The Sabres are the main reason why I tell so many Flyers fans who want a full-on tear down to be careful what they wish for. It may result in a never-ending rebuild like Buffalo or Ottawa.
The fact that they sent Brandon Hagel to Chicago without offering him a contract, and Chicago got two first round picks for him later, should tell you something about Buffalo.
You could list off an entire team of players that still play in the NHL the Sabres let go for pittance, Pegula doesn't know hockey and has been GM of the team for 14 years now.
@@JoshDragRace0688 In Chicago we can relate, we had Scotty Bowman and Bob Pulford, who both thought they were the smartest guys in the room and were clearly not.
Vegas made a Stanley cup final with a roster of guys that needed a change of scenery or were considered castoffs. Fringe Players going elsewhere and thriving happens to every team.
Every other commentator wants you to forget perspective on this issue - THG reminds us exactly how great a sports town Buffalo is, and how the Sabres got here.
@@GoodMenstruationAttitude Exactly. Other people see an empty seat and think it's on the fans. Almost no market let alone the one with the least people in it would have attendance anything like this. This is Southern cities with cup contending teams numbers. Also there was a cap on season tickets until Covid. So the numbers would be even higher when there was still a waiting list. The arena used to hold 18690 too. Then they made it 19070 for the 1970 inaugural year
He took over when the team was in last place in the NHL and then after that night the teams record was the best in the league to get in. That was 2010-2011. He has deep pockets and without those the Sabres do not have the possibility to go to the cap. Tom said he could not make money or break even if the cap went much above 55mil like it was in 2008. They would not be in Buffalo if not for Pegula and he is now a bit more hands off. The signings this summer made perfect sense and they have not been the issue. There was no deal to be made with our players or draft picks to get a first line guy.
Know what the worst part is? Pegula also owns the Buffalo Bills, and the Bills have had a lot of regular season success over the past few years. Playoff success is a different story, but the Bills are winning games because the Pegulas aren't interfering with the Bills' system. Meanwhile Terry gave his spouse Kim the reigns of the Sabres, and what did it lead to? One of the longest losing streaks in the history of the league. 18 games during the 2020-21 shortened season. And unfortunately there are other owners who own two franchises and try to control one with an iron grip while letting the other do what it wants. The Rangers shared an owner with the Knicks of the NBA and it's shown the two going in opposite directions.
@@grahamdamberger7130 Kim is not making decisions for the team now. Pegula bought the Bills to not leave Buffalo. He is not passionate about the Bills. If he stays hand off with the Sabres and keeps his wallet open to going to the cap he is the best option for the Sabres
He is doing the exact opposite of what you say he should, that's the problem. The Sabres have yet to spend anywhere near the cap the entire time he has owned the team. There is a clear internal salary cap. Add in the fact that he meddles with the team constantly, GMKA just said in the presser that he talks to Terry every day. That is NOT a good thing. Terry is 100000% the problem with this team
Very fitting that he's an oil executive. He mines the earth for oil, and he mines buffalo for their love of sports by raking in money even when the team is horrible
I'm so glad you decided to add the attendance in the yearly stats. We all love this team and we want to show up to games. But as it was said, we just have so much else to do that doesn't involve buying a ticket, driving in lake effect snow, and blowing money on mediocre food just to watch the team we're all so passionate about lose a game we should be winning. We all want to go back to games, we're just so tired of misery.
As a Brit who worked in Ontario I regularly went to Sabres games around the Marty Biron era, Sabres fans are easily amongst the best I've encountered in any sport. This decade has certainly tested that steely loyalty. Here's hoping it's coming to an end.
I can remember the Buffalo Sabres in the playoffs... Yes, I'm old! Like we old people say, "Back in my day, the Buffalo Sabres used to make the playoffs fairly often. Yes, in the good ol' days the Sabres were regularly in contention for a playoff spot."
Of course in the good old days.. back prior to our last cup run.. most of the years you can count on one hand the number of teams that missed. Prior to the Merger.. 12 out of 18 teams made it.. until 79 when cleveland was gone and it was 12 of 17.. then after the WHA merger, 16 of 21 teams made it. So back then missing took work.. now, you have to work to get in. Though I will say.. under adams.. we're knocking on the door (all but his first season.. but the team got leveled by covid itself and created a huge losing streak...).. I think he wanted to make a few moves this offseason, but couldn't find a partner to make the BIG move with. Outside of Laine (who was out most if not all of last year and has off the ice issues).. no other big names really moved. Which sucked. I can't blame the GM for not shopping when the shops are all closed.
Others moving on to win Cups also included Brandon Montour and Zach Bogosian..I remember when both were not getting a ton of ice time during Sabres time.
Montour was a primary reason of Florida’s 23 cup run to the final and was a major piece in the 24 run. I get Reinhart is now a flashy name with the scoring but it is extremely difficult to find a defenseman as good as Montour that will play that many minutes every night.
@@nickmanganaro13 hated to see him walk. I had issues with his defense sometimes last season, but I revisited the season and the playoffs, and he was a big piece. We have no defensemen that can produce offense right now. I hope we get someone in FA.
if the Panthers had kept all those Top-5 Top-10 draft picks together for a few years they would've been a playoff team. But he-who-shall-not-be-named ran the thing as a corporate shell game tax loss ponzi scheme
Oilers fan here and a Sabres fan in the East. Really feel and share the Sabres pain after enduring the Oilers "Decade of Darkness". Buffalo became my Eastern team after their 06 run where they eventually fell to the Cup Champs, the Canes. As an Oiler fan, I really wanted them to face the GOAT-Head instead of the Canes in the 2006 SCF. I would have been OK with the Cup going to them either way.
Lindy Ruff was the right hire and I stand by this. The players are not responding to his coaching style and he doesn’t put up lazy, soft, easy to play against players who make mental mistakes. If this team bends to his will, they’ll crush it. But if they don’t, it’s their fault, not his. Keep Lindy, and fix management. EDIT: Also Terry should sell the team.
That's cause they panic the moment something goes wrong and they can't get out of their heads, they are mentally soft. Ever notice that guys like Benson, NAK, Zucker, McLeod, Kozak, Greenway, Krebs, Dahlin, UPL, Byram, Johnson, Clifton, etc. don't ever change their game no matter what? Cause they know their game, they know it works and won't let it get to them like guys like Cozens, Quinn, Power, etc. They need to stop dwelling on bad plays and losses, put down the tablet and watch what's going on, what's working and do what they do best
I cursed the Sabres when they booed their goalie for making saves and cheered goals against during the “tank for McDavid” season. They have never recovered, I’m so sorry.
Losing deliberately alters the mind set. Bars are lowered and suddenly aspirations are equally as low. It's hard to change an entire psychology in a team unit. 😕
@@1bert719 it was the most shocking thing I have ever seen in sports (injuries, trades, goals, whatever). To disregard pride because you thought McDavid is coming there was wild. Edmonton hasn’t cashed in on him but imagine Buffalo getting him, it would have been way worse…
@kenmartin5009 Your right there, McDavid would be in Vegas now. I can't understand how an organisation can go from contending on a small budget (remember the pre cap era?) To be such a failure. Even the LA Clippers haven't maintained such a level of ineptitude over a decade. It's a real shame, and I use to support the Coyotes!
