how ever one personally feels about Nolan, I liked watching the team MUCH better under him than Rolston. I know someone has that pic or gif of two of our players going after the puck in front of out net and they look like mirror images of each other....what ever Rolstons plan was, it was an absolute disaster. And under Ruff, they obviously tuned out the X's and O's.
For entertainment value alone, I definitely preferred Nolan Hockey over Rolston hockey...

Nope.

I can't believe that we've segued from hating Nolan to bashing Terry now.
- grand-magus

Everything is rosey, I forgot.

I appreiate Terry and what he has done for the city, but he needs to not be so involved in the hockey stuff.........part of the reason Patty took his ball and left.

I would be fully okay with this.
- thatsapickle

I think all of us would. The problem is, neither the roster nor the coach (if you look at his history) is tailored to that kind of game.

Wayne Gretzkey's DNA sprinkled on each Sabre wouldn't make this team a playoff team. The difference will be either we are the worst team to the 3rd worst team.
- sbroads24

If we are in 29th and the Islanders are in 30th... I'll be one happy person. Vice versa works as well.

how ever one personally feels about Nolan, I liked watching the team MUCH better under him than Rolston. I know someone has that pic or gif of two of our players going after the puck in front of out net and they look like mirror images of each other....what ever Rolstons plan was, it was an absolute disaster. And under Ruff, they obviously tuned out the X's and O's.
For entertainment value alone, I definitely preferred Nolan Hockey over Rolston hockey...
- seedy

Like I said, you could have thrown just about anybody, or anything behind that bench and they'd have given a much better effort. It was all about who wasn't behind the bench rather than who was.

I think all of us would. The problem is, neither the roster nor the coach (if you look at his history) is tailored to that kind of game.
- buffalofan19

I do think that the guys like Gionta and Gorges could get more out of some players though. I think it comes down to the "phrase/word that pays" that Peters keeps abusing on Hockey Hotline: Accountability. These players need to set a culture they want to be a part of. If you can score 3 goals a game, you'll win a few more. I think that is something viable.

It comes down to more than just the coach. I think the leaders on the ice will get more out of some players. They will help pick up those that are squandering, dust them off and send them back out.

I'm not expecting much, but I am expecting a better team to watch.

Like I said, you could have thrown just about anybody, or anything behind that bench and they'd have given a much better effort. It was all about who wasn't behind the bench rather than who was.
- buffalofan19

THose Rolston games were just TERRIBLE. I feel sorry for the guy because he was either in way over his head or the players just hated him THAT much.
I totally would have hired him to do my taxes though.

I'm not tossing blame just saying I bet my lifetime avatar that Murray would have hired someone else if he had his choice. I'm not a card carrying Nolan fan like many Sabres fans are come to think of it never was.
- GilPerreault11

Neither am I.

However there are many players that speak highly of him, and his teams will work hard.

Like I said, talent trumps effort, but there is nothing we can do, talent is showing up on their doorsteps. They will learn how to work hard.

Something guys like Myers, Stafford, Ehrhoff, Sekera etc never learned from playing under Ruff or playing with Vanek and Roy.

Everything is rosey, I forgot.

I appreiate Terry and what he has done for the city, but he needs to not be so involved in the hockey stuff.........part of the reason Patty took his ball and left.
- Homer

This is where you and I part ways, though. If Terry being too much of a fan was the issue (and I have no idea what happened) there, I would have imagined he'd lean more towards what LaFontaine wanted. That's what most fans seemed to gravitate to anyway.

Everything is rosey, I forgot.

I appreiate Terry and what he has done for the city, but he needs to not be so involved in the hockey stuff.........part of the reason Patty took his ball and left.
- Homer

#1 rated prospect pool, 3 2015 1st rounders, new Harbor Center, players actually wanting to play here


I'll take this over 9th place

Is critically analyzing a billionaire bashing or discussing his strengths and weaknesses? I love TP and I am glad he's the Sabres owner but he has made some mistakes. Hopefully he's learned from them.
- GilPerreault11

Sure, he's made mistakes. Every owner has.

Is he a fan? Fukc yeah, he's a fan. But he's a fan who wants nothing more than to bring this city it's first major championship. I'm not blindly defending the guy, but he's owned the team for what, 3 1/2 years? Give him a chance.

