Sabres president invokes Lemieux, Gretzky and Orr in trying to explain struggles

The Buffalo Sabres' 45 points are tied for the worst mark in the Eastern Conference, and considering that they added high-priced players like Ville Leino and Christian Ehrhoff, the season is close to a disaster.

Team president Ted Black isn't ready to write off the campaign as lost, though.
Ville Leino has struggled for the Sabres. (AP Photo)

"I wouldn’t say that about any season because you never know where the seeds of greatness are going to be planted," Black told the Buffalo News. "So I wouldn’t say it’s a lost season because that would suggest somehow we’re abandoning our efforts, and we’re not."

Black reiterated that coach Lindy Ruff and GM Darcy Regier are safe, and stated his belief that Buffalo's struggles stem more from good players having bad seasons than anything else.

"It’s a tough year," Black said. "Guys are just on pace to have career-low years in key categories such as goals. If you had a team that had Lemieux, Gretzky, Orr and Howe, and imported their worst statistical years, you’d probably have a team that wasn’t going to make the playoffs. There’s no slight to those great players, the fact is every player has a career-best year, and every player has a career-worst year."

It's easy to imagine that Black is talking in part about Leino, who has three goals and eight assists in 38 games—but only if you use one season as a measuring point. Buffalo signed him to a six-year deal with a $6.5 million annual cap hit after Leino had 53 points with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010-11. Before that, Leino had 20 points … in 68 career games split between the Flyers and Detroit Red Wings.

Ted Black can't possibly be that stupid. I mean he'd have to be retarded to believe his own bullshit.

Pegula clearly is very sensitive to criticism; and has all his people echoing a positive sentiment about our "unfortunate season."

Even WGR's Paul Hamilton, who used to speak his own mind, is now touting the company line.

Sickening, and insulting to all the Buffalo fans, who are a hell of a lot smarter than they want to give credit for.

Has Ted Black ever played hockey?

There you go. Exactly.

And personally I'd rather have a well-meaning optimist than a lying asshole for an owner. At least I could root for the optimist.

"Our commitment is to winning, not to any particular group of players that are labeled as a core," Black said. "Take that for what it's worth."

We've heard Roy's name come up a few times. They're trying to change things. I think that if we fire the coach the GM will follow, which is why I think they're waiting until the offseason.

Ok if Roy goes and hecht isnt back due to concussion issues. Who are your centers?
I'm still thinking this team is flawed down the middle.

Roy is a 2 ish C playing like a 3rd

Adam is young and promising but needs another year at number 3 c

Hecht was doing ok but is hurt

Leino boyes staff have been solid recently. But isn't it really a weak 2nd line solid 3rd line Paid almost like a first line?

Pommers while seen at the dot is a wing.

Goose and Cody are fine on the forth line. But goose is over paid there

So I am almost thinking we need to find a solid vet C. 2-3 year guy who can Play the second line to help groom Adam. Who could that be? Do you really want Adam learning from Roy ?


My point being how can condem him for what he is given to work with down the middle?

I'd almost consider lindy and Darcy in the first year of a new job. You really need to give them two or three years to get through and past the prior owners and prior owners restraints

There you go. Exactly.

And personally I'd rather have a well-meaning optimist than a lying asshole for an owner. At least I could root for the optimist.