Buffalo needs 2 to 3 more Alex Tuchs. Thanks for your videos. This Sabres fan appreciates a good thorough listing of good and bad points on this team as you have done. Kudos 😎👍
November 12, 2011 - when Milan Lucic steamrolled Ryan Miller and no Sabre player jumped in his face to defend their netminder and best player, THAT obliterated the franchise, and they never recovered from that since.
Saw your dad play towards the end of his career when he was in the minors with the Johnstown Chiefs. Great goalie and a great guy by all accounts. Got loads of respect for "The Michelin Man".
As a Sharks fan that's my fear for a few years now. Hopefully the team seems to be having a good rebuild and trending in the right direction with a good vision from GMMG, but I hate the part of the fanbase that want to tank every year to get the new shiny 1st overall pick. We got our 1st, now it's time to get better and win.
As a sabres fan, I genuinely appreciate your coverage and care for sabres fans lmao. I don't see many long form videos breaking down the reality of the sabres over the past 13 years, let alone two on one channel. Keep up the great work!
Here’s the thing. Its all on the Pegulas. “From this day forward the reason for the Buffalo Sabres existence is to win a Stanley Cup” -Terry. No playoffs since he bought the team. He turned a historically solid franchise and turned them into losers. Losing culture has taken over since the “Tank for McDavid” year and will never be shaken no matter who you bring in as GM or coach. He has an internal cap because he loves money. He won’t let us spend. Its all on Terry. I hatw that fans chant Fire Kevyn because they should be chanting “Sell the team.” I get free tickets to games sometimes (I’m a vet and they give them out sometimes) and I go just to boo them off the ice. I don’t know how much more we can take. Certainly myself anyway. I’ve turned my attention to the PWHL because its way more fun to watch than the Sabres. All I dream of is someday getting to watch the Sabres become what they used to be. But sadly, I’ve lost all hope because of Terry…
@@andrescardonaarias1090 The Bills transformation wasn't without some missteps. I've seen commentary on him that he doesn't really hire well when it comes to people running the teams (He was responsible for hiring Rex Ryan for the Bills early on in his ownership of them). I've also seen that he doesn't really make appearances for the Sabres at all. Earlier on in this season, he attended a game and a local report had said he hadn't even stepped foot in the arena since around covid time. Oddly enough, that same game was attended by the Sabres previous owner.
If the Sabres are actually considering trading Dylan Cozens, a 23-year-old 7th overall pick, then that pretty much explains why this rebuild is never-ending. They should watch THG's videos about the Golden Seals and the Scouts/Rockies.
His 2 way play is abysmal. Tuch and yoki need to go also. Clifton needs to stop with the stupid penalties. The GM doesn't deserve the job. Granato wasn't the problem.
@@JPMadden Cozens was awarded a huge contract after a lucky season. It is more or less impossible to trade Cozens at this moment. However, I would trade Cozens for a bag of pucks and a third round draft pick.
@@robc1961 agree but I would take it further than that. Cozens is a defensive liability every time he steps on the ice. Never in the right position, often losing pucks close to offensive blue.
@@anordman9659 You say he's difficult to trade because of his contract. Then don't try to, because the Sabres will lose whatever trade they can make. Keep him and coach him to play better defensively. It's not uncommon for a top draft pick who played major juniors to have never been expected to play a 2-way game until reaching the NHL.
@@JPMadden well, I don't have any say regarding trading Cozens or not. However, Cozens is starting to lose games for Buffalo. His limited offense is not the key factor, but his abysmal D. The patience with his progression is at its end. I hope coach Ruff can help him because at this moment he is untradeable regardless of our thoughts.
The problem with the Sabres is the same one as every other perma-rebuild team: they don’t have an identity. Or at least, not one that isn’t “total failure.” When Tom Fitzgerald took over in New Jersey, he stated he wanted to build around Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Four years later, it’s safe to say they are out of that rebuild, and they play like the team he’s wanted. Yes, rebuilds take time. But more importantly, they take a vision. Not only do the Sabres not have one, their owner is so meddlesome that they may never have one as long as he’s around.
Thanks for mentioning the meddling owner. Rebuilds also take some luck. Not every 1st or 2nd overall pick becomes a franchise altering player. For every McDavid, Crosby, and (how it’s trending) Hughes, there’s an Erik Johnson, Nail Yakupov, Taylor Hall. I’m not sure if they could’ve built around Eichel. We’ll never know for sure, but it sure seems like he’s better suited to join an already good team and make them better. Whether that’s just the player or because Buffalo screwed him up, who knows
When I look at the Sabres I don’t see a rebuilding team, I see a poorly run business. It’s only going to get better if Pegulas sell. All they’ve done is run this team into the ground
@@williamford9564 because he has a history of being hands on with the Sabres because he does not care about the Bills. He is a guy from PA that fell in love with the Sabres in college and only bought the Bills as a favor to Buffalo so they did not move to Toronto
Right now, a fan Revolution is slowly building there surrounding the infamous “palm tree” line, it’s becoming a symbol of fans showing they’ve had enough
Life long Sabres fan. Not gonna lie….its been hard, very very hard. Honestly not sure how much more I can take. The losses affect my mood way more than it should. Hoping they can turn it around and fast, very fast! Thank you for the well wishes!
The last time I saw this team at KeyBank for a playoff game I was 8. This drought has lasted so long I can now legally acquire alcohol to cope with the fact that we have not put a team on the ice that would be able to imagine anything past 1st round- even in the most optimistic of times for 13 years.
The Sabres is built around a group of nice, talented guys. No grit, no pride, no sense of urgency, no commitment and accountability. Unless Terry Pegula sells the team, NOTHING will change. They badly need a bad, mean big guy to stand up for the youngsters, also show them what commitment is.
No sooner when I asked for a video about the Sabres, you deliver. Thanks THG! Edit* The Pegulas are great owners, for the Bills yes, just not the Sabres.
That's cause Terry is too much of a fan and wanted to do what every single Sabres wanted to do: be involved and all over it. Any Sabres fan who says different is lying. He was a kid who grew up to buy a candy shop
Sabres fan here. Until Terry is gone, nothing will ever change. I’d be surprised in 10 years if the team is either still here or a cup contender. I expect to be in this puddle of misery until I’m dead
Thanks for the video! Used to be there were teams where players go to wind down their career, whether they like it or not. Sabres is a layover location for players heading to places where there are potential Cup winners. If a team won't fully pay a player nor put a full team around a pricey player, that team is going to stay in a holding pattern no matter the market they are in. Blackhawks are almost in that but they've had three Cups this millennia (one of only two teams with the Pens with that distinction) and it's barely been a decade since the third one, so there's two sides to that coin: fans are fairly happy with the history but also feel entitled. We'll see what the Blackhawks manage to put on the ice next year.
Malenstine and Aube-Kubel was a great pickup. The line of Dowd-Malen-Kubel was the best shutdown line probably in NHL history last year, at the very least since the start of advanced metrics. Pinholes Graham does a fantastic video about it. They are both exceptionally fast skaters.
The last time I saw this team at KeyBank for a playoff game I was 8, and that was also 2 name changes ago. This drought has lasted so long I can now legally acquire alcohol to cope with the fact that we have not put a team on the ice that could imagine anything past 1st round in the most optimistic of times for 13 years.
