In this photo taken Thursday, March 10, 2011, Buffalo Sabres president Ted Black speaks during an interview in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Ted Black: Sabres Could Buy Not Sell
Sabres President Ted Black joined the WGR Morning show for his weekly segment on Thursday and touched on a number of issues including the upcoming trade deadline, Buffalo’s hopes of landing an All Star Game in the not too distant future and an update on the dispute between Time Warner and MSG.
With the trade deadline less than four weeks away, Black was asked if the current three game points streak and improved play would alter what they’re thinking as far as deals are concerned. “I don’t think it impacts it that much” Black said. “Our goal is to see what we can do to make our team better and if we have an opportunity to do it without sacrificing a long term goal of winning a championship, that philosophy remains.” Black added “I think there’s a real opportunity here to pick up pieces that help us in years beyond.”
As a follow up to that response, Black was asked if that means the Sabres will be more of a buyer than a seller. “What we won’t do is just go all in right now like you see a lot of teams do” Black responded. “Its not a model we want to follow that we sacrifice for a short term risk. If there’s an opportunity to make this team better for the years beyond, Darcy will do that.”
The Sabres President said this season reminds him of the 2005-06 campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins when Black was serving as their team President. Sidney Crosby was coming in and Mario Lemieux was still playing. Pittsburgh brought in John Leclair, Ziggy Palffy and Sergei Gonchar during the off season and expectations were very high. Lemieux was limited to about 20 games, Palffy was injured early and Gonchar had an off year and those lofty expectations were not achieved that season.
Having just come back from the All Star Game in Ottawa, Black said the Sabres have let the NHL know they are interested in hosting any and all events that are available including the Entry Draft and another Winter Classic. The next All Star Game that is available is probably 2015 because next year’s game has been awarded to Columbus and the 2014 affair would be scrapped if the NHL participates in the Olympic Games. Black said hosting the draft might be the easiest avenue to pursue at this point but he added there is less competition for the All Star Game than the Winter Classic because a number of cities have full buildings due to NBA clubs and concerts.
As to the MSG-Time Warner dispute, sadly he had nothing new to report. A Time Warner Cable customer himself, Black said he’s infuriated by the fact the two sides can’t even sit down at the same table and talk these days.
Wake up - mathematically you have a ridiculous chance to qualify, you have grossly underachieved, you have miscalculated the incumbency, and now, you babble a buyers profile. Its a sport that can rebuild on the fly - stop wasting valuable time and get your future in line now! You are supposed to be a businessman - then act like one not a carny barker.
02/02/2012 12:42PM
Re: Teddy Toe Dancer
Given his personal successes and the successes of the team he helped build in Pitt, I'm compelled to say he knows more about business than you, armchair CEO.
02/02/2012 12:51PM
Oh Gee...
When have we heard this before?
Keep buyin tickets, sheeples
02/02/2012 1:08PM
awful team
who cares they arent on television.
02/02/2012 1:22PM
Folks at the FNC
What's the deal?? Why bother to attend this horrible team's home games? There is more reason why the Buffalo teams truly s.u.c.k for so long than their initials BS (bills sabres) alone. IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AT THE GAMES. The teams have no reason to get better really. Why should they? People buy tickets anyway, why bother?
02/02/2012 1:24PM
Hello?
How does this season remind him of 05-06 Pit? We dont have a single player on this roster who could hold a candle to Lemieux or Crosby. Nor a vet with LeClair's caliber.
02/02/2012 1:41PM
Blah, blah, Blah, dude....Carny Barker...really?
What is Black supposed to say...the sky is falling, all these players stink and the misjudged them (that will help trade values and deals), that the team will be big buyers/sellers...again that will help the situation.You, I, the Sabres and the league know the position the Sabres are in right now. Tomorrow, Lundquist could tear an ACL, a top team could loose their puck moving defenseman to an injury....another team could decide to start selling pieces. Unless you have the next Briere deal in your back pocket..shut up and shut up hard!
02/02/2012 1:43PM
Blah, Blah, Blah....Carny Barker? Oy Vey.
What is Black supposed to say...the sky is falling, all these players stink and the misjudged them (that will help trade values and deals), that the team will be big buyers/sellers...again that will help the situation.You, I, the Sabres and the league know the position the Sabres are in right now. Tomorrow, Lundquist could tear an ACL, a top team could loose their puck moving defenseman to an injury....another team could decide to start selling pieces. Unless you have the next Briere deal in your back pocket..bark less.
