Terry Pegula purchased the Buffalo Sabres in February 2011. The NHL franchise hasn't skated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since April 2011. That's not a coincidence.
Now, Pegula remains silent as the Sabres' playoff drought eagerly races toward 15 years amid a three-game losing streak that continued in a 7-4 loss to the Calgary Flames on Monday night. No changes to the front office regime, guided by general manager Kevyn Adams, or the Lindy Ruff-led coaching staff.
It's an unacceptable lack of urgency to turn things around. If the team's owner truly believes in the status quo, he should hold a press conference to explain his reasoning.
If Pegula thinks Adams, who was completely unqualified to become an NHL GM when he was promoted in June 2020, deserves to finish his sixth year leading the front office (and potentially hold that role into the offseason), Sabres fans deserve an explanation.
If Pegula expects Ruff and his staff to lead a sudden resurgence of a roster that's lacked any semblance of consistent improvement this season, Sabres fans deserve to hear why he holds that belief.
Buffalo, one of the league's best markets, has continued to support the organization during the past 14 years of misery. The KeyBank Center still fills up every time there's even a small hint of the Blue and Gold making a surge. The fans are desperate to watch winning hockey again.
Pegula appears far less concerned about the on-ice product. The Sabres already endured a five-game losing streak, which was part of a stretch that included eight losses in nine contests, earlier in the season and not a single change was made. Why would this losing skid be different?
The lack of accountability, spanning from the top of the front office to the last player on the roster, is why the Sabres are a yearly afterthought in a league where half the teams make the playoffs. Calling the franchise an embarrassment is probably an understatement.
If Pegula believes the outside perception is wrong, it's time for him to face the music and answer tough questions about the endless failures.
Of course, the 74-year-old Pennsylvania native also has $1.42 billion reasons to stay quiet amid the Sabres fans' suffering.
As Pegula watches another season head to the brink of complete collapse, let's check out the latest addition to our Sabres player grades series.
Buffalo Sabres players showcase zero desperation in Dec. 8 road loss to the Calgary Flames
Sabres player grades
Player | Grade (1-10) |
|---|---|
Peyton Krebs | 7 |
Josh Doan | 6.5 |
Josh Norris | 6 |
Rasmus Dahlin | 6 |
Alex Lyon | 5.5 |
Tage Thompson | 5.5 |
Beck Malenstyn | 5 |
Tyson Kozak | 5 |
Jacob Bryson | 5 |
Zach Benson | 4.5 |
Owen Power | 4.5 |
Mattias Samuelsson | 4.5 |
Jordan Greenway | 4 |
Conor Timmins | 4 |
Bowen Byram | 4 |
Alex Tuch | 3.5 |
Ryan McLeod | 3 |
Jason Zucker | 2.5 |
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | 2.5 |
Jack Quinn | 2 |
Buffalo Player of the Game: Peyton Krebs
Krebs has a lot of shortcomings, starting with the fact he's a certified black hole offensively, but Monday night's game showed the 24-year-old forward's best traits. He was energetic and aggressive on a night where many of his teammates were going through the motions, especially in the defensive zone.
The Canadian center tallied an assist on Owen Power's second-period goal to go along with four hits, a blocked shot and winning seven of his 11 faceoffs. He took a pair of penalties, but both were roughing that also resulted in a Flames player heading to the box. He was trying to provide a spark.
Krebs is never going to become the pass-first, top-six playmaking weapon the Sabres were hoping for when they acquired him in the blockbuster Jack Eichel trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. It's a deal that hasn't aged well, and it'll look even worse if Alex Tuch departs in free agency.
That said, Buffalo could do worse when it comes to a fourth-line pivot.
Sabres quick hits
- Another forgettable start for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, even if none of the goals against were the result of a glaring error on his part. The Sabres should be trying to trade UPL to clear both their current three-goalie logjam and their future in the crease.
- Alex Lyon played decently against a light workload in relief of UPL and deserves a flurry of starts to see if he can regain his early-season form.
- It was nice to see Owen Power get back on the scoresheet, but his defensive play was an issue against Calgary. (He was far from alone in that regard.)
- Jordan Greenway belongs nowhere near the first line.
- The Sabres (11-14-4) are right back at it Tuesday night (9 p.m. ET) when they visit Rogers Place for a battle with the Edmonton Oilers (13-11-5). Buffalo won the first meeting, 5-1, in mid-November.