Outstanding breakdown, Shannon. (long rant coming) It is tough to be a Sabres fan, but there always seems to be hope around the bend. It is tough to watch Dylan Cozens play well in 22-23 and fall off in 23-24 and now 24-25, while he is one of the best players on the ice for the Canadian World's team. I don't know how I would feel about losing Cozens, because I know he would thrive elsewhere. It feels like they are one solid veteran away from making a difference or one player's ascension from being a successful team. I believe so much of their low play right now is mental. They need a big event to align their psyche and tilt the universe in their favor. I don't know what that is, but I hope they find it soon.
In my mind, there is one clear reason for the Sabres to be in the hellhole they have been for over a decade: The Thrashers move to Winnipeg. Hear me out. Hockey in Atlanta is key to the Sabres’ success. The team was great in the 70s, when the Flames were in Atlanta; made the Finals, the French Connection, we all know the story. But after the Flames moved to Calgary in 1980, the Sabres struggled to win in the playoffs. They won the division once, in 1981, but failed to do so again until 1997, which, you guessed it, is when Atlanta was awarded a new expansion team. Sabres are elite again, make the Finals in ‘99, and are even considered one of the top franchises in the NHL. The Thrashers are sold and move to Winnipeg, and guess what happens, the Sabres struggle again. Coincidence? I think not. Put an NHL team in Atlanta, the Sabres will be good again. Simple as that.
Shannon, I really like hearing your perspective on teams, especially my team. It's been hard rooting for the Sabres all these years. I no longer live in Western New York, so I don't go to games. I must admit it's getting harder to plan to watch the Sabres on TV. Thanks for being a great NHL fan and contributor on UA-cam.
I think the thing that stings the most about the Sabres' longtime rebuild is seeing teams like Tampa Bay, Florida and Las Vegas be so consistently strong when interest in hockey in those cities is laughably low: when a city that has some strong junior hockey leagues can't make it to the playoffs.
You are the greatest analyst of all time! Love your stuff bro! Merry Christmas…. Note, I moved from Buffalo in 2006. We had about a sell out every game, they weren’t the best but they were fun….. we always supported bad teams…..but this is a cancer at this point that no one wants to be a part of it, enough is enough!
As a Sabres fan born in 02’, it’s become increasingly difficult to care or want to care about this team, to the degree it’s an abusive relationship. You want to care, you want to buy back in, but you know no matter what, that the they will always hurt you. It’s really saddening to see what, once a proud organization, has come into. I really truly hope the Sabres can get back on track again. The city is incredible in their support when they are good. But, it seems that we’ve had generations of Sabres fans alienated at the rate. The last time I saw a Sabres playoff game was when I was in 3rd grade. I’m a now 22. It’s really difficult to see this happen to them.
The numbers don't tell the whole story. Recently, a lot of sabres ticket holders are selling them to visiting team fans. So the attendance number at this point is not a good measure of Buffalo Fan support. Lately it is a better measure of Montreal, Toronto, and Detroit fan support!
Don’t forget Buffalo is close to Ontario, can’t afford leaf game, can’t get leaf tickets, you can go to Buffalo to see NHL hockey. Most likely helped their attendance 🏒😀
The Sabres' prolonged playoff drought only gives the NHL more justification to refrain from putting a team in Hamilton or even a 2nd team in Toronto. If the Buffalo market was not geographically situated directly across the border from the largest hockey fan base on the planet, Southern Ontario, what would those attendance figures be like? Right now, the Bills are the hot ticket in the market. They also enjoy a solid following and support from Southern Ontario. You posted a similar video about several teams, including the Sabres, who seem to be in a constant 'rebuild' mode a few days ago. Having said that, is further expansion by the NHL a good idea where its fan bases are concerned? We have seen what becomes of teams in Atlanta and Phoenix when they miss the playoffs year after year.
This would have been forgivable if there was any progression at all. I remember when I used to watch Miller, Pominville, Vanek, and even Eichel and being genuinely excited about the games. Nowadays, there is no reason to get excited about anything. The on-ice production is consistently awful and ownership either doesn’t care or doesn’t know what they’re doing. I’ve been a Sabres fan since 2008 and always had hope things would turn around. This is the year they broke me. Truthfully, the rebuild will never end until Pegula sells the team. I’ve been a Buffalonian all my life, but if this team is going to get former fans like me back, they need sweeping changes and make the damn playoffs.
Wow Vanek and Pominville, i haven't heard thoes names in ages! I used to pick thoes guys in my hockey pools back in the day! They really put up the points in my pool.
Ahh the annual THG video on my Sabres. This team just pains me so much man, year after year since I was 12 years old. I’m turning 26 soon and there is no end to the drought in sight. It’s baffling a team can suck this long. A lot of it has to do with the Pegulas, it takes a lot to take hockey enthusiasm out of our city and they’ve somehow managed to do it.
i knew this was coming, bah it hurts every year, but you tell it like it is, respect. man i really thought this year would be the year. we just arent there yet. we need a top 6 forward, pref a REAL 2C, a stud vet RHD to babysit owen power til he makes the turn. keep out bottom 6, i really like them.
Very passionate and thorough analysis. A video about NHL team owners trying to mortgage their futures to win a Stanley Cup ‘now’ would be fun. Can you say Acquilini?
I love that Shannon pointed out the attendance numbers. The biggest problem I had with all the innacurate narratives Eichel spun was him saying "it only took 7 years & me leaving" comment after Vegas lost in his return to Buffalo. Because it was total BS. For the vast majority of his tenure with the Sabres the fans filled the barn & supported him fully. I do not however agree with the surgery take. A.) The surgery situation is not why he wanted out. He had already been talking about his departure well before. B.) Because of that & only because of that I lean towards the teams decision. Although I am all for players having bodily atonomy. You have this player on his way out, requesting a fairly new procedure. If it goes well, that's great & all but he is gone shortly after. If it doesn't well tough. Why take any risk when you can seek a trade partner willing to.
It started before 2012. IMHO the decision to match the Vaneck offer sheet was the beginning. It could have been the Herschel Walker trade of the NHL and Bufallo didn't see it.
In my opinion, as a Buffalo native and fan since birth (the cards we're dealt lol)... we can talk as much as we want about ownership, GM, coaching, not having the right guys.. but at the end of the day when you watch this team, and it's been like this for years now even when we thought we did have the guys (eichel, reinhart, o'reilly as you mentioned and many more), it comes down to compete level and how bad you want to win. Neither coaches nor a GM nor ownership can make you win a puck battle, in which we lose so many on a night to night basis. I think we have a lot of skilled players but severely lack not only leadership, but a willingness to compete on a night in night out basis. Even when we had all of those guys that were traded away to then go on and win cups, we suffered from the same issue: inconsistency because of a lack of compete level and willingness to do whatever it takes to win, night in night out
It's got me in a mood today... seeing absolutely nothing but "why do the Sabres keep losing" videos today. I feel like the entire league and every other fanbase is sad for us at this point.
Rebuilding is difficult and not a guarantee of future success. Study case: Edmonton. Year after year of number one draft picks and rebuilding until they drafted the second coming of Gretzky. They still have no Cup to show for it.
9:44: And meanwhile, Buffalo is getting buried under ANOTHER mountain of snow and has had 3-4 feet of snow just in the last 3 weeks. Why WOULD someone other than someone from the Yukon Territories want to live and play there?
It never snows in Canada and all the Winnipeg players who play for a perennial playoff team are drinking pina colladas on the beach right now. The Bills clearly can't attract anybody good either they are doing awful right now. Just a garbage truck of excuses from losers who don't know how to build a team.
