One of my favorite childhood memories comes from the 2007 Buffalo Sabres Cup run. I was seven years old then, and became forever hooked to this franchise. I remember so vividly my dad buying me an inflatable Stanley Cup I carried throughout the halls of the then HSBC arena, to loud cheers from fellow western New Yorkers.
Today, the Sabres organization feels like it’s at its lowest point. I have had the incredible privilege of covering this team for Trainwreck Sports for the past two years now. It was my dream to cover my team, but the continuous ineptitude and heartbreak have me so withdrawn from the team.
Don’t get me wrong, I will always love this team, but why should I spend my nights live-tweeting a game for a team that won’t compete, why should my emotions be tied to a team that cannot stop tripping over their own two feet, why should I support them when they cannot support their own fans. And hey, I know it is an absolute privilege to have the platform I have to talk about this team. But I want the best for the people who support this team as well. The fans staying up to 1 a.m. to watch them play out west on a weekday. The folks spending hundreds of dollars to see them get shutout. To all of us who still find a way to believe that someday we will have better days.
The anger fans have shown throughout the course of the playoff drought has slowly turned to just not caring about the team. If the Pegulas want to salvage this franchise, they need to win the fans back, but they need to prove to the fans that they care first.
I have met some incredible people who cover the Sabres (so many of them do it for free) and I know they feel the same. But I am not asking for too much, just an inkling of proof this organization is moving in the right direction. I will be the first to admit I get drawn back in time and time again to the hype the second they win a game. But I don’t think I’ll truly buy into the hype for a long long long time.
I am almost 24 years old now and have not seen this team make the playoffs since I was in the 3rd grade. The fact there are any fans at games is astounding. I was convinced the Bills playoff drought was the worst thing, but this Sabres one hurts so much more because we know the talent is or at least was there.
This fanbase is passionate, and we all deserve to feel like the time and money we put in supporting this franchise is in good faith. Terry Pegula said the existence of the Sabres is to win the Stanley Cup, but it feels the only reason this team is around is to sell more goathead jerseys to fans who miss better days.
I have had the incredible honor of interning as a staff writer for the Pittsburgh Penguins for the past month and a bit. I have gotten more love in the 43 days I’ve worked there than the nearly 24 years as a Sabres fan.
My childhood heroes Drury and Briere gone for nothing, my idol Ryan Miller shipped out, and any thought of hope ahead is quickly bogged down by inconsistent play and losing streaks.
I know this isn’t an only me issue, but what will it take for the Sabres to be relevant in Buffalo again? You are lucky to get one or two TVs in Buffalo to have the game on for a random Tuesday night. If we know one thing it is that Buffalo sports fans care. But so much of that trust between fans and the team is long gone. Years of losing, heartbreak, and complacency seem to have all but shattered what makes Buffalo fans unique.
Will it take boycotts to get change in the organization? Are we going to have to be Oakland Athletics fans and reverse boycott to prove this city wants a team that cares for them? The price to go to a game are absurd, and who in their right mind will consistently pay that for lackluster efforts night in and night out?
There is nothing I want more than to see the KeyBank packed with fans. To see this team actually score goals again. To believe in the Buffalo Sabres once more.
What makes being from western New York special is the people. I want to hear your thoughts on this. Tell me do you still believe in this team, and if not, when did you lose that trust? Comment that down below, or tweet me @gatesy35
14 Responses
I want to believe but each season that goes by I wonder what is wrong? We have talent but is it enough? The coaching staff, are they good enough to get us to playoffs? Why do we have winning streaks but then the loosing streaks are longer? Do we need a hot goalie or goalies? I don’t know the answer but I would think someone knows what to do but is not being listened to or we need some new managers.
