How bad does Pegula look now?

[SackTastic]

Well, let's see...



You presume people don't know more than Pegula does about running a team. There are people on here that have been watching, playing and focused on hockey for 20+ years. Just because Pegula has the money to buy a professional team doesn't mean he knows more about running one than everyone else. Him running a $4 billion oil company doesn't mean he automatically knows how to run a hockey club.

He knows more about how to run a business than anyone around here, which is my point.


All presumptions. You don't know what Pegula did prior to buying the team, nor do you know how he spends his time on a daily basis.

The dance between Pegula and BTG went on for months. Are we to think he didn't look into the business one bit and talked to nobody in that time? Absurd.

We've all see multiple videos of Pegula at the draft, or at some function or another with the team. That's all more of an insider function than anyone here, which is what I said.


It's obvious to lots of people, not just the person you're representing with this post. Majority rule isn't always correct, but don't pretend like it's just a few people who think something should have been done by now.

I also happen to THINK that it's time for Ruff to move on. I just don't presume to know more about the subject than message board fans.

My responses inline.

 

[vcv]

Well, let's see...



You presume people don't know more than Pegula does about running a team. There are people on here that have been watching, playing and focused on hockey for 20+ years. Just because Pegula has the money to buy a professional team doesn't mean he knows more about running one than everyone else.

Actually, yes he does by default. Here's what he has that none of us do:
- Access to any NHL or team executive he wants
- Almost 2 years now actually running a team
- Employees and Advisers that have tons of experience running NHL teams
- The resources to do any research he wants
- Just as much experience as a fan as most of us, if not more (which is meaningless, just thought I'd include that as this on it's own puts him on the same playing field as is)

Regarding how much time he commits to the team, we can gather from various videos and articles that he talks to Darcy daily and is always involved with any major team discussions (combine, draft, trade deadline, etc)

 

[sabrefan27]

Yeah, and his team is getting worse and is basically a big dumpster fire.

Black just said on WGR that they think there's a slient majority who support Regier and Ruff. This is an oblivious organization.

 

[imyourhuckleberry]

Yeah, and his team is getting worse and is basically a big dumpster fire.

Black just said on WGR that they think there's a slient majority who support Regier and Ruff. This is an oblivious organization.

Another called named "TT" asked two questions to Ted Black:

1.) Are you blind? (Which Ted answered "No I am not blind")
2.) Are you stupid? (Which Ted also responded politely with no.)

First of all this called was a complete putz. Ted handled it all well, can't be easy to take calls like that.

However....the organization needs to stop pissing on our leg, telling us it's raining. This is a bad team right now and things need to be addressed. My butt has all the sunshine it can handle up there right now without them telling us to be paitent and they understand.

 

[McCauleyChirps]

Then he's just dumb because it was quite obvious when he took over that Ruff needed to go. Things have only deteriorated further since then and, yet, Lindy's still kicking.

WTF are you talking about????????????????????????????????

Ruff didn't need to go when he took over. The team went 27-11-6 from January 1st, 2011 until the end of the season. And that team is worse on paper than the current team. In the the 09-10 season, they were 45-27-10 AND won the division.

There were no signs of Ruff needing to be replaced when he took over. Period. End of story. The team was worse on paper AND Ruff won the division in '10 and in the playoffs in '11.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Yeah, and his team is getting worse and is basically a big dumpster fire.

Black just said on WGR that they think there's a slient majority who support Regier and Ruff. This is an oblivious organization.

Didn't Buddy Nix verbally support Chan Gailey as the coach of the Bills almost all last season? And Gailey was fired the day after the season ended.

Black, Regiet, and Pegula will verbally support whoever the coach is up to the day the coach is fired. It's what sports organizations do.

 

[vcv]

Didn't Buddy Nix verbally support Chan Gailey as the coach of the Bills almost all last season? And Gailey was fired the day after the season ended.

Black, Regiet, and Pegula will verbally support whoever the coach is up to the day the coach is fired. It's what sports organizations do.

Ted Black said that, in not so few words, just last week. It doesn't matter if they publicly support any of their guys. It only matters what they do.

 

[wshahbaz]

WTF are you talking about????????????????????????????????

Ruff didn't need to go when he took over. The team went 27-11-6 from January 1st, 2011 until the end of the season. And that team is worse on paper than the current team. In the the 09-10 season, they were 45-27-10 AND won the division.

