buffalo.. A person of great experience and let them overhaul the whole thing and Pegula has to agree to stay out of it.

Will take another 5 years to fix but it's the only way. I'd review each and every department down to the janitorial staff... keep those deserving to stay and move the rest out.

 

[Warden of the North]

He did score 59 even strength points that year, so it's a little more complex than a high shooting percentage and a hot one dimensional powerplay.

The Sabres have a strong core. They've got good, young defensemen. They've got three or four reliable highers top six forwards. And they've got a tandem of two potential starting goalies that can handle the workload.

I think they need to change the approach. The talent is there.

What exactly is the evidence that they are a good young core? High draft position?

 

[Warden of the North]

Why are Leafs fans trying to dunk on Sabres fans?

Your team has just one playoff series win since the Sabres last made the playoffs.

The regular season pumping of tires is in full effect, lol. Maybe the only excuse not recently being used by Toronto fans is that they are too young, and it wasn't too long ago that, that was a popular one.

So are we not allowed to discuss a team on a current 13 game losing streak with the the league's longest playoff drought?

It's not dunking on them to question a narrative that they're underperforming. They're performing much as they have for the last decade, have made a string of awful managerial decisions, and seen "problems" be traded then go on win Cups in short order as key parts of their new teams.

 

[Chaos2k7]

So are we not allowed to discuss a team on a current 13 game losing streak with the the league's longest playoff drought?

It's not dunking on them to question a narrative that they're underperforming. They're performing much as they have for the last decade, have made a string of awful managerial decisions, and seen "problems" be traded then go on win Cups in short order as key parts of their new teams.

The major current issue is their FO is being handicapped by ownership, they are not absent of talent.

But the FO is so afraid to make another bad deal that they do nothing at all.

Buffalo fans are some of the most loyal in the league and they deserve better, not at all like the snarky knife twisting comments that are being offered up in this thread.

Hit up HFSabres if you want an actual education on the situation by the fans that live and die with the team.

 

[Zach716]

Almost pointless making a trade now that will only ruin the club’s chances for a top five pick. If making a deal, get prospects and picks. Then use gained draft capital and prospects to build a better club in the off season.

This was the thinking for years, and it never changes. Sabres should be a textbook example on why drafting high alone for awhile itself doesn’t work. We need legitimate pros to mentor the kids and be a net gain themselves. We have the capital to make it happen, but alas Kevyn Adams has proven completely incompetent.

My guess is that his rep with other GMs around the league is so poor he’s entirely incapable of making it happen at this point even if he woke up tomorrow and saw the light.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Or Quebec City - the stronger hockey market. All Atlanta offers is size and numbers - how many serious hockey fans are there?

Besides, the league needs Atlanta for the Flames.

Who in QC exactly is willing to cut a check for $1.2B+?

 

[TheNumber4]

Been thinking about this and I think I have the perfect solution for the Sabres woes.

His name is Darryl Sutter. And he will transform how that team plays top to bottom. No BS, No sugar coating, for the players.

In 2 years he’ll have worn out his welcome but in the meantime he’ll get them into the playoffs and cover for their defensive weaknesses.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Canada isn’t getting another team until their dollar stops being worth 30% less than the American.

True also.

 

[PunchImlach is Alive]

Been thinking about this and I think I have the perfect solution for the Sabres woes.

His name is Darryl Sutter. And he will transform how that team plays top to bottom. No BS, No sugar coating, for the players.

In 2 years he’ll have worn out his welcome but in the meantime he’ll get them into the playoffs and cover for their defensive weaknesses.

That was the sales pitch for Lindy. Doesn't really make a difference if you don't let either hire their own assistants.

 

[TheNumber4]

That was the sales pitch for Lindy. Doesn't really make a difference if you don't let either hire their own assistants.

I always viewed Lindy as a great offensive coach. That can coach a high tempo, fun offensive team. There’s some sense there with all the young forward talent the Sabres have. But they also have young D talent.

Sutter’s a different animal though and has the Cups to prove it. He’s also proven he can right a sinking ship.

Not aware of the Assistant coach situation in Buffalo, but yeh that sounds non sensical. If you hire a coach, give him the reigns he needs to succeed.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

That was the sales pitch for Lindy. Doesn't really make a difference if you don't let either hire their own assistants.

So ridiculous. Seems like everyone in the organization is handicapped from doing their job properly due to the cheap meddling owner.

