There are no do-overs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- So let me get this straight. The Sabres team that is following me to the Sunshine State is 0-0? What did all these training camp comments mean then?

*"We want to get a good start," defenseman Toni Lydman said. "Points are getting harder to get toward the end of the season, and if you start slow it’s tough to make up for it at the end."

*"People are anxious to get the season going," Derek Roy said. "It’s been a long summer, a long summer for everybody. Everybody’s ready to get started and get off on the right foot."

*"We need all our young players to learn that not making [the playoffs] is something that’s unacceptable," coach Lindy Ruff said. "When you talk to most of them, you see that in their eyes."

So, what? It wasn't in their eyes anymore, so let's play a game of make-believe to try and get that back? What an insult. Not only to the fans who expected their team to be ready, but to the players (Thomas Vanek, especially) who actually stayed ready.

The simple fact is, there are no do-overs. The Sabres are 11 points behind Boston in the Northeast Division, and they are 11 points behind the Bruins and Rangers in the Eastern Conference. They are 11-10-3, and they deserve to be 11-10-3.

Elsewhere in the real world:

*Sean Avery is a whackjob, not that that's breaking news. Here are good comments on his stupid comments about one of the best-looking women around by Scott Burnside. Also, here is a short take by Matthew Barnaby.

*Mats Sundin doesn't appear to be in the plans of new Leafs boss Brian Burke.

*My pal George Richards of the Miami Herald tells of how well the Panthers, who host the Sabres on Thursday, are playing.

---John Vogl

Comments

[Dave]

Excuses,
No offense was taken on my part. I really hope you're right about Bettman and the importance of Buffalo in the grand scheme of hockey.

Anyway, let's hope for a win tonight!

[Buffalo Excuses]

Dave,

I love them as much as you. But I don't measure anything by cost, but by value. This team is not worth paying to see in my estimation. To each his own.

I can, and will, continue to watch them on the tube and love them just the same. And it soothes the losses when I think of the money saved that I can spend on other things. That list is long.

I can see why you are afraid, I guess most are.

I remain conviced there is no way this team leaves town. Betteman et al have woken up to the fact the cities like Buffalo are absolutley critical to the survival and ultimate expansion of the league. Via demographic trends, we export fans to areas of the country these guys are desperate to succesfully expand. You cripple Buffalo, you not only cripple Buffalo, but Atlanta, Carolinas, and Florida. Bettman knows the paradox exists. He would never admit it, but he knows it.

The NHL is made for small market, Northern cities. The NHL knows it, but they like tilting at windmills dreaming of making hockey as big as the NFL. The worst thing that can happen to Buffalo is The NHL taking off. But I don't fear that.

Just my thoughts. No problem with your dutiful spending. I probably shouldn't be as critical of you as I have been. Only trying to send a message to The Team. Nothing personal.

[Dave]

Excuses,
I still think my strategy is better than yours. Sorry, but I love hockey and I'm not about to do anything that will put the existence of a Buffalo NHL club in jeopardy, no matter how upset I am with Tommy G. I'd rather shell out money for a loser than be forced to jump on the bandwagon of another team because I don't have one anymore. You're obviously more than welcome to bail on the Sabres. I'm not going too, as I've been a fan of this team my entire life, and as disappointing as it is that they are sucking right now, as I've said, I feel it's better than not having a team at all. If everyone was to boycott, the Sabres would be ancient history.

[jan]

Hey, Drew Stafford -- so you've played professional hockey how long now -- a couple of years or so? And how long did Lindy Ruff play professional hockey? How long has Lindy been coaching professional hockey? And you don't read, listen to, or care about comments made by your coach about your play during games this year --you can figure out what you're doing wrong all on your own? Do you think that you might not be part of the problem with this team? Time to grow up Drew -- your inconsistent play is part of the problem with this team. You still have a lot to learn about the game of hockey. You ought to pay attention to what your more experienced teammates and coaches are saying. Time for you to be the "hero", improve your play and help your team get to the playoffs

[Morning Joe]

How telling are these comments from Drew Stafford, referring to Lindy's critique of his play:

"I don’t read that. I don’t really pay attention to that. I don’t really care"

Yeah Drew. It shows.

