Not sure how anyone can be surprised. Pegula and Black have always suggested that these 2 would play out their contracts at least. If they don't succeed next year, I fully expect them gone.
So, that said:
Query #1: If the Sabres have a "successful" season next year (begin debating what that means), how will the Lindy/Darcy haters react?
Query #2: If Darcy makes what appear to be good draft choices and off-season trades, but the Sabres miss the playoffs next year, how will people react?
Food for thought.
(By way of disclosure, my personal druthers would be to keep Darcy and get rid of Lindy, although I am close to being on the fence about both of them.)
I had no expectations that either Ruff or Regier would be gone. I'm not sure I have a problem with the decision. I expect Roy to be moved, and Boyes, Goose and Hecht are off the cap. There is no doubt that Pegula will spend to the upper limit of the cap. The only question is with the CBA uncertainty, the cap ceiling may not be much higher until a deal is reached.
I'm pissed we missed the playoffs, but there is no question that I will keep my season tickets. I need a few weeks before I want to watch hockey though.
I'm not surprised. I'm disappointed that the new ownership fed us a bunch of Stanley Cup ********, and settled for 9th place and no hard look at the men behind it.
Also of note, Vanek, Pominville, and Miller are all UFAs in two years......
If they were going to blow things up, the summer of 2014 is a logical point in time to do so.
exactly
its been my feeling from day 1 ("lindy aint going nowhere")
although, i didn't expect it to start out so poorly... i was actually thinking we'd contend for the division, and then get embarrassed in the first round of the playoff because we are built like a QMJHL team
Since it's clear Ruff will never go, it's time to start shipping players out. Starting with Roy.
I agree, but a token moving of Roy (akin to the token moving of Timmy boy last year) is not enough. At this point that is not a disruptive game changer.
It's just obvious common sense.
Look at Connolly. Sure, it was nice to see him gone, but did it change a damned thing with the dynamic of this team/management?
Suddenly, my anticipation factor for next season is lessened.
and this but fixed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beechsack
I hope about 1800 more people have this attitude so I can move up the season ticket list.
It would be nice (though I'm not even on the list). I doubt that people in this area will stop watching because we don't change coaches or GM though.
We all (mostly) thought that we had decent depth at the start of this season from the player side (other than at center). How do we think that we are going to get exponentially better over one offseason by giving or taking a few players here or there. We had decent talent and okay depth. Chemistry and direction was missing for too much of the season and now with two years projected to reach the cup, how does not making any changes on the coaching or front office side give us a better chance?
I had no expectations that either Ruff or Regier would be gone. I'm not sure I have a problem with the decision. I expect Roy to be moved, and Boyes, Goose and Hecht are off the cap. There is no doubt that Pegula will spend to the upper limit of the cap. The only question is with the CBA uncertainty, the cap ceiling may not be much higher until a deal is reached.
I'm pissed we missed the playoffs, but there is no question that I will keep my season tickets. I need a few weeks before I want to watch hockey though.
Actually, it's the opposite.
It will likely be lower when a new deal is reached.
During the remainder of the existing agreement, it will be very high.
Just so I'm on topic, this is totally expected.
Not much else you can say.
its been my feeling from day 1 ("lindy aint going nowhere")
although, i didn't expect it to start out so poorly... i was actually thinking we'd contend for the division, and then get embarrassed in the first round of the playoff because we are built like a QMJHL team
I'm not sure I've seen someone put it like that (the QMJHL) but that is one of our problems in a nutshell.
At best, we are built to do a lot of winning in easy regular season games. We are not built for a deep playoff war. I honestly do not believe Ruff or Regier get that, or that they look at intangibles in assessing talent. Darcy is too much of a stats guy. He overlooks things like "will to win" "desire to compete" "leader at all previous levels" and this type of thing.
Black and Pegula made it clear that Regier and Ruff were being given a clear slate and would be judged solely on their performance since Pegula. It was also made clear that they would show patience and not make rash decisions.
Yet, people will act surprised by this, or infuriated.
React how you want, but the plan was to give them at LEAST 2 years from the beginning.
A caller just explained the "clean slate" concept that he believes Pegula and Black are adhering to. I.E., Ruff and Regier have effectively been here 1 year as far as Terry is concerned.