02/02/2012 1:51PM
Re: Teddy Toe Dancer...
You are so correct. The Sabres need to stop being delusional and rebuild. Sadly, they won't be doing this anytime soon. Oh well, more lost seasons await.
02/02/2012 1:59PM
I don't see any comparison to the Lemieux/Crosby/LaClaire Penguins, at all!
This guy is just feeding the Buffalo fans a big sales pitch. What an arrogant condescending sales monkey, sounds like he thinks we are a bunch of fools here. Maybe we are, is we buy that nonsense.
02/02/2012 2:01PM
Ted Black's Used Cars
C'mon Teddy, either you are a complete fool, and a poor Daniel Baldwin double, or you think Sabre fans are.
02/02/2012 2:09PM
Dear Sabres - Please stop picking up points
This trend of sabres picking up points in games has to stop if they are to have a chance for a top five pick. One down year isn't going to kill the franchise whats hurting us is Mindy squeezing a 7th, 8th, 9th,or 10th place finish out of a mediocre team every year. This leads to a late to mid round pick where drafting becomes difficult for Marcy. A poor finish would also help the Amerks who are a playoff team and could use some help via Luke Adam & Zack Kassian. Both would benefit from a deep run at the calder cup and being exposed to winning for a change.
02/02/2012 2:17PM
Try this link Ted Black
Below is a link to capgeek's trade machine which will calculate the cap implications of trades real or imagined.
http://capgeek.com/trade_machine.php
I encourage fans to try it and to see how bad a position the Sabres are in regards to the salarycap. Maybe Marcy has some knowledge of cap rules that could make things easier but I doubt it. It was Marcy himself who said every year until this year that spending up to the cap was foolish and made moves difficult.
02/02/2012 2:24PM
RE: Teddy Toe Dancer
Shut your face and non educated analysis on the Sabres team and season. You are one of MANY slow people out there that assumed we'd be awesome because we landed a few higher end players in the offseason. This team is good, and you've seen how they could have played all year if they were HEALTHY. I think they can make a good run at qualifying for this year and if they fall short then we will make changes and go get it next year!
02/02/2012 2:25PM
RE: teddy
why can't you people understand it's just not that easy to make a trade these days? it's like those of you who say lose all the games so we get a high draft pick. No guarantee the draft pick or trade will be any better!
02/02/2012 2:40PM
talk talk talk... earn your events dont plea to have them.
...quit treating fans like kids, and telling us "we're almost there", or were talking to the NHL or the NFL - when we're NOT. Win A Stanley Cup, Win A superbowl, Dominate the leagues.... Get a Star QB,....... Then Host a Superbowl, then Host events, then host a all-star game...... otherwise nobody cares about your area OR your team or your chicken wings or your waterfall, or you 1 street with bars....WIN D A M I T.
02/02/2012 2:46PM
Ted the Joke
Call me when they trade Miller and fire Regeir then i can entertain talk of winning championships.
02/02/2012 2:57PM
Ummm
Note to Ted. The guys on this team not performing are not Lemieux, Palffy, or Gonchar. Comparing this soft Sabres team of underachievers to those guys is mind boggling. What planet is he from? I'm really starting to think they really are clueless, top to bottom.
02/02/2012 2:58PM
NO GOALS!!!!
HEEEEELLLOOOOOO! THIS TEAM CANNOT SCORE GOALS! A TEAM NEEDS MORE GOALS THAN THE OTHER TEAM TO WIN GAMES!!!! THAT IS,AND HAS NOT BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LOOOOOOOOOONG TIME! GETZLAF FOR MYERS TRADE DO IT!!! YOUR TEAM NEEDS GOAL SCORING, NOT DEFENSEMEN THATCANT SCORE!!! 2 POWERPLAYS IN THE LAST 4 MINUTES OF THAT GAME LAST NIGHT,GOOD TEAMS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT! THIS TEAM NEVER DOES!!!!! GET TO WORK DARCY!!!!!!
02/02/2012 2:58PM
"Hi, Ted? Um... I think you missed my call.
This is Reality. I'll try again on Saturday."
02/02/2012 3:15PM
BULLDOG
I,I,I,I,I,I,I,U,U,U,U,U,U,U,U,U,U,I,I,IF,IF,WHAT,WHAT,U,U,U,U,U,TIRE FIRE, I,I,I,I,I,AND,AND,AND,AND,AND,AND,U,U,U,U,U,U,U,U,U,LAY ON TRAIN TRACKS,HE,HE,I,I,I,I,U,U,U,UM,UM,UM,UM,YOU KNOW ON ON ON ON,I,I,I,I,U,U,U,KILL MYSELF,O,O,O,O,O,U,U,U,U,. COULD SOMEONE GET THIS STAMMERING FOOL OF THE AIR PLEASE?