First let me say this was fantastic. Very well done. Expressed how so many of us feel. I absolutely used to love this franchise and was so passionate. That is no longer the case. It’s turned into anger and distain. So many consecutive years of ineptitude and pure incompetence which would turn off almost any true fan. They are no longer worth my time nor my $. It’s no longer fun or enjoyable in any way. So much blame to go around. But the most blame and biggest problem starts at the top with the owners. They have become an embarrassment who just can’t seem to get anything correct. The stubbornness the arrogance and just stupidity is astounding. I hate that it’s come to this but they brought this on themselves. I can honestly say the only way I see this franchise becoming relevant and good again and the only thing that will win me back in is for them to sell the team. The team and the arena has been a total disaster and dump for basically the entire 13 years of their ownership. So really hope they decide to cut the cord and sell this once proud once successful franchise. Cause they have completely ruined them.
I agree with you on that. I feel like each season is just the same song and dance. Hell, last year they were a single point out of making the playoffs, and now they make some tiny improvements to the roster of the summer and regressed dramatically
This was an excellent read. Thank you for using your platform to say what most of us have felt since 2011. The Apathy in the fan base and in the city for the Sabres feels almost thunderous. I want to believe, I want to see them play well, I want to be excited to go to the 2 or 3 games I can afford to buy, I want to get excited for trade deadline or July 1st to see who’ll they may add, and most of all I just want to feel the electricity of a playoff crowd in the arena or on the streets especially after a win. Alas I’ve lost hope. Most nights I just hate watch them, or find something better to do. Addams seems like a nice fella, but he’s a sycophant, a yes man, and most of all he’s cheap. I was excited for Granto at first, seemed like he found some answers to our woes; now he just looks like a broken man, out of answers after each lackluster effort. We’ve seen some of the talent on the roster, but half the time they just seemed disinterested and the management is merely satisfied (or obsessed) w potential. The only way to get us back is either sell the team to another buyer who won’t move them, or simply just win
Perhaps the tanks messed w the Sabres’ karma. Perhaps we’re cursed. SOMEDAY MAYBE ONE OF OUR LOCAL TEAMS WILL REWARD OUR LOYALTY W A DAMN CHAMPIONSHIP. All and all I’ll see ya next game. #factoryofsadness, #merchantsofmisery.
It takes absolutely no talent to have heart and hustle pride game in and game out I want a guy like Darlene aka dahlin says we got to get better at doing the boring stuff I’m still trying to figure out what’s boring to you for 8 million a year right now you couldn’t pay me to go to one of their games Grows some balls your pussies
Beautifully said!!! And 100% right!!!
You know my history with hockey, if not ask your dad. It hurts me that we don’t even watch the games on tv anymore. Started at 5 going to almost every hockey game in the 50s. Feels like losing a friend!!
Doug Citron
Spot on Carson! Nice work!
I’ve tried to stay positive about this team for a long time. It gets harder & harder with the passing of each game.
I can’t honestly say what it will take for me to climb back on the wagon. Whatever it is, I hope it happens soon!!
Keep up the good work!!
Great letter! My feelings for this club are best described in one word: apathy. I’m 43 years old and I’ve loved the Sabres since I was in kindergarten. Going to games, watching every game I could, listening to the radio when I worked shift work through my 20’s. The Pegulas bought this team when there was a waiting list for season tickets and in just over a decade turned it into the butt end of every joke in the NHL. I don’t get angry when we lose, and I don’t get excited when we win. I feel nothing. I don’t know what will ever bring the passion back for me, but hiring a coach with a proven NHL track record would be a great place to start. Go Sabres.
Great read, thank you for this.
Well done Carson and all the best in the future covering the NHL. The shame of all this losing under this family is the loss of an entire generation of fans. My kids got to enjoy Danny B and Miller playoff runs. Like you mentioned the last time they were in the playoffs was when you were in 3rd grade and now you are interning for the Penquins.
