That used to be the case for sure, small cities with owners more interested in profit than going all out. We now have an owner who wants to win above all. It's going to take time because Buffalo has a very bad reputation as a place to play, and that won't change easily. We need to get and keep a top flight coach next, and Mr. Pegula has been trying. Ralph Krueger to Sabers, Bill Cower to Bills.
- Paulfromny

Creepy Ralph?

We're the Oilers now yayyy
- RhinoFan

Except you have a good defenseman this early on in your rebuild.

Russ Brandon is a business man. I don't understand why people want him fired, other than the fact that he has been here for the whole drought and was briefly a crappy GM. He has no bearing on the on field/on ice product.

Whaley definitely needs to go.
- jcragcrumple

little things have come out to the contrary...for instance, it was mentioned in the mainstream media that Brandon said something to Pegula like "don't let him walk out the door" during their interview with rex...he's also in on the Monday meetings with the coach, gm, etc...

starting to think that Brandon has his hands in this mess...how much, I don't know, but he's not restricted to a sales/marketing role

Oh btw, I think the Pegulas' free pass has come and gone...

It's kind of turned into the monkey's paw scenario.

You get to keep both teams, but they both stink... and don't look to be getting any better.
- mattsox

Lol...the Sabres will get better...it just takes longer than most fans think. Everyone said the Oilers should have rebuilt in half the time, and by that logic Colorado, Sabres and Leafs would all be winning conference championships by now. It takes close to 10 years to build a contender, if your starting point is some worthless vets and an empty prospect pool...and no preasure to speed it up.

Tyrod to Denver...

Jeff Fisher to Buffalo...

Tony Romo to Buffalo...

Tony Romo to the hospital...

Denver to the playoffs...

Buffalo to 4-12...

Eric Wood, Kyle Williams, and Richie to the retirement line...

Shady to demand a trade...

Dareus to rehab...again...

Jerry Hughes to the back of a milk carton (oh wait he's already there)...
- Stripes77

Buffalo sports

Lol...the Sabres will get better...it just takes longer than most fans think. Everyone said the Oilers should have rebuilt in half the time, and by that logic Colorado, Sabres and Leafs would all be winning conference championships by now. It takes close to 10 years to build a contender, if your starting point is some worthless vets and an empty prospect pool...and no preasure to speed it up.
- Larsson_fan

Or it takes drafting McDavid or to an extent Eichel (when actually healthy)

It doesn't take 10 years when most of your adding is done through trades and FA (ROR, Kane, Okposo, etc)

Russ Brandon is a business man. I don't understand why people want him fired, other than the fact that he has been here for the whole drought and was briefly a crappy GM. He has no bearing on the on field/on ice product.

Whaley definitely needs to go.
- jcragcrumple

How he has survived multiple ownerships and now is president of the Sabres as well makes me think he is just a smooth talking salesmen who has way more power than someone with a marketing background should ever have.

How he has survived multiple ownerships and now is president of the Sabres as well makes me think he is just a smooth talking salesmen who has way more power than someone with a marketing background should ever have.
- Stripes77

that first part reminds me of what many said about regier

Bills GM Doug Whaley will lead the team's coaching search.
In other words, Whaley won't be joining Rex Ryan on the street. No one could have faulted the Bills if they pink-slipped Whaley after four years. He's been a picture of mediocrity, drawn to big names, but usually failing to address the team's biggest issues. He's checked in No. 17 in Rotoworld's general manager rankings each of the past two years.

OH JOY

little things have come out to the contrary...for instance, it was mentioned in the mainstream media that Brandon said something to Pegula like "don't let him walk out the door" during their interview with rex...he's also in on the Monday meetings with the coach, gm, etc...

starting to think that Brandon has his hands in this mess...how much, I don't know, but he's not restricted to a sales/marketing role
- Michael Pachla

I don't blame pegula, brandon or whaley for that hire. They wanted to make a splash as new owners who are committing to their team in a big way. With Rex's people skills it's no doubt he won them all over. In the end it didn't work out, but it was never going to work out because we don't have a franchise qb

Makes me wonder if they go with Lynn wouldn't he want to keep Tyrod?

I used to believe this as well. Now, I'm not so sure.

There's a common denominator here....
- HonkFortheGoose

To be fair, the Sabres have been inept well before Pegula handed the business operations over to Russ Brandon.

That being said, if the Bills and Sabres were to bring in someone new just for the sake of a fresh look, I wouldn't shed any tears.

- Michael Pachla

Tres Pistolas. One of Road Apples finest.

Makes me wonder if they go with Lynn wouldn't he want to keep Tyrod?
- Stripes77

My guess is that ownership and whaley are saying either he takes Fitz money (12 MIL) or he can hit the road

Oh btw, I think the Pegulas' free pass has come and gone...