02/02/2012 3:28PM
Poor Blackie.
Poor Ted is having a hard time knowing what to do. He has resorted to fast talking and damage control. Until he realizes that the community wants blue collar, lunch bucket hockey not a corporate copied community from elsewhere he will forever be a square peg in a round hole here. Wrong players, wrong style, wrong message with his endorsed product, no matter how you dress it up.
02/02/2012 3:28PM
Not so fast my friend
“Its not a model we want to follow that we sacrifice for a short term risk. If there’s an opportunity to make this team better for the years beyond, Darcy will do that.” ..... no, he won't
02/02/2012 3:36PM
Things are looking bleak in Sabreland
The group think that has taken over the FNC is getting scary - smells a bit like denial. It seems like they're more concerned about circling the wagons and disproving their critics than actually winning. This season is over, but based on two related factors, it's not looking like things will be all that much better next year.
First, the Sabres need to sell so they have cap space needed to rebuild; buying only compounds a looming cap crisis. Look at it this way, if they let all the UFA's walk after the season, resign only Ennis, and call up Rochester guys to fill the wholes, that puts them above $60 mil in cap dollars. That's crazy money for a really crappy line up, and only about $5 mil available to fix the many wholes on the roster. We've got underachievers and mediocre talent eating up sizable cap space, and we'll likely have to bundle prospects and picks in order to free up enough space to right the ship.
Secondly, there's no way Darcy will make those kinds of moves. It's not in his nature. One of his most admirable qualities is his determination to do things his way, critics be dammed. However, his way hasn't and doesn't work. Problem is, he loves those guys and is loyal to a fault; moving them out would be an admission that he'd made mistakes, and no GM likes to go on record saying he messed up. Big moves are not going to happen on his watch. Darcy doesn't believe in them, is on record saying he doesn't like star players, so the players we have will be the players we will have again next year.
These are dark days for Sabres fans. Not only are we no better a team than we were under Golisano, we now have to deal with the let down of the Pegula Polish wearing off. Locker rooms are nice, a minor league affiliate in Rochester is nice, fan-picked in-game playlists are nice, but those things are easy. Winning, however, isn't easy. It requires vision, determination, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to claim the ultimate prize. To this point, it doesn't appear that Mr. Black or Mr. Pegula are willing to pay that price.
02/02/2012 3:54PM
Sabres a part of the MSG/TWC Fiasco
Black won;t admit this but MSG pays the Sabres to broadcast their games. The organization can 110% lean on TWC to accept the deal in time for us to enjoy the game Saturday against the Isles.
02/02/2012 4:16PM
Not out yet
9 Points out of a Playoff spot which is 4.5 games with 31 to play
02/02/2012 4:17PM
UFA's
There's some UFA's we should let go up just for a pick or whetever. If we love them that much, we can just re-sign them over the summer. Personally, I like Gaustad as a 4th liner, just not at his current price. A 4th line center that is at the top of the league in faceoffs is a good thing to have. Possession is key to a grind line.
02/02/2012 4:18PM
The math doesn't match his words
Since we're at the cap, we can't be a buyer without selling. Even the guys at Enron knew that. And don't compare what we have on the roster to Mario and Sydney. Please.
02/02/2012 4:22PM
years beyond...
STEVEN STAMKOS
02/02/2012 4:29PM
In the past...
That has meant deals by darcy to acquire the rights of Brad Boyes, Dominic Moore, Steve Bernier and the list goes on. I realize the last two mentioned were renta-players but they could have been signed longer had the Sabres not been so cheap. I'll make the statement again. Mr. Pegula, darcy is not the person to rebuild the Sabre's. Going on 15 years is enough of a record to realize he is futile as GM.
02/02/2012 4:41PM
O'kay, I'm backing a way from the blow-up the team statement.