There were no signs of Ruff needing to be replaced when he took over. Period. End of story. The team was worse on paper AND Ruff won the division in '10 and in the playoffs in '11.

still haven't won a playoff series...

And plus when a new owner comes in more than 70% of the time he inclines to bring his own guys in...you know start from scratch.

He could have easily kept Darcy and let Ruff go. After all he has been here way too long.

 

[sabrefan27]

WTF are you talking about????????????????????????????????

Ruff didn't need to go when he took over. The team went 27-11-6 from January 1st, 2011 until the end of the season. And that team is worse on paper than the current team. In the the 09-10 season, they were 45-27-10 AND won the division.

There were no signs of Ruff needing to be replaced when he took over. Period. End of story. The team was worse on paper AND Ruff won the division in '10 and in the playoffs in '11.

Lost in the first round the previous year and missed the playoffs the 2 years before that. There were plenty of calls for him to get fired at the time. And why so many people hated his "Linda ain't going nowhere" comment.

In the world and mentality of Buffalo sports fans, I'm sure that's probably good enough. Other people, with standards, wanted him gone and wanted a change in the organization.

 

[SackTastic]

Lost in the first round the previous year and missed the playoffs the 2 years before that. There were plenty of calls for him to get fired at the time. And why so many people hated his "Linda ain't going nowhere" comment.

In the world and mentality of Buffalo sports fans, I'm sure that's probably good enough. Other people, with standards, wanted him gone and wanted a change in the organization.

I resent the implication that anyone who didn't want a housecleaning doesn't have 'standards'.

 

[sabrefan27]

Your standards could be playoff exits and golf in May. I don't know. I'd like to see a Stanley Cup. Ruff will not provide that to this organization.

 

[McCauleyChirps]

Lost in the first round the previous year and missed the playoffs the 2 years before that. There were plenty of calls for him to get fired at the time. And why so many people hated his "Linda ain't going nowhere" comment.

In the world and mentality of Buffalo sports fans, I'm sure that's probably good enough. Other people, with standards, wanted him gone and wanted a change in the organization.

Yes. Lost in the first round, woopdee doo. Did you even look at the roster that year?

<PRE>
No. Player Pos Age Ht Wt S/C Exp Birth Date Summary
72 Luke Adam LW 20 6-2 216 L/- R June 18 1990 3 G 1 A 4 P
22 Brad Boyes C 28 6-0 204 R/- 6 April 17 1982 5 G 9 A 14 P
34 Chris Butler D 24 6-1 196 L/- 2 October 27 1986 2 G 7 A 9 P
24 Paul Byron C 21 5-9 144 L/- R April 27 1989 1 G 1 A 2 P
19 Tim Connolly C 29 6-1 190 R/- 9 May 7 1981 13 G 29 A 42 P
37 Matt Ellis LW 29 6-0 212 L/- 4 August 31 1981 0 G 0 A 0 P
63 Tyler Ennis C 21 5-9 157 L/- 1 October 6 1989 20 G 29 A 49 P
1 Jhonas Enroth G 22 5-10 166 /L 1 June 25 1988 9-2-2 2.73 GAA
28 Paul Gaustad C 28 6-5 220 L/- 6 February 3 1982 12 G 19 A 31 P
42 Nathan Gerbe C 23 5-5 178 L/- 2 July 24 1987 16 G 15 A 31 P
17 Marc-Andre Gragnani LW 23 6-2 201 L/- 2 March 11 1987 1 G 2 A 3 P
25 Mike Grier RW 36 6-1 224 R/- 13 January 5 1975 5 G 11 A 16 P
55 Jochen Hecht C 33 6-1 198 L/- 11 June 21 1977 12 G 17 A 29 P
36 Patrick Kaleta RW 24 6-1 206 R/- 4 June 8 1986 4 G 5 A 9 P
40 Patrick Lalime G 36 6-3 192 -/L 11 July 7 1974 0-5-0 2.96 GAA
3 Jordan Leopold D 30 6-1 206 L/- 7 August 3 1980 13 G 22 A 35 P
12 Mark Mancari RW 25 6-3 225 R/- 3 July 11 1985 1 G 7 A 8 P
8 Cody McCormick C 27 6-3 221 R/- 5 April 18 1983 8 G 12 A 20 P
30 Ryan Miller G 30 6-2 175 -/L 7 July 17 1980 34-22-8 2.59 GAA
4 Steve Montador D 31 6-0 210 R/- 8 December 21 1979 5 G 21 A 26 P
27 Shaone Morrisonn D 28 6-4 210 L/- 7 December 23 1982 1 G 4 A 5 P
57 Tyler Myers D 20 6-8 227 R/- 1 February 1 1990 10 G 27 A 37 P
20 Rob Niedermayer C 36 6-2 203 L/- 16 December 28 1974 5 G 14 A 19 P
10 Mark Parrish RW 33 5-11 199 R/- 11 February 2 1977 0 G 0 A 0 P
29 Jason Pominville RW 28 6-0 185 R/- 6 November 30 1982 22 G 30 A 52 P
52 Craig Rivet D 36 6-2 207 R/- 15 September 13 1974 1 G 2 A 3 P
9 Derek Roy C 27 5-9 184 L/- 6 May 4 1983 10 G 25 A 35 P
44 Andrej Sekera D 24 6-0 201 L/- 4 June 8 1986 3 G 26 A 29 P
21 Drew Stafford RW 25 6-2 214 R/- 4 October 30 1985 31 G 21 A 52 P
32 Colin Stuart LW 28 6-2 205 L/- 2 July 8 1982 0 G 0 A 0 P
26 Thomas Vanek LW 27 6-2 205 R/- 5 January 19 1984 32 G 41 A 73 P
6 Mike Weber D 23 6-2 211 L/- 2 December 16 1987 4 G 13 A 17 P
</PRE>

