Ok, how do you really feel about the Sabres?

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Sure the Sabres are bad this year, but what did people expect?

The team pretty much said don't expect much this year, as they are in full "rebuilding" mode, so why the sudden surprise and outrage?

I mean c'mon now, they had 4 freaking teenagers playing in a game. Obviously it's going to take some time for them to gel as a team and get into the swing of things. Most of their games have been close, and half of their losses have been 1 goal games. So it's not like they are getting killed 10-0 every game they play.

Obviously no one thought they would be struggling this bad, but it's still not that surprising when you take a step back and look at it for what it is.

Even as bad as they have been, they are still 1 of 7 teams who have 3 or fewer wins so far, and 1 of 3 teams under 5 points.

In the immortal words of Pep Streebeck - "Kids, it'll grow back."

Not until Darcy is gone. The owner has paid a lot of money for bonehead decisions. Leino, Ehrhoff & Myers were bad signings. I'm sorry, but it's time.

 

[IPostedWhat]

Not until Darcy is gone. The owner has paid a lot of money for bonehead decisions. Leino, Ehrhoff & Myers were bad signings. I'm sorry, but it's time.

That's the funny thing about Darcy. Everyone puts the blame on him and wants him gone, yet they have applauded most of his trades and draft picks over the past few years.

I'm not saying that the Sabres shouldn't part ways with Darcy and start fresh, but most of the problems the team is facing have nothing to do with him.

I don't agree that the 3 you mentioned were bad signings, but I can agree to the length and amount as being bad. Who knew Leino would turn out to become Connolly Part II? Who knew Myers would regress as much as he has after showing such promise? And you have to remeber that Pegula was the one who wanted Ehrhoff, and even went out of his way to visit him in Canada to convince him to sign with the Sabres.

When Pegula took over, he threw his money around to make a statement, and it has backfired. You can't pin that on Darcy, or how players with potential have not panned out, or are struggling.

 

[sabre0917]

Who are the Sabres? Is that a College team? I'm sure RIT can beat them.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Sure the Sabres are bad this year, but what did people expect?

The team pretty much said don't expect much this year, as they are in full "rebuilding" mode, so why the sudden surprise and outrage?

I mean c'mon now, they had 4 freaking teenagers playing in a game. Obviously it's going to take some time for them to gel as a team and get into the swing of things. Most of their games have been close, and half of their losses have been 1 goal games. So it's not like they are getting killed 10-0 every game they play.

Obviously no one thought they would be struggling this bad, but it's still not that surprising when you take a step back and look at it for what it is.

Even as bad as they have been, they are still 1 of 7 teams who have 3 or fewer wins so far, and 1 of 3 teams under 5 points.

In the immortal words of Pep Streebeck - "Kids, it'll grow back."

I hear ya . The issue that I have with how the Sabres are running things this season (and last for that matter) is the management of the teenage players. Zadorov and Ristolainen have big upsides but there is no way they should be playing in the NHL this year. Same goes for Grigs last year and probably this year. Girgensons has a very pro-ready game but he too should probably be playing in the AHL.

These kids should be in a lower league, learning how to dominate. They shouldn't be trying to survive in the NHL and learning the finer points of losing. Not a good development strategy, IMO.



Anyway, at least the Sabres are going young instead of trying to cling to a marginal core.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

That's the funny thing about Darcy. Everyone puts the blame on him and wants him gone, yet they have applauded most of his trades and draft picks over the past few years.

I'm not saying that the Sabres shouldn't part ways with Darcy and start fresh, but most of the problems the team is facing have nothing to do with him.

I don't agree that the 3 you mentioned were bad signings, but I can agree to the length and amount as being bad. Who knew Leino would turn out to become Connolly Part II? Who knew Myers would regress as much as he has after showing such promise? And you have to remeber that Pegula was the one who wanted Ehrhoff, and even went out of his way to visit him in Canada to convince him to sign with the Sabres.

When Pegula took over, he threw his money around to make a statement, and it has backfired. You can't pin that on Darcy, or how players with potential have not panned out, or are struggling.

Darcy has been trying to find Centers for awhile. He traded for Hodgson. He drafted two of them in the 1st round last year. Meanwhile guys like Pysyk & McNabb are so good that he took 2 defenseman in the 1st round in June. At some point players need to develop. Darcy is a shrewd trade negotiator. He usually gets good value in deals. The problem is when your the one acquiring the kids you're taking a big chance that they'll develop. Connolly & Pyatt for Peca didn't workout to well now that we look back on it. Holmgren is paying a price this season for trading Carter & Richards. Those guys won a cup together. Meanwhile Brayden Schenn & Voracek are struggling as is his teams franchise player Claude Giroux.