But there are several players I wouldn't mind seeing have a new team. Derek Roy is this seasons Connoly. Drew Stafford's skill seemed to dry up again after signing the extention last year, weird. Brad Boyes, never fit into Lindy's system; too much grinding. Sekera, like Stafford, showed flashes of high level offense skill last year; haven't seen it this year. Pat Kaleta, all talk no real action. Matt Ellis takes up roster space yes, but... Tyler Ennis last years future all-star, this year what is he? Oh'Ya the next turn at the winger who's morphed into a center. And finally Cody McCormick; every team needs an enforcer but one that actually can fight would be a plus.Ville Leino and Mike Weber are on the wire for me. No sense on kicking Jochen while he's very injured.
02/02/2012 4:56PM
steelseller
ask this "dancer" if he has season tickets or is strictly a frustrated TV viewer before he goes off on a tangent about carnivals, which he apparently is very familiar with.He also knows about"on the fly" too.
Hows your trailer lately bud?
02/02/2012 5:40PM
Jason
Even if the Sabres make the playoffs we won't beat Boston or a top team in the 1st round. You have to look at it from the other side. If we continue to be at the bottom, we get another good prospect and can rebuild this team into a winner. Why makethe playoffs for 4 games while risking the future.
02/02/2012 7:11PM
The whole organization is delusional
Lindsey NotSoRuff is great, its not Duncy's fault, the players are just in a slump, they did stick up for Miller, no one saw it though, injuries are the problem, we need to buy not sell because the players that we have are good enough to win the cup.
DELUSIONAL is the only explanation
02/02/2012 7:17PM
Add to the roster?
Black said before that most teams make big changes to the roster ever 3 years but he wants to add more guys signed long term, we will end up with an entire team signed for 6-10 years. We are actually over the cap right now and had to dump contracts in the AHL to stay withing the limit. How are we going to add to the team if we don't have any cap room? Are we sending Boyes, Goose and Hecht to the AHL to save 12 million? We are nothing like Pittsburgh, they have superstar players, we have guys paid like stars but not producing like one.
02/02/2012 8:58PM
there wont be a single trade from Darcy
Nobody wants to deal with him
02/02/2012 8:59PM
I think thus guy is
full of baloney.
02/02/2012 10:20PM
MSG/Sabres Question; response appreciated
If MSG, and therefore most Sabres games, is only carried on Direct TV now(which appears to permanent), is that acceptable to the Sabres long term? My understanding is that the Sabres sell there own commercial/advertising space on MSG during the games? If that is true, it has to be costing the organization money as well, as advertisers will not pay as much for ads that will not seen by as many people.
Also, I am very curious to know much longer the Sabres are under contract to MSG for? And if the team has the ability, given the events that have transpired, to get out of their contract with MSG(if they wanted to) and either contract with a different network to broadcast the games or form a new local/regional network for that purpose?
02/02/2012 11:00PM
sell now
sell now while there are a lot of teams in the hunt.stop wasting time this team is done
02/03/2012 2:50AM
23-7-1
Not entirely ridiculous.... If they give it the effort like the last few games, they have a shot.... Give me that run toto 8th place and move stafford and roy at the deadline and roll with it
02/03/2012 8:19AM
Ted Black segment
Quite shilling to be honest.
02/03/2012 8:34AM
Any trades yet???
The sellout crowd of 18,690 that showed up at the game vs. the Rangers answered that. That won't send a message as long as that trend continues. Why make changes then? What a joke this fan base is backing mediocrity. A JOKE!!!
02/03/2012 9:28AM
Trade proposal
Sekera and Adam for Gagner of Edmonton and Roy, Gragnani, and a 3rd round pick for Stastny. Marcy and get to work!!! START BUYING TODAY!!!
02/03/2012 9:41AM
Teddy, ya, in Pitt, you all had a guy named Mario,
Hey Teddy, ya in Buffalo, we have a guy named Perreault, how about waving a million or two under his nose...get a real hockey hall of famer involved with some of this stuff that you dont have a clue about, or dont you care who wins, what do they pay you for??? I wouldnt give you 2 nickels to rub around in your pocket, or a row of season tickets.. Who do you think your fooling? Terry Pegula??
02/03/2012 10:01AM
fire darcy
Darcy must go.....and Rick Dudley could be a great replacement for him.
