Hey Terry, Do Us A Favor and SELL

[Paxon]

Time to start putting a strip of black hockey tape over the logo of any Sabres gear I wear in public. RIP

 

[Ehran]

Stupid question. Can the league/Bettman veto the team relocating if there is a new owner?

Board of Governors needs to approve any relocation, so yes they can veto it.

And I think they would. The league is much more interested in expansion fees than whether the Sabres are being well run.

 

[Steddy33]

I was at one point the most die hard Bills and Sabres fan you'd ever meet. Now I watch maybe 50% of the games. I actually enjoy watching other teams around the league. I play hockey 2 or 3 nights week and watch games 4 or 5 nights a week. Hockey is fun when I don't watch the Sabres. I wish Pegula would sell the team.

 

[Chainshot]

I admit, the working title of this was "F*ck You Terry Pegula" in an homage to my LQ farewell.

 

[StrompTroller]

Whats crazy is Pegula doesnt notice what a casual fan does...

Fire Donny(or offer a assistant job)
Fire everyone else on the NHL staff
hire a real president of ops

Leadership starts at the top and trickles down, not the other way. We are a joke.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Whats crazy is Pegula doesnt notice what a casual fan does...

Fire Donny(or offer a assistant job)
Fire everyone else on the NHL staff
hire a real president of ops

Leadership starts at the top and trickles down, not the other way. We are a joke.

The bold is all he had to do from the get go.

You and your sports entertainment company clearly have zero clue on how to run a hockey team.. Hire someone who does and just pay the bills

 

[sabremike]

I never thought there would ever be another human being I could hate more than Peter The Pig Karmanos but that clueless simpleton has done it. Karmanos murdered my Whalers, Pegula murdered my Sabres. To paraphrase the famous words of Tony Schiavone after Hulk Hogan turned heel: "Terry Pegula you can go to hell, straight to hell!"

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

I was born and raised in Buffalo. The family (wife's and self) still reside in WNY. I've followed both teams my entire life. Both have been my #1 sport franchises. And I died with the franchises after the 4 consecutive Super Bowl losses and the "Foot in the Crease" 1999 SCF.

In 1995 I bought season tickets to the relocated (and hated) Quebec Nordiques franchise. Funny how that team has given me 3 Stanley Cups to celebrate.

The Bronco's - who a Bills fan can't help but dislike - gave the area 3 Super Bowl wins and multiple appearances.

The Bills and the Sabres have given me nothing but disappointment, frustration and anger.

Yet, I still want them to win it all at least once before I kick the bucket..... Which isn't that far away anymore.

 

[Deleted member 346512]

Hey Terry.

You probably won't ever see this, but it's been a long time coming. You bought a team that you claimed to love and you've ruined it not just for yourself but for everyone associated with it, everyone who also loved this team.

Sell. Do whatever you have to but your ownership has killed this team more than any scandal or bankruptcy or internal budget ever could. Every decision you have made has been the wrong decision. It might be time to make sure that you don't make decisions about the team any more and the only real way to make sure that happens is to sell the team so you can not do any more damage. This team once had a season-ticket waiting list. It's gone. So is your season ticket base.

Think about this - you've never hired a qualified president. Find one. Hire them when you are on your way to the league to find a new owner so that whoever is coming in has a solid front office. They might say harsh things. They might swear. But how about instead of installing more money managers or football people or Pittsburgh TV execs, you find someone to be team president who isn't you? Go away.

And for the love of hockey, you have killed this team and should sell now and forever more. You have your profitable toy in the Bills where you can pretend to be important and make money. But get out of hockey. It isn't for you. If you can't see what you've done to the team, to the fans, then you need a private come-to-Jesus with some of your season ticket holders who have canceled because of the shit show of an operation you are running.

Get out. Now. Get out. Or fold the team. This has been like a long, bungled hospice stay. We can't take it any more and it's clear you don't care enough to make the right decisions to not be involved with the hockey operations part of things. You're like a first-time mite dad who has decided he can coach, and let me tell you Terry, you can not. Go drill another well, go finish your yacht, go grandstand at NFL meetings but get the f*** away from my hockey team.

I've watched friends spend a lifetime waiting for this team, seemingly spending a lifetime in the time you've owned it, who aren't here any longer. For them, for the fanbase you've destroyed, the people who don't know the joy of this beautiful game because of your constant irresponsibility and ego... SELL.

Bravo !!!!!!

 

[Irie]

There really should be a rule in place for all professional sports leagues that prevents owners from appointing themselves in a managerial position that has any oversight over team rosters.

It is just flat out bad for the leagues.

 

[Deleted member 346512]

As long as people stream into the arena and the number of spectators doesn't reduce drastically, nothing happens! The arena must remain empty, people must protest in front of the arena and everywhere in city possible, loudly demanding the sale of the franchise and/or the expulsion of the entire coaching staff.
Furthermore, people shouldn't buy fan merchandise anymore, season ticket sales have to stagnate and fans don't have to show any interest in the Sabres... only then could something be done and force this idiot to sell or something.

But no matter how big the wish is, that won't happen because there are too many fans who complain but still continue to spend money on this franchise.
I'm afraid we'll have to wait until this idiot gets too old and sells the franchise due to his age

 

[KiwiGriff]

Love the sounds. I don’t remember which service, but I used to listen to radio games at night. And after the games ended they’d just play a long loop of skates, sticks, and pucks echoing off boards. Soothing is the perfect word.