I will let you know I had enough of this BS and in 2019 gave up my seasons. Haven’t missed going to the games at all. I don’t miss my crappy broken chair on the aisle of 214. I don’t miss $18 beers or the “wonderful” culanary choices offered at KBC. I do miss a competitive team to watch. Last year they missed the playoffs by 1 point playing a wide open exciting brand of hockey that seemed to be perfect for the players they have drafted and traded for. HOPE lurking around the corner for this season. What does Kevin from accounting do knowing he was already without Quinn to start the season? He signs 2 veteran d-men and tells Donny Meatballs to tighten up the offense. So HOPE is gone again because we all saw boring hockey and 10 points out of the playoffs before the KIngs game. Easy to point blame but it has to start and end with ownership.
We all remember Terry crying at the presser when he bought the team. He brought in his own hockey people. Ken Sawyer, Ted Black and we were told they were really smart because they were from Pittsburgh. They fired Lindy and that started a coaching merry go round of clowns like Ron Rolston and Ralph Krueger. They tried bringing back Nolan and Patty LaLa. Know one still knows exactly why Patty was let go but the next thing you knew Russ Brandon was the new team president. Then it became KIm. Sadly Terry didn’t trip over a Brandon Beane in hockey like he did with his beloved football team. Fans have the right to tell them to sell the Sabres and they should.
I am going to propose my theory.
Both Tuch and Tage had their first kids. Thats a big adjustment.
I am willing to bet both Cozens and Dahlin are enjoying the single life with new girlfriends.
That too is work.
Once they learn to balance that with the need or want to succeed in their sport it will correct itself.
I hope i am right but i know how this can affect your work habits.
they can’t throw or receive a pass
they have a terrible breakout
the best line they have plays dump and chase
power play doesn’t shoot enough or put players where they need to be
they’re not tough! don’t stand up for each other and are not respected by other teams
defense flat out sucks!!
Levi is too small to be a NHL goalie. “Oh! but he’s the future”
no vision
just a couple of my arm chair coaching thoughts, thanks for looking!
Carson, all the best!
sorry I didn’t use punctuation in my post.
I have been a long time Buffalo Sabres fan since the 1970s and a season ticket holder since the early 1990s.
Now 60, I have been hoping and hoping the Buffalo Sabres will be good if not great again before I croak.
I grew up playing street hockey on a dead end street in North Buffalo and still passionate about the Buffalo Sabres and the game. But it’s been difficult as I said.
I miss those Buffalo teams from 2006 and 2007 and how close they were to winning the Stanley Cup. How the Buffalo fans loved this team and made the arena an intimidating place for the opponents.
The last thirteen years has been very difficult. It’s frustrating the Buffalo Sabres will miss the playoffs again. I like many of the current players and they have had their moments but they still are far away from being a legitimate contender.
I have mixed feelings about the Pegulas and how the team has operated and is perceived in the league.
It’s a start that they will have a new scoreboard and roof work done for next season in the arena. Still going to games, I can tell you the arena isn’t awful but it’s been neglected for a long time and is in shabby condition. Imagine owning a house for 28 years and doing little or no updates like the kitchen, bathrooms etc.
I believe the arena will need significant upgrades and work done over the next few multiple off seasons. The Sabres lease the KBC which is owned by Erie county. The upgrades are needed and both the club and county should be able to manage this. This arena is much smaller than a new football stadium.
I think GM Kevyn Adams has done a good job building the Buffalo Sabres prospect pool.
However, I am convinced Adams is being shackled. Not necessarily by the ownership but the NHL. It seems the Buffalo Sabres can only build the team mostly through drafting. Meaningful trades have been extremely difficult to make for this team and free agency (July 1st) hasn’t helped the Sabres since Darcy Regier was the GM.
I fear the Buffalo Sabres could be hockey’s version of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They can only build mostly through the draft but not be real players in trades and free agency. Hockey has a salary cap unlike baseball but Buffalo and other small market teams don’t seem to be part of the league anymore.
The Buffalo Sabres haven’t done themselves any favors either and presently, they have to rebuild the relationship with the fans. The Buffalo fans want this to love, respect and believe in the Buffalo Sabres again.
I did renew my season ticket for 2024-25 — again trying to keep my hope and faith that the Buffalo Sabres will succeed on and off the ice.