A Fresh Start for the Sabres

BUFFALO, NY – Season after season of middling, sub-par performances can create a sports team fan base to become apathetic. Couple that disappointment in the standings with years of questionable moves by an absent management group, and you all but push any support you have left away. The Buffalo Sabres are the perfect example of this apathy in a fan base.

This fanbase has seen first round draft picks sent packing for underwhelming returns; even first overall picks moved out quickly. Fans of the Sabres have witnessed a laundry list of free agents come to town on bloated contracts, only to never come even close to living up to the lowest of expectations that come with the salary they were making. The fans and media once hoped and clamored for some good news to come of this organization but that was a time, long ago, as the past few years have seemed like the organization was on autopilot, and there was no direction that the team was heading except for obscurity.

Fans, media outlets and even fellow managers constantly pointed the finger at the management group that seemed to only show up once or twice a year. Criticism and vitriol followed GM Lochy Bicknells every move, especially as everything he did was almost assured to be disastrous for the organization. Under Bicknells tenure, the only gear that the Sabres seemed to know was reverse and the on-ice product and dwindling attendance numbers proved that to be accurate.

But today, the “Reign of Incompetence” might finally reach its end for the Sabres. Starting with an early morning press release that the organization had parted ways with GM Bicknell, the Sabres finally had something to make front page news again. For an organization to have such a huge monkey off its back, you would expect fans to flood the streets in celebration had it had any fans left who cared. The team stated their reasoning for the overdue change was because they hadn’t heard or seen him in months. This alone may as well prevent the organization from falling into the abyss, but the next statement that the Sabres released a few hours later had the potential to fully turn this ship around. The press release was a simple yet powerful indication that the Sabres ownership was sick of losing. It read:

“The Buffalo Sabres have hired Ron Dubin as their new General Manager. 
He will start immediately upon his arrival to the city.”

Finally, something might go right for this franchise. Finally, the ownership group has stepped in and found someone who has a proven track record of actual success. The fact that Ron Dubin was even a possible candidate for the organization was never a possibility until yesterday when the Toronto Maple Leafs unceremoniously dumped him after being swept from the Stanley Cup Finals by the Colorado Avalanche. The Leafs fired a man who led their team to three of the last four Stanley Cup Finals, the same man who lifted their organization from the perils of mediocrity. That same man has now been named the manager of the Sabres, a team in the same spot as the Leafs were when he took over. This should get the fanbase talking, this alone should drive some season ticket sales.

Reports have it that once Ron Dubin arrived in the city, he was whisked right to the arena to hold a press conference to introduce him to the fans and media. Dubin seemed very open and honest and the conference proved insightful to many things, from why he was released from the Maple Leafs, to what his plans are for the Sabres.

Upon being asked on why he was released from the Maple Leafs, Dubin had to say this:

“It makes no sense, but you know how Rogers and Bell pretty much own the team, right? They were upset that my phone plan was with Telus and I wasn’t willing to switch. That’s why they fired me. It wasn’t because we got swept and the team crapped the bed, it was because I had a Telus phone plan.”

When asked upon why he accepted the Sabres job:

“For starters, it was the only job available. *laughs* But as poorly run as this team has been over the past few years, it’s not as bleak as some people like to think it is. And I like a challenge, and like the Leafs were when I first started, this team will definitely be that.” And when he was asked what his vision was for the team: “Win the cup. That should be the goal for every team, and it will be for this team. I want to win the cup every year. I will go as far as saying I guarantee that the Sabres will make the playoffs next year and we will have a parade down…I don’t even know what road you’d use to parade down in Buffalo. I just got here! But there will be a Stanley Cup parade here at some point, that I will assure you.”

And before the press conference was over, Dubin dropped another bombshell:

“I just wanted to say that my phone just went off and it was the GM of the Minnesota Wild
confirming that Andrei Vasilevskiy is now the newest member of the Buffalo Sabres.
Winning starts now.”

And with that, he walked into the back rooms, leaving every person with a stunned look on their faces. So the Sabres have had quite the day. First they rid themselves of a ghost of a GM, hire arguably the most successful GM in the league over the past 5 years and land a franchise goalie. It’s not even lunch yet and the city is buzzing. Let’s hope this forward momentum takes the team out of the dark ages and gives us all something to cheer for.

Rino Di Antonio

Welcome back Ron.

A Fresh Start for the Sabres
Fired GM lands on his feet

• 1 teams Like this  4 years

Ron Dubin Why thank you! Its been so long!

4 years  1 teams Like this