Did you ever hear the term “painting yourself into a corner?”
I know you all have, and I want to tread carefully with what I have to say. Please take it with a grain of salt or any other cliché that resonates in your mind.
Our home opener effort from our so-called stars simply was not good enough. This has not been an anomaly for our crowd in recent years when expectations are high. Yes, they have won for Miller and RJ, but with all eyes willingly forced upon them, our record in our building of late has been abysmal.
What do I mean by all of this? Well, as all of you know I am, and always will be a homer. I love my team and I love this city. I am always trying to have optimism even in the most trying times.
The Sabres have had a conscious effort in rebuilding their brand. They constantly put forth a canvas of optimism and unity. These are not subliminal messages, although there might be some that I am just not getting… It is a full court press that coincides with where they should be at with the rebuild that we have endured. They knew that coming into this year that they had to own what they have done, and they truly have been proactive in signing their core players to create a foundation for a decade of success. Being Charlie Brown wishy washy would not have been acceptable to the fan base and ticket sales. Make no mistake, they know this, and their marketing gurus have pushed the chips into the middle of the table.
They do own the message that they are conveying, but it is starting to sound like this…
What am I trying to say? I have had enough of the letters from the players gushing about the loyalty and passion that they have for the fans and the community. I am tired of it. The rhetoric has been an attempt to put us in a trance. We are not hippies buying into the peace and love. Win some hockey games when parents spend their hard-earned money and kids are in the stands. When you have a chance to wow the hockey world, rise to the occasion. Come out of the locker room like your backside is on fire. When you have the chance to put your opponent into the fourth row, just do it even though it might not be a characteristic of your game. Victories are won on the scoreboard but also in plays that ignite the crowd. It doesn’t always have to be a goal, there are many facets of the game that can be exciting. When you are on stage in front of the people who are eager to adore you, try harder to not let us down. Play with courage and stop gripping your stick so tight. Kevyn, I don’t need a letter from Tage, I need to see that your plan is working. I need to see that your choice to have a fourth line that consists of two guys at the ends of their careers is worth it. I need to actually notice our number one line in the offensive zone showing some tenacity and grit. Once again, as with the preseason finale, did they even dress for the Rangers game? Perhaps they were having a feel-good moment reading the letter together and forgot that the Sabres nation was watching.
Back to my initial statements in this blog and the message I usually convey and do truly believe. I am not panicking and do think that what is in place will propel us to the playoffs this year. I am proud of management for sticking to a plan and constructing a nucleus of young talent with long term deals. I am human however, and my passion for this team gets the best of me at times. I planned my day with the excitement of knowing that I was going to watch the start of something special and I ended up being severely aggravated.
I understand that the season is long and it was just one game, and it takes time to gel. I am aware that getting two goals in the hole alters your mentality, and you can start to get in your head. More practices together and more contests will obviously breed acclimation to one another, but is time to throw the punches and not take them without putting up a fight.
Lace them up against the Islanders and show us that you are ready to take the next step. You are professional athletes and have a responsibility to bring it every night. You have no concept of the undying fan appreciation you would receive if you put it all together. We are one of the best hockey towns in the world. We are waiting to show you.
Quick notes –
Congratulations to the signings of Dahlin and Power. Very aggressive and necessary to the future of our franchise. When Owen was putting his John Hancock at the bottom of the document did anybody mention that he needed to take the eggs out of his pockets? This amazing talent needs to hit somebody. Remind him that it is still part of the fabric of the sport.
Recognizing that giving Benson “The Butler” a chance shows us that you are not close minded and is refreshing. The kid played his tail off as an eighteen-year-old in his NHL debut. He was not the problem out there. He was up and down the ice with a consistent effort. Looking forward to seeing more.
Buffalo Sabres Blogger • 
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