Buffalo Rick

Now that Regier is to stay, and I am one that agrees with this, he must decide on a coach. Rolston did do a decent job with what he had to work with. He kept the team motivated it seems. Or was it Steve Ott? Steve Ott is a huge piece of the puzzle. He has brought grit and spirit. If they chose to not go with Rolston, my choices would be one of three individuals. Ron Wilson, James Patrick or Randy Cunneyworth. Those that will be back IMO for sure are Erhoff (locked into long deal). Myers (too young to give up on and a Calder trophy winner), Steve Ott (they will not only keep him but he wants to be here), but after that, who knows? I would have said keep Vanek at any cost and I still say that. But Regier? I do not know if he has alienated Miller or Vanek? If he has, then I am going to buy a brick with my name on it and put it right through the office window at the Niagra Center. Sign Miller and Vanek and then move on Hecht has retired so that is solved. Once we see how we fair in the lottery we can decide whether to trade or use the picks. I think a bit of both will occur. Buffalo is in good shape with picks.

Well, he got rid of Jagr and Roy but those moves were expected. Is this a surprise?

I sit here a day after a season ends, far from how we expected it to end. We did not expect to win the Cup. But we did not expect to miss the playoffs either. Its a sad and lonely feeling as I am sure many here can relate. More questions than answers. Will Miller stay? Will they have the sense to sign Vanek and Ott to long term deals? But first the big question is do they keep or fire Darcy Regier. Arguments can be made for his staying due to his handling of things at the deadline, including getting more for Pommenville than I ever imagined. And you could argue he has not had an open wallet for most of his time here either. Pegula has not been here that long. But the firing of Lindy Ruff has to mean he is on a short leash also. I think he made a mistake firing Lindy. Time will tell what Pegula decides on his fate. I suspect their draft will be far more eventfull than the Bills for what its worth. I know one thing, we fans are not going to tolerate missing the playoffs again.

I sit here a day after a season ends, far from how we expected it to end. We did not expect to win the Cup. But we did not expect to miss the playoffs either. Its a sad and lonely feeling as I am sure many here can relate. More questions than answers. Will Miller stay? Will they have the sense to sign Vanek and Ott to long term deals? But first the big question is do they keep or fire Darcy Regier. Arguments can be made for his staying due to his handling of things at the deadline, including getting more for Pommenville than I ever imagined. And you could argue he has not had an open wallet for most of his time here either. Pegula has not been here that long. But the firing of Lindy Ruff has to mean he is on a short leash also. I think he made a mistake firing Lindy. Time will tell what Pegula decides on his fate. I suspect their draft will be far more eventfull than the Bills for what its worth. I know one thing, we fans are not going to tolerate missing the playoffs again.

I sure hope not. Its not easy to find goalies like Miller. Pegula and Black had better play their cards right. And that includes whether they keep Regier. Many questions and no answers yet. Us fans need to know.

I think Montreal will be out fast,. They are beyond lucky to be in in my opinion. I think the Penguins are a mess right now. Proof enough is the Sabres swept them and beat them in Pittsburgh last two, and did it in style.

I would never thought I would say I would fear Washington. But right now, they could win the East and so too could the Rangres. I hope the Rangers get beat.

The West will win. Period. There are at least 4 or 5 teams in the West IMO that can beat any team in the East. To me it will come downt to Chicago with their firepower, St Lois with their defense and balance and Vancouver who has Kesler back and he could be a key player.

So what do you all think? I do not think a repeat is likely and now the Kings have a poison on their team named Robyn Regehr. They must have missed the films where every time the puck was behind Miller, there was Regehr standing there watching. He killed us.

II cannot decide between Chicago, St Louis and Vancouver in the West. Ill pick Washington in the East to get there.

Regier did all the right things at the deadline. He got rid of the two guys that killed the Sabres all year on turnovers, Regehr and Leopold. They may have miscalculated Myers worth also? So what to do with Darcy? The guy that fired Lindy Ruff? i cannot see him staying, if Rick Dudley is available. Dudley is the only guy that could replace him. So it depends on that. If he stays, it may not be a bad thing. Go after Ron Wilson or Randy Cunnyworth or give the job to James Patrick. The Sabres are sitting pretty with picks. Darcy robbed Minnesota blind on the Pommenville deal.

So what are your opinions?

The Blue Jackets have been a great story. I hope they knock Detroit out tomorrow. And they can if Dallas shows up to play and help them out. Why not? Dallas I would imagine will at least give it all they have.