Well, it didn’t take long for the Sabres to decide that Darcy Regier and Lindy Ruff are going to stay in Buffalo next year and until the year 2030. Seriously, do Ruff and Regier have some sort of pornographic photos of Quinn and Golisano? I honestly don’t think these guys will ever get fired. Why should they get fired? Their owner hasn’t been seen since James Woods was his guest of honor. The only time Golisano makes any news is when he’s deciding on which political candidate to endorse or hating NYS taxes.
Speaking of dirty politics, can the Sabres stop putting down other teams? In response to a question about the Sabres needing to get bigger, Larry Quinn, the world renowned opportunist, decided to throw the Devils and Caps under the bus because their teams were big and are now playing on the 18th fairway. Yes, it didn’t sound whiny, but the message was sent. I just would rather have you look at yourself instead of the environment.
Look, from reading TBN and chilling out on twitter, a lot of people feel that the Sabres brain-trust really do want to win. Hell, the way Bucky Gleason described the trio today, I didn’t even think Darcy Regier had a pulse in his body. I even felt bad about writing this blog after reading Gleason’s column. Bucky made it sound like these guys were coming back from a funeral.
I’m sure they do want to bring a Stanley Cup to Buffalo. However, the cost of the matter seems to be what I have a problem with. I’ve heard this song and dance before. I’ve heard this team talking about doing top to bottom evaluations and wanting to win 10 Stanley Cups. However, I can’t get over the times that they didn’t change the core of the team in the past.
Yes, I get it. Darcy has the master plan that the kids in Portland are going to rise from the ranks and become the team’s next Drury and Briere. You know, just like Derek Roy, Tim Connolly, Drew Stafford, Clarke MacArthur and the other endless prospects that have come through the minors were suppose to do.
Look, lets not beat around the bush. Everyone knew that Regier and Ruff were returning next year. Now, the pressure is on Regier and Ruff to try and make some changes to the core of the roster. Honestly, do you really think the Sabres are going to try? I know most fans might be excited with Reiger speaking about change and not knowing if Tim Connolly would be returning next year. Bold men make bold statements. Unfortunately, I don’t think Regier has the guts to do anything.
Don’t believe me? Go back to last year’s non-playoff birth and Quinn saying that the team would be going through a top to bottom evaluation. Hell, he made it sound like he was calling the people who investigated Watergate. Change seemed to be in the air. Fans acted as if the Sabres may have finally gotten it. However, nothing really changed. Yes, the team picked up Steve Montador and Mike Grier. Both were nice pick-ups, but the core players remained the same. If the Sabres didn’t make any changes after missing the playoffs for two straight years, what makes you think they will change after winning the division title?
Yes, everyone feels better after hearing from the powers that be. I’m happy as punch to hear that Derek Roy cares. Oh, and my personal favorite, I’m just so happy that the Devils and Capitals lost in the first round. Acting happy about the Caps and Sabres sitting at home is like losing your job, but feeling all is well because everybody else is unemployed. Sorry, but I get nauseous at thinking that the Sabres could have hosted home games for the next two rounds. Sorry, misery doesn’t love company in my blog. OK, I’m getting off track.
Here’s my bottom line: I don’t really listen to what any of these guys have to say after the season. What are they suppose to say? We aren’t going to get better? We loved losing to a lesser team? We think Tim Connolly just had a bad stretch? Oh, and my personal favorite from Larry Quinn; Our goal isn’t just to win the cup, it’s to win a couple of them. Well, Larry, you’ve been in charge of this team for 7 years and I still don’t believe in you.
The problem is that we really don’t know whose at fault for the Sabres lack of urgency in making change. Who do we blame for the Sabres lack of imagination with the roster?
Part of me thinks that ownership uses the minor league system as a way to just supplant talent when their contracts get out of hand. Sorry, but Portland should be used in the interest of making the team better, not saving a buck or two. There’s no reason why the Sabres shouldn’t bring back Mike Grier and Henrik Tallinder. Both guys had nice years and deserve to be retained. However, paying 5 million dollars for the pair, while having the cheap salaries of Mike Webber and Mark Mancari in the minors, may be too good to pass up on.
Hey, I’ve always said that the Sabres go out of their way to promote their kids to the public. There’s a reason why the Portland Pirates play here once a year. Plus, Sabre fans always seem to drop head over heals for the new guy. No matter if it’s an AHL goon or a player that is five foot nothing. Those guys seem to represent the biggest hope management can offer us.
Then there’s Darcy Regier. Everyone always talks about how Regier is too smitten over his core guys. Regier is the first guy to always defend himself by using other teams as a way to deflect criticism. Honestly though, who does Regier think he is? It’s not like his way has brought us Stanley Cup Championships. He’s not Ken Holland or Bill Parcells. Sorry, but winning three division titles is a lot more different than winning multiple championships.
Then there’s the Teflon Dom himself, Lindy Ruff. Yes, it’s against the 10 Commandments of Buffalo Sports to call out Ruff. I think the biggest reason he gets a pass year in and year out are because the fans/media can’t stand Quinn, Golisano and Regier. I assure you, 8 out of 10 people in Buffalo think the upper management are a bunch of hacks. Now I’m not talking about popularity being the problem for the hire-ups. I’m talking about incompetence. Ruff seems to be the most level headed dude of the trio. I assure you, if the Sabres were owned by Mark Cuban and their GM was Rene Robert, people would be calling for Lindy’s head.
Sometimes, I wonder what would happen if the Sabres decided that enough was enough and went all Dan Snyder and mortgage the farm for a championship. You know how much pressure would be on Ruff if the Sabres had superstar talent? I assure you, people would be calling for his head if the Sabres struggled. Of course, Snyder will never be confused with Golisano. Maybe that’s the reason they constantly advertise their own players as being the core and the fans just keep on blaming the players for the team’s fault. It makes Ruff look like a great teacher with a bunch of juvenile delinquents.
Look, I know I’m just blowing some steam about the three amigos. All I want is for this regime to change some of the core guys. If the Sabres are so confident in Gerbe, Ennis and Kennedy, then they shouldn’t be worried about trading Tim Connolly, Derek Roy and Drew Stafford. Plus, it’s not like those guys had a profound effect on the team’s success this year. Hell, I could have E.T.’s fingers and count the number of players that were the true core of the team. It’s Ryan Miller, Ryan Miller, Ryan Miller and Ryan Miller. OK, there are others, but I think the top six guys are vastly overrated.
Oh, and don’t give me that whole market/salary cap excuse as a reason that trades can’t be done. Scott Gomez was traded from the Rangers to the Canadians, while struggling and making 7-million a year, so anything is possible. If the Sabres decide to standpat, then those tears that Regier was shedding today were nothing more than alligator tears. Yes, that’s harsh. However, these guys have a checkered past when it comes to really going forward on changes.
It’s time for this regime to start walking the walk instead of talking the talk. When you have Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers in your back pocket, you can take chances because those guys are going to be your safety nets. We saw what Miller did this year when his team struggled. He carried them on his back. Can you imagine what the Sabres would have done if they had a legit core? I assure you, they wouldn’t be golfing right now.
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