Sabres Eliminated from Playoffs. Let's Sue 'Em.

Sabres Eliminated from Playoffs. Let's Sue 'Em.

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With a frustrating loss to Montreal last night, the Buffalo Sabres were eliminated from playoff contention. It was the final blow to Sabres fans everywhere who struggled all season with the massive letdown from last season's epic run.

Making matters worse, Chris Drury will be heading to the playoffs with his Rangers and Daniel Briere may well see him there as the Flyers battle for a final playoff spot over the next week. It's easy to look back at all the missed opportunities - a three goal lead against Philly squandered at home, letting Montreal score two goals in final three minutes a week ago, and the all-too-memorable collapse against Ottawa (again at home) giving up five goals in the 3rd period.

Those losses were merely symptoms, however, and there are more fundamental problems that need to be addressed. First, take this quiz - where did Ryan Miller rank for save % this season? Did you guess 29th? Well then you win a prize.

And how did the Sabres power play rank this season? The answer is a perfectly mediocre 16th place.

It's clear that from last April to this April, the Sabres are a completely different team with a much different outlook. After letting Briere and Drury and Campbell leave, and signing Vanek to an enormous contract, management has their work cut out for them.

But management won't be able to focus solely on the quality of the team.

As if adding injury (lawsuit) to insult, the Sabres are being sued by Bruce Jackson - a noted UB Professor who has engaged in some classic clashes with developer Carl Paladino over at Artvoice. Professor Jackson had a piece of plexiglas fall on him during an Ottawa Senators game in May and was bruised, had his glasses broken and now has 'pains.' Generally, Buffalo sports fans make an assumption of risk that their hearts will be broken annually (or more) but Professor Jackson apparently doesn't believe he assumed risk that his glasses might be broken at a professional hockey game.

This is going to be one interesting off-season.

bruce.jpg

Bruce Jackson illustration by Jeanine Harvey.

digulios

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What Others Have To Say

  1. al-alo

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 16:23

    lemme just say: BOOOOOOOO!

  2. SLEEPL8

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 16:28

    Is he being represented by Celino and Barnes? What a baby. Don't sit by the glass if you can't handle it falling on you.

  3. Joshua

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 16:47

    Great -another positive story about Buffalo

  4. simcoe

    3 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 16:48

    Can we start rating stories????

  5. jamesbflo

    2 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 17:02

    sooo... the sabres were so cheap that they essentially let their playoff profits walk. Not to mention extra revenue from merchandise. It costs money to make money.

    how sad... and embarassing.

  6. Vylit

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 17:04

    Could be wrong but I think he is an attorney.

  7. BuffaloNY

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 17:34

    Did you even watch hockey before 2 years ago? Did any of you who are on this website. Everyone is so upset about the sabres not making the playoffs, but how many of you were there before they got good. Bunch of fair weather fans. It's amazing, before the lockout, and back in the 2005-06 season, no one was at the games. It wasn't until January that they drew more than 12,000 at home games. Let's see what attendance is next year.

  8. bizcomplete

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 17:52

    BUFFALONY

    I watched hockey before 2 years ago.

    I'm on this website.

    Now wtf is your point? You think there will be fans next year or there won't be fans? Are you drunk?

  9. al-alo

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 18:12

    on the back of sabres tickets (no liberties with the case have been taken, written as on the back of the ticket):

    "WARNING! YOU ARE AT YOUR OWN RISK TO THE DANGERS INCIDENTAL TO THIS EVENT whether occurring prior to, during or after the Event including specifically (but not exclusively) the dangers of being struck by hockey pucks, sticks, balls, and other equipment, by spectators or players or by thrown objects. WARNING! DESPITE ENHANCED SPECTATOR SHIELDING MEASURES, PUCKS BALLS AND OTHER OBJECTS MAY STILL FLY INTO SPECTATOR AREA. SERIOUS INJURY CAN OCCUR. STAY ALERT AT ALL TIMES INCLUDING DURING WARMUPS AMD AFTER PLAY STOPS."

  10. benfranklin

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 18:52

    As of this writing, three ex-Sabres lead their respective teams in goals; Drury, Briere and Dumont. The loss at center was made worse by letting Zubris walk. With the short supply of talented centers, we could not weather Tim Conolly's injury filled season. Look at the woeful offensive production from Mair, Ryan and sorry... Gaustad..

    It seems that ever since ESPN named them the number one sports franchise (in value for the fan) in March of 2007, ownership decided they were leaving too much money on the table. They sure did turn that around in a hurry. Winning in hockey, more than other team sports, is based on intensity and desire, up and down the organization. While the current ownership should be applauded for keeping the team here... they (he) clearly doesn't have the desire to see it through to a championship. For any true Buffalo sports fan, there's a bit of a sting to it.