It's kind of turned into the monkey's paw scenario.

You get to keep both teams, but they both stink... and don't look to be getting any better.
- mattsox

Sounds like Don Cherry. Mr. Pegula is a great owner and a boon to the city of Buffalo. Buffalo major league success will not be built in a day.

My guess is that ownership and whaley are saying either he takes Fitz money (12 MIL) or he can hit the road
- jcragcrumple

That's about what he would make per year $12 million

To be fair, the Sabres have been inept well before Pegula handed the business operations over to Russ Brandon.

That being said, if the Bills and Sabres were to bring in someone new just for the sake of a fresh look, I wouldn't shed any tears.
- buffalofan19

My comment had nothing to do with him being part of the Sabres. The common denominator I was referring to is that he's been around the ENTIRE time the Bills have been a mess.

Welp, joy of joys...I'm sure the Bills will hire a D Coordinator now who wants to run a 4 - 3 scheme, likely at the urging of Whaley so he can build in more job security by having to draft new personnel to play that scheme.

Can't wait for the circus to come to town in the off season...what a joke this organization is.

Or it takes drafting McDavid or to an extent Eichel (when actually healthy)

It doesn't take 10 years when most of your adding is done through trades and FA (ROR, Kane, Okposo, etc)
- sbroads24

History proves it takes alot more than 5 years though. No expansion team has done it since the WHA merger, and the teams that did it after a tank all took a long time.

Penguins:1982-83- 1990-91
Drafted top 10 7 0f 8 seasons in a row, top 5 for 5 straight years (including Mario)before eventually making the playoffs as a serious contender.

Quebec Nordiques:1987-1996
Drafted top 10 in 1987, drafted top 5 for 5 straight years including 3 first overalls ( Nolan, Sundin, Lindros).

Penguins 2001
Drafted 5 years in top 5 row including 2 1st overalls and Superstar talents like Crosby and Malkin.

I cant think of any example where a team did a full tear down and turned it around all that quick. It takes some luck in the form of a flukey sleeper pick here and there the good fortune of a strong draft year which no team controls and as a result of said picks , some attention being paid to the team by high end free agents.

Even then, its highly unlikely that any GM is gonna hit all the right picks, win every trade , avoid player injury, etc...everything has to go right ,pto go from bottom feeder to contender. That doesnt happen theough pure competence, it never has, it has more to do with luck.

They fired the wrong Buffalo coach..

They fired the wrong Buffalo coach..
- feetontheair22

I could see him getting fired early in November next year if things start poorly. My guess is Murray would go too

I could see him getting fired early in November next year if things start poorly. My guess is Murray would go too
- jcragcrumple

God I hope GMTM doesn't let this idiot (frank) up our young talent any more than he already has..

Or it takes drafting McDavid or to an extent Eichel (when actually healthy)

It doesn't take 10 years when most of your adding is done through trades and FA (ROR, Kane, Okposo, etc)
- sbroads24

Ok, look how many years surrounding the drafts of Mario, Lindros, Crosby and Malkin it took.

God I hope GMTM doesn't let this idiot (frank) up our young talent any more than he already has..
- feetontheair22

He may be bad...but no way is he Dallas Eakins bad.

History proves it takes alot more than 5 years though. No expansion team has done it since the WHA merger, and the teams that did it after a tank all took a long time.

Penguins:1982-83- 1990-91
Drafted top 10 7 0f 8 seasons in a row, top 5 for 5 straight years (including Mario)before eventually making the playoffs as a serious contender.

Quebec Nordiques:1987-1996
Drafted top 10 in 1987, drafted top 5 for 5 straight years including 3 first overalls ( Nolan, Sundin, Lindros).

Penguins 2001
Drafted 5 years in top 5 row including 2 1st overalls and Superstar talents like Crosby and Malkin.

I cant think of any example where a team did a full tear down and turned it around all that quick. It takes some luck in the form of a flukey sleeper pick here and there the good fortune of a strong draft year which no team controls and as a result of said picks , some attention being paid to the team by high end free agents.

Even then, its highly unlikely that any GM is gonna hit all the right picks, win every trade , avoid player injury, etc...everything has to go right ,pto go from bottom feeder to contender. That doesnt happen theough pure competence, it never has, it has more to do with luck.
- Larsson_fan

We aren't the same as the other teams though. We chose, and boasted about speeding up the process.

Rebuilding started when we traded Paul Gaustad and had 2 1st rounders in 2012. Then 2 1sts in 2013, 2nd overall in 14, and 15, now 8th in 16.

People like to pretend we haven't been rebuilding for 5+ years already