What would it take to bring you back?

[Duddy]

Hiring more former incompetent Canes players to run the show. At least 4 more.

 

[SpeedyCerviche]

Just give me a management team that is both forward thinking to fill holes and does everything possible to win without making excuses.
I hate Vegas, but I love how they do everything to win. Just give me that attitude from the FO and I'll be watching night because everything else should improve from that.

 

[chi777]

For me, Terry has to withdraw and let a real professional run this team. He needs to hire a true professional, like Holland, to rebuild this whole franchise from the top down so it at least resembles a competent NHL franchise.

Short of that, there's not much they can do.

 

[Chainshot]

Make decisions that look like decisions that quality NHL teams that win make.

It has been so long since they have made moves that looked like what a quality organization does...

They just seem to make moves that are cheap and appease the desires of the owner instead of placing winning as the sole reason for the team's existence.

Very much so. How can a team that backslid in the standings retain its entire coaching staff two years in a row? How can they say they have one pro Scout for multiple seasons? When the general manager admits that he doesn’t necessarily know how players fit, but he just likes them, that speaks to a lack of role and responsibility awareness for the structure of the personnel. It’s been 15 years. Start doing things like real hockey clubs do instead of just treating this like an expensive hobby that he doesn’t want to spend full value on anymore.

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

At the very least, remove Adams, Appert, Ellis and Wilford from the organization. And that's the short list.

The replacements don't necessarily need to be veteran coaches or a veteran GM. Just qualified individuals that have had success outside this organization.

That would tell me Pegula recognizes the systemic issues with the way he continues to run this organization. A month ago, against my better judgement, I had some hope some of these things might happen.

 

[Mattilaus]

Making the playoffs isn't enough anymore. I personally need to see real change in how the team is managed and how they play. I need to see a change in philosophy of how the team is run. A short and not completely inclusive list would be:

- change of the decision makers at the top to people with either experience or pedigree. Meaning a POHO and GM who either have experience in those roles or have spent enough of time in adjacent roles to be seen league wide as good candidates

- the hiring of experienced and knowledgeable hockey minds at all other levels. Scouting, coaching, development, the works.

- money invested into player perks to attract talent. Look at the successful teams and the facilities their players have access too. We don't need palm trees but we need state of the art training facilities to help attract talent

- change in how the team plays. If they go on a ridiculous lucky run next year and make the playoffs, that doesn't mean anything. They need to make the playoffs due to playing winning hockey. The underlying numbers need to support the idea that the team winning is sustainable.

- on that same note, meaningful change in the roster. This would probably be helped by a more experienced GM too, but I am tired of "waiting" for players to become good. Good GMs make moves to improve their team all the time. They view draft picks and prospects as assets to buy players with. I am not talking about selling the farm here but we hoard our picks and prospects until they lose much of their value.

In short form, the light bulb needs to turn on for Pegs. Apologies for any typos, I am on my phone.

 

[KeyserSoze81]

Honestly, I probably need Terry Pegula out of the picture. There is no reconciliation with someone who has caused so much harm through stubborn incompetence. He is a Dunning-Kruger masterclass, a buffoon who is so high on his own toxic supply of self-worth that there is no coming back.

If he wants to keep the team, then manage it like an investment. Appoint someone who is qualified and let them have the reins. If the performance is not there over time, you make a change. That's it. He gets a more successful franchise, he gets lauded as a success, and the valuation of the team (and the recurring revenue) all benefit,

But he wants to be in the draft room like a moron. He can do that all he wants, but I sure as hell am not contributing a single dollar to him ruining what I loved, a shared connection that I had with my family.

So I will post here, and ensure that my behavior otherwise does not support the franchise (ie no incremental viewership numbers, no merchandise, limited web traffic). I would much rather that they leave or shutter than to keep seeing the desecrated corpse paraded around.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I haven’t left yet, so I don’t know.

What I do know is that once I leave, I’m never coming back.

 

[DJN21]

Bring Marcus Foligno back and I'm in!!

 

[joshjull]

Don’t suck.

 

[Beerz]

Wet T shirt contests during intermissions

 

[Chainshot]

Honestly, I probably need Terry Pegula out of the picture. There is no reconciliation with someone who has caused so much harm through stubborn incompetence. He is a Dunning-Kruger masterclass, a buffoon who is so high on his own toxic supply of self-worth that there is no coming back.

That's ultimately where I'm at. I don't see a path forward for fans and the league alike that doesn't involve Terry being gone.

If he wants to keep the team, then manage it like an investment. Appoint someone who is qualified and let them have the reins. If the performance is not there over time, you make a change. That's it. He gets a more successful franchise, he gets lauded as a success, and the valuation of the team (and the recurring revenue) all benefit,

But he wants to be in the draft room like a moron. He can do that all he wants, but I sure as hell am not contributing a single dollar to him ruining what I loved, a shared connection that I had with my family.

So I will post here, and ensure that my behavior otherwise does not support the franchise (ie no incremental viewership numbers, no merchandise, limited web traffic). I would much rather that they leave or shutter than to keep seeing the desecrated corpse paraded around.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Wet T shirt contests during intermissions

 

[yasky]

Some competent people in the front offices would be a start.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Terry needs to either hire an actual POHO's and stand a side or sell the team.

I doubt he'll ever sell... The only chance I see Terry having a POHO's is if that person is Kevyn Adams...

So we're forever f***ed..

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

If riding out Adams and everyone else's final contract year is the route Pegula is going then part of me just wants this all to crash and burn. After the past 5 years, failure seems borderline inevitable with this status quo. I'm not saying tank for McKenna but I'm tired of this disaster and want it to end any way possible. The problem with that is that Tuch and Dahlin might want out eventually. With Pegula in charge there aren't any good outcomes in the near future.

 

[Ehran]

If riding out Adams and everyone else's final contract year is the route Pegula is going then part of me just wants this all to crash and burn.

I truly believe this is Pegula's plan and I am scared that it will be the harbinger of the next wave of players wanting out.

Dahlin, Thompson, Tuch, etc., are not likely to want to go through another GM, another rebuild, and several more years of the team and organization sucking ass. The prime of their careers, and ability to win Cups, is too short to start over again.

The ones that would be fine with it are the ones just collecting paychecks, IMO.

 

[OkimLom]

I truly believe this is Pegula's plan and I am scared that it will be the harbinger of the next wave of players wanting out.

Dahlin, Thompson, Tuch, etc., are not likely to want to go through another GM, another rebuild, and several more years of the team and organization sucking ass. The prime of their careers, and ability to win Cups, is too short to start over again.

The ones that would be fine with it are the ones just collecting paychecks, IMO.

It's only going to be worse in trying to attract players to come here, because we're past the "fool us once, shame on you, foolish twice shame on us" point. Players around the league will need to see results from Buffalo before we start coming off lists. I doubt we see many guys coming here "to be a part of the solution".

The requirement to build from within and win, will be magnified even more. We're probably looking at multiple years of overpaying for guys through assets/cap usage as the next GM will need to work even harder to entice guys to waive trade/movement clauses or to come here in free agency.

 

[TageGod]

I'm not ashamed to be a Sabres fan, but I'm certainly not happy about it. Assuming most people feel the same way, what would it take for you to be excited to put on a Sabres jersey? Everything's on the table, just want to get a pulse on what's left of the fanbase.

Free tickets and the allure of food will get me there every time.

 

[HOOats]

What would it take to bring me back?

Draft in June, free agency and Dev Camp in July, pre-season in September, games in October...

I'm never going anywhere. I'll always support the club and it will always be interesting, win or lose.

Sunk costs can't sink this ship.