The Buffalo Sabres: Here we go again.

 

I realize this blog has been rather dormant, as life happens. As luck would have it, however, I have some hockey to talk about once again. If you guessed that the subject is the Buffalo Sabres, you win nothing, just like the team. As I'm writing this, they have just wrapped up their 11th straight loss, a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of fellow basement dwellers in the Montreal Canadiens. This needs a deep dive, and the best way to start it is at the beginning, which for the purposes of this piece, will be the 2010-11 season, the last time they made the playoffs and the beginning of the current ownership time-line. 

The 2010-11 season was one of major turnover, as this was the Sabres first season moving away from the infamous Buffaslug uniforms that had been around since 2006. It was also the beginning of the Pegula era, as they would become owners in February 2011. The Sabres would make the playoffs that year, losing in the first round to Philadelphia. Things looked promising. The 2011 off-season was important, as they looked to bolster their lineup. They signed Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino to multi-year deals. However, things didn't go as planned, as a Milan Lucic run in on goaltender Ryan Miller in a game, combined with the subsequent inaction by the team, started a downward spiral that ultimately led to the Sabres missing the playoffs by three points that year. 

The 2013 season was shortened due to yet another lockout, this would be three in 20 years at this point. A poor start spelled the end for coach Lindy Ruff, and he was replaced by Ron Rolston. Rolston lasted parts of two seasons before he got fired, along with long time general manager Darcy Regier in November 2013. 

At this point, it's wise to simply go through the names that have been coach and gm up to now. Coaches since 2013 have been a second coming off Ted Nolan, Dan Bylsma, Phil Housley, Ralph Kruger, Don Granato, and now, a return of Lindy Ruff. General managers in that same time frame have included Tim Murray, Jason Botterill, and Kevyn Adams. 

There are some key moments to also consider, such as the failed tank for Connor McDavid in 2015, where despite finishing last, lost the draft lottery to Edmonton, the subsequent pick of Jack Eichel, a name that will be important in the team's further dysfunction, ill-advised trades, failed attempts at capturing former glory, and now, the palm tree remarks made by current gm Kevyn Adams.

That brings us to now, where the Sabres are on an 11 game losing streak as of this writing, and not even a rousing speech by the owner prior to the game in Montreal could reverse the team's fortunes. Where did it go wrong this time? 

On the surface, everything should be good, but looking at the situation in goal, it looks either largely unproven (U-P Lukkonen and Devon Levi) or past their prime mediocrity (James Reimer). Veteran leadership is also lacking, as the only proven players with substantial NHL experience are Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker. Playoff experience is significantly less, as only Bowen Byram has been on a team with such experience. Physicality? It's long been an issue during the playoff drought, and this year has been no exception. And the coaching? A return of Lindy Ruff? Anyone that saw his run as the Devils head coach could have told you this wasn't going to end well. Outside of one season there, it wasn't great. 

What can be done to fix the problems this time around? In all honesty, it seems like everything and nothing has been done to fix the issues to the point of the last ditch option, which is ownership needs to change. It's been the one constant, and every time you think the solution is at hand, it ends up being worse at the end. Let's come back to this in a few years, when there is most likely a different general manager and head coach likely on their way out.