Why would ownership keep a management group around that fails to achieve success? What's the logic behind missing the playoffs two years in a row and staying put with who you've got?

How about responsibility?



Regier and Ruff have always consulted heavily on who and what they need for this team. And while Regier has made some questionable moves over time, he's no idiot.

In order for the Sabres to stay close to the level they were at, they'd need to keep at least one of these guys around.

So who exactly was responsible for BOTH of these players walking out the door?



http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/colum ... 312015.ece

Ownership.

Somehow, someway, BTG dropped the ball. And he knew it. And that's why he couldn't bring himself to replace those who make hockey decisions.

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Wheelhouse

I really don't know why we're still beating a friggin dead horse. The BTG era is coming to a close, let it rest in peace at look forward to the future.

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If you bring in a New GM, you can't go and say that the new guy or girl must keep the coach, as i don't think most GMs would not want the freedom to choose a coach. I'm sure a new GM could come in and evaluate the coaching position and if he is happy then he stays otherwise the ax. I do want to see some fresh blood in the coaching and managerial parts of the sabres as 14 and 13 years of the same guy has gotten us no championships, plus new ideas don't necessarily hurt.

I was looking at candidates for GM a couple names are:

Julien Brisebois (Lightning under Yzerman)
http://lightning.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=50495

Jim Nill (Detroit under Holland)
http://redwings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?b ... taffbio_80

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

though excitement over what pegula will bring is definitely a good thing.

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

Are people not reading what I'm writing?

I'm not advocating that we build a statue for BTG outside HSBC Arena, give him the key to the city (LOL TO), 30 virgins, and complementary reach arounds every time he passes through the Williamsville toll barrier.

Was the guy a great team owner? No. He let LQ meddle too much, and by extension made some dumb personnel moves. I don't think anyone has ever disputed that.

However, he deserves full credit for two very important things.

1. He kept this team in Buffalo. If he doesn't do it, we have no team in this town, and are rooting for Paul Allen's Portland Sabres.

2. He turned the business of the Sabres around. The team has gone from near bankruptcy to very financially viable, with a solid season ticket base, good marketing, and excellent variable pricing scheme to keep the game affordable for area residents.

BTG fixed the business, unfortunately at the expense of the team. He's set the table for Pegula to take control of a well run business, and try and turn the on ice fortunes around.

I read what you wrote. It said:



Just wanted to clarify that it wasn't all on Regier.

Not saying that I don't appreciate what BTG did here. I agree with you there.

I'm just saying that some fishy things went on hockey-wise while he was here, and I believe a lot of that had to do with him.

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Wheelhouse

I don't put it all on Regier, but he should shoulder some blame. I added Quinn there because I feel that LQ had more to do with the meddling than BTG did. LQ was running day to day operations for BTG since day 1.

From the start, BTG admitted that he didn't know much about hockey, and was only a recent fan. I can't imagine that someone would make that statement, and then meddle in personnel decisions. I'm confident that LQ was the one calling the shots, and BTG accepted LQ's judgement on these things.

It's been my position all along that LQ was the problem. BTG opened the wallet, and LQ dictated to Regier how to spend good chunks of it.

Exactly. BTG is a business man, that's what he does and does it well. He didn't buy the Sabres for the love of hockey.

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Paul Hamilton is reporting that this will be announced Thursday morning.

if the sabres had moved to portland, i wonder if they would have retained the black and red logo to match up with the trailblazers colours.... hmmm.

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Doubt it, they probably would have had a whole new makeover. I mean the colors might be the same but the team would have a new name and what not...

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

Regier received a 2-year extension last fall:

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabre ... 329598.ece

Not really surprising to me.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

i was JUST about to post this. i don't understand why they kept this under wraps.



pegula can still can him if he wants, though. let's just hope he wants to.

excellent

I am already excited about the trade deadline...Regier will be playing his cards like his job depends on it...and he is going to have a powerful backer.

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"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

Damn I'm excited. I do not hold a lot of hope out for this year, but I bet this team will be pretty damn good next year.

*fingers crossed*

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--Scott

Can we hope that video scouting goes away and we get some real scouts? I'm not a big fan of video scouting.

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--Scott

Why would Regier get a safety net contract and not Ruff (not that either should have gotten one)?

???????????

I'm not here to debate with and Darcy and Lindy lovers, but I would love to see Lindy moved up to GM and Darcy out. Lindy is stale and Darcy (regardless of Quinn's tinkering) hasn't done anything to write home about since I was in highschool. I'd prefer newness all around.

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Ruff actually was offered one, and declined.

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Girgensons for captain. Team Keep Nick DesLauriers forever.

@TJLuckman550

Yeah I just read that...kinda strange. I thought being under contract would get them paid even if they get fired.