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| sabres owner terry pegula lays out his vision at the introductory press conference february 22, 2011 |
but there's something that's really bugging me and this may be something that the major buffalo media outlets won't take issue with simply because they're in a "honeymoon-phase" with the new owner...
i like the idea of changing the culture of the team...i like the idea of making it a destination for free agents...i like the idea of players feeling wanted and feel as if they'll be taken care of...i think that pegula's ideals are rooted in a culture that is ever-present in detroit with the red wings and in pittsburgh with the steelers...they are two of the best organizations in all of sports...
during his meeting with the buffalo news editorial board, pegula once again defended the players as human beings...the players hear the criticism and are affected by it, he was saying, and he basically asked the news to lay off the players so that they may be able to do their job to the fullest...this is part of his "everyone-jump-on-board" concept which he introduced at the feb 22 press conference...
there's not a person in the working world who wouldn't want a situation where they feel wanted, are paid well and need not worry about the future...
the question i have is this, "will the players, either on the roster now or the ones that do make buffalo their destination, be able to handle it?"
a good example is tim connolly...he got that fat contract for 2 years at $9m that set him up...and what did he do?...treated it like he was part of a country club...case in point...connolly is, and has been, terrible at faceoffs...so instead of working on it, maybe putting in a little extra time, he bolts right after practice...this was a microcosm of his overall game--only do what's required...and the results of that approach displayed itself in the playoffs last season vs. the boston bruins...it was an epic fail on his part which contributed to the demise of the team...he deserved all the criticism heaped upon him...
how has the vaunted "core" handled the last three-plus seasons knowing that they're signed long-term?...inconsistent effort and play...and in the case of derek roy, before this season, there have been reports on multiple occasions that he's been at odds with the style of play head coach lindy ruff needs him to play...derek roy liked cute, highlight-reel play and shied away from the "bloody-nose" areas...the result last playoffs vs. the bruins?...no goals...
these two players, the top-two centers on the team, two of the "top-twenty centers in the nhl," if you will, did absolutely nothing for the sabres to get past the bruins in the first round of the playoffs last season...then again, these two had nothing to worry about...i highly doubt these two would be on the detroit red wings or the pittsburgh steelers...
i understand that re-branding the sabres will take time and i'm not sure what type of player that pegula and company want for this re-branding...pegula's obviously up on hockey and has surrounded himself, thus far, with some of the best in the business in ted black and ken sawyer...
also, it's real early in the pegula-era to be a "gloomy-gus," and i don't want this to come off as dissing the guy, a person who deserves the utmost respect for what he's done in his life...i guess i'm just looking at this through goggles that are tainted by "the core" and how they've performed over the last few years...they've been criticized--and rightfully so--because they skate with a sense of entitlement and have always folded under pressure...
rarely have i been a defender of the buffalo media, but this is not a problem with the media, this is a problem with the players currently on the roster...
i guess what i'm hoping for is that only players worthy of the "pegula-rewards program"--the ones who will skate with a sense of purpose, take a stick or puck to the face to score or prevent a goal, and give up their individual ego for the team--will be allowed in...
much respect, mr. pegula
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