Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – What can be said that hasn’t already been said about the Buffalo Sabres?
In a 9-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night, captain Kyle Okposo was asked about the fans booing, and even some chants emerging about firing head coach Don Granato. Okposo’s answer brought up something that seemed true, but also misses the mark.
"That’s 12 years for them, for sure," Okposo said. "Not all of that’s on us, that’s a lot of frustration and it’s understandable. As a group, we bear, obviously, some of that responsibility from tonight."
Yes, it has been 12 years since the Sabres were last in the playoffs, the longest playoff drought in the NHL’s history and the second-longest active drought in all of sports (thanks, New York Jets). Sadly, it does not look like the Sabres will be ending it, once again.
In a league where half of the teams make the playoffs, Buffalo even avoids making it by accident. The latest example of that came from a promising year that saw the Sabres come one point short of that goal last season.
However, while Okposo is right about that, the drought does not matter in the frustration of the fan base.
The boos and negativity from Tuesday’s embarrassing loss more likely stem from watching this year’s team (who has beaten the likes of the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins) get plastered, 9-4, by Columbus, one of just six teams below Buffalo in the standings.
It stems from the Sabres being 1-12 following a win this season. It stems from watching the power play become the literal definition of insanity, doing the same thing and expecting a different result. It stems from watching the third-best scoring team in the 2022-23 season be reduced to a shell of themselves offensively and, by extension, becoming less entertaining.
And, finally, the boos stem from a clear step back from last season’s promise, and a refusal to truly build on the most promising group the fans have seen since their last playoff appearance in 2011.
It’s easy to understand not rushing through a proper rebuild, there are memories of former general manager Tim Murray being too aggressive. However, we should finally ask if general manager Kevyn Adams is being too safe with it?
Buffalo has players like Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich wasting away in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans.
Peyton Krebs has been unable to use his skills as a playmaker when languishing on the fourth line, and became a forgotten name for the future.
Ryan Johnson has shown he should not be a healthy scratch, only for fans to see more of the regrettable signings from this summer in Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton.
Buffalo has more former first-round picks like Matt Savoie and Noah Ostlund the team needs to make room for, in addition to Rosen and Kulich.
At some point, some of these players need to be utilized in upgrading the pro roster.
Adams has stocked the cupboard, but something has to be done.
Every division rival in a rebuild went swinging for a bigger core piece. The Ottawa Senators went for Jakub Chychrun. The Detroit Red Wings traded for Alex DeBrincat. Even the Montreal Canadiens tried by trading for Kirby Dach last year.
Adams brought in... Erik Johnson and Clifton. That’s it.
While it is a lot of faith in the group, showing the team they can become more by adding a big name is another way to reward them. Instead, the team marched out the same thing, with a worse third pairing, and expected things to improve.
Adams also still has three goalies on the squad, and only just waived Jacob Bryson. Holding on to every player will eventually reduce their value as an asset.
In the end, Okposo is still right that the drought is on the minds of the fans. But the boos sure as hell are about the team in front of them. At least, in front of those brave souls still even going to the games.
Only Anaheim (5-10-0) has a worse record at home than Buffalo (6-8-1) this season.
This city used to have the moniker of “Hockey Heaven.” But ever since Terry Pegula bought the team, the Sabres have kept us in Hockey Hell.
This season is just another iteration of it.
