May Day 10

I just recovered from a completely torn ACL and MCL. It sucks. Basically, yeah. The most accepted/successful practice for an athlete is to graft off the middle of the patellar tendon, cut notches in the tibia and kneecap along with the tendon, and attach it to make a new ACL and bone heals to bone which creates the strongest bond. This day and age, the recovery from ACL reconstruction can easily be 100%. He will be completely fine long term as long as he listens to the professionals, rehabs correctly and takes care of himself. Both my knees now have the same risk for another incident. He will be fine. These days, you can legitimately be back 4 months after surgery if things all go well. Oh, and you can survive without an ACL, however your knee wont be as sturdy and you would be ultra-prone to a catastrophic knee injury if you played a sport that required cutting. The worst part was the 8 days post surgery. The pain down in the shin was fairly intense when standing up to go to the bathroom. The full leg brace was also a hassle. You also gotta watch what you eat. For an active person to go inactive for a long period of time, while eating the same/worse is a bad recipe.

They have to declare intent by July 29. Its only common sense things will start to go down in August

Wasn't keeping regier around 2.5 years too long valid to point out the "downfall" of the sabres under pegula? Very relevant imo because he may be in a similar situation with the bills if he is selected as the winning bidder. I think it also shows an owner who learned a lesson and adapted/changed course which is a good sign imo

the footprint of Pilot field is way too small for a football stadium.

The team was a mess as Pegula took over and we were overdue for a change then. We had a laundry list of poor decisions that put the team amongst the worst in the NHL. People were getting very sick of and vocal of management... Pegula was about to buy the team and they got red hot and made the playoffs... only to choke in games 6 and 7... but it bought a little time. Ruff should have been canned by Darcy at some point. His message was stale and they needed to change that up. That was also a reason they couldnt land any real free agent fish out there. I truly believe star players on some level enjoy the power they have in that things go south, they can "tune out" a coach, the coach will get canned. When the coach is a hard ass and is an immovable object, its not a great destination for players. I also think the change was good for Ruff, as he even admits he changed some with his new position in Dallas. Seemed more set in his ways in Buffalo. Then the whole Rolston "hire" and re-hire was as transparent as can be... Darcy wanted a clone who wouldnt question his decisions or methods. No interview process at all was conducted... Worst of all, for this rebuild, Darcy was planning on casting the prospects into the NHL to get their teeth kicked in night after night, half the time in front of a belligerent home crowd who hates the team. One game I couldnt believe Zadorov was out there getting abused by Getzlaf for a hat trick. It was an unfair mismatch and no way he develops like that... The rebuild was going to be undermined. Anyways, Regier is not clueless, isnt a stooge. Does some aspects VERY well, and Assistant GM he should be a big asset to Phoenix/Arizona. Overall he is very good at drafting, and I appreciated how he would get the upper hand in most trades. Probably the best 4 year span of my life - 98-01 (Hasek with huge credit though)... and 05-07 were good. Overall the organization was long overdue for a change in eyes. Regier seemed to be stanchly behind his guys that he acquired or drafted to the point of fault...

Im actually a Sabres fan first, Bills second. I have zero concern as Pegula as an owner. I feel completely confident his #1 desire is to win. He wants to be involved to some degree, but I feel like he just likes to be in the war-room and help out trying to recruit FA. I doubt he is interjecting strong opinions and obstructing his staff. The Sabres are going to get there. I have little doubt. Once they do, I think we could be primed for a Detroit-like multiple decades of contending string. A lot of it is due to Pegula's acceptance of short term losses and stripping the team, in exchange for a bright tomorrow. Also enhancing the player facilities, training, development, scouting dept, etc is going to go a loooong way. If anything, he came onto the scene a bit timid and kept people in place, which delayed the rebuild we needed for a few years. Same with the Bills, Pegula will get there. Might not be the same path, especially if they improve this year and Whaley is given some time, but resources will be provided for a GM to sink or swim.

Really have a great affection for the talleys and Aaron williams. I too never disliked whitner... but what's the deal with his pot shots at buffalo and the fans way after the fact? We are the girlfriend who broke up with him and he can get over the bitter and stalking behavior. He would love nothing more than to be loved and appreciated by our fan base but it never worked out.

its time to do well. I am typically a guy that roots for losses (although conflicted) once they are out of it due to the much needed draft slot. This season I wont have that at all and its going to be fun.

Yup. He is hell bent on making the Sabres a world class organization with a run like Detroit has had over the past 20-25 years. His mistake was not clearing out R&R right off the bat, but every single thing he/they have done otherwise indicates he is serious in his desire and puts his money where his mouth is. With the Harbor Center, hopefully getting the NHL combine, cozying up to USA Hockey, building up from the ground-up with Canisius, Elmira, Rochester, and Buffalo, the whole picture looks really solid for the future. Seeing someone other than Regier operate through FA is refreshing. Nice to see a guy like Gionta put on a Sabres jersey and also Gorges waiving to come to Buffalo while claiming he wouldnt go elsewhere. Anyways, off on a tangent. Translate that with the possibilities of an NFL team and the Bills...

Agreed on Jaws. It would have been possible and effective to just say little, but keep JBJ in a positive light. The over-the-top and the obvious lying really rubbed me the wrong way.

Rogers was always the biggest threat. The Toronto series being an "insurance policy" on RW's life, the $8 Billion ROgers is worth, buying the NHL rights for like $4 Million, etc. there are only a couple of others from Toronto capable of setting the price in the ridiculous range. One of them is the owner of the Winnipeg Jets, and the other is Galen Weston, who doesnt seem to have any connection to or interest in sports

its possible they cut a deal with Pegula as well for the future of that.

it should have happened in 2002 or whatever it was Houston came in. Preserving the Miami "rivalry" was like preserving the VCR tape

I guess the NFL will have to allow the Bills/Pegula to go about their way and assess when/if/how they can move a team in Toronto. I have said it before, I would love a Division with Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit (or Cincy), and Toronto

was this on "The Ocho"?

my confidence meter on them staying has moved from 90% to 95% this morning

Who is going to overpay? Tanenbaum is worth just North of $1 Billion, and Bon Jovi has like $300-$400 million, probably after selling a lot of guitars. MLSE as an entire company is "only" worth just over $2 Billion and that includes some of Tanenbaum's equity. Leiweke has a lot of money, but not a billionaire. If Pegula wants it, he is going to get it. Rogers' bid was the one real threat of Toronto coming over the top and taking it. I guess there are various boogeymen still in LA who would/could overpay, but Toronto has always been the threat here.

If kryk is right and Rogers is out that is huge. Almost makes me want to rejoice. He is/was always the biggest threat.... 2nd group however. Can he still team up with tanenbaum?

It says right on that page it is false. unfortunately

I would stay North of the stadium. South just feels further away and everything seems too separate. I like the Grassy Knoll lot on Southwestern.

I wouldnt have an issue if he were a minority owner with Pegual, but seems unnecessary. Unless he would be kind of the Ted Black/Larry Quinn of the Bills

what could ever give us any indication Bon Jovi would be a part of an ownership group who wanted to relocate to Toronto?

That Jaws thing was strange and over the top. Jaws made my do-not-trust list.

ugh, really?

So Massare has a good track record with these things?