i dont agree with that, they were still trying to make the playoffs in general during that off season.

Full commitment to the rebuild was when they moved pominville.
- Sabresfan-365

They might have said they were trying but they clearly didn't

The late season surge by the Sabres last season might have been a bit of a mirage. The Sabres have players on their roster right now that won't be there when the team's young talent develops. Like most teams they need more young defensive talent.
- The Looper

Our AHL team as of now is a mess and we need to get rid of some bad contracts, not a Bylsma fan either as most on this blog aren't either.

"Alex Nymeyer" - RJ

They might have said they were trying but they clearly didn't
- sbroads24

It's not like they were secretly committed to it though. They probably thought they could build something around hodgson. Once that went pear shaped it went down that direction

Kane got away with one there

jeez he cant even make a proper dump in

Make up your mind, explain myself correct that's what you said.
- SABRES 89

Everything else you're a sauing makes sense...
EXCEPT

that Matthews > Eichel is NOT why the Leafs are in the playoffs & we are not

If Eichel was on the Leafs & Matthews was on the Sabres,
the two teams would almost certainly be in the same situations

If u wanna say it sucks that Toronto was able to rebuild faster than us...
ok
We all agree

It's just not bc Matthews has the edge over Eichel

It's not like they were secretly committed to it though. They probably thought they could build something around hodgson. Once that went pear shaped it went down that direction
- Sabresfan-365

The rebuild started in earnest the day they traded Ryan Miller.

The rebuild started in earnest the day they traded Ryan Miller.
- Wetbandit1

They were committed to tanking that year well before the Miller trade

Everything else you're a sauing makes sense...
EXCEPT

that Matthews > Eichel is NOT why the Leafs are in the playoffs & we are not

If Eichel was on the Leafs & Matthews was on the Sabres,
the two teams would almost certainly be in the same situations

If u wanna say it sucks that Toronto was able to rebuild faster than us...
ok
We all agree

It's just not bc Matthews has the edge over Eichel
- jdfitz77

Holy S$$t when did I say that because Matthews has the edge over Eichel is the reason why we aren't in the playoffs. The Leafs are a better team and have developed faster.

They were committed to tanking that year well before the Miller trade
- Sabresfan-365

They were committed to it sure, but really that was "100% we're going for it." That year for sure. That just culminated in the Miller trade.

They were committed to tanking that year well before the Miller trade
- Sabresfan-365

Rebuilding and tanking are different.

The rebuild or admitting the roster wasn't good enough was when we traded Gaustad, the plan to tank was the end of 13

Stop listening to Bylsma and go out and play and we can beat this team tonight.

Please don't leave. We need a voice of reason from the outside. That Oilers (frank), half troll isn't enough.
- Wetbandit1

To want a winning team or a seriously competitive team is understandable. It shows that you care. My team will probably take a couple of year's to rebuild, so now its a matter of watching how our young players evolve and not be so concerned with the wins and loses. The best thing about the Sabres record right now is that they'll add yet more top end talent to their stable of assets at the draft.

Rebuilding and tanking are different.

The rebuild or admitting the roster wasn't good enough was when we traded Gaustad, the plan to tank was the end of 13
- sbroads24

i dont think they admitted this till midway through that year though. IIRC they seemed pretty convinced they could challenge for 8th. Thats why they were trying to re-sign vanek to that massive deal

Tensions are high everyone, but tough teams are defined by how they handle adversity.

Let's not have the board fall apart and turn on each other like the team did this year.

All we have is each other in this abysmal hockey season.

i dont think they admitted this till midway through that year though. IIRC they seemed pretty convinced they could challenge for 8th. Thats why they were trying to re-sign vanek to that massive deal
- Sabresfan-365

https://www.google.com/am...ebuild/%3Fmarfeeltn%3Damp

Edit-this is wrong article. I meant to find the one with the Regeir quotes

https://www.google.com/amp/s/b.marfeel.com/thehockeywriters.com/gaustad-trade-started-buffalo-sabres-rebuild/%3Fmarfeeltn%3Damp
- sbroads24

The rebuild took more time to reach its peak but many point to this deal as the start of this period in Sabres history.

Fair enough

Fair enough
- Sabresfan-365

I call that time period the period of hedging bets for Darcy. Yes he got what he could for Gaustad, but he also acquired Ott and Pardy that year as well to toughen up.

I look at that move more as a "this team isn't tough enough" move. Specifically because Goose was maligned when Lucic killed Miller.

Darcy, as noncommittal as he always was, looked to be preparing for a rebuild if his planned future moves didn't work.

I don't call this the beginning of the tank. I'd agree, Pominville was all in on tanking. Gaustad got us a small early start.

I call that time period the period of hedging bets for Darcy. Yes he got what he could for Gaustad, but he also acquired Ott and Pardy that year as well to toughen up.

I look at that move more as a "this team isn't tough enough" move. Specifically because Goose was maligned when Lucic killed Miller.

Darcy, as noncommittal as he always was, looked to be preparing for a rebuild if his planned future moves didn't work.

I don't call this the beginning of the tank. I'd agree, Pominville was all in on tanking. Gaustad got us a small early start.
- gcomella34

Just considering that he was the C and still had term left, seems like a bigger "flag" on the rebuild timeline

Nilsson's on point tonight.

Tensions are high everyone, but tough teams are defined by how they handle adversity.

Let's not have the board fall apart and turn on each other like the team did this year.

All we have is each other in this abysmal hockey season.
- gcomella34

Koombayah mother franker

Nilsson's on point tonight.
- Wetbandit1

would be classic leafs sabres if nilsson went vezina and we inexplicably came back

Since we're all a little on edge tonight. I thought I'd try and lighten the mood. Watch this and I dare you not to laugh.

Just considering that he was the C and still had term left, seems like a bigger "flag" on the rebuild timeline
- Sabresfan-365

Two things to take out of this on Darcy's hemming and hawing:

1) That's why we can have a discussion as to when the tank REALLY began and still not reach a concrete starting point.

2) That's why we're in the mess we are.


Actually,

That's why Tim Murray was loved, at first, because you may not agree with him, but there was ONE direction he was moving. He is the definition of decisive.

Whether he's done good or not is up for debate, but man is he decisive.