Do you think the pictures of the roof renovation on the KeyBank Center is a subliminal message to all of us that things are taking shape? Thank you to the man upstairs for the comforting reference that our house it being structured from the top to the bottom, giving us a passive aggressive notation that we are being encapsulated in love. The focal point of our waterfront will once again be safe from bad hockey decisions, and players who don’t want to play under a dome of obscurity. We are saved, our organization is rebuilding, they are showing us with festive embracement. Don’t miss a moment, that is what our season ticket promotion is all about. I almost think that the same picture of Lindy, montaged with our current stars, might be the same one that is hanging up at The Tacoma ice rink, put up years ago. I guess, as we sit on our modest boats, or nice establishments looking out to the water, this is what we can see. We are being told to brace ourselves for exuberance. No pun intended, but it really is Erie...
Highlights of grandeur will be immortalized on the new jumbo screen. None of the past painful elements of evil will leak from the celestial corridor with our heads now safe. We are protected from the new vinyl dream, whatever new monetary logo might be stamped on it if our economy takes a different turn. It is time to let our children run safe under the dome that symbolizes our great history as a passage to the interior of the United States. This is a safe place of champions, and men from the heavens that have our best interest. Things are changing immediately, and the torch is held by our saviors. No pain, no rain, no storm that destructs our soles. We will spend good money, and those who bought into this passion that we share will not be disappointed. The media will have amazing days of trying to make up something discouraging. All of our people on the air will have to be conduits of praise and try to find faults. Mary Alice will open up with, “The Sabres beat the Lightening 6-2 tonight, but not enough t-shirts were shot out of the cannon in section 117, the Tooth just can't pull the trigger". WGR will be entertaining complaints of the positioning of the cup holders in the seats. Should it be on the right, or the left? (it actually is row by row)
We are being sold a lot of gold, but what we hear from the shores of our great lake is silence. I have been here before disguising my laziness for not posting. What am I supposed to say as we await the plan? That it is time to start swaddling the new generation of fans with pride in blue and gold blankets? That our history will be revered? That we won’t be charged with an overpriced experience, and packed concession stations that have no nostalgia at all? Should we bring back the wax beer cups that could be heard being popped walking down the ramps at The Aud? At least that would be noise. In these stagnant days, I wonder if there is a ship anchored in the mouth of the Niagara River that understands anything of the journey that our fanbase has endured. Why do I look out to the murky current? Because I hope the people under our new shelter are getting prepared to reciprocate our passion. They need to know that we have been isolated. The plan is simple, give us a break, and we will embrace you with love. Don't follow the established model, be different, give back to the people who support you, spearhead the new NHL. Make us proud again. Back to the cartoons I like, and the complete apparent complacency that makes us all nervous. Is it the Rabbit or the Turtle? Is it Speedy or Slowpoke? Hopefully Kevyn and the gang are on the right side of the equation.
Man, I have a problem with this team. A heart attack, and a year of personal heartbreak, I still come back, and it is not necessarily criticism, but a wanting to be on the ride with our beautiful city. The Knox family was brave enough to create something special, the new regime needs to have the courage to understand how we all feel and seize an opportunity. The story of an underdog franchise in one of the best hockey communities in the United States, the chance to change the perception of what the game means to people. My issue is that I don’t cross allegiance. This is family, this is what I was brought up on. It is how it is supposed to be.
Am I ignorant of what is going around us in the sport in general? No, I am not. Yes, we have some of our core, performing on the international stage at the World Championships with great success. But where does it translate? Cozens, Byrum, Dahlin, Peterka, Power, and that other Swedish guy. Don’t we just hope that beyond the medals, and stats, that they make an impact when they pull on our jersey? It is feel good stuff, but the competition and schedule is just not the same animal. I love that we might have three of the best defensemen, a top two center, and a winger that keeps on proving an upside, but I need it to be for us. The flag I carry is for Buffalo. Why are the best Leaf’s players hardly ever Canadian? See what I am saying?
Going off target again, like Zhitnik trying to hit the net –
Back to my title. Obviously coaching in the NHL is a strange profession. We can beat a stunned Bison with all of our opinions, but none of it completely makes sense. It is truly a piece of the puzzle that fits a picture that has already been mostly established. Ruff, Keefe, Berube, T. Smith, and Scott Arniel being hired? Let’s pretend that we know what is going on, and talk about it even more, before we see reestablished structure and results. It is basically wanting to put an alternative fire under some keesters, and hoping the flame is bigger.
If any of us think that we can predict a players’ ability to improve their statistics with a change of scenery, we are truly mistaken. We have talked about Sam in Florida, but how about Zach “bust out” Hyman in Edmonton? 5.5 million for the next three years. Toronto gave up on him. Look at his numbers. Woah… Mr. Shannahan has left the building…
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