[JIM]

What's the value of a losing franchise that alienates once loyal fans?
The franchise has lost value over the last two years.
As idiot quin has pointed out: a lousy team is what we deserve becuase we're small market!
Is this joke of a team and management really better than nothing?

[Buffalo Excuses]

Dave,

I see. So let's keep shelling out money for a loser.

GREAT STRATEGY!

In fact, I've got it! Why don't we raise ticket prices now! Heck, if they can erase games from history that folks have already paid for we can change the future too! Let's drop another wheel barrel on them!

That way Tommie G. will be so happy with our generousity he wouldn't dare leave town!

Thank you sir! May I have another?

[Lloyd Marshall, Jr.]

"And then, because no one is at the games..."

...Golisano and Wilson will be FORCED to see the light! They'll have to realize, "If I want the fans back, I HAVE to put a winner on this stage!"

Boycott! Strike! Let these clowns know we've had enough!

[Dave]

And then, because no one is at the games, the team gets sold, and Golisano and Quinn make a bucket of money. Yeah, that's a real sound strategy guys, boycott the team. That way, when Ralph Wilson buys the farm and the Bills leave, we can lose the Sabres, too! Just imagine all the complaining you guys will be able to do then! Hey, we'll still have the Bandits and the Bisons.

We're all frustrated with the way the Sabres are playing and also with the sometimes incompotent management, but boycotting isn't the answer, unless you don't want a hockey team at all. I guarantee Golisano doesn't care if you boycott - when he starts to bleed money, he'll sell, and if the market here is lousy, the team will leave.

[JIM]

Yup, the guy is always crying small market this and small market that.
Notice the moves he makes are never about expanding the market for the team.
He knows how to kill a business, not grow it.
Don't go to the games, maybe then the market will become small enough for idiot quin's small mind.

[Buffalo Excuses]

Jim,

You are absolutely right.

Fans should strike.

At least save the 50 bones or so you are shelling out on food and beverage at the games.

Nothing will change until this happens. Nothing.

[JIM]

Ok, can we turn back to the time the sabres had Cambell, Drury and Briere?

quin the idiot has removed the best players and 80 goals per season from the team.

Now that he's destroyed the cup contending team, he's committed to winning the cup; yeah right.
Are we suppose to believe Rivet makes up the 80 goals a season he's thrown away?

Let's go back to the happy days of the strike when we didn't have to watch the sabres lose.

Well, since the players aren't on strike; let's go on a fan strike until quin is gone.

[bean]

Okay, let's get to the real heart of the matter. Leadership and effort doesn't come from the head coach, it comes from the guys on the ice. Is it any wonder that this team since we lost...dare I say it...Chris Drury? Okay, so we screwed up his contract. There is no offense from the defense? Hmmm...didn't we have one of those guys? Tonight I am watching the Penguins game and they just said the Michael Zigomanis leads the NHL in faceoff win percentage. Isn't that the same guy who got stuck in our fax machine? Bring up the kids and let them get some experience now. At the end of the year, we are going to lose Kotalik, Max (he's still here?), Spacek, Numminen (retire?), and Connolly (his contract is up, right?) Who replaces them?

I think we are a lot closer to the bottom than we are to the top,

[Dave]

I won't comment on the Sabres at this point, because I'm kind of at a loss for words. There's nothing I can do anyway except be a fan and try to support the team no matter how bad they are doing.

On to Avery - that Burnside article hit the nail on the head. Avery is a clown, pure and simple. You want to agitate on the ice? Fine. It's done right by people like Kaleta. Avery is a joke who has resorted to insulting opposing fans and lamenting the loss of Elisha Cuthbert indirectly to a flock of reporters. It's really pathetic. Hopefully Avery's antics continue to increase in severity and Brett Hull, who tried so hard to get Avery to sign, is fired. Or maybe Avery and Hull could get into a fight on national tv, and they'd both be let go. Ok, now I'm just dreaming....

[Buffalo Excuses]

It aint Lindy's fault. This is a dangerous time for this franchise as a scapegoat will be found. Lindy and Darcy deserve to stay with a bigger budget.

This team was built on mediocrity because Tommie wanted to save $6 million. They will have $9 mil next year to spend and spin with probably the same result.