The Sabres have been in the middle for awhile now. It's obvious they're in rebuild mode now, but I don't think Darcy should necessarily be the guy to rebuild it. I just think he's been their to long.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I hear ya . The issue that I have with how the Sabres are running things this season (and last for that matter) is the management of the teenage players. Zadorov and Ristolainen have big upsides but there is no way they should be playing in the NHL this year. Same goes for Grigs last year and probably this year. Girgensons has a very pro-ready game but he too should probably be playing in the AHL.

These kids should be in a lower league, learning how to dominate. They shouldn't be trying to survive in the NHL and learning the finer points of losing. Not a good development strategy, IMO.



Anyway, at least the Sabres are going young instead of trying to cling to a marginal core.

I agree. The question is who would be in those spots if the kids weren't in the lineup?

 

[IPostedWhat]

I hear ya . The issue that I have with how the Sabres are running things this season (and last for that matter) is the management of the teenage players. Zadorov and Ristolainen have big upsides but there is no way they should be playing in the NHL this year. Same goes for Grigs last year and probably this year. Girgensons has a very pro-ready game but he too should probably be playing in the AHL.

These kids should be in a lower league, learning how to dominate. They shouldn't be trying to survive in the NHL and learning the finer points of losing. Not a good development strategy, IMO.

Yeah, they pretty much put all of their eggs in one basket, and are hoping for the best. It's definitely a "sink or swim" mentality right now on the Sabres, and so far it's not paying off. I can only hope they learn from it and develop into better players who establish a new core on this team.

The main problem is the total lack of a strong veteran presence, and leadership for these kids on the team. Even though they are teenagers playing their first few games, they have looked better at times than most of the players that have been on the team for years now. And that is what is truly sad about the whole thing.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Yeah, they pretty much put all of their eggs in one basket, and are hoping for the best. It's definitely a "sink or swim" mentality right now on the Sabres, and so far it's not paying off. I can only hope they learn from it and develop into better players who establish a new core on this team.

The main problem is the total lack of a strong veteran presence, and leadership for these kids on the team. Even though they are teenagers playing their first few games, they have looked better at times than most of the players that have been on the team for years now. And that is what is truly sad about the whole thing.

This is my concern about it. The Islanders had no choice, but to play Connolly after they drafted him. Butch Goring was the head coach at the time. He told Milbury Connolly wasn't ready. Milbury told him I know, but we don't have a choice. We don't have anybody else. Now at the time the Isles had a payroll of less than 20M. The owners simply didn't have the money. That isn't the case with the Sabres. I hope they don't ruin these kids by playing them long before they're ready.

 

[forty_three]

I agree. The question is who would be in those spots if the kids weren't in the lineup?

This is my concern about it. The Islanders had no choice, but to play Connolly after they drafted him. Butch Goring was the head coach at the time. He told Milbury Connolly wasn't ready. Milbury told him I know, but we don't have a choice. We don't have anybody else. Now at the time the Isles had a payroll of less than 20M. The owners simply didn't have the money. That isn't the case with the Sabres. I hope they don't ruin these kids by playing them long before they're ready.

All they have to do is look at the KHL or other Euro leagues for veteran guys.

Hell, Vinny Prospal is sitting around playing video games and skating in a beer league. He can eat some minutes and help mentor some kids. That is the GMs job, and where Darcy falls short, filling holes in the roster. They are pushing these young guys too hard and it's not doing anyone any good.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Yeah, they pretty much put all of their eggs in one basket, and are hoping for the best. It's definitely a "sink or swim" mentality right now on the Sabres, and so far it's not paying off. I can only hope they learn from it and develop into better players who establish a new core on this team.

The main problem is the total lack of a strong veteran presence, and leadership for these kids on the team. Even though they are teenagers playing their first few games, they have looked better at times than most of the players that have been on the team for years now. And that is what is truly sad about the whole thing.

I'm so tired I don't know where to start but IPW made it easy with his reply. Owner needs to hire a good dependable guy oversee the operation, Fire, the GM and coach. Dary has shown he can't put a team together RR has shown he can't deal with young players Pegula has the money to do it but we have so many holes to fill out it won't be easy and it sure as hell is going to take a while.

