Are the Buffalo Sabres the worst team in the NHL? That goes without saying. The big question is whether they’re worst NHL franchise in the league’s history. I would go so far as to say they’re arguably one of the worst franchises in U.S. sports history. As the Sabres get ready to mark their 10th consecutive season without a playoff, it’s time for a rant that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Buffalo Sabres.
It’s not that I hate the Buffalo Sabres. I was a season ticket holder from 1995 to 2010 and again during the team’s 50th anniversary season (that wasn’t really a 50th anniversary). However, the thought of watching them on TV is painful enough and I have no desire to pay to see them, especially when the team’s owners keep jacking up the ticket prices. If I was a masochist, I could pay a good dominatrix to work me over at more affordable rates.
No, gentle reader, the problem is that the Sabres organization just can’t put a quality product on the ice. It’s not as if the team hasn’t had some good players. There are certainly gaps to be filled, but there’s no reason for such consistently poor performances other than the team’s mindset. The Buffalo Sabres have had numerous coaches with nothing to show but 1st round draft picks.
Buffalo sports fans know better than to set high expectations for their major league sports franchises, but the Sabres have taken all the fun out of getting the fans’ hopes up that “this could be the season” as they bury a Curse of Oak Island size hole for themselves early on and never get close to the playoffs. I may watch the Sabres next season, as long as they’re playing the Montreal Canadiens. For now, it’s an abusive relationship I need to get away from.
