I No longer have passion for the Sabres

         Remember when the Sabres we're good back in 2007-08. I do and it seems like a long time ago. This franchise used to be something to be proud of in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and most of the 2000s. Now this franchise is a joke and have become the Browns of the NHL. Here is the timeline for the Sabres and there embarrassment. 

          February 2011-Terry Pegula buys the team 

          Terry Pegula buys the teams and says "starting today, the Buffalo Sabres reason for existence, will be to win the Stanley Cup." We all got excited when he said that including me. The team went on a hot streak going 22-8-5 in their final 35 games to make the playoffs. We took on the Flyers and I was like bring on the Flyers. 

          Series against the Flyers 

          We took a 3-2 series lead against the Flyers and had them on the ropes in Game 6. We went up 3-1 after the 1st Period and it look like we would make it to the 2nd-Round. We should had known better when you have mediocre players like Thomas Vanek, Derek Roy, Jason Pominvllie, Tyler Ennis, Tim Connolly, Nathan Gerbe, Drew Stafford, Paul Gaustad and Jordan Leopold. Ryan Miller was the only reason we made the playoffs that year. In fact it showed in Game 7 when we got crushed by the Flyers. 

           Ville Leino Signing 

           The franchise went down hill after the Ville Leino signing. We signed one guy who had a career year with the Flyers with 19 goals. Anybody could had score 19 goals by playing on a line with Claude Giroux. Ville Leino had just 10 goals in 137 games with the Sabres. That signing set the franchise back 5 years. 

           Lindy Ruff Firing in 2012 

           He had to go, there is no more to be said. Lindy Ruff was a great head coach, but he stayed for way too long. Whatever coach Terry Pegula brought in had to be the right choice. He picked Ron Rolston who is the worst candidate ever and had no coaching experience in the NHL.  It was proved right has the team went 19-26-6 in his 51 games as the coach. 

           The tank for Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel 

           I didn't have a problem with tanking for Jack Eichel or Connor McDavid because they are both generational players and we needed one. We ended up with Jack Eichel and he has been the lone bright spot in the last 5 years. He is the only reason to watch this team until this Thursday for me. 

           The Tim Murray Error 

           Tim Murray may be the worst General Manager in team history. He traded for Evander Kane and he got him. He got him by trading away Tyler Myers, Joel Armia and 2015 1st-Round Pick. That trade came back to haunt us to this day. That 1st-Round Pick we gave up only turn into a 3rd-line Center in Jack Roslovic. Joel Armia is a 3rd-line scorer for the Canadiens which the Sabres could really use. He also traded a 1st-Round Pick for Robin Lehner and signed Kyle Okposo to a 7-year, 42 Million Dollar contract that we will be paying for until 2023. 

           The Sabres as we know them today 

           This team is a walking embarrassment. Kyle Okposo is still on a terrible contract until 2023. Evander Kane got traded for scraps along with Ryan O'Reilly. Jason Botterill will likely get fired and I feel kind of bad for him. He came in to a bad situation, but when you missed the playoffs for the 3 years your the General Manager there is no way you can keep your job. I feel like there is no hope at the end of tunnel. I wouldn't blame Jack Eichel if he demanded a trade either next year or the year after. A generational player like him will eventually want to win. This Sabres have officially took My passion for this team away. I've been a Sabres fan all of My life and I no longer care. It's sad that I've gotten to this state. I don't know if other fans are at this state, but I Am. The loss against the Canadiens last night did it for me and took the passion away.