Is there really a scenario where Donnie gets canned? I can't imagine that. I am not saying that they should or shouldn't based on X points. I am saying that - after what Terry has been through with the last decade of clowns - there isn't any way that he isn't our coach after next season.
- Slump Buster

Totally agree.

"Fans" are putting fake pressure on the situation.

They love donnie, players , gm and the owners.

If we drop 10 points in the standings, coaching should be looked at IMO.

I do not see a 10 point drop, but more likely a 5-10 point upward swing.

And they're going to want us to buy them a new arena soon. Better get to winning
- Hank Balling

Just as an aside, this is something ive never been clear on. As I understand it, the Pegulas don't actually own the arena, the county does, right?

Totally agree.

"Fans" are putting fake pressure on the situation.

They love donnie, players , gm and the owners.

If we drop 10 points in the standings, coaching should be looked at IMO.

I do not see a 10 point drop, but more likely a 5-10 point upward swing.
- Boss34

This would make them a playoff team in a divisional spot. So yeah everyone's job would be safe in that scenario.

Just as an aside, this is something ive never been clear on. As I understand it, the Pegulas don't actually own the arena, the county does, right?
- Michael Ghofrani

Correct. They're doing the same thing here that they've done in Rochester for the past 10 years: they refuse to spend money on upgrades to a facility they don't own, but they also don't want to build one of their own. It's a perfect scapegoat/ploy/out for them.

I didn't say Granato was. I said if they miss the playoffs next year, someone gets cooked.

Fan pressure is exactly what facilitates that. The old saying? Towns fire managers, owner just gives them the news. This much failure over this long a period means most people's fandom (in terms of what theyll spend to see them) is largely conditional.

They pulled a lot of people back in. You lose nearly all of them if the team plateaus or does worse than last year.
- Michael Ghofrani

Good post

I think slump hinted best on the situation though, pegula isnt firing coaches unless it's really really necessary.

Look how long they hung onto ion's guy krueger.

Each situation is different and ownership has to be thrilled with the #3 offense in the league.

Donnie turning tage into a top 10 center, that buys you time, plenty of time IMO

Just as an aside, this is something ive never been clear on. As I understand it, the Pegulas don't actually own the arena, the county does, right?
- Michael Ghofrani

thats right

Just as an aside, this is something ive never been clear on. As I understand it, the Pegulas don't actually own the arena, the county does, right?
- Michael Ghofrani

I can't think of any teams in sports that own the facility. It's part of their sweet setup - taxpayers build and maintain, they reap the rewards.

Good post

I think slump hinted best on the situation though, pegula isnt firing coaches unless it's really really necessary.

Look how long they hung onto ion's guy krueger.

Each situation is different and ownership has to be thrilled with the #3 offense in the league.

Donnie turning tage into a top 10 center, that buys you time, plenty of time IMO
- Boss34

The only reason this matters is because it sells hope, and tickets. If you are worse next year, nobody cares. Then you sell fewer tickets. Then you have a real problem. And to get those people buying tickets again, you have to give them something. Thats almost always a change either at the coaching or management level.

This would make them a playoff team in a divisional spot. So yeah everyone's job would be safe in that scenario.
- Michael Ghofrani

Last year it would have.

The prior years it would be very close.

Boston took a lot of points away from teams last year.

Prior two years it’s been 100+ points to get in.

Usually around 98.

Correct. They're doing the same thing here that they've done in Rochester for the past 10 years: they refuse to spend money on upgrades to a facility they don't own, but they also don't want to build one of their own. It's a perfect scapegoat/ploy/out for them.
- Hank Balling

you guys oughta give them a good resto deal.

Good post

I think slump hinted best on the situation though, pegula isnt firing coaches unless it's really really necessary.

Look how long they hung onto ion's guy krueger.

Each situation is different and ownership has to be thrilled with the #3 offense in the league.

Donnie turning tage into a top 10 center, that buys you time, plenty of time IMO
- Boss34

Hell, he turned Mitts into a player. Who saw that coming? As bullish as I am on the kids, I was all set to move on from him 2 years ago.

I can't think of any teams in sports that own the facility. It's part of their sweet setup - taxpayers build and maintain, they reap the rewards.
- Slump Buster

Ironically i think WPG of all places privately owns that arena. You may be right though, very rare.

You're being extremely negative assuming I'm being negative about two guys I never mentioned. Their success is ultimately not determined by 4th liners.

Topic is their window. They have talent, cap space, and assets to contend this year. I think they are looking further down the road and I don't think you actually disagree.
- Lunaion

It's late june, there's a draft, july 1st ufa and then preseason to make some trades.