Every now and then my ESPN feed doesn’t play the commentary. It’s so nice.

 

[MeenOlViks]

Where y’all been? I posted this in the trade forum months ago

 

[Willgamesh]

Same people that want the team gone support this shitty coach zemgus and okie. how about we remove the trash first and get a coach who isn't a f***ing bum.

 

[TageGod]

New Coach time. This roster should not be this bad.

 

[sabresfan129103]

I literally do not care anymore. I haven't watched a game in a month. This is coming from someone who didn't miss a game for something like 10 years. (before Pegula ownership). He's completely killed my love of the game and of this team. I come here for Bills talk more than hockey now.

 

[May Day 10]

Changing the coach now is cart before the horse.

It was clear that needed to be done in November to salvage the season and this "management", whoever that is, allowed the season to die on the vine. Permanent habits of no accountability is being imprinted on all these young players signed now at high dollars for most of the next decade. Losing is ok, as long as you say we are growing and learning. It's been a hallmark through each of these lame coaches and is a product of ownership who thinks: time + growth + patience = a direct immovable graphline to success.

At every facet of this operation, there are people installed who have no business holding their positions. It's a bunch of learning on the job and grifters. Peter Karmanos' son is our AGM for crying out loud!

Adams, granato, forton, nightingale, pegula, etc. These people have almost no nhl experience outside the sabres' bubble of perpetual losing and dysfunction. Pegula expects learning on the job to magically happen. The whack pack they have of assistant coaches? Ugh.

They have like 1 pro scout because of course they have cut costs as well.

This organization needs an exorcism in the worst way. Hire an experienced and highly credible POHO. Give him autonomy and resources, and let's finally restore this once proud franchise to relevancy.

 

[oldgoalie]

great post Chain.
I'm done. f*** this organization. they are a shit stain on the city and the NHL.
you diehards (though your numbers are dwindling); god have mercy on your souls.

 

[Jim Bob]

Stupid question. Can the league/Bettman veto the team relocating if there is a new owner? You know Bettman wants them to stay in Buffalo

With the Yotes and Panthers never moving from worse situations than the Sabres are in, I cannot imagine a scenario where the NHL allows the Sabres to be moved out of Buffalo.



For me, I have just seen my interest in the Sabres wither on the vine with Adams's continued lack of proactivity to do anything other than slow cook the roster.

My interest in the Bills has taken off and I do not see that changing as they at least have a GM that has built a legit contender and he makes moves to try and get better.

 

[May Day 10]

With the Yotes and Panthers never moving from worse situations than the Sabres are in, I cannot imagine a scenario where the NHL allows the Sabres to be moved out of Buffalo.

The upcoming end of the lease and increasing fan apathy could mean trouble

Most contemporary arenas to the keybank center have received hundreds of millions in renovations. Not sure the public is going to have an appetite for such a large investment. If they hit a stalemate, and big bucks are being waived the nhl's way from places like Houston or something. That'll be rough

At this point, they are not a relevant NHL franchise. Nobody would miss them other than some local fans.

 

[Jim Bob]

The upcoming end of the lease and increasing fan apathy could mean trouble

Most contemporary arenas to the keybank center have received hundreds of millions in renovations. Not sure the public is going to have an appetite for such a large investment. If they hit a stalemate, and big bucks are being waived the nhl's way from places like Houston or something. That'll be rough

At this point, they are not a relevant NHL franchise. Nobody would miss them other than some local fans.

The NHL does not get big bucks for relocation in most cases. They get new money for expansion teams.

I think that is why you haven't seen the Yotes move. The NHL wants competition for expansion teams so that the expansion fees continue to rise and rise and rise.

So, I do not foresee the NHL wanting to move a team like the Sabres to a market that could boost future expansion fees.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I still don’t blame Pegula. He DID hire qualified GMs to run this team and things went poorly.

 

[kirby11]

I still don’t blame Pegula. He DID hire qualified GMs to run this team and things went poorly.

I get this point, but I think the larger issue was not having anyone else in the loop (in a pres of hockey ops position) to help him make those hires or provide guidance to first time GMs in Murray and Botts. And once those didn't work with NHL recommendations, he decided he knows best and built an organization full of yes-men with no real experience. I didn't mind Granato but it's clear now he's in over his head.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I get this point, but I think the larger issue was not having anyone else in the loop (in a pres of hockey ops position) to help him make those hires or provide guidance to first time GMs in Murray and Botts. And once those didn't work with NHL recommendations, he decided he knows best and built an organization full of yes-men with no real experience. I didn't mind Granato but it's clear now he's in over his head.

How common is it to hire or not hire president of hockey operations for first time GMs?

 

[Vito_81]

I've watched friends spend a lifetime waiting for this team, seemingly spending a lifetime in the time you've owned it, who aren't here any longer. For them, for the fanbase you've destroyed, the people who don't know the joy of this beautiful game because of your constant irresponsibility and ego... SELL.

Best part of the rant hands down!

Well said!

My biggest fear is dying before they win. As the years pass, that becomes more and more likely. And im only 37.