Canada was basically given every opportunity to win gold

Next time the refs shouldn't make it so obvious

Were they expecting travel from anywhere other than southern Ontario though? I camt imagine anybody making a trip, even to SOCAL to watch amateur hockey for a week

I know plenty of people who easily could have afforded this event/have interest in hockey, but at the price point, and the times the games were played, it wasn't attractive enough to that market
- jcragcrumple

Even at their lowest, the Sabres draw 15,000-19,000 in the dead of winter. Buffalo is an NHL town, not a hockey town. This proves it.

They really pulled the blinds over our eyes this summer, then, because I don't think anyone expected a stealth-tank or "assessment of the roster".

Most people (except a few of us pessimistic I mean realistic posters) expected a bubble team at worst.

Some were even saying a 95-point season was in the cards.
- BeadyEyedDouche

I'll admit, I expected a bubble team going into Jack's 3 year, but when we struggled early and nothing was done, it's become obvious. Having both Larsson and Girgs still here also says tank to me, these guys are barely NHL players.

Canada was basically given every opportunity to win gold

Next time the refs shouldn't make it so obvious
- GERBE!!!75PTS

If the US beats Slovakia, they have the 1 seed and the road to gold Canada did. Canada took advantage of their opportunities. Refs had nothing to do with it.

I honestly don't think it's that big of a deal.

Not like they hand out a bronze Stanley Cup to the loser of the finals.

I'd huck it right on the ice if they did.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Yet he could of put the medal up for auction and raised money for a organization

It's so disrespectful that is an honor to get a medal of that magnitude

You asked a serious question. I gave you a serious answer. How anyone can say it's been 5 years when the first 2 of those years they literally tried to lose is crazy.
- Wetbandit1

Problem is that the guys they drafted in ‘13,14 etc weren’t guys that needed to be shipped out or part of the tear down. Some of them are/we’re in college minors in 14/15.

We’ve been “Rebuilding” for 5, trying to win for 3, like you said

You see that's tough to say. Pegula came in and started throwing money around at UFAs and that's not indicative of a rebuild.
- sskkoo1

Yeah, like I said it's more of a semantics argument than anything else.

If the US beats Slovakia, they have the 1 seed and the road to gold Canada did. Canada took advantage of their opportunities. Refs had nothing to do with it.
- buffalofan19

Yeah ok I watched about four penalties that should have been called tonight and then the announcers were like oh they're just letting them play and then the Sweden players would do the same thing and they would get the penalties

Right.....

Were they expecting travel from anywhere other than southern Ontario though? I camt imagine anybody making a trip, even to SOCAL to watch amateur hockey for a week

I know plenty of people who easily could have afforded this event/have interest in hockey, but at the price point, and the times the games were played, it wasn't attractive enough to that market
- jcragcrumple

The problem is, most people are casual sports fans to begin with, factor in the NHL being the 4th most popular "big league" in the USA and it's baffling that they think attendance would come from anywhere outside of Ontario.

Yeah, I lived in Pittsburgh for a minute. Trust me, they're raging Penguins fans, but couldn't give a damn about Hockey as a sport. Same with their NFL team, too, tbh.

People root for their favorite teams and usually don't pay attention beyond that.

Me personally, I can watch any NFL game and enjoy it. I love American Football... however, I can't watch one second of the abomination that is NCAA Football.

I imagine it's the same with most people: Love the Sabres but can't be assed to watch, let alone attend, junior hockey games.

Wrong again poopbag

wivb.com/weather/radar/
- Der Kaiser

following

Even at their lowest, the Sabres draw 15,000-19,000 in the dead of winter. Buffalo is an NHL town, not a hockey town. This proves it.
- buffalofan19

I don't believe that at all. I was at the Amerks game during the last lockout that had like 18k people at it. People here love hockey of all types. They're just sick of spending a lot of money on hockey, especially when their team is terrible

That's so disrespectful just showed his age
- GERBE!!!75PTS

nah (frank) that show me some personality and passion. Way better than the boring ass old school poop we've been forced to deal with.

Even at their lowest, the Sabres draw 15,000-19,000 in the dead of winter. Buffalo is an NHL town, not a hockey town. This proves it.
- buffalofan19

Maybe that's ticket sales? Because I've seen a half-empty arena several times this season.

We aren't even an NHL town.

We're just a bunch of homers with 2 pro teams.

I don't believe that at all. I was at the Amerks game during the last lockout that had like 18k people at it. People here love hockey of all types. They're just sick of spending a lot of money on hockey, especially when their team is terrible
- jcragcrumple

Minnesota drew a sell out crowd for some high school games, i think thats more indicative of a hockey town.

Problem is that the guys they drafted in ‘13,14 etc weren’t guys that needed to be shipped out or part of the tear down. Some of them are/we’re in college minors in 14/15.

We’ve been “Rebuilding” for 5, trying to win for 3, like you said
- sbroads24

The tank just really (frank)s everything up when trying to compare to other teams and how long it's "supposed to take" because even "rebuilding" teams are trying to get better. They might not "go for it" by going out and buying big name UFAs or by swinging a blockbuster trade, but they're still trying to improve. The Sabres spent 2 years dismantling, trying their damnedest to get worse.

Wrong again poopbag

wivb.com/weather/radar/
- Der Kaiser

As Gerbe would say. lirl

Minnesota drew a sell out crowd for some high school games, i think thats more indicative of a hockey town.
- Sabresfan-365

Yeah but those are free, and that's the best HS hockey in the country. I don't see that as an accurate parallel

They really pulled the blinds over our eyes this summer, then, because I don't think anyone expected a stealth-tank or "assessment of the roster".

Most people (except a few of us pessimistic I mean realistic posters) expected a bubble team at worst.

Some were even saying a 95-point season was in the cards.
- BeadyEyedDouche

Except for the exact words of Botterill.

Minnesota drew a sell out crowd for some high school games, i think thats more indicative of a hockey town.
- Sabresfan-365

Exactly.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is the one city this would work (if any) in the US. Buffalo failed twice. The second time, Canadians didn't care too much either.

Yeah but those are free, and that's the best HS hockey in the country. I don't see that as an accurate parallel
- jcragcrumple

isnt the fact that they have the best high school hockey indicative of a great hockey town?

Is it not free in Buffalo?

nah (frank) that show me some personality and passion. Way better than the boring ass old school poop we've been forced to deal with.
- Sabresfan-365

How in the world is that showing passion ? You are basically spitting on your own country

Maybe next time just don't pick up the medal
but no he had to be a baby and throw it into the audience

nah (frank) that show me some personality and passion. Way better than the boring ass old school poop we've been forced to deal with.
- Sabresfan-365

I agree.

Those medals are just coated with their "precious metal" anyway. Usually some kind of nickel and electroplated with the appropriate "color" i.e. Gold, Silver, Bronze.

Even the last few Olympics have had numerous complaints about the medals corroding.

Exactly.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is the one city this would work (if any) in the US. Buffalo failed twice. The second time, Canadians didn't care too much either.
- buffalofan19

seattle or detroit?

Exactly.

Minneapolis-St. Paul is the one city this would work (if any) in the US. Buffalo failed twice. The second time, Canadians didn't care too much either.
- buffalofan19

For some reason I think it will work really well in Victoria next year

seattle or detroit?
- homiedclown

Did it sell well in North Dakota the one year it was there? And were there any noteworthy prospects? Cause that might be the other issue here (not a knock on Dahlin just that a north american top prospect probably draws more attention)