Said this before, but this is completely on the Pegula's for firing Tim Murray and bringing in Botterill to undo everything that Murray did AND, tin foil hat, I believe they did it on the advice from the league because Murray was the first to actually say publicly an organization needs to get worse before it gets better. Yes, it has been 13 years, but it has only been four years for Kevyn Adams who seems to be building this franchise correctly. He isn't big name hunting and over spending on players like Jeff Skinner. The core is coming together. The backend and goaltending seems to primed to break out and this team is an elite forward away from really exploding IMO. i know Buffalo fans don't want to hear this word, but patience is needed. The team shouldn't do any drastic moves, but they should make the right move if the opportunity comes along. It just hasn't come yet.
Patience? No playoffs for over a decade? Only 2 appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals since their inception (the last one in 1999)? Actually, Sabres fans have been TOO patient. Other NHL fan bases expect a certain level of compete, even if the team loses. Sabres fans have been lulled to sleep over the past decade and have mostly given up on the team. They need a heart transplant or perhaps at least a defibrillator on the bench.
@ Lehner the Vezina candidate the year after Botterill let him walk for nothing even though he was the team’s starting goalie and was still a RFA? Lehner, the goalie who had a .924, .920 and .908 s% on those bottom dwelling Sabres? Pretty sure he would have been worth a late round first round pick (even in the ‘15 draft) if the Sabres just stuck with him.
@deltagolavista1 what was botterill supposed to do? He became a depressed drunk in Buffalo. Dude couldn't even stop a shot in the shootout and even got smoked by Kucherov in the shootout. You're clueless
As a hockey but also a Habs fan, I feel this is very enlightening as to what type of management issues and misreads of player could potentially plague a rebuilding team like us, but in todays NHL, a full rebuild like we’ve undergone the last 3 seasons going on 4th is one the best ways to potentially access a solid contending window like the Lighting and the blackhawks and the kings had, but the catch is that you could also become the 07’ to ‘24 Sabres 😂
Great video! It always amazes me ever year after the cup finals were Buffalo sits in the American TV ratings for viewership. Buffalo just doenst love the sabres, we love hockey! I think a lot of people forget that , yes, while we are an American city. We sit right on the boarder. We are basically Canada with out the free healthcare.
Attendance numbers would probably be significantly lower this season if they weren't running some sort of gimmick seemingly every night. I'd say at least half of their home games have been boosted by promotions for Bandits season ticket holders.
The Sabres are the main reason why I tell so many Flyers fans who want a full-on tear down to be careful what they wish for. It may result in a never-ending rebuild like Buffalo or Ottawa.
At least the flyers rebuild is going, decently
@@kaiuche8640 The Flyers and Flames are still in the mix for playoff spots so far this season.
@philly_sports Totally agree with you! NEVER burn a team all the way to the ground. If has a negative affect on the entire org.
Ottawa is not in a never-ending rebuild. They were in the conference finals in 2017 and are going to win the cup this year ;)
@@philly_sports1558 the flyers and sabres aren’t too far apart
Last time the Sabres won a round, Ovi, Crosby, and Lundqvist were in their sophomore seasons 😳
2007. Sad
the sabres would then tank for Eichel 5 years later lol
Last time they were in the playoffs, the Atlanta Thrashers were still around
For a different reference next year’s draft class will have that weren’t even born the last time that happened
@@drumitar🤔
13:40 Even their captain Kyle Okposo won a cup after leaving.
Eichel...
Buffalo is a precup warmup
Along with Brandon Montour & Evan Rodriguez.
Dont forget Sam Reinhart! Who is a top 5-10 goal scorer in the league now lol
@@LegionOfPablo And Zach Bogosian. Anyone who gets traded out of Buffalo should expect to win the cup fairly soon.
The fact that they sent Brandon Hagel to Chicago without offering him a contract, and Chicago got two first round picks for him later, should tell you something about Buffalo.
You could list off an entire team of players that still play in the NHL the Sabres let go for pittance, Pegula doesn't know hockey and has been GM of the team for 14 years now.
@@JoshDragRace0688Pegula has never been the GM 😂 Botterill should have never been GM
@@JoshDragRace0688 Sam Reinhart, Evan Rodriguez, and Brandon Montour are all former sabres as well, all with the cup winning team last year.
@@JoshDragRace0688
In Chicago we can relate, we had Scotty Bowman and Bob Pulford, who both thought they were the smartest guys in the room and were clearly not.
Vegas made a Stanley cup final with a roster of guys that needed a change of scenery or were considered castoffs. Fringe Players going elsewhere and thriving happens to every team.
Every other commentator wants you to forget perspective on this issue - THG reminds us exactly how great a sports town Buffalo is, and how the Sabres got here.
Yeah, I have a lot of respect for Buffalo. Amazing support considering all of the blunders.
@@GoodMenstruationAttitude Exactly. Other people see an empty seat and think it's on the fans. Almost no market let alone the one with the least people in it would have attendance anything like this. This is Southern cities with cup contending teams numbers. Also there was a cap on season tickets until Covid. So the numbers would be even higher when there was still a waiting list. The arena used to hold 18690 too. Then they made it 19070 for the 1970 inaugural year
During this entire period of time there has been one constant: Terry Pegula
He took over when the team was in last place in the NHL and then after that night the teams record was the best in the league to get in. That was 2010-2011. He has deep pockets and without those the Sabres do not have the possibility to go to the cap. Tom said he could not make money or break even if the cap went much above 55mil like it was in 2008. They would not be in Buffalo if not for Pegula and he is now a bit more hands off. The signings this summer made perfect sense and they have not been the issue. There was no deal to be made with our players or draft picks to get a first line guy.
Know what the worst part is? Pegula also owns the Buffalo Bills, and the Bills have had a lot of regular season success over the past few years. Playoff success is a different story, but the Bills are winning games because the Pegulas aren't interfering with the Bills' system. Meanwhile Terry gave his spouse Kim the reigns of the Sabres, and what did it lead to? One of the longest losing streaks in the history of the league. 18 games during the 2020-21 shortened season. And unfortunately there are other owners who own two franchises and try to control one with an iron grip while letting the other do what it wants. The Rangers shared an owner with the Knicks of the NBA and it's shown the two going in opposite directions.
@@grahamdamberger7130 Kim is not making decisions for the team now. Pegula bought the Bills to not leave Buffalo. He is not passionate about the Bills. If he stays hand off with the Sabres and keeps his wallet open to going to the cap he is the best option for the Sabres
He is doing the exact opposite of what you say he should, that's the problem. The Sabres have yet to spend anywhere near the cap the entire time he has owned the team. There is a clear internal salary cap. Add in the fact that he meddles with the team constantly, GMKA just said in the presser that he talks to Terry every day. That is NOT a good thing. Terry is 100000% the problem with this team
Very fitting that he's an oil executive. He mines the earth for oil, and he mines buffalo for their love of sports by raking in money even when the team is horrible
I'm so glad you decided to add the attendance in the yearly stats. We all love this team and we want to show up to games. But as it was said, we just have so much else to do that doesn't involve buying a ticket, driving in lake effect snow, and blowing money on mediocre food just to watch the team we're all so passionate about lose a game we should be winning. We all want to go back to games, we're just so tired of misery.
As a Brit who worked in Ontario I regularly went to Sabres games around the Marty Biron era, Sabres fans are easily amongst the best I've encountered in any sport. This decade has certainly tested that steely loyalty. Here's hoping it's coming to an end.
I can remember the Buffalo Sabres in the playoffs... Yes, I'm old! Like we old people say, "Back in my day, the Buffalo Sabres used to make the playoffs fairly often. Yes, in the good ol' days the Sabres were regularly in contention for a playoff spot."
Tell us the story again, Grandpa
I remember the last time the Sabres made the playoffs-man,have i aged a lot since then.
There are three Sabres from the 05-07 conference final teams that are GMs of other organizations: Briere, Drury, and Grier. And we don’t have anyone.
Of course in the good old days.. back prior to our last cup run.. most of the years you can count on one hand the number of teams that missed. Prior to the Merger.. 12 out of 18 teams made it.. until 79 when cleveland was gone and it was 12 of 17.. then after the WHA merger, 16 of 21 teams made it. So back then missing took work.. now, you have to work to get in. Though I will say.. under adams.. we're knocking on the door (all but his first season.. but the team got leveled by covid itself and created a huge losing streak...).. I think he wanted to make a few moves this offseason, but couldn't find a partner to make the BIG move with. Outside of Laine (who was out most if not all of last year and has off the ice issues).. no other big names really moved. Which sucked. I can't blame the GM for not shopping when the shops are all closed.
Wasn't that just in 2010? How old are THG's average viewers?
Others moving on to win Cups also included Brandon Montour and Zach Bogosian..I remember when both were not getting a ton of ice time during Sabres time.
Montour was a primary reason of Florida’s 23 cup run to the final and was a major piece in the 24 run. I get Reinhart is now a flashy name with the scoring but it is extremely difficult to find a defenseman as good as Montour that will play that many minutes every night.
Bogo was hurt like every season, pretty much with Buffalo. Wouldn't be surprised if Samuelsson gets traded, stops being made of glass and wins a cup.
@@goalhornfanatic9449If that’s the case then Buffalos entire conditioning department needs to be fired and reevaluated
@@nickmanganaro13 hated to see him walk. I had issues with his defense sometimes last season, but I revisited the season and the playoffs, and he was a big piece. We have no defensemen that can produce offense right now. I hope we get someone in FA.
Where the f*** is Taro Tsujimoto when you need him?!?!
@@jahimjauh-hey5653 the curse of Tsujimoto continues.
Lmao
Nice lol
At this point I just feel bad for sabres fans. They deserve better than this.
As a Panther fan, I really do feel their pain. We were in a rebuild from 1996 up to 2021.
This is my fifteenth season cheering for them (Panthers) so I know this pain so very well.
if the Panthers had kept all those Top-5 Top-10 draft picks together for a few years they would've been a playoff team.
But he-who-shall-not-be-named ran the thing as a corporate shell game tax loss ponzi scheme
They did accidentally win the division in 2011-12 only to be immediately upset by the Devils on that crazy run to the final
And proceed to win the cup over my oilers 😢
Oilers fan here and a Sabres fan in the East. Really feel and share the Sabres pain after enduring the Oilers "Decade of Darkness". Buffalo became my Eastern team after their 06 run where they eventually fell to the Cup Champs, the Canes. As an Oiler fan, I really wanted them to face the GOAT-Head instead of the Canes in the 2006 SCF. I would have been OK with the Cup going to them either way.
At this point Sharks will make the play offs again before the sabres
Utah too.
As will the Disneyland Ducks.
Maybe my Jackets too
The Sabres make the playoffs before the Rangers commit to a full 5-7 year rebuild
It feels like the Barracudas might win a Stanley cup before Buffalo. 😕
Lindy Ruff was the right hire and I stand by this. The players are not responding to his coaching style and he doesn’t put up lazy, soft, easy to play against players who make mental mistakes.
If this team bends to his will, they’ll crush it. But if they don’t, it’s their fault, not his.
Keep Lindy, and fix management.
EDIT: Also Terry should sell the team.
That's cause they panic the moment something goes wrong and they can't get out of their heads, they are mentally soft. Ever notice that guys like Benson, NAK, Zucker, McLeod, Kozak, Greenway, Krebs, Dahlin, UPL, Byram, Johnson, Clifton, etc. don't ever change their game no matter what? Cause they know their game, they know it works and won't let it get to them like guys like Cozens, Quinn, Power, etc. They need to stop dwelling on bad plays and losses, put down the tablet and watch what's going on, what's working and do what they do best
@@SabresGuy87 maybe we gotta sell off anyone who dose t wanna play like they give a shit then
@@SabresGuy87 Ottawa actually had this same problem this year, but they grew some thick skin and are doing better now...
Ruff is not the right hire based on the results my friend..lol..your head is in the sand
@@als.8690 just because he’s the only guy in the locker room who appears to care doesn’t mean he’s the wrong hire. Buffalo needs a true rebuild.
I actually started a "Fire Kevyn" chant at the last game and arena staff joined in. It's wild here.
🤣🌴🌴🌴
@milan99cz I still can't believe Adams said that lmao. Look at the Bills and look at the Sabres. Palm trees have nothing to do with it. What a moron
I cursed the Sabres when they booed their goalie for making saves and cheered goals against during the “tank for McDavid” season. They have never recovered, I’m so sorry.
You went to the Coyotes game, didn't you?
Losing deliberately alters the mind set. Bars are lowered and suddenly aspirations are equally as low. It's hard to change an entire psychology in a team unit. 😕
@@1bert719 it was the most shocking thing I have ever seen in sports (injuries, trades, goals, whatever). To disregard pride because you thought McDavid is coming there was wild. Edmonton hasn’t cashed in on him but imagine Buffalo getting him, it would have been way worse…
@kenmartin5009 Your right there, McDavid would be in Vegas now. I can't understand how an organisation can go from contending on a small budget (remember the pre cap era?) To be such a failure. Even the LA Clippers haven't maintained such a level of ineptitude over a decade. It's a real shame, and I use to support the Coyotes!
@@kenmartin5009 this is the problem with American sports. Wanting to deliberately play awful to get a chance to get a player.
Buffalo needs 2 to 3 more Alex Tuchs. Thanks for your videos. This Sabres fan appreciates a good thorough listing of good and bad points on this team as you have done. Kudos 😎👍
Don't forget Zucker
And a few more Zack Bensons.
the sabres need players with Grit, spunk, willing to go into the corner / front of the net.
At this point I'm not convinced their rebuild is going to have an end.
They need to start trading full lines of players. I.e. Thompson for the Jets 3rd line.
November 12, 2011 - when Milan Lucic steamrolled Ryan Miller and no Sabre player jumped in his face to defend their netminder and best player, THAT obliterated the franchise, and they never recovered from that since.
That's on Regier for not adding ANY tough players
@aegis7843 yup. The closest they had on that roster was Kaleta, who was more an instigator than enforcer
I blame Miller. When it was happening I was waiting for him to submarine Lucic like Hasek. Never know what he was thinking…
Yes, one play. That must be it.
@@JudeSturman he just kinda stood there. Granted, Ryan was never a fiery guy,
The ride never ends.
What a missed opportunity to be dressed like a palm tree...
Tough season back in 2014-15. At least dad got to gear up as an emergency backup in one of the games :D
He was a legend. Never played for a team I rooted for but this Duck’s fan has the utmost respect for him. I hope he is doing well
So cool your dad was one of my favourite goalies growing up!
He was amazing, and an anomaly too. The last "small" goaltender to succeed.
Saw your dad play towards the end of his career when he was in the minors with the Johnstown Chiefs. Great goalie and a great guy by all accounts. Got loads of respect for "The Michelin Man".
@@Atis.Irbe1214 HOLY SH*T YOUR DAD IS THE MICHELIN MAN??? BRO THAT'S AWESOME
This video just solidified how scared I am of any other teams I like going into a rebuild. We've watched the Sabres do this for almost half my life
As a Sharks fan that's my fear for a few years now. Hopefully the team seems to be having a good rebuild and trending in the right direction with a good vision from GMMG, but I hate the part of the fanbase that want to tank every year to get the new shiny 1st overall pick. We got our 1st, now it's time to get better and win.
As a sabres fan, I genuinely appreciate your coverage and care for sabres fans lmao. I don't see many long form videos breaking down the reality of the sabres over the past 13 years, let alone two on one channel. Keep up the great work!
Here’s the thing. Its all on the Pegulas. “From this day forward the reason for the Buffalo Sabres existence is to win a Stanley Cup” -Terry. No playoffs since he bought the team. He turned a historically solid franchise and turned them into losers. Losing culture has taken over since the “Tank for McDavid” year and will never be shaken no matter who you bring in as GM or coach. He has an internal cap because he loves money. He won’t let us spend. Its all on Terry. I hatw that fans chant Fire Kevyn because they should be chanting “Sell the team.” I get free tickets to games sometimes (I’m a vet and they give them out sometimes) and I go just to boo them off the ice. I don’t know how much more we can take. Certainly myself anyway. I’ve turned my attention to the PWHL because its way more fun to watch than the Sabres. All I dream of is someday getting to watch the Sabres become what they used to be. But sadly, I’ve lost all hope because of Terry…
Agreed. The fish is usually rotten from the head down.
Right. Pegula isn’t interested in this franchise.
it's odd because the Pegulas own the Bills and they've returned to being a powerhouse since that purchase
@@andrescardonaarias1090 The Bills transformation wasn't without some missteps. I've seen commentary on him that he doesn't really hire well when it comes to people running the teams (He was responsible for hiring Rex Ryan for the Bills early on in his ownership of them). I've also seen that he doesn't really make appearances for the Sabres at all. Earlier on in this season, he attended a game and a local report had said he hadn't even stepped foot in the arena since around covid time. Oddly enough, that same game was attended by the Sabres previous owner.
@@andrescardonaarias1090I think he may have simply lucked into McBeane and JA17
If the Sabres are actually considering trading Dylan Cozens, a 23-year-old 7th overall pick, then that pretty much explains why this rebuild is never-ending. They should watch THG's videos about the Golden Seals and the Scouts/Rockies.
His 2 way play is abysmal. Tuch and yoki need to go also. Clifton needs to stop with the stupid penalties. The GM doesn't deserve the job. Granato wasn't the problem.
@@JPMadden Cozens was awarded a huge contract after a lucky season. It is more or less impossible to trade Cozens at this moment. However, I would trade Cozens for a bag of pucks and a third round draft pick.
@@robc1961 agree but I would take it further than that. Cozens is a defensive liability every time he steps on the ice. Never in the right position, often losing pucks close to offensive blue.
@@anordman9659 You say he's difficult to trade because of his contract. Then don't try to, because the Sabres will lose whatever trade they can make. Keep him and coach him to play better defensively. It's not uncommon for a top draft pick who played major juniors to have never been expected to play a 2-way game until reaching the NHL.
@@JPMadden well, I don't have any say regarding trading Cozens or not. However, Cozens is starting to lose games for Buffalo. His limited offense is not the key factor, but his abysmal D. The patience with his progression is at its end. I hope coach Ruff can help him because at this moment he is untradeable regardless of our thoughts.
The problem with the Sabres is the same one as every other perma-rebuild team: they don’t have an identity. Or at least, not one that isn’t “total failure.” When Tom Fitzgerald took over in New Jersey, he stated he wanted to build around Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Four years later, it’s safe to say they are out of that rebuild, and they play like the team he’s wanted.
Yes, rebuilds take time. But more importantly, they take a vision. Not only do the Sabres not have one, their owner is so meddlesome that they may never have one as long as he’s around.
It's probably more difficult to get out of it if no one wants to live in Buffalo
Thanks for mentioning the meddling owner.
Rebuilds also take some luck. Not every 1st or 2nd overall pick becomes a franchise altering player. For every McDavid, Crosby, and (how it’s trending) Hughes, there’s an Erik Johnson, Nail Yakupov, Taylor Hall. I’m not sure if they could’ve built around Eichel. We’ll never know for sure, but it sure seems like he’s better suited to join an already good team and make them better. Whether that’s just the player or because Buffalo screwed him up, who knows
When I look at the Sabres I don’t see a rebuilding team, I see a poorly run business. It’s only going to get better if Pegulas sell. All they’ve done is run this team into the ground
Not a single person keeps them in Buffalo if Pegula sells
And Dolan is the opposite end where he wants to sell playoff tickets instead of properly rebuild
And if the Pegulas are so bad, why may their team, if not just make the Super Bowl, but win the whole darn thing so good?
@@williamford9564 because he has a history of being hands on with the Sabres because he does not care about the Bills. He is a guy from PA that fell in love with the Sabres in college and only bought the Bills as a favor to Buffalo so they did not move to Toronto
@@Buffalosabskis Wasn’t Kim also very hands on with the Sabres too? Cause I thought there weren’t a lot of positives when she was involved
Right now, a fan Revolution is slowly building there surrounding the infamous “palm tree” line, it’s becoming a symbol of fans showing they’ve had enough
To the contrary, the palm tree quips are already getting old. Adams could have made his point in a more elegant manner, but he wasn't wrong.
@ but, we’re using it symbolically at this point as sort of a fan rebellion, if that makes sense
Life long Sabres fan. Not gonna lie….its been hard, very very hard. Honestly not sure how much more I can take. The losses affect my mood way more than it should. Hoping they can turn it around and fast, very fast! Thank you for the well wishes!
The last time I saw this team at KeyBank for a playoff game I was 8. This drought has lasted so long I can now legally acquire alcohol to cope with the fact that we have not put a team on the ice that would be able to imagine anything past 1st round- even in the most optimistic of times for 13 years.
The more things change, the more they stay the same - General Shepard and Shannon THG
The Sabres is built around a group of nice, talented guys. No grit, no pride, no sense of urgency, no commitment and accountability. Unless Terry Pegula sells the team, NOTHING will change. They badly need a bad, mean big guy to stand up for the youngsters, also show them what commitment is.
I was hoping they were going to make the playoffs this year and the year before and the year before and the year before
last year the were good.. this year.. not trending that way.
@@chrisv384 or in 2023 like as the 7th seed even though i am not a sabres fan
Just like you are waiting for the cup year after year but it's just not going to happen.
No sooner when I asked for a video about the Sabres, you deliver. Thanks THG!
Edit* The Pegulas are great owners, for the Bills yes, just not the Sabres.
