This is just getting stupid.  I have been a season ticket holder for 20 straight years, since just after the time I graduated college. After enduring a number of terrible years I was elated that our team was finally in a position to legitimately compete for the Cup for the next 5-6 years. Then came the unbelievable actions of the Sabres management.  Is anyone really surprised we went from 1st to missing the playoffs? I’m not.  It was clear as day we would be fighting for a playoff spot this year at best. What did Darcy & Larry actually think would happen when you take away the two team captains, the two best players, and the heart and soul of the team? Not to mention the number one & two centers on a team built to run 3-4 lines and overwhelm the other team with waves of attacking players. 

I’m so sick of the excuses.  So sick of the lack of vision, the misunderstanding of the market, and the managing from fear or whatever else drives these decisions.  How simple can it be.  If you like the players you already have, are winning, have good chemistry on the team, and the leading players are in their prime, you keep them.  Not that hard to figure out, is it?

Most teams are defined by about four players.  Use the 80/20 rule…it works for most things in business.  Oh, it’s o.k. to reference a business tool since that’s the excuse for many decisions, right?

So, is it hard to name the players that represented everything the sabers had become?  I think most would agree it would be 23, 48, and 51.  It’s about speed, attacking, and a confident, winning attitude.  No question 26, 9 & 29 are very good players, and will hopefully get better, but that’s not enough.  Darcy consistently puts himself in a corner.  He leaves few options, and loses all his leverage.  How many gut wrenching years do we have watch this?

What a ridiculous comment he makes that if we had signed the two captains that we would not have had money to keep all the others.  Have some foresight, will you?  Montreal created dynasties by trading from strength.  If we were going to lose players, why not trade them at their peak and get a lot for them? How many examples do you want?  Let’s use the newest. Ryan Miller is a competitive guy.  He is a number one goalie. Is he a game changer on his own? I think not.  There was plenty of time to figure this out.  Biron was a player the team loved to play for, he set the record for consecutive wins, and wasn’t much older than Miller.  Now we will likely have to pay something like $6 million a year for a player the same caliber as the one we gave the Flyers.    

Quinn should have given Darcy some nice title years ago and made him responsible for suggesting trades.  He does that well when he gets around to making one. He can not manage the salary aspects of the team. Keep the players that make a difference. Let the others go as the budget dictates. 

What a mess!  Don’t tell me we’re losing because we can’t spend money.  It’s how you spend the money. 

It’s time for the Regeir/Quinn duo to step up and explain what it is they are doing.  We already know that won’t happen.

Written by: Anon Ymous 04/09/2008