Then there's the season and trade deadline.

You're upset about everything too soon.....

Relax.....

Correct. They're doing the same thing here that they've done in Rochester for the past 10 years: they refuse to spend money on upgrades to a facility they don't own, but they also don't want to build one of their own. It's a perfect scapegoat/ploy/out for them.
- Hank Balling

Is it worth their while to buy the arena from erie county?

Correct. They're doing the same thing here that they've done in Rochester for the past 10 years: they refuse to spend money on upgrades to a facility they don't own, but they also don't want to build one of their own. It's a perfect scapegoat/ploy/out for them.
- Hank Balling

Exactly ….. pegula tried to buy the arena from Erie county early on.

He upgraded the lockeroom and weight room area because it was so old and out of date for a few million.

The rest of the arena is insanely old and out of date.

Is it worth their while to buy the arena from erie county?
- Michael Ghofrani

He tried already

The only reason this matters is because it sells hope, and tickets. If you are worse next year, nobody cares. Then you sell fewer tickets. Then you have a real problem. And to get those people buying tickets again, you have to give them something. Thats almost always a change either at the coaching or management level.
- Michael Ghofrani

Pretty sure being 3rd in scoring leads to victories and points as well as ticket sales.

Our goaltender was 41
Our #2 and 3 defenseman had like 80 nhl games under their belts.

Offense wins games. They need levi to make some key saves at key times.

Hell, he turned Mitts into a player. Who saw that coming? As bullish as I am on the kids, I was all set to move on from him 2 years ago.
- Slump Buster

IMO I think we need to pump the brakes on Granato being some developmental genius and maybe put more stock into the fact that Krueger was all time awful and had some of these guys during crucial development years, and the fact that Covid hurt some development.

I mean, does he get negative points for not being able to develop Jokiharju, Bryson, UPL, Pilut, to a certain degree Krebs has absolutely underwhelmed idc what anyone says he hasn't eclipsed 30 points yet

you guys oughta give them a good resto deal.
- TheSabresTaco

I wander around the 200 level in a full tuxedo and monocle while carrying surveying equipment in the hopes of running into Terry but it hasn't happened yet

Pretty sure being 3rd in scoring leads to victories and points as well as ticket sales.

Our goaltender was 41
Our #2 and 3 defenseman had like 80 nhl games under their belts.

Offense wins games. They need levi to make some key saves at key times.
- Boss34

That's my point though. If their defense and goaltending is still bottom 5, causing them to miss, nobody will care that they were 3rd in scoring.

Who would you take off that list?

LA is loaded and has a better record this past year, they also are primed to make a splash this offseason.

Boston is not going from all time great team to mediocre because 37 yo Bergeron retires.

Dallas has the #1 prospect system in the league and was just in the WCF.
- sbroads24

The Bruins losing Bergeron and Krejci is the equivalent of us losing Tage and Cozens.

Bergeron may have had the best years of his entire career the past two years….

Like wtf

Correct. They're doing the same thing here that they've done in Rochester for the past 10 years: they refuse to spend money on upgrades to a facility they don't own, but they also don't want to build one of their own. It's a perfect scapegoat/ploy/out for them.
- Hank Balling

Wonder if the team hasnt been short sighted and has been building based on the lease expiration?

Makes good business sense, to sell the taxpayers a great team.

Looks like the pegulas just did that with the nfl.


I think they want a new stadium, so why waste any $ on upgrades? Why spend more $ on a losing business.

Think economics 101.

The Bruins losing Bergeron and Krejci is the equivalent of us losing Tage and Cozens.

Bergeron may have had the best years of his entire career the past two years….

Like wtf
- Swedish_Jesus

Boy do I have a Mittelstadt for them. Give me back Ullmark and throw in Grzelcyk

It's late june, there's a draft, july 1st ufa and then preseason to make some trades.

Then there's the season and trade deadline.

You're upset about everything too soon.....

Relax.....
- Boss34

99% of my post was about their window. Have thoughts on it?

Not upset and it wasn't negative. Saying their window is sooner than some think is positive, imo. You just want to read everything I say as negative. Sometimes it's not.

Wonder if the team hasnt been short sighted and has been building based on the lease expiration?

Makes good business sense, to sell the taxpayers a great team.

Looks like the pegulas just did that with the nfl.


I think they want a new stadium, so why waste any $ on upgrades? Why spend more $ on a losing business.

Think economics 101.
- Boss34

Oh I get what they're doing. But if they want me/you/us to buy them a new arena, they better start winning now, not in 2027