I think its safe to say Darcy has shown that he's just not capable of doing this job. Time to find the guy who is
02/03/2012 10:10AM
Ummmmmmmm
Not really 2005-2006 in Pittsburgh at all. First off, there is no Sidney Crosby on this team and nothing even close to that. Who the hell are you going to add...another Brad freakin Boyes!! That is all that is out there that you're going to be able to get, unless you're willing to give up a lot to get something in return. It would be more refreshing if Black stopped talking like Larry Quinn and acknowledged that the Sabres should do what they did in 2002-2003 and sell of major parts to get something better in return such as a centerpiece that they can build around. They sold Stu Barnes, Ray, Varada, and Gratton and got Briere. Later in the offseason they sold off Warner to get Drury. That would be the smarter strategy not only for the long term, but the short term. Problem is when you have a delusional and apparently (sad to say) disconnected owner they blame it all on injuries and fail miserably to make the necessary changes in personnel. Instead they make modest improvements to facilities and stupidly think that will attract star players here.
02/03/2012 10:11AM
Blackie the Lackie
This guy has done Nothing but ride coat tails in this business. He wants credit for the Pittsburgh run - are you kidding us. There was a great many influential moving parts in that venue and no thanks to him. Bottom line here is that he is stealing a salary talking big and riding on Pegula. If the hopeless sole wants credit for conning the cash paying customers and the patronizing media then take it cause thats all this phoney has done in Buffalo.
02/03/2012 10:16AM
Just a thought
Just having that feeling that there will be "Breaking News" today regarding the Sabres. It's way overdue. The talk of getting better just has to turn into action. Good day today to start.
02/03/2012 10:22AM
Get Real
This club is NOT making the playoffs. They are one point out of the basement. The fans are not stupid, Ted, stop patronizing. The soponer you rebuild this organization, the sooner you will have a contender. Darcy has built a team that in the last 5 years missed the playoffs 3 times and 2 times out in the first round. Duh! Please don't compare us to Pittsburgh -- the rosters and types of players are not close to comparable. Get rid of Darcy before he messes up even more. You are spending to the cap and are basically in the cellar. Wake up guys.
02/03/2012 10:29AM
Teddy Toe Dancer
Right On! Ted Black is the perfect image of a fast talking, no substance, excuse making, salesman. His arrogance, and a propensity to grasp at floating logs in a Pittsburgh stream sounds like a drowning man - truly a pathetic do-nothing figurehead.
02/03/2012 11:20AM
Every point hurts
Seriously. Lose, Lose, Lose -- Fire Darcy and draft in the top 5 for the next 2-3 seasons.
These heroic runs to the middle do nothing but perpetuate this endless cycle of mediocrity.
02/03/2012 11:54AM
Oh
Yeah the frustrated tv viewer is the most annoying person in the world. He is a "whiner liner". He also posted on another thread that he "has owned the callers/hosts/posters for years" on another thread. The montreal sabres thread you can still find on the most viewed section of the website. Yes, he dives into the depths of pathetic that most people with a brain would never dare, would never consider. His pleas for boycotts,etc. I just dont know what to say anymore. Either he lives alone and never speaks with anyone else, or his social circle politely does not point out to him how messed up he is. Or maybe he drinks so much that none of it matters to him. Hard to say exactly.
02/03/2012 12:20PM
Teddy Toe Dancer
Some Blackie Lackie adds "personnal successess" that he had in Pittsburgh. Get serious - does that mean this empty suit will soon be showing Penguin games on the Jumbo- Tron during his boring humiliating Sabres games? The guy brings nothingbut spin and smoke to his Hockey Heaven.
02/03/2012 1:12PM
Baa Baa Baa
"I think they can make a good run at qualifying for this year and if they fall short then we will make changes and go get it next year!"
^^^100% part of the problem on why things wont change.
02/03/2012 1:43PM
wow
everyone seems to know what the problem is however i read 80 million things. except for keep the team we have and play out the season. myers for getzlaf your an idiot whoever wrote that. If we traded off it should be sekera or roy and take draft picks.
02/03/2012 3:30PM
WITH THE EXCEPTION...
With the exception of Vanek and maybe Pominville, the rest of the Sabres couldn`t score in a cat house with a fist full of fifties!!!
02/03/2012 6:50PM
playoff run
while very unlikey if the sabres win over 20 of their remaining games they will make the party.miller and the d are playing great.need a goal scorer now darcy not feb 27 now darcy now
02/04/2012 9:20AM
Need a GM that has a pair
Check out Darcy,s recent past.We got him from the Islanders.He destroyed that team.Look where they were when he was there.A total loserr. then he brought his expertise to the Sabres and has won absolutely nothing here.Any GM should get 5-7 yrs to win thecup or bye-bye.It's time to clean house.
02/04/2012 10:08PM
ROBY
C'mon. do you really expect mke to believe that Roby is coming up with those recipes on his own!
GO GIANTS
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