That team made the playoffs.

This team won the division:

<PRE>
No. Player Pos Age Ht Wt S/C Exp Birth Date Summary
34 Chris Butler D 23 6-1 196 L/- 1 October 27 1986 1 G 20 A 21 P
19 Tim Connolly C 28 6-1 190 R/- 8 May 7 1981 17 G 48 A 65 P
37 Matt Ellis LW 28 6-0 212 L/- 3 August 31 1981 3 G 10 A 13 P
63 Tyler Ennis C 20 5-9 157 L/- R October 6 1989 3 G 6 A 9 P
1 Jhonas Enroth G 21 5-10 166 /L R June 25 1988 0-1-0 4.14 GAA
28 Paul Gaustad C 27 6-5 220 L/- 5 February 3 1982 12 G 10 A 22 P
42 Nathan Gerbe C 22 5-5 178 L/- 1 July 24 1987 2 G 3 A 5 P
25 Mike Grier RW 35 6-1 224 R/- 12 January 5 1975 10 G 12 A 22 P
55 Jochen Hecht C 32 6-1 198 L/- 10 June 21 1977 21 G 21 A 42 P
36 Patrick Kaleta RW 23 6-1 206 R/- 3 June 8 1986 10 G 5 A 15 P
13 Tim Kennedy LW 23 5-10 173 L/- 1 April 30 1986 10 G 16 A 26 P
40 Patrick Lalime G 35 6-3 192 -/L 10 July 7 1974 4-8-2 2.81 GAA
5 Toni Lydman D 32 6-1 208 L/- 8 September 25 1977 4 G 16 A 20 P
41 Clarke MacArthur LW 24 6-0 191 L/- 3 April 6 1985 13 G 13 A 26 P
22 Adam Mair C 30 6-1 208 R/- 9 February 15 1979 6 G 8 A 14 P
12 Mark Mancari RW 24 6-3 225 R/- 2 July 11 1985 1 G 1 A 2 P
30 Ryan Miller G 29 6-2 175 -/L 6 July 17 1980 41-18-8 2.22 GAA
4 Steve Montador D 30 6-0 210 R/- 7 December 21 1979 5 G 18 A 23 P
57 Tyler Myers D 19 6-8 227 R/- R February 1 1990 11 G 37 A 48 P
38 Nathan Paetsch D 26 6-0 195 L/- 4 March 30 1983 1 G 1 A 2 P
20 Daniel Paille LW 25 6-0 200 L/- 4 April 15 1984 0 G 1 A 1 P
29 Jason Pominville RW 27 6-0 185 R/- 5 November 30 1982 24 G 38 A 62 P
52 Craig Rivet D 35 6-2 207 R/- 14 September 13 1974 1 G 14 A 15 P
9 Derek Roy C 26 5-9 184 L/- 5 May 4 1983 26 G 43 A 69 P
44 Andrej Sekera D 23 6-0 201 L/- 3 June 8 1986 4 G 7 A 11 P
21 Drew Stafford RW 24 6-2 214 R/- 3 October 30 1985 14 G 20 A 34 P
10 Henrik Tallinder D 31 6-4 210 L/- 7 January 10 1979 4 G 16 A 20 P
17 Raffi Torres LW 28 6-0 208 L/- 7 October 8 1981 0 G 5 A 5 P
26 Thomas Vanek LW 26 6-2 205 R/- 4 January 19 1984 28 G 25 A 53 P
</PRE>