DaBolts and 43 Also made good point's It's an overall mess right now.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

This story in the BN today say's it all....Read the comments at the end and you will see what the fanes think....



TAMPA, Fla. — Darcy Regier has had a target on his chest often during his long, tumultuous tenure as Sabres general manager. The anger, however, has never been this pinpoint, with arrows of derision getting fired at Regier from all sides.

Through it all so far – the chants for his firing from dwindling crowds in Buffalo, the outright mocking by former players and NHL analysts – Regier says he’s kept others in his thoughts.

“With respect to how the fans feel, I understand that,” Regier told The News on Saturday. “It’s interesting. What overrides the personal is you feel badly for others, whether it’s coaches or players or ownership or fans. You feel badly for them, and it just brings the focus back on you’ve got to figure something out. You’ve got to figure out how to do the work.”

As the person who coined the “suffering” tagline in Sabreland, Regier knew things would be difficult this season. He never saw the worst start in franchise history coming, however.

“No, I didn’t,” he said prior to the Sabres’ 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday. “I don’t think anyone did, but you’re here and you have to work your way out of it. We want to make sure people are positive.”

It’s been hard for anyone in the organization to keep his head up so far. The Sabres won just once in the opening 11 games, and they held a lead for only 9 minutes, 35 seconds. They’ve been an embarrassment during first periods. Goals have been nearly non-existent.

It’s disappointing, Regier says, but he’s doing his best to find bright spots.

“When things are tough as they are organizationally and hockey specifically, you have to focus on the things you can do,” he said in Tampa Bay Times Forum. “Whether it’s a player on the ice or a coach or myself, you have to really focus in on the work you’re responsible for and try and do everything you can to contribute to getting out of that situation.

“In all of that, you look for bright spots and you look for growth and you look for things that have to be improved on. I look at this group now, and we’re trying something – assuming the graphic on TV was right – we’re trying something that hasn’t been tried in quite some time with four teenagers in the lineup.”

The four teenagers – Mikhail Grigorenko, Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov – played again Saturday. When they all dressed Friday, the Sabres became the first time since 1996 to have that many teens in a game.

“You look for the growth in that,” Regier said. “It’s really important while they’re playing and while they’re growing we don’t have them in over their heads and they can manage the situation. So far, they’ve been resilient, and they are getting better.”

Zadorov has been a revelation during his opening four games. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman has been a physical force, crushing opponents with body checks while playing a fearless style.

The 18-year-old is in his nine-game tryout period, and the Sabres will use it up before deciding whether to send him back to juniors with London of the Ontario Hockey League.

“It’s only been a couple games, but it’s been a good couple games,” Regier said. “He’s a very good skater. He covers a lot of ice. He’s good with the puck. He likes to play a physical game, but most kids at that age don’t have that strength. That’s maybe the thing that stands out more than anything is his ability to handle big, mature players on the other team.”

Zadorov is part of a defensive corps that has impressed Regier. He looks at Zadorov and fellow first-round picks Rasmus Ristolainen, Mark Pysyk and Tyler Myers with a glowing eye.

“Our defense is very young,” Regier said of the unit, which has Myers as an elder statesman at age 23. “I can look down the road and feel pretty good about this group as a defense corps for a long time for the organization.

“I think it’s upfront where we’ve got to sort some things out. It’s not as connected as it needs to be.”

The Sabres scored just 17 goals in the opening 12 games. They’d been outshot by an average of 10 per night. They rarely have the puck.

Regier reiterated the only way to improve the team is through the draft. He still talks about it with owner Terry Pegula, who has bought into the plan.

“You have to have high-quality players, and you have to have a number of them,” Regier said. “Free agency wasn’t going to afford us that opportunity, so you have to look back at the draft and realize that most of your ability to add top players to your team is going to come through that process of the draft. The nature of it is it’s slow, and it can be painful.

“The nature of this game is it’s a short-term business but a long-term process. The talent will only grow at the rate it will grow, and it takes time.”

Until everyone matures, Regier will seek out small things while recognizing most other people are looking at him.

“Those are the things underneath the difficult times that you point to, to maintain a level of hope,” Regier said of improvements. “You hope that everyone can see that and kind of grab on to that, and it helps to get through the tough times.”

This story is also a good read.....

http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/bucky-gleason/ruff-should-thank-his-lucky-stars-hes-gone-20131027