It just seems that certain people on here aren't happy with anything this franchise does.

Have we won a Stanley Cup yet? No. But, for Christ's sake, give this ownership group, GM and coaching staff a chance before we start the vilification process.

Sure, he's made mistakes. Every owner has.

Is he a fan? Fukc yeah, he's a fan. But he's a fan who wants nothing more than to bring this city it's first major championship. I'm not blindly defending the guy, but he's owned the team for what, 3 1/2 years? Give him a chance.

It just seems that certain people on here aren't happy with anything this franchise does.

Have we won a Stanley Cup yet? No. But, for Christ's sake, give this ownership group, GM and coaching staff a chance before we start the vilification process.
- grand-magus

I like your style G M.

#1 rated prospect pool, 3 2015 1st rounders, new Harbor Center, players actually wanting to play here


I'll take this over 9th place
- sbroads24

Agreed. Better days ahead.

#1 rated prospect pool, 3 2015 1st rounders, new Harbor Center, players actually wanting to play here


I'll take this over 9th place
- sbroads24

Let's not kid ourselves, here. The overpaid just about every UFA they signed in July. Granted, it wasn't to Ville Leino proportions, but it's not like players took discounts to come here. I highly doubt there were many teams willing to give Brian Gionta the money they did, not that this stage of his career. Don't get me wrong, I like the signings, but the Sabres definitely had to open up their checkbooks to make that happen. The "players don't want to play here" problem is far from solved, and was never going to be this year anyway.

Let's not kid ourselves, here. The overpaid just about every UFA they signed in July. Granted, it wasn't to Ville Leino proportions, but it's not like players took discounts to come here. I highly doubt there were many teams willing to give Brian Gionta the money they did, not that this stage of his career. Don't get me wrong, I like the signings, but the Sabres definitely had to open up their checkbooks to make that happen. The "players don't want to play here" problem is far from solved, and was never going to be this year anyway.
- buffalofan19

I'm not. The worst team in the league signed 5 free agents when people were so worried we couldn't get to the floor.

And every free agent gets overpaid.

EDIT: I'm also one of the people who heavily doubted they could sign anyone

This is where you and I part ways, though. If Terry being too much of a fan was the issue (and I have no idea what happened) there, I would have imagined he'd lean more towards what LaFontaine wanted. That's what most fans seemed to gravitate to anyway.
- buffalofan19

Believe me or not, I know the whole story.

Terry was put in a tough spot by Patty, so I see both sides.

I like your style G M.
- BuffaloHardHat

Thanks, HH.

I've come to admire yours, as well. You always come in here with a great attitude, and it's great to see.

I'm not. The worst team in the league signed 5 free agents when people were so worried we couldn't get to the floor.

And every free agent gets overpaid.

EDIT: I'm also one of the people who heavily doubted they could sign anyone
- sbroads24

I didn't doubt they'd get to the floor. I just knew they'd have to overpay some people, and they did. Granted, it wasn't as severely as I thought, but, it was still high nonetheless.

Thanks, HH.

I've come to admire yours, as well. You always come in here with a great attitude, and it's great to see.


- grand-magus

Much love to all that post here!
Thank you GM, very very much appreciated!

I didn't doubt they'd get to the floor. I just knew they'd have to overpay some people, and they did. Granted, it wasn't as severely as I thought, but, it was still high nonetheless.
- buffalofan19

As much as I'm against Moulson for 5 and Gionta for 3, they got 2 respectable NHL'ers to come here, and a few D-men that have experience.

- Irish 14

What's up, Irish?

As much as I'm against Moulson for 5 and Gionta for 3, they got 2 respectable NHL'ers to come here, and a few D-men that have experience.
- sbroads24

And that will rub off on the youngins.

As much as I'm against Moulson for 5 and Gionta for 3, they got 2 respectable NHL'ers to come here, and a few D-men that have experience.
- sbroads24

One of them via trade because of another aforementioned coming here, and the other because the Sabres offered him well above what anyone was willing to for even one year.

Look, I partially agree with you. I think the Sabres are in a better position in that regard. They're definitely getting players to listen. But "players want to play here", to me, means that Buffalo is a destination, and it's still far from that. It very well may change in a couple of years, but it's not there yet.