I'm with Tom on this one; the players don't need to play to "keep" their job to impress a new owner.

_________________

Ok I'm not an idiot, I know the players have guaranteed contracts. But what about them playing better because Pegula is willing to spend the money. Golisano was not as willing to spend or give lengthy contracts. That could be a reason to play better.

Also I think it was not immediately after rumors surfaced that their play got better, I think it was when things became more concrete and evident that new ownership was for real.

Your probably right though, Squanto, you always are

I just don't think that this ownership change had an effect on the players like the last one did.

When BTG bought the team, they were broke, not getting paychecks on time, not getting equipment on time, etc. Now, they don't have to deal with any of that stuff.

I'll dispute this nonsense about BTG 'not being willing to spend' too. They paid Miller, Roy, Pomminville, Vanek, all multi-year deals. They spend close to the salary cap every year except this one. That is not a cheap owner.

Right, but I doubt BTG is willing to come out of pocket to pick up someone else to replace Roy. That's how it works, right? If Roy's hurt, he still gets paid, but his salary doesn't count against the cap?

_________________

Ok ok, I digress, I will never post anymore "nonsense"

What the fuck is your problem? I disagree with you. Big deal.

I dunno, my thought on this is that it could have gone either way.

Either the team was willing to play balls to the wall to keep their jobs, or they would have been nervous as shit and screwed the pooch royally.

I don't think Pegula's presence has had that much to do with the mindset of the team since all of this began. It's not like it was when the team was in bankruptcy, where players had no idea wtf was going to happen or if the team was even going to be in Buffalo moving forward.

_________________
If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Yeah. When someone goes on LTIR, they still get paid, but it doesn't count against cap numbers. That's what happened a couple years ago with Connolly. They were able to go over the cap because TC was on LTIR. (They were also investigated by the NHL to make sure they weren't stashing Connolly there when he was no longer hurt. )

This year is the aberration. If Roy's injury happens in past years, I think they may have tried to go get a replacement. This year, because of the sale, they were less inclined. I don't like it, but I can understand why.

The numbers don't lie. BTG spent a lot of money on player salaries when he was the owner. He was not cheap.

I honestly think that they just aren't that good... yeah a couple boarder line great players... a few good players... some great young talent... but in all not a well enough built team to withstand the injury to Roy.... even if it did allow TV and Staff to show a little more...

BUT.... Lets see how this works.... simple... good enough or not, playing wise... so I count 13 players of 24 that are simply not playing good enough hockey.... when half your team isn't playing good enough, well your gonna lose games - John Madden

24 PAUL BYRON - Rookie, like what i see, but not good enough, based on experience
19 TIM CONNOLLY - Clearly NOT good enough and he's your 1/2 C
63 TYLER ENNIS - Id say good enough
28 PAUL GAUSTAD - Id say good on face off, but over all not good enough
42 NATHAN GERBE - Again, shows flashes, but not good enough
25 MICHAEL GRIER - sorry, he is past his prime, not good enough
55 JOCHEN HECHT - move to C a bit, but I gotta say, not good enough
36 PATRICK KALETA - Oft injured this year, to inconsistent this year, not good enough
8 CODY MCCORMICK - Good enough
20 ROB NIEDERMAYER - Im sorry, but not good enough
29 JASON POMINVILLE - I know concussion and all, but simply not good enough
9 DEREK ROY ** - Injured... team played better without him for a little, but i think its caught up
21 DREW STAFFORD - Better as of late, we'll call him good enough, who is his C
26 THOMAS VANEK - Same as Drew.... we'll say good enough because who is his C

34 CHRIS BUTLER - good enough for what he is
3 JORDAN LEOPOLD - Nice pick up, few bone head plays, but good enough
4 STEVE MONTADOR - I like monte, good enough, nice steady game
27 SHAONE MORRISONN - I like ShaMo, injured early, coming on with Weber, ALMOST good enough
57 TYLER MYERS - trying to do to much himself, but still good enough
52 CRAIG RIVET "C" - sorry, nice guy, but not good enough
44 ANDREJ SEKERA - shows flashes...but inconsistent. almost but not good enough yet
6 MIKE WEBER - I think Weber has finally come on Good enough

30 Miller - Not good enough, blame the D, blame the injury, blame the Ruff, blame the back up, I don't care who you blame, its not good enough

LALA - simply not good enough...

_________________

I disagree Squanto, BTG was cheap. I hate to bring this up but if he wasn't Drury and Briere would be Sabres. He treated the Sabres with a buisness first mentality their was no passion after the first few season. He cared more about breaking even rather than winning.

It's not that BTG was cheap, go back and check out the previous seasons salaries for proof on this. The team has spent fairly close to the cap every season with the exception of this year. The issue is/was the terms of the contracts which were paid out.

In short, a lot of money spent in what could be considered the wrong way.

_________________
If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

As Squanto will point out... BTG really wasn't cheap, other than this year, BTG has spent to the cap... He may not have spent the money wisely ... he may have skimped in other areas (scouting)... he or Quinn may have had dumb rules (not talking contracts in season in season), but BTG did spend on players... just didn't do it the right way...and I blame Quinn, but he is gone so all is right with the world

_________________

I heard via hockeybuzz.com that it was going to be announced Quinn is taking over the position of Parkade sweeper and Nacho Vendor.

e4 people! You heard it here first!

_________________
If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Well at least we can all agree that we are thrilled to see Mr. hockey himself Larry Quinn gone.

And if they were, we'd be paying Chris Drury the same money as Vanek to have the same points as Hecht.

_________________
Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Guys...chill out.

They sprinted hard to catch up to the rest of the racers, now they have had a little rest, They will catch their second wind on sunday, you will see.

_________________
"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

I think you're probably right x pens fan.

I still think they shouldn't have taken a day off on Thursday. They should have had a light practice.

_________________
Wheelhouse

I would love to know how you could predict that.

I would love to know how you could predict that.

Of course I'm right, they will be skating hard tomorrow!

Bodreau better pack an extra box of waffles to wipe his his forehead with, because he's going to be sweating harder then he does Thanksgiving Day morning! Ovechkin is going to push 3 Russian women holding video cameras because he will be so upset over the lose. And Green will give Semin a Dutch Rutter, but that's pretty much the norm over there.

_________________
"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger