Buffalo Sabres 2010-11: Breaking point

We are done with another season and the NHL 2010 Draft is upon us. The first of many stops on a roller coaster summer where players will be traded, Free Agents acquired, and winners built. I love the NHL but my heart is beating for Buffalo Sabres hockey always and I am for lack of classier terms “all-in” this year. What do I mean? This is the year I believe the Buffalo Sabres need to align themselves with the talent to be a true contender. I am not going to go as far as saying they need to win a cup but rather they need to put the correct plan together to be relevant.

Let me explain.

The 2009-10 Buffalo Sabres accomplished something many thought they would not when securing a NorthEast division title. Some of the wins we not the prettiest but they all show up in the W column as any other win would. The team they put on the ice love them or hate them had enough talent to get them in a solid position for the playoffs and attempt a run at the Cup. As a homer in the Buffalo area I always believe they have a chance to win on any given night. But year after year I have truly felt a lengthy Playoff run was a stretch of the imagination. The grit, chemistry, and passion just does not flow from this team as I see it from other Cup winning teams. I am really not saying this is not a good bunch of players. Just as a group together they lack something in my opinion.

Here is some food for thought. 2010-11 marks a 40th anniversary that I happen to know big things will be planned to help celebrate. A substantial run in the playoffs and a team people believe in will certainly give people something to celebrate. Rick Jeanneret has 38 yrs as a Sabres announcer and is no spring chicken. As funny as it may sound that an announcer has influence over what I feel a team should do they owe him before he calls it a career. I know, no team owes anyone anything it’s a business. But not this year. I’ll go on. Ryan Miller is in stellar form and has been healthy considering the heavy work load placed on him for a few seasons by coach Lindy Ruff. You need to ride this stud while time and health are on his side. Ruff and Regier are both in the last year of their  contracts in 10-11. Lindy Ruff has openly stated it is his strong desire to being a Cup to Buffalo and you can believe every word of that. Darcy…. well… I love him for sure. He has made fools out of a few GM’s with trades he’s made. But they are too far and few between. And his mishandling of Drury and Briere still burns in the mind of Sabres fans. Not mine, but what can you do. So I say if Darcy doesn’t deliver this year, he is out the door.

So here is what you need to do. This team has solid players on paper. But as a unit a large majority are too soft, lack character, and lack leadership. The center depth is at best a collective group of 2nd and 3rd liners. Or could look better if they had strong support on the wing besides Vanek. They need people who will come in here and lose some teeth if need be and gut it out. Veterans that can tell the softies to step up and youth how to mature as a “team” player.  Sure this team does have a few character guys (Grier, Kaleta, Montadore, Vanek, Rivet…more). But I would honestly take a team full of Mike Griers’ just to know they give it their all. But when a line of (for examples only) Hecht, Pominville, and Roy step out on the ice who can you count on for a clutch play or to give 100% at all times? The Sabres need to bring in complementary players yes but guys that can shake up some passion again in these guys. I don’t doubt that all the current Sabres can be the players we need. It is just that some of them need to leave to create openings for players that ignite passion and make others take ownership of their roles.

So to touch on my “Breaking Point” in the title I have sat by a few years through Trade Deadlines, Free Agency looking for keys to the puzzle to come to town. And most years unfortunately with not much in terms of return. And I know there are so many aspects to being a GM that I can not grasp. You can’t just go out and make moves for the sake of making moves. And that a “smaller market” team like the Sabres need to pick and choose their openings. Well I am going against my usual stance of holding on and waiting to see what opens up. Darcy Regier needs to form a Team this year in every sense of the word. Too much rides on this year and the factors I mention above. I think Fans are at a breaking point with Regier and aspects of the team. I for one am putting everything I have into hopes for this season because it truly feels like it would be a perfect fit to at least give everyone hope. Sometimes areas like this don’t even need a Championship. Just the idea that it can be possible. So please Mr. Gollisano, Regier, and yes you Lindy give us hope in 2010-11. Give us some grit, give us passion, give us playmakers. One or two is all we need and the room will form itself.  If you commit to the same replies of we were willing to make moves but a fit was just not there, or we have a good core, you may lose more than another chance at the post-season. Darcy you are a master at pulling of moves when you need to be. You need to work some magic. Easier said then done yes. But not as hard as moving your career to a new city.

And did I mention that giving us the same old BS will simply break my heart?

Go Sabres! Build hope, build a team, build the passion.