That's cause Terry is too much of a fan and wanted to do what every single Sabres wanted to do: be involved and all over it. Any Sabres fan who says different is lying. He was a kid who grew up to buy a candy shop
Imo Terry got lucky by the Bills accidentally drafting Josh Allen. Without him the Bills are likely in a similar spot to the Sabres
Sabres fan here. Until Terry is gone, nothing will ever change. I’d be surprised in 10 years if the team is either still here or a cup contender. I expect to be in this puddle of misery until I’m dead
Thanks for the video! Used to be there were teams where players go to wind down their career, whether they like it or not. Sabres is a layover location for players heading to places where there are potential Cup winners. If a team won't fully pay a player nor put a full team around a pricey player, that team is going to stay in a holding pattern no matter the market they are in. Blackhawks are almost in that but they've had three Cups this millennia (one of only two teams with the Pens with that distinction) and it's barely been a decade since the third one, so there's two sides to that coin: fans are fairly happy with the history but also feel entitled. We'll see what the Blackhawks manage to put on the ice next year.
Blackhawks are still smart to rebuild, unlike the Rangers who get nothing out of wasting time in the playoffs
GAWD you are too nice discussing their apathetic approach to hitting 😂
Malenstine and Aube-Kubel was a great pickup. The line of Dowd-Malen-Kubel was the best shutdown line probably in NHL history last year, at the very least since the start of advanced metrics. Pinholes Graham does a fantastic video about it. They are both exceptionally fast skaters.
The fact that the Buffalo Bills have been playing really well the last several years definitely doesn't help the Sabres' attendance either
Canucks fan here in upstate NY
I can for sure tell you the Pegulas are very hated here.
It looks like Poogoola's pep talk in Montreal was truly motivational just like his leadership with the Sabres. Lol
The last time I saw this team at KeyBank for a playoff game I was 8, and that was also 2 name changes ago. This drought has lasted so long I can now legally acquire alcohol to cope with the fact that we have not put a team on the ice that could imagine anything past 1st round in the most optimistic of times for 13 years.
Great Video, as usual, Shannon
Outstanding breakdown, Shannon. (long rant coming) It is tough to be a Sabres fan, but there always seems to be hope around the bend. It is tough to watch Dylan Cozens play well in 22-23 and fall off in 23-24 and now 24-25, while he is one of the best players on the ice for the Canadian World's team. I don't know how I would feel about losing Cozens, because I know he would thrive elsewhere. It feels like they are one solid veteran away from making a difference or one player's ascension from being a successful team. I believe so much of their low play right now is mental. They need a big event to align their psyche and tilt the universe in their favor. I don't know what that is, but I hope they find it soon.
It's Pegula
sell the team, terry.
In my mind, there is one clear reason for the Sabres to be in the hellhole they have been for over a decade:
The Thrashers move to Winnipeg. Hear me out.
Hockey in Atlanta is key to the Sabres’ success. The team was great in the 70s, when the Flames were in Atlanta; made the Finals, the French Connection, we all know the story. But after the Flames moved to Calgary in 1980, the Sabres struggled to win in the playoffs. They won the division once, in 1981, but failed to do so again until 1997, which, you guessed it, is when Atlanta was awarded a new expansion team. Sabres are elite again, make the Finals in ‘99, and are even considered one of the top franchises in the NHL. The Thrashers are sold and move to Winnipeg, and guess what happens, the Sabres struggle again.
Coincidence? I think not. Put an NHL team in Atlanta, the Sabres will be good again. Simple as that.
I love that coincidence. That being said, I don't want Atlanta back.
I give you a thumbs up. This makes no sense, and yet is the truth. Very strange
I just hope Melody Martin is okay
Was really hoping that last year would be the last time I had to watch one of these :\ much appreciation of the content from the 716
I chose the Sabres as my favourite team in the mid-70s when they played the Flyers in the final. I was 8 years old. I'm still waiting for a Cup...
Shannon, I really like hearing your perspective on teams, especially my team. It's been hard rooting for the Sabres all these years. I no longer live in Western New York, so I don't go to games. I must admit it's getting harder to plan to watch the Sabres on TV. Thanks for being a great NHL fan and contributor on UA-cam.
they didn't allow fans to bring palm trees anymore.
I think the thing that stings the most about the Sabres' longtime rebuild is seeing teams like Tampa Bay, Florida and Las Vegas be so consistently strong when interest in hockey in those cities is laughably low: when a city that has some strong junior hockey leagues can't make it to the playoffs.
Last time they even made it to tbe postseason, I was a senior in high school. I'm 32 now. It's crazy to think about.
I remember you calling the Eichel surgery ‘experimental’ in 2020
You are the greatest analyst of all time! Love your stuff bro! Merry Christmas…. Note, I moved from Buffalo in 2006. We had about a sell out every game, they weren’t the best but they were fun….. we always supported bad teams…..but this is a cancer at this point that no one wants to be a part of it, enough is enough!
There is no "what if" about it, Shannon... For all of us in the Sabres Mafia, it has already been never-ending... The utter despair runs very deep
As a Sabres fan born in 02’, it’s become increasingly difficult to care or want to care about this team, to the degree it’s an abusive relationship. You want to care, you want to buy back in, but you know no matter what, that the they will always hurt you.
It’s really saddening to see what, once a proud organization, has come into. I really truly hope the Sabres can get back on track again. The city is incredible in their support when they are good. But, it seems that we’ve had generations of Sabres fans alienated at the rate.
The last time I saw a Sabres playoff game was when I was in 3rd grade. I’m a now 22. It’s really difficult to see this happen to them.
A GM usually gets one coaching change before he is the problem hlmself. How many GM changes does an owner get...?
I think the problem with the Sabres is nutrition. Pizza, Wings, Beef on Weck. The food in Western New York is just too darn good!
The numbers don't tell the whole story. Recently, a lot of sabres ticket holders are selling them to visiting team fans. So the attendance number at this point is not a good measure of Buffalo Fan support. Lately it is a better measure of Montreal, Toronto, and Detroit fan support!
As they say in Letterkenny, “You don’t fvcks with tradition”
Don’t forget Buffalo is close to Ontario, can’t afford leaf game, can’t get leaf tickets, you can go to Buffalo to see NHL hockey. Most likely helped their attendance 🏒😀
The Sabres' prolonged playoff drought only gives the NHL more justification to refrain from putting a team in Hamilton or even a 2nd team in Toronto. If the Buffalo market was not geographically situated directly across the border from the largest hockey fan base on the planet, Southern Ontario, what would those attendance figures be like?
Right now, the Bills are the hot ticket in the market. They also enjoy a solid following and support from Southern Ontario.
You posted a similar video about several teams, including the Sabres, who seem to be in a constant 'rebuild' mode a few days ago. Having said that, is further expansion by the NHL a good idea where its fan bases are concerned? We have seen what becomes of teams in Atlanta and Phoenix when they miss the playoffs year after year.
This would have been forgivable if there was any progression at all. I remember when I used to watch Miller, Pominville, Vanek, and even Eichel and being genuinely excited about the games. Nowadays, there is no reason to get excited about anything. The on-ice production is consistently awful and ownership either doesn’t care or doesn’t know what they’re doing. I’ve been a Sabres fan since 2008 and always had hope things would turn around. This is the year they broke me. Truthfully, the rebuild will never end until Pegula sells the team. I’ve been a Buffalonian all my life, but if this team is going to get former fans like me back, they need sweeping changes and make the damn playoffs.
Wow Vanek and Pominville, i haven't heard thoes names in ages! I used to pick thoes guys in my hockey pools back in the day! They really put up the points in my pool.
Okposo won in Florida as well which is cool but has gotta sting a bit for Sabres fans.
