I don’t want to be too critical, but this year has been so strange and disappointing that I really felt a major move in the forward ranks was necessary. With guys like Guentzel, Toffoli, Hertl, and Kuznetsov moving, it just makes me think as to how much our management is out of touch and holding on to assets that will never have a chance to flourish in our organization. Not enough spots to go around and too many players in the pipeline. We simply don’t need anymore late round draft picks. Someone needs to poke the bear once in a while, someone needs to let the players know that it is time to come out of hibernation. It is still a business and they are the employees. I understand that managing relationships can be challenging when you are bringing a group together from all around the world, but they have to realize who is in charge and that performance matters. Has anybody looked at Patrick Kane's numbers? It could have been an easy solution to this nightmare, and I can pretty much guarantee that we would have at least six more points and in the thick of the playoff race. Not sure why that didn’t come to fruition, but when a fan popular talent is staring you in the face it doesn’t seem complicated to me considering the first half of the seasons failures.
Kevyn did great with the Middlestadt trade, but it was not brave at all. It was equal value to a team who has more guts than we do, and they continued to add pieces to reinforce their loss. Adams and Pegula didn’t feel they needed to push the button. We needed an indication that they were committed to more change. What we got was a joke.
Back to Bowen Byram. Watching him play against Nashville it was obvious that we acquired what we have been looking for. He easily showed his skill set to be worthy of a top defenseman on any NHL team. Vision, skating, decision quickness, it was all there. The one thing that management has done now is shored up our blueline significantly. I know it is early in assessing what we ultimately have, but it is promising for sure. Now we need a touted veteran up front with grit and skill. Almost anything should have been done to bring someone in. Hopefully the trust the process group at the top have a plan in place for the summer.
You might think I am crazy, but there has been no time during this painful year that we were truly out of the playoffs. Kevyn and Terry could have addressed weaknesses early on, and generated more points in the standings. You have to learn to do the work as things are in motion. Being aggressive is an admirable trait. You can make a mistake and easily have the same results that we have now. Many parts in this sport are interchangeable, and people are ready to fill a new role very adequately. We are nine points out with eighteen games to go. You only have look back to the past handful of weeks for failures that could have been avoided. Losses to St. Louis, Anaheim (twice), The Jets, and Nashville could have gained you ground with a little more effort. We don’t even have to look at the whole schedule and talk about loser points that we weren’t able to obtain. I am just saying… If they wanted to be in a better spot at this time of the year it could have been attained.
Game 64
Buffalo Sabres, 29-30-5, vs. Edmonton Oilers, 38-21-2
Saturday, March 9th at 12:30 pm
The Crossroads, Buffalo, NY
Good luck containing Mr. McDavid and company. His 100 points are double than anyone we have on our roster.
Notes from another boring trade deadline day. Bob Corkum anybody?
Thanks to Kyle Okposo for his service to our organization. A lot of cherished moments…. Next time we do somebody a favor and they pontificate the will to bring everyone together to get us over the hump, perhaps we might want to see or hear more. Own it and prove it. If you want to be a part of the solution then you need to call people out and not make mundane excuses. I know you are a nice guy and I wished things went better, but you were the captain and we needed more. I hope you are reenergized and find your way close to the cup. We all would be happy for you.
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To Erik Johnson, it was nice watching you struggle on a nightly basis. I know your intentions were good when you arrived here, but you were not an ideal fit for our club. Perhaps you can rekindle some magic with Tortorella breathing down your throat. You going to give your sauna to one of our underachieving boys?
As a fan base we are allowed to be a little bitter and harsh with what we endure.
Buffalo Sabres Blogger • 
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