  11. tjhorner1

    2 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 18:56

    Ok, so I know that there will be some haters for this comment, but whatever.

    I think that it’s a good thing that the Sabres will be at home for every round of the playoffs this year. If they would have made the playoffs, after losing Briere and Drury, that would have sent the message to Golisano that you can win, at least a little bit, while cutting a couple key salaries.

    Now, he sees first hand what losing 2 star players does to a team. That’s at least 3 games of lost revenue from home playoff games. How many home playoff games did they play last year? 11? When managing a company like Paychex, you can afford to cut a few top positions, and slide by for a couple of years, until revenue catches up, and then you can rehire. In professional sports, you can’t cut your lead contributors, and not feel an immediate impact.

    Golisano is still new at this whole sports franchise ownership thing. I still love the guy (in a very non-gay way of course). He saved this franchise - point blank. He will learn as time goes on....he’s a successful business man for a reason. We just need a little patience. Do I wish the Sabres would have made it to at least one round of the post season? Hell yeah...spring hockey in Buffalo is amazing. But, if they had made it, who knows...maybe Golisano never learns that you have to spend money to make money. Hopefully, next year, he will do just that, and we can start to reassemble another Presidents trophy winner that we all deserve!

    Or, then again, maybe I’m just being too optimistic, and nothing will change next year?

  12. thinkBuffalo

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 19:12

    They are not yelling 'Bruuuuuuce,' they are yelling 'Boooooooooo.'

  13. jamesbflo

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 19:15

    exactly my point, mess with the chemistry and you get burned. tons of playoff games and revenue lost.

    And lets not only focus on briere/drury... this goes back to mckee/grier/dumont as well. (and the saga will continue next year with miller)

    where has golisano been all year? i wouldnt be suprised if this little hockey venture of his turns out to be a flip.

    Say all you want about fairweather fans... but boy did they create some real excitement in this city the past 2 years. maybe the silver lining is that ppl wont become complacient.

    frustrated.

  14. gaustad

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 19:40

    I, for one, will be happy with a break this year from gold wigs, tin foil stanley cups, and car flags; grown men wearing Lafontaine throw back jerserys.

    I have followed the Sabres since I was a child and I never witnessed so many fans "jump on the bandwagon" so quickly when they starting winning in the last few years.

    Golisano is not entirely to blame. Larry Quinn should take the brunt of the responsibility. Poor management, laziness, and arrogance are as much at fault as not paying up. Quinn may have permantly destroyed this team.

    In addition, what kind of message does it deliver to the the players that have succeeded; their reward for years of hard work and effort is a slap in the face with a low ball offer on a contract extension.

    It demoralizes the rest of the team!

    Finally:

    NEVER, EVER, LET A GUY LIKE DRURY GO, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU HAVE TO LOCK A LEADER LIKE DRURY UP IN A CONTRACT, ASAP.

  15. Einstein

    2 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 19:44

    Whatever, so the Sabres aren't in the playoffs this year. We can blame it on a lot of different factors but it is ultimately just a sports team. I hope that we will not be seeing the same type of post for the Bills in January. Let's hold out hope that the Sabres made moves to protect the future of the franchise and to win in the future, only time will tell, but just like typical Buffalonians we dwell on decisions and want to move quickly back to the past. I can still remember the last two playoff rounds last year, where Drury and Briere played like they were still in peewee hockey, slapping at pucks and shying away from checks. They didn't play like a team that wanted to win, but they were talented enough to get by. When it came time to really perform, the team fell flat. Drury and Briere competed against each other to be the leader and it left the team without one. The team played as though they couldn't pull themselves together and couldn't play on the same page. I would rather take a losing season like this one that could lead to something greater than watching a very talented team play like amateurs and lose in the playoffs. We would have been well served to keep one of the players, but unfortunately we lost both. Bad move by management, but I am optimistic that next year will be a lot better.

  16. newskylinebuffalo

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 19:52

    WHAT A LOST SEASON!!!! But hey i'm still on the bandwagon for next year..................... BUT MAN THEY STUNK UP A STORM LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. FOIbois

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 21:50

    Sabres? They are roller derby right?

  18. ChocolateShake

    2 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 21:52

    Is Ryan Miller opening a deli on Johnson Park now?

  19. ChocolateShake

    2 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 22:06

    White men with sticks chasing a little black puck? Sounds like my childhood growing up in South Buffalo.

    Sad, how BRO did nothing to mark the 40th anniversary of the assignation of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  20. icecreamsub

    3 ratings12345
    Apr 4th 2008, 22:09

    people forget the we offered Drury a reasonable contract last year.....it's not that we didn't try and sign him.....we couldn't..he didn't want to be a sabre, he wanted to be a Ranger. scumbag....at least Briere wanted to be here. I'm confident both Philly and NY will be eliminated in the 1st round anyway.

