Your position is that a loss would be better for the team than a win. That's no different than saying they should just throw the game on purpose.

Losses are NEVER better.

If you thought there was a BETTER chance a move would be made by the front office IF the team left off before the break on a down note, you wouldn't be okay with ONE loss? A loss that makes a 7-game winless streak that might be the catalyst for change?

I'm not saying it would have been the case, but if it might have been the tipping point, how could you not be okay with it?

I'd rather win also, every point matters right now, especially if we want home ice advantage in the first round at least.

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No.

Going into tonight's games, the team was 1 point behind the Sens for the division lead. They're in a dogfight (of their own doing) to try and get that lead back. They need EVERY point they can get, every night.

How many years has this team missed the playoffs by just a couple points here or there? Winning counts, a lot. Because of the 3 point games, standings are tighter than ever. You cannot afford to just give away points for no good reason.

If 'one more loss' is what you need to effect change in your organization, then you're fucked already. The Sabres are not that team.

Suggesting that losses are better than wins , at any time, for any reason, is a foolish argument that has no merit other than silly message board prognosticating.

Darcy will look past the six game losing streak, he is happy with his team, even if not all are up to what their contracts say they are. all he is looking for is the playoffs to save his job.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

If Darcy were to make a trade, it wouldn't be because we were on a 7 game losing streak, he would make a trade because his star player is pissed at the lackluster play in front of him.

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"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." ~ Han Solo


We truly are not worthy of Miller!

I agree completely Squanto. I have dim hopes for them once they do enter the playoffs (its a love/hate thing for the streakyness of some of our players) but I do have hopes none the less. And that means every single point is crucial. No team should ever tank a game when your in the playoff hunt at the level Buffalo is at right now.

I have been more than pleasantly suprised by this team. Miller's great play not withstanding, the Defense has shocked me. Sure they've broken down the last 15 games or so, but I would have to believe Lindy gave them the green light to pinch the way they have been in an effort to drive up scoring, thereby taking some of the game to game pressure off and getting the fans excited. I like that in Lindy, it shows he is willing to respond to what the fans are asking for.

Unfortunatley, it also shows that we do need to make a move in the forwards. I have stated it alot in the last 24 to 48 hours, but, with Florida and Edmonton both stating that no one on their rosters is off limits, I would have to think a Nathan Horton or a Dustin Penner stick out. Not to mention Defensemen, which I am sure many on here know more than I about them from those 2 teams.

With the right moves, Darcy could take a team that is good and make them much, much better.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

Hmmmmmm.....

If it were not for that, there's be a lot less messageboards in this world.

AND FOR THE RECORD, AGAIN,

I NEVER suggested that the team TANK on purpose, I simply suggested that ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, had they lost to the sharks, it may have been the final straw, giving Darcy 2 1/2 weeks to mull over what to do next while the entire league is stagnant.

Sorry for thinking more about a cup than a single victory. To me, the BIG picture is more important.

And as far as the team being "fucked already" if one more loss is what it would take to exact change: Bullshit. All changes are about hitting a tipping point. This goes well beyond hockey.

PPr, I don't think adding to the losing streak would make any difference to Darcy's plans. Even if they lost last night and then the next game right before the trade deadline, Darcy is going to think long term, not panic, and make a deal that (hopefully) helps now AND next season.

Buffalo won't, and actually can't, afford the players or cap hit for a big name rental player. That leaves 2nd tier pending FAs as the next option. If they aren't part of building a better team for next season I want no part of them. A 2nd tier player isn't going to make enough of a difference this season to sacrifice a decent pick or prospect. So even giving up a pick/prospect for players I like (Seidenberg or Foster) would be a fail if they aren't/can't be resigned for the next few seasons. Trading for players under contract would be the best option, but it's likely that it would cost players we want to keep, rather than expendable ones (Lydman, Sekera, MacArthur, Gragnani, Gogulla, Gerbe-yes Gerbe).

Nobody is going to take on contracts like Vanek, Pominville, or Hecht. Trading Roy or Connolly would leave holes that nobody else on the team can fill. That doesn't mean they are GREAT players, but just because they have value compared to their contracts that makes them trade-worthy doesn't make it a good move. The sad fact is that nobody else on the team can replace their ice time, especially on special teams. So any deal involving them means replacing them as well as trying to address the current holes (vet scoring forward, top 4 d-man that can be a PP QB).

Gaustad, Kaleta, Myers, and Miller are off limits. That leaves a bunch of UFAs (Grier, Mair, Ellis, Paetsch, Lalime) that have little trade value if any. Only Tallinder and Lydman are UFAs that are trade worthy, and it would probably be a bad decision to break up the only good defense pair we have. That leaves Lydman, Stafford, and two RFAs that are probably worth keeping (Kennedy and Butler).

By my assesment, the only players that are trade-able and not going to hurt too much to lose are MacArthur, Stafford, Lydman, Montador, Sekera, and any prospect besides Ennis, Adam, Kassian, and Weber. Anyone else on the roster is either not trade-able due to their cap hit, not worth trading because of their value to the team, or not going to get anything in return anyway.

How many GMs around the league are going to be trade partners with that list?

Just because the fans are stupid and can only remember the previous game doesn't mean management it.

Let me pose this question:

If it's game seven of the cup finals, would you want the sabres to win, or to lose so management could chew on the improvements they need to make? Just saying...

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

That's completely ridiculous because the whole point is to be good enough to GET to the cup finals.

If ONE MORE loss provided the tipping point between Darcy making a move to better the team or not (and who's to say what the mind will do), then how could you NOT want the team to get better by whatever means possible? By whatever catalyst possible? At some point Darcy's meter has to register red, if it's almost there, I'd prefer it get there FAST and have needed changes made ASAP.

The Sabres WILL be in the playoffs. I am talking about the greater good.

Would Lindy trust ANY backup?????

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He started Biron 35 games in 05-06 and 19 in 06-07 (before he was traded) while Miller was on this roster. I think Lindy has full confidence in a player like Biron.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010