A Sad Day In Sabreland

RIP #7 Rico Martin. Prayers and blessings to his wife, kids and close friends. By far my favorite Sabre of all time, and the member of the French Connection that made Buffalo his home. Too many highlights and memories to recount, but a classy effort and win tonight by the Sabres in honor of their fallen, esteemed alum.

The Awakening

Winter's hibernation is almost over and what a run the last two months! So hard to discern where this is going to end by the Spring but this team is looking pretty formidable with solid goaltending, timely scoring and special teams all kicking in at the same time. Like the Boyes pickup in the new ownership era. The big question from where I sit - this year has seen the most consistently sloppy defense by this team I can remember. Me thinks there's just not enough horses there and the likes of Sekera and Butler are not stepping up to the extent needed to account for losses from what was already an average defense corps last year.

Bouncing Back?

Tough loss tonight to Tampa after a nice stretch the last two weeks. Very positive signs including Vanek's consistent emergence as a nightly force, and the improved play overall by the defense. I stand by the need to move or waive #19. Another bad turnover tonight on the first goal. Can't imagine the coaching staff wants to deal with him anymore, and many of the character players on this team deserve the elimination of his presence in the dressing room. No doubt Luke Adam would be better. Also pretty clear Enroth will get the starts Miller is unable to make moving forward.

Rotten to the Core?

Amidst all the debate about whether this should be the end of the line for the longest tenured coach in the NHL or making an even bolder move in the front office, there are 23 players pulling paychecks that fully control the fate of this team over the next four weeks. Unfortunately, there's nothing I've seen to date, or for the most part, over the last four years, from the "core" of this crew that makes me believe they have enough talent or will to realize a turnaround. Coaching moves and captaincy roles just don't matter at this point. It's the group that came up with the Amerks, stepped into secondary roles after the lockout, and were then awarded long term financial commitments from management, that now lead this team who are facing a line item confirmation or veto from the fan base based on what happens in coming weeks. Roy, Vanek, Miller, Gaustad and Pommenville - the bell tolls for you. I wish there were more to build on than a division title over the last four years to point to for confidence in what you can do as a leadership group...

Road Warriors

Good news! Three away games coming up this week. I'm making a call out to all Sabre fans in Buffalo to organize and take shifts blocking all entrances to HSBC arena over the next 5 months, forcing all away games the rest of the year. An alternative move may be to work out a deal with Jim Balsillie to have all would be home games played in Hamilton the remainder of the season. Still plenty close for Buffalonians to make the trip, but perhaps far enough away to feel to the players like an away game. Added bonus, the outstanding white home jerseys being worn every game!

Should be an interesting week with key players starting to heat up and the possible return of #29. Doubt Miller will see the bench again until well after Thanksgiving as the team works to dig itself out of a deep hole. Still want to see one of the "top 2" centers traded and Adam brought up in the next few weeks. We shall see....

Righting the Ship

Three moves I would make starting today to right the ship:

1. Move Paul Gaustad to the first line between Vanek and Ennis - he's the only current effective forechecker on this club and it's time to give him a shot to win pucks and create space for the two most talented offensive players on the team.
2. Trade Derek Roy for Brad Richards - Roy's value will never be higher and Dallas would be attracted to the salary dump.
3. Sit or even waive Tim Connolly and bring up Luke Adam to center a line between Stafford and Gerbe - this is all about a morale move to give credit to the other players in the locker room who play with any level of passion.

40 and Still Kicking

I'm posting this just as the puck drops at HSBC after a tribute was made to four decades of exciting hockey. How long of a history is no doubt dependent on the perspective of the fan and their respective chronological age, or the length of their history as a Sabre fan.

Fact: 40 YEARS AND NO STANLEY CUP! ouch. Certainly not the futility some other sports franchises have experienced, but, Buffalo is a unique town in that no one under the age of 40 born and raised (and living wherever now) has EVER experienced a professional sports championship victory by their hometown team. For those older, there were pre-Super Bowl era AFC championships, but the fact is the region has NEVER experience a major professional sports championship.

Those that know me also know that I am a glass 3/4 full type of guy. What all his means to me is that the party when the Blue and Gold does finally hoist the cup will be one like no other. Here's to it being this year. In the interim...happy anniversary Sabres!