Yeah. It was called Rich Stadium.

And I'm lovin this team and the prime time exposure
- Michael Pachla

Josh may be garnering some MVP votes with these Primetime games

Week 17 could still be interesting, though not necessarily for the division. Bills could be playing for the 2-seed and Dolphins could be fighting for a playoff spot by then. Miami currently has the tie-breaker over Baltimore. Baltimore has Jacksonville, NY Giants and Cincinnati left. Miami has New England, the Raiders and the Bills left.

This is such a bizarre way of looking at it.

The Packers are within a few games of a super bowl every, single, season.

The Lions aren't usually within a few games of the playoffs every year.

Pretending it's the same thing, idk how you get there
- sbroads24

The Sabres are as good as the Bruins because they have the same amount of hardware in the trophy case since 2012

The Sabres are as good as the Bruins because they have the same amount of hardware in the trophy case since 2012
- TheSabresTaco

The Bruins are better than the Sabres but their success has led to achieving nothing the Sabres haven’t by missing the playoffs and drafting high.

A majority of posters enjoy the ride up despite the heartbreak at the end, I’m not going to tell you how to feel.

I’m also not going to apologize for caring less about playoff appearances either if I’m the grand scheme of things you’re only making the playoffs to lose in the first two rounds and tread your tires and not get anywhere

The Bruins are better than the Sabres but their success has led to achieving nothing the Sabres haven’t by missing the playoffs and drafting high.

A majority of posters enjoy the ride up despite the heartbreak at the end, I’m not going to tell you how to feel.

I’m also not going to apologize for caring less about playoff appearances either if I’m the grand scheme of things you’re only making the playoffs to lose in the first two rounds and tread your tires and not get anywhere
- Pegullaville

You don't see any value in having a fun and good playoff team year-in and year-out?

I think the tank broke your brain

The Bruins are better than the Sabres but their success has led to achieving nothing the Sabres haven’t by missing the playoffs and drafting high.

A majority of posters enjoy the ride up despite the heartbreak at the end, I’m not going to tell you how to feel.

I’m also not going to apologize for caring less about playoff appearances either if I’m the grand scheme of things you’re only making the playoffs to lose in the first two rounds and tread your tires and not get anywhere
- Pegullaville

Your only logisitical flaw is by looking at everything in past tense.

Pointing at a scenario and say "They lost in x year even though they make the playoffs every year" is the antithesis of being a sports fan. What's the (frank)ing point of you even caring about sports if you don't give a poop about the ride and just say "Well, if they're not guaranteed a championship, they might as well tank"

There's no logic in your argument, because your preference is in paradox with your fandom.

They lost. I think it was Houston. He was held in check. We were way up on those aluminum benches. It was cold and we froze our arses off. Almost literally because those benches were so cold.
- Michael Pachla

Remember bringing out the old seat covers for those games. Remember my Grandfather bringing 2 thermosas's, one was for me, and one grandma made special for him, with his hot chocolate and Bailey's.

“I think I’ve proven myself enough that I can play in this league and be a big player or be a top defenseman on a team, but everything that’s going on right now, the situation with life everyone is in, I’m just excited to get back and hopefully we can get back sooner than later,” said Montour during a recent interview with The Buffalo News.


Montour to center confirmed

You don't see any value in having a fun and good playoff team year-in and year-out?

I think the tank broke your brain
- jcragcrumple

Flacco has the mind of a safe stock trader. Slow and steady and small guaranteed wins and no losses and forecasting the market and selling when things take a downturn. It goes against the ideology of being a sports fan.

There was a brief time in the Sabres history where the fans were united in wanting to lose, because in that specific scenario, we won. We never, ever, wanted to lose for the sole outcome of losing. We wanted to lose to win. And that prize was our franchise center to build around. Regardless of what the GMs did to this team and the inabilities to build around that franchise center, the goal was to obtain him, because teams don't win without franchise players.

“I think I’ve proven myself enough that I can play in this league and be a big player or be a top defenseman on a team, but everything that’s going on right now, the situation with life everyone is in, I’m just excited to get back and hopefully we can get back sooner than later,” said Montour during a recent interview with The Buffalo News.


Montour to center confirmed
- jcragcrumple

ok Brandon

Flacco has the mind of a safe stock trader. Slow and steady and small guaranteed wins and no losses and forecasting the market and selling when things take a downturn. It goes against the ideology of being a sports fan.

There was a brief time in the Sabres history where the fans were united in wanting to lose, because in that specific scenario, we won. We never, ever, wanted to lose for the sole outcome of losing. We wanted to lose to win. And that prize was our franchise center to build around. Regardless of what the GMs did to this team and the inabilities to build around that franchise center, the goal was to obtain him, because teams don't win without franchise players.
- TheSabresTaco

Well I hope they do, cause that Franchise Center hasn't won anything without having a TEAM around him.

Flacco has the mind of a safe stock trader. Slow and steady and small guaranteed wins and no losses and forecasting the market and selling when things take a downturn. It goes against the ideology of being a sports fan.

There was a brief time in the Sabres history where the fans were united in wanting to lose, because in that specific scenario, we won. We never, ever, wanted to lose for the sole outcome of losing. We wanted to lose to win. And that prize was our franchise center to build around. Regardless of what the GMs did to this team and the inabilities to build around that franchise center, the goal was to obtain him, because teams don't win without franchise players.
- TheSabresTaco

It's the same poop with being happy that the Sabres were outside the 24-team playoff so they get a higher pick. Im in it for the meaningful games in whatever the (frank) month matters this year. No more high picks. Just win some friggin games. You don't need to win the cup, just win more than you lose so I can at least stomach the idea of watching the Devils and Islanders a combined 16 times because at least the Sabres are good.