  21. impressingagent

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 5th 2008, 02:56

    I don't feel like management just gave up on the organization. We were and are, not that bad.(Edmonton still loves us) The team just needed to adapt to this cliff runner version of the new nhl. Briere got pushed around more times then scotch tape. The fans are too quick to push the dirty underwear at management. not all of the fans are guilty until proven champions, well i guess that doesn't work for the patriots.

  22. vgs

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 5th 2008, 08:27

    You gotta spend it to make it. Two years running the Sabs spent to the hilt went deep in the playoffs and the result was a profit, a frenzy of support and league leading sales in merchandise.

  23. stephenjames716

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 5th 2008, 09:38

    is this guy sure he doesn't have a pain in his ass and not his head?

  24. gaustad

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 5th 2008, 12:14

    By the way, my prediction is Bills make playoffs next year...that Trent Edwards has a big....

  25. RisingDamp666

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 5th 2008, 12:50

    Shut the puck up about the Sabres already! It's Baseball seaon.......oh, never mind.

  26. NSphere

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 5th 2008, 12:52

    As for the Sabres you win some, you lose some. I think it stinks how quickly the team fell from last year, but Buffalo sports is always all over the place... that's what keeps it interesting from year to year.

    As for Bruce Jackson, he's nothing more than an egotistical self serving pariah in our community. He does nothing but try to stir up trouble from his self-righteous elitist soap box. He whines like a baby but does nothing. He likes to pick fights and show movies. This is just another example of him playing the cards for himself when things change. He stays in the game like a "true fan" when they're in the playoffs... then when we're out he decides to sue. Grow up Bruce and stop leeching off our community!

  27. brokeleg

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 5th 2008, 12:56

    I know, let's go outside! Lets go play kickball in the park or read a book! Bleepin Buffalo Sabres, oughta call em the Buiffalo Suckers. I love em since the womb but theres a whole world out there kids. Summers just around the corner, tetherball anyone? and go bills

  28. ToughintheStreets

    1 ratings12345
    Apr 7th 2008, 11:44

    Icecreamsub: Drury did want to stay. He accepted, in principle, the contract that was offered to him in October. Reiger, Quinn and company never sent him the contract to sign. Poor management and treatment of players will make it very hard to get the current players to believe in the franchise. And you can bet that they're telling they're counterparts around the league not to come to Buffalo. And yes your all right. They didn't deserve to make the playoffs this year. Not the way they managed the team, coached the team and not the way that team played. Like it or not we still had a talent laden team with the skill to easily make the playoffs. They just played poorly.

    As for the UB professor Al-Alo said it all. Read the back of the ticket. Its considered contractually binding. Also if you look at his article he calls Paladino and Elitist and describes himself as a modest school teacher. Eastern Conference Final Playoff tickets so close to the ice that the glass fell on you? He can't be doing that bad over at little old UB.

    Damp: Go check out a Bisons game once the weather gets warmer. I'm not a big baseball fan but they're actually pretty fun and very cheap. Nice way to spend a sunny day once in a while.

  29. Auburner

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 7th 2008, 19:32

    I have been watching hockey all of my life and NEVER, EVER paid $200 a ticket!

    If anything the Sabres should be sued for false representation. Tom Cheapassano had everyone hoodwinked and he sold his season tickets to them. Then he got rid of his star players...

    Who cares about this nut head getting whacked by the glass..

    Sew the Sabres for false advertising and representation... Typical bait and switch~!

  30. BackInBuffalo

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 8th 2008, 09:30

    See what happens when a professional educator is allowed out into the real world?!?

    Read the ticket Professor Douchebag: (and this part is all in caps on the back of every ticket: "Warning! You Are At Your Own Risk With Respect To The Dangers Incidental To This Event.....")

    Buy the ticket, take the ride.

  31. ToughintheStreets

    0 ratings12345
    Apr 8th 2008, 09:59

    No false representation. Regier actually came out in July and said that the team wouldn't be as good this year as they were last year. I can't think of any other for-profit entity in the world where the CEO could come out and say that his companies product would not be as good the next year and not get fired. Granted, not all his fault. I think his hands are tied more than we know.

    It wouldn't make sense for Golisano to purposely "bait and switch" he's still gotta sell those same season tickets in the next few months, and pissing off the consumer with a bad product isn't the way to do it. He just thought he could skate by (sorry had to say it) with a watered down product and it blew up in his face. Hopefully they'll learn from their mistakes and make the neccessary adjustments. No playoffs is going to hurt their bank account and theres no better way than that to force them to make some changes.

    * This is not a defense of the Sabres, I'm just as pissed as everyone else. They really blew it this year.

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