I always viewed Lindy as a great offensive coach. That can coach a high tempo, fun offensive team. There’s some sense there with all the young forward talent the Sabres have. But they also have young D talent.

Sutter’s a different animal though and has the Cups to prove it. He’s also proven he can right a sinking ship.

Not aware of the Assistant coach situation in Buffalo, but yeh that sounds non sensical. If you hire a coach, give him the reigns he needs to succeed.

Someone like Sutter would never accept the job in Buffalo where he doesn't have autonomy.

 

[MVP of West Hollywd]

They should be given Mike Babcock the rest of the season as punishment for this losing streak effort.

 

[TheNumber4]

So ridiculous. Seems like everyone in the organization is handicapped from doing their job properly due to the cheap meddling owner.


Someone like Sutter would never accept the job in Buffalo where he doesn't have autonomy.

Get Sutter in a room with management and I bet he can change their minds.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Why are Leafs fans trying to dunk on Sabres fans?

Your team has just one playoff series win since the Sabres last made the playoffs.

"How can I make this about Toronto? I know, I'll pretend they are trying to dunk on sabres fans and get em!"

Leafs fans are allowed to talk about an NHL team, here in the National Hockey League Talk forum, just like you're allowed to talk about Toronto.

Are Sabres fans not allowed to talk about the Maple Leafs not winning a cup since 67 because they have the leagues longest playoff drought? No because those have no correlation to each other and it would be stupid to try and police what fans of teams can talk about to each other about.

 

[jkrdevil]

Sutter is a much better coach than Lindy. But they need someone of that type of stature within exec circles for the Presidents role, not necessarily the coach

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

They should completely stop trading. Period.

 

[Cloned]

Sutter is a much better coach than Lindy. But they need someone of that type of stature within exec circles for the Presidents role, not necessarily the coach

Holland is available.

 

[TageGod]

Defense core is an abomination outside of Dahlin. Gotta get a true top 4 defensemen to steady that back end. Power is a #1 pick, and Byram is valuable. Fix the roster on ice, not on paper. The ONLY safe forwards are Thompson and Tuch. Quinn is probably safe from his value plummeting this year. Peterka probably is safe. Everyone else can go. Zucker and Greenway are expiring contracts and are the only other two worth having, they won't resign. Give Rantanen a max contract maybe he comes here

 

[LeafGrief]

"How can I make this about Toronto? I know, I'll pretend they are trying to dunk on sabres fans and get em!"

Leafs fans are allowed to talk about an NHL team, here in the National Hockey League Talk forum, just like you're allowed to talk about Toronto.

Are Sabres fans not allowed to talk about the Maple Leafs not winning a cup since 67 because they have the leagues longest playoff drought? No because those have no correlation to each other and it would be stupid to try and police what fans of teams can talk about to each other about.

Also, the “Who’s core do you take for the future, Toronto or Buffalo’s?” is the Polls forum equivalent of Ryder, Halak, and a 2nd.

We know that Leafs fans aren’t allowed to banter or have opinions, but the Sabres are one of the teams that we actually care about, so we’re going to shoot our shot.

 

[Stephen]

The major current issue is their FO is being handicapped by ownership, they are not absent of talent.

But the FO is so afraid to make another bad deal that they do nothing at all.

Buffalo fans are some of the most loyal in the league and they deserve better, not at all like the snarky knife twisting comments that are being offered up in this thread.

Hit up HFSabres if you want an actual education on the situation by the fans that live and die with the team.

I think Leafs fans probably understand the Sabres more than any other fanbase in the league. Not only geographic proximity, division rivalry, and pseudo Bills/Pegula fandom via NFL and sports radio... but we went through a decade long playoff drought, entered a rebuild cycle the same time as the Sabres, competed for the same head coach to head up that rebuild, and went through years of unrelenting core comparisons between Leafs and Sabres.

From my perspective, the Sabres struggles at this time looks pretty basic and not really at the operatic levels of ownership etc. You just have a collection of talented kids who are learning the game and don't have the adult supervision to handle some of the momentum shifts in a game, and you probably don't have stable, encouraging mentors in the room.

You have Reimer and Zucker at over 30 and no other credible veteran voices who can stabilize a room and give positive reinforcement. Dahlin is young in his captaincy.

 

[banks]

I think Leafs fans probably understand the Sabres more than any other fanbase in the league. Not only geographic proximity, division rivalry, and pseudo Bills/Pegula fandom via NFL and sports radio... but we went through a decade long playoff drought, entered a rebuild cycle the same time as the Sabres, competed for the same head coach to head up that rebuild, and went through years of unrelenting core comparisons between Leafs and Sabres.