No more tanking

It's the same poop with being happy that the Sabres were outside the 24-team playoff so they get a higher pick. Im in it for the meaningful games in whatever the (frank) month matters this year. No more high picks. Just win some friggin games. You don't need to win the cup, just win more than you lose so I can at least stomach the idea of watching the Devils and Islanders a combined 16 times because at least the Sabres are good.

No more tanking



- jcragcrumple

You don’t get Eichel, Dahlin, Reinhart, Cozens, Joker, Quinn (remains to be seen) by making the playoffs.

However those players may be the ones that put you over the top once you get there.

Flacco has the mind of a safe stock trader. Slow and steady and small guaranteed wins and no losses and forecasting the market and selling when things take a downturn. It goes against the ideology of being a sports fan.

There was a brief time in the Sabres history where the fans were united in wanting to lose, because in that specific scenario, we won. We never, ever, wanted to lose for the sole outcome of losing. We wanted to lose to win. And that prize was our franchise center to build around. Regardless of what the GMs did to this team and the inabilities to build around that franchise center, the goal was to obtain him, because teams don't win without franchise players.
- TheSabresTaco

I don't think the Bruins ever tanked. Same with the Blues and Dallas. Detroit coming out of the Dead Wings era never did.

Just adding some balance to the conversation

Remember bringing out the old seat covers for those games. Remember my Grandfather bringing 2 thermosas's, one was for me, and one grandma made special for him, with his hot chocolate and Bailey's.
- Buff36

If I was you're grandpa, I'd have given you nip. It's just Bailey's, which is great with coffee


*sips his Bailey's and coffee*

It's the same poop with being happy that the Sabres were outside the 24-team playoff so they get a higher pick. Im in it for the meaningful games in whatever the (frank) month matters this year. No more high picks. Just win some friggin games. You don't need to win the cup, just win more than you lose so I can at least stomach the idea of watching the Devils and Islanders a combined 16 times because at least the Sabres are good.

No more tanking



- jcragcrumple

Why play if you're not guaranteed to win?

You don’t get Eichel, Dahlin, Reinhart, Cozens, Joker, Quinn (remains to be seen) by making the playoffs.

However those players may be the ones that put you over the top once you get there.
- Pegullaville

Boston didn't get Bergeron, Marchand and Pasta by tanking either. Skin/Cat

You don’t get Eichel, Dahlin, Reinhart, Cozens, Joker, Quinn (remains to be seen) by making the playoffs.

However those players may be the ones that put you over the top once you get there.
- Pegullaville

I'm not debating the merits of the 2015 tank. That was a good idea. I reject the idea that the Sabres are better off because they picked 8th this year instead of losing in the play-in round. I also reject the "if ya ain't first, you're last" philosophy. To say nothing of how good it would have been for this team to taste anything remotely like success, it would have been fun (sports are supposed to be fun) to watch them play and we wouldn't be on month 10 of no Sabres hockey.

I don't think the Bruins ever tanked. Same with the Blues and Dallas. Detroit coming out of the Dead Wings era never did.

Just adding some balance to the conversation
- Michael Pachla

Like in the previous post, skin/cat

If you can't draft (Buffalo) then you tank to get your main piece.

You don’t get Eichel, Dahlin, Reinhart, Cozens, Joker, Quinn (remains to be seen) by making the playoffs.

However those players may be the ones that put you over the top once you get there.
- Pegullaville

At the same time, though, you have to start learning how to win. Otherwise, even top end draft picks become a waste. You don't go from a perpetual lottery team to a championship team overnight.

Like in the previous post, skin/cat

If you can't draft (Buffalo) then you tank to get your main piece.
- TheSabresTaco

Yeah. Their drafting was pretty weak post '04-'05 lockout. It looks like it's getting much better but then again the pool of prospects has been much deeper the last half-dozen years or so

At the same time, though, you have to start learning how to win. Otherwise, even top end draft picks become a waste. You don't go from a perpetual lottery team to a championship team overnight.
- buffalofan19

See Bills doing exactly that

Yeah. Their drafting was pretty weak post '04-'05 lockout. It looks like it's getting much better but then again the pool of prospects has been much deeper the last half-dozen years or so
- Michael Pachla

St. Louis traded 3 firsts to acquire their top-6 centers who won the cup. Creating a winner is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.

If I was you're grandpa, I'd have given you nip. It's just Bailey's, which is great with coffee


*sips his Bailey's and coffee*
- Michael Pachla

Oh he did. You bringing up the seats made me think back to that time.

Flacco has the mind of a safe stock trader. Slow and steady and small guaranteed wins and no losses and forecasting the market and selling when things take a downturn. It goes against the ideology of being a sports fan.

There was a brief time in the Sabres history where the fans were united in wanting to lose, because in that specific scenario, we won. We never, ever, wanted to lose for the sole outcome of losing. We wanted to lose to win. And that prize was our franchise center to build around. Regardless of what the GMs did to this team and the inabilities to build around that franchise center, the goal was to obtain him, because teams don't win without franchise players.
- TheSabresTaco

It’s easy to have fun when your expectations are low.

When you are expected to win, and you fall short. Then that is not fun, at least for me personally.

I’m not sure any Tampa Bay Lightning fan was thrilled getting swept by Columbus last year after having one of the best regular seasons later.

Happy for them this year to get their ring, and I’m sure at this point winning that ring is the only thing that mattered to Lightning fans.

How many times do you think Washington fans would celebrate getting knocked out of the first or second round of the playoffs every year for the better part of a decade ? They finally got their cup when Ovi was in his 30’s but how many of those playoff appearances before that would you think they got together and celebrated and had beers and said “hey let’s watch us choke again with a President Trophy team and reminisce”.