There's no reason to fire Ruff at the time. You don't get that. He took that team ^^^ and won the division. If you keep that team and make the playoffs, make some strategic player moves, you should see some improvement. However, they didn't. I get the whole fire Ruff argument this year, and also last. But there was no basis to fire him when Pegula took over.

You're basing your argument on a statement by Pegula, not the facts.

 

[Dixon Ward]

There's no reason to fire Ruff at the time. You don't get that. He took that team ^^^ and won the division. If you keep that team and make the playoffs, make some strategic player moves, you should see some improvement.

one could argue that ryan miller took that team and won the division.

anyway, i tend to agree with your larger point that ruff didn't necessarily need to be **** canned when pegula took over.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Ted Black said that, in not so few words, just last week. It doesn't matter if they publicly support any of their guys. It only matters what they do.

True. But almost every sports franchise supports their head coach to the day the coach is fired. If Ruff is fired on April 27th, I expect public support from Black, Pegula, and Regier until April 26th. That's pretty standard for any organization.

 

[McCauleyChirps]

one could argue that ryan miller took that team and won the division.

anyway, i tend to agree with your larger point that ruff didn't necessarily need to be **** canned when pegula took over.

I could agree on the Ryan Miller point. But the '11 run was with Enroth.

 

[Slapshot85]

In the long term, Pegula should be worried about creating an organization that players, staff, coaches, etc. want to be a part of. It's his flagship franchise idea, and it's a good one. I want him to fire Ruff too, but keeping him for another year has minimal impact on a goal that's going to take a lot longer than 3 years to reach.

Companies need long time horizons, but remain flexible in the short term. If Ruff is gone this season or the next is really immaterial in the long term goals Pegula has for the franchise.

Pegula could spend a $100 million a year on "player comforts," but at the end of the day, the majority of players want to go to where they will be paid the most. Pegula can't get around this fact due to the cap, so you got to get the most out of your players and windows.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Pegula could spend a $100 million a year on "player comforts," but at the end of the day, the majority of players want to go to where they will be paid the most. Pegula can't get around this fact due to the cap, so you got to get the most out of your players and windows.

That's very narrow sighted for a long term plan. You can do a lot more than player comfort over the course on 10-15 years.

 

[Ace1963]

Black just said on WGR that they think there's a slient majority who support Regier and Ruff. This is an oblivious organization.

That reminds me of Larry Quinn telling us that everyone loved the slug jersey.

 

[Squantosawuss]

Welcome to the BASEMENT: 15th in the East. Terry, are you listening?

Granted there's a 5-way tie at 11 points, but as the final buzzer rang in Tampa tonight, with the Capitals victorious, the Sabres officially and technically entered the last spot in the East, losing all tiebreakers with the teams around them.

Will Terry notice? How long will they have to struggle before he decides to shake things up?

 

[Beerz]

Granted there's a 5-way tie at 11 points, but as the final buzzer rang in Tampa tonight, with the Capitals victorious, the Sabres officially and technically entered the last spot in the East, losing all tiebreakers with the teams around them.

Will Terry notice? How long will they have to struggle before he decides to shake things up?

Another Fire Ruff thread?

Awesome.

 

[Squantosawuss]

Another Fire Ruff thread?

Awesome.

You're projecting.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

The one year we probably finish last and we will probably get screwed out of the #1 pick due to the new lottery

 

[Beerz]

The one year we probably finish last and we will probably get screwed out of the #1 pick due to the new lottery

What is the new lottery?

 

[start winnin]

Fire Lindy

 

[Beerz]

You're projecting.

That never happens here.