From my perspective, the Sabres struggles at this time looks pretty basic and not really at the operatic levels of ownership etc. You just have a collection of talented kids who are learning the game and don't have the adult supervision to handle some of the momentum shifts in a game, and you probably don't have stable, encouraging mentors in the room.

You have Reimer and Zucker at over 30 and no other credible veteran voices who can stabilize a room and give positive reinforcement. Dahlin is young in his captaincy.

Couldn't agree more with this.

I still don't see why this is so hard for some management teams to understand. The NHL isn't an easy league to break into. You can't just hand over a team to a group of teenagers and expect them to naturally grow a winning environment. You need some experience in the room that can be passed on to the youth.

 

[Czechboy]

I think Leafs fans probably understand the Sabres more than any other fanbase in the league. Not only geographic proximity, division rivalry, and pseudo Bills/Pegula fandom via NFL and sports radio... but we went through a decade long playoff drought, entered a rebuild cycle the same time as the Sabres, competed for the same head coach to head up that rebuild, and went through years of unrelenting core comparisons between Leafs and Sabres.

From my perspective, the Sabres struggles at this time looks pretty basic and not really at the operatic levels of ownership etc. You just have a collection of talented kids who are learning the game and don't have the adult supervision to handle some of the momentum shifts in a game, and you probably don't have stable, encouraging mentors in the room.

You have Reimer and Zucker at over 30 and no other credible veteran voices who can stabilize a room and give positive reinforcement. Dahlin is young in his captaincy.

Leadership you say...

Kane and Perry for Kulich and Benson. Who says no? We'll give the Sabres some vets.lol

I do agree with you though. This team makes no sense to me. All good players. A tonne of guys I'd want on my Oilers (Benson, Tage, Dahlin, Power, Byram, Dach and yes I'd want Kulich but I love my Czechs). So some good vets might be the difference.

 

[KeyserSoze81]

Couldn't agree more with this.

I still don't see why this is so hard for some management teams to understand. The NHL isn't an easy league to break into. You can't just hand over a team to a group of teenagers and expect them to naturally grow a winning environment. You need some experience in the room that can be passed on to the youth.

Their only leader of note recently was a passive-agressive and milquestoast Kyle Okposo who told them to stop saluting the fans because the fans wanted their coach fired. Kevyn Adams solution is to just pick a token old guy or two to be mercenary leaders on the team. Their influence lasts about 15 games before they step back and realize that the best solution is to get traded to a real team at the deadline.

2024-2025: Jason Zucker
2023-2024: Kyle Okposo, Erik Johnson
2021-2023: Kyle Okposo, Craig Anderson
2020-2021: Kyle Okposo, Eric Staal, Taylor Hall

They can't sign anyone worht a damn, and they can't develop leaders by having a bunch of 20 year old kids losing 13 games in a row. They have to trade for some real veteran talent, but anyone with a NTC will have Buffalo on their lists.

In truth, they need some real roster turnover to get the stench of losing out of the room, and the current GM shouldn't be allowed to do that.

 

[banks]

Their only leader of note recently was a passive-agressive and milquestoast Kyle Okposo who told them to stop saluting the fans because the fans wanted their coach fired. Kevyn Adams solution is to just pick a token old guy or two to be mercenary leaders on the team. Their influence lasts about 15 games before they step back and realize that the best solution is to get traded to a real team at the deadline.

2024-2025: Jason Zucker
2023-2024: Kyle Okposo, Erik Johnson
2021-2023: Kyle Okposo, Craig Anderson
2020-2021: Kyle Okposo, Eric Staal, Taylor Hall

They can't sign anyone worht a damn, and they can't develop leaders by having a bunch of 20 year old kids losing 13 games in a row. They have to trade for some real veteran talent, but anyone with a NTC will have Buffalo on their lists.

In truth, they need some real roster turnover to get the stench of losing out of the room, and the current GM shouldn't be allowed to do that.

Great list! I was going to mention names like Johnson and Anderson. But I don't actually follow Buffalo enough to know how much they contributed while they were there, and I don't want to pretend to be an expert.

I don't get how they can let more and more experience go without filling that void at all. Even some names off the UFA scrap heap could have helped.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

I'm glad the Oilers don't play them for another month.