Buffalo lifer here. Love the attendance figures
Ahh the annual THG video on my Sabres. This team just pains me so much man, year after year since I was 12 years old. I’m turning 26 soon and there is no end to the drought in sight. It’s baffling a team can suck this long. A lot of it has to do with the Pegulas, it takes a lot to take hockey enthusiasm out of our city and they’ve somehow managed to do it.
when shannon said 41 point out, i honestly thought he misspoke on 4 points
i knew this was coming, bah it hurts every year, but you tell it like it is, respect. man i really thought this year would be the year. we just arent there yet. we need a top 6 forward, pref a REAL 2C, a stud vet RHD to babysit owen power til he makes the turn. keep out bottom 6, i really like them.
Very passionate and thorough analysis.
A video about NHL team owners trying to mortgage their futures to win a Stanley Cup ‘now’ would be fun. Can you say Acquilini?
Buffalo's arena, which opened in 96 was built on an ancient Indian burial ground. I don't know what Vancouver's excuse is...
It's going to be long, it's going to be cold, it's going to be dark … and it's never going to end ever.
Cheers 🍺
I love that Shannon pointed out the attendance numbers. The biggest problem I had with all the innacurate narratives Eichel spun was him saying "it only took 7 years & me leaving" comment after Vegas lost in his return to Buffalo. Because it was total BS. For the vast majority of his tenure with the Sabres the fans filled the barn & supported him fully. I do not however agree with the surgery take. A.) The surgery situation is not why he wanted out. He had already been talking about his departure well before. B.) Because of that & only because of that I lean towards the teams decision. Although I am all for players having bodily atonomy. You have this player on his way out, requesting a fairly new procedure. If it goes well, that's great & all but he is gone shortly after. If it doesn't well tough. Why take any risk when you can seek a trade partner willing to.
" AND THATS Y FOLKS , I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN WATCHING THEM THE LAST 7 YRS... "
we could've made 3 or 4 more white boards if you go all the way back to Brett Hull in the crease
It started before 2012. IMHO the decision to match the Vaneck offer sheet was the beginning. It could have been the Herschel Walker trade of the NHL and Bufallo didn't see it.
In my opinion, as a Buffalo native and fan since birth (the cards we're dealt lol)... we can talk as much as we want about ownership, GM, coaching, not having the right guys.. but at the end of the day when you watch this team, and it's been like this for years now even when we thought we did have the guys (eichel, reinhart, o'reilly as you mentioned and many more), it comes down to compete level and how bad you want to win. Neither coaches nor a GM nor ownership can make you win a puck battle, in which we lose so many on a night to night basis. I think we have a lot of skilled players but severely lack not only leadership, but a willingness to compete on a night in night out basis. Even when we had all of those guys that were traded away to then go on and win cups, we suffered from the same issue: inconsistency because of a lack of compete level and willingness to do whatever it takes to win, night in night out
Cap isn’t a problem unless we’re on an internal cap…
Pat Lafontaine is not walking through that door..
Sabers feel like the Oilers pre McDavid
Wonder if they try to trade one of their top prospects for an impact player.
love the TITLE Shannon!!! This reminds of the HABS who since 1994 thinks they are out of a rebuild LOL
Made the cup final in 2021? The Canadiens were notorious for NOT rebuilding haha. They really should have done a proper one earlier.
Now watch Casey Mittelstadt win in Colorado.
It's got me in a mood today... seeing absolutely nothing but "why do the Sabres keep losing" videos today. I feel like the entire league and every other fanbase is sad for us at this point.
Teams that trade away guys that win cups not long after could be an interesting video.
Pretty good for a city under 300,000. Problem has large towns within driving distance.
Rebuilding is difficult and not a guarantee of future success. Study case: Edmonton. Year after year of number one draft picks and rebuilding until they drafted the second coming of Gretzky. They still have no Cup to show for it.
9:44: And meanwhile, Buffalo is getting buried under ANOTHER mountain of snow and has had 3-4 feet of snow just in the last 3 weeks. Why WOULD someone other than someone from the Yukon Territories want to live and play there?
It never snows in Canada and all the Winnipeg players who play for a perennial playoff team are drinking pina colladas on the beach right now. The Bills clearly can't attract anybody good either they are doing awful right now. Just a garbage truck of excuses from losers who don't know how to build a team.
I’m not even a Sabres fan by any stretch and this hurts my heart.
Some Say they are still rebuilding to this day.
Are they rebuilding or are they not even at the building phase, and instead stuck on the "redrawing the blueprint" part?
As a Sharks fan, currently super grateful for Mike Grier
Said this before, but this is completely on the Pegula's for firing Tim Murray and bringing in Botterill to undo everything that Murray did AND, tin foil hat, I believe they did it on the advice from the league because Murray was the first to actually say publicly an organization needs to get worse before it gets better.
Yes, it has been 13 years, but it has only been four years for Kevyn Adams who seems to be building this franchise correctly. He isn't big name hunting and over spending on players like Jeff Skinner. The core is coming together. The backend and goaltending seems to primed to break out and this team is an elite forward away from really exploding IMO.
i know Buffalo fans don't want to hear this word, but patience is needed. The team shouldn't do any drastic moves, but they should make the right move if the opportunity comes along. It just hasn't come yet.
I don’t think the owners need any advice. They are just impatient and inept
Patience? No playoffs for over a decade? Only 2 appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals since their inception (the last one in 1999)? Actually, Sabres fans have been TOO patient. Other NHL fan bases expect a certain level of compete, even if the team loses. Sabres fans have been lulled to sleep over the past decade and have mostly given up on the team. They need a heart transplant or perhaps at least a defibrillator on the bench.
Tim Murray?! Really? You mean the guy that gave a 1st round pick for Lehner. Lmfao
@ Lehner the Vezina candidate the year after Botterill let him walk for nothing even though he was the team’s starting goalie and was still a RFA?
Lehner, the goalie who had a .924, .920 and .908 s% on those bottom dwelling Sabres?
Pretty sure he would have been worth a late round first round pick (even in the ‘15 draft) if the Sabres just stuck with him.
@deltagolavista1 what was botterill supposed to do? He became a depressed drunk in Buffalo. Dude couldn't even stop a shot in the shootout and even got smoked by Kucherov in the shootout. You're clueless
As a hockey but also a Habs fan, I feel this is very enlightening as to what type of management issues and misreads of player could potentially plague a rebuilding team like us, but in todays NHL, a full rebuild like we’ve undergone the last 3 seasons going on 4th is one the best ways to potentially access a solid contending window like the Lighting and the blackhawks and the kings had, but the catch is that you could also become the 07’ to ‘24 Sabres 😂
Great video! It always amazes me ever year after the cup finals were Buffalo sits in the American TV ratings for viewership. Buffalo just doenst love the sabres, we love hockey! I think a lot of people forget that , yes, while we are an American city. We sit right on the boarder. We are basically Canada with out the free healthcare.
Kyle Okposo, another former Sabre whose name made it onto the Cup since the 2011 rebuild.
all we needed to do was trade some of the insane prospects we had when they had more value for certified nhl'ers and we'd be good
Buffalo passed on Bill Zito twice before Florida hired him in 2020. Four years later they’re cup champions
Attendance numbers would probably be significantly lower this season if they weren't running some sort of gimmick seemingly every night. I'd say at least half of their home games have been boosted by promotions for Bandits season ticket holders.
This is such a masterpiece