HE WILL DO IT AGAIN IF YOU BUY HIS TICKETS!!!

I AM SO GLAD I SAVED DOUGH THIS YEAR.

Happy Holidays fellow mouse potatoes. Now be dutiful and go out and spend money you don't have on Excuses trinkets and trash so we can sign Drew (I love my fans) Stafford to a long term, medicore assuring deal.

[Tim]

This team was built around speed when we were winning. That speed is not being used effectively. I blame our end of dominance on the loss of Scott Arniel. The team needs to hire a coach that is capable of teaching the offensive guys how to play offense. They're having trouble scoring goals in timely situations, which is what those two ECF teams did most of those seasons. They were able to score when they needed to. A ton of come-from-behind victories later and the fans are spoiled. Now they can't do it with as much frequency, and you are all crying for drastic change. Stop being fans (see: rash and judgmental) and start thinking logically.

As for the prospects, management should leave that core exactly where it is (aside from Weber, who should have been starting in Buffalo this year in the first place). Bringing up college kids too fast is exactly what has doomed this organization's top prospects for years. Stafford and Rasmussen are prime examples of how they've ruined kids. Now you want them to do the same to Gerbe and Kennedy and Butler? Leave them in Portland, let them experience a professional schedule and watch them flourish for a few years here in Buffalo before they're too expensive. Bring them up now and it's certain doom for future teams. Like I said, stop being fans and start thinking logically.

[Morning Joe]

Peter Laviolette? No thank you. Lindy is a great coach. His record is proof. He can only do so much with what he has. And what he has at the moment is a locker room full of a handful of real players, and a plethora of passengers and underachievers who don't want to commit themselves to do what it takes to win.

[tim]

Peter Laviolette is unemployed. Any takers?

[irish fan]

I am starting to think that we need to take a harder look at Lindy. The team's consistent problem has been a lack of concentration, motivation, and effort. Guys who have been here for a few seasons don;t seem to be improving, Roy and Vanek excluded (and both of whom are certainly guilty of playing unmotivated and effortless hockey on many nights). At some point, this is on the coach.

I love Lindy, but it's a lot easier to change the coach than it is to change the players. Has Lindy's message gotten stale? Are the players tuning him out? Sadly, it's starting to look like they have been since the spring of 2007.

[Don H]

This team has little heart and no appetite for the hard work it takes to be a winner in the NHL. They are on cruise control after the first period.

[Morning Joe]

Darcy and Lindy can only do so much with what they have. Seems many of you are forgetting who really calls the shots down at HSBC Arena. HINT: It ain't Darcy or Lindy. The Lawrence runs the show, and if you've ever heard his comments about this roster, you'd know that he's delusional about the level of talent he has. So so long as Timmy Coddle-Me, Max, Drew Stafford (keep calling out the fans Drew, it looks good for you) keep selling jerseys, they aren't going anywhere.

But I wholeheartedly agree. I've seen enough of this current roster over the last 2 years to tell you who the real players are, and who's dead weight. Time to cut that dead weight loose and move on.

[ZAP]

Beavis, I agree with you , the mgt needs to step up and make some meaningfull changes. Not jusy bring in a Rivet and trade Bernier. I know the first 2 years after the lock out they did not want o mess with chemstry (which was working). We are no longer a playoff team and we have had the same roster for a full year and no 1/4 of a season. This chemstry is not working and needs a 2/3 player trade , and not just Kotalik, Max or Connelly. We need to trade some qulaity to get something of value. LET THE TRADING BEGIN.

[jan]

so the season is just starting? guess I really overpaid for the tickets for games I already attended.

[Beavis]

John,

Thanks for calling out the Sabres coaching staff and management on this ridiculous ploy.

I was becoming worried that the local media and beat writers were going soft on Lindy, Darcy, et al.

I would love to see more questions from reporters about why the Sabres have been so inflexible with their roster and refuse to shake things up with this underachieving group.

Can someone get Lindy to comment on the fact that this team may not be underachieving at all. This may be their peak? After all, they weren't a playoff team last year and they seemingly played over their heads to start the year.

Why is management so reluctant to part with the team's dead weight? Why do they hesitate to bring up Weber, Gerbe, Kennedy and Butler while this season goes down the toilet?