In the end, the Sabres missed the playoffs by just 1 win.  It’s easy to look back at where they could have or should have picked up those extra 2 points.  That’s not the problem.  Squeaking into the playoffs is not what this team should want.  You can blame it on Miller’s injury, or you can just come to terms with the fact that this is an average team.  They were inconsistent for the past two seasons and proved again this year that they are not good to find themselves in the middle of the playoff race.

So is it the players, or the management?  Does Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier need to be fired?  Or do they need to overhaul the roster?  

I believe Ruff is a great coach.  He’s gotten a lot out of an average team.  Is he to blame when a group of millionaire professional athletes don’t have the heart to play hard enough when their star goalie is out?  I don’t think so.  I do believe he has his faults when dealing with certain players.  However, I think the real problem is the roster.  This is a team that needed to add more than just Craig Rivet to their blue line in the offseason. 

Defense has been a problem, and it was barely addressed.  (Yes, they have goal scorers who tend to vanish.) Look ahead to next season.  Teppo Numminen will likely retire.  Jaroslav Spacek is a U.F.A., and if the Sabres don’t try to hold onto him, they could be worse off next season.  Chris Butler will turn into a fine player, and showed that this season.  I’m not sold on Sekera, and Tallinder and Lydman didn’t have the best seasons.

If the team does not make changes on the roster, firing Ruff is not the answer.  He will coach Team Canada in the World Championships and we will get a chance to see if he can coach a different style.  If he proves to coach well during the Worlds, then firing him is not the route they need to take.  As for Darcy Regier, I’ve always wondered how much power he really has.  Are his hands tied more than we think?  Larry Quinn definitely likes to be in control, which is why he may not get a different GM.  He can have that control with Regier, which is why Darcy may not be the real problem.  Quinn may be, unless he gives up that control on the hockey side of the teams operations.   Maybe then Regier can make the roster moves he wants, and Ruff will have a team that is better than average to coach.

What are your thoughts?  Where should the changes start?

Marijuana, no license plates, and a loaded and unregistered 9 mm pistol all led to the arrest of Marshawn Lynch last week in California.  Lynch was charged yesterday with 3 misdemeanors all stemming from a weapons possession.  My first thought was why did he have the gun in the first place?

Former Bill and current NFL analyst, Marcellus Willey spoke to us at News 4 Sports about the topic.  He said sometimes it’s hard for players if they grow up watching crime, not to think that they still need to protect themselves.  But, even he went onto say it’s something those players need to get past.  Maybe the thought is there to protect themselves and their new found fame and fortune.  If that’s the case, apply for a pistol permit.  A judge will let you know if you are fit to carry a weapon and need protection.

What Lynch seems to be forgetting is that he is an NFL player.  Yes, he will be held to a higher standard and every arrest he’s involved in will be put in the spotlight.

Let me take you back, less than 10 months ago when he was involved in a hit and run downtown.  He hit a woman with his SUV and left the scene.  He turned himself into the victim on that one, refusing to talk to the media most of the season.

The problem I have is that Lynch continues to find trouble.  He’s not bright enough to realize he shouldn’t be smoking pot with a loaded pistol in his possession?  At what point will he realize that? Nothing good can come from smoking marijuana and carrying a loaded gun!

I think the NFL should suspend him!  I think it’s the only way he’s going to realize that he needs to make smarter decisions and stay out of trouble.  His character was questioned with the decision to leave the scene of an accident last summer.  Now his intelligence and character come into question for his latest run in with the law.

It should make you think twice about putting a Lynch jersey on your back this fall when you head out to the stadium on game days.

Last night another defenseman went down for the Sabres.  Henrik Tallinder suffered an upper body injury in their 5-3 loss to Tampa.  Lindy Ruff said he will be out for some time.  He now joins defenseman, Teppo Numminen (jaw) and Andrej Sekera (ankle) on the injured list.

The team won’t be able to get much help from Portland either.  They have already been carrying Chris Butler.  Defenseman, Mike Weber, Mike Card, and Michael Funk are all sidelined with injures for the Pirates.  Jason Pominville was a quick fix Wednesday night in Tampa.  He’s played some defense before and saw a couple of minutes on the blue line in the 3rd period.  That’s not a realistic answer for the team.

It’s time for Darcy Regier to make a deal.  There is no time to wait for the deadline.  Make it now.  The Sabres have plenty of forwards they can dump to get help on the back end.  I’d like to see a deal where the Sabres acquire a defenseman that will not only help their immediate needs, but also next season.  Let’s face it:  they haven’t been great on defense this season.  It’s time to let Nathan Paetsch find a better fit.  He’s not right for the Sabres.

Sabres forward, Jochen Hecht will return to the line-up after missing time with a broken finger. He’s not sure whether he’ll play on the wing or at center, as he skated along side Andrew Peters and Matt Ellis during this morning’s skate. Other notes from practice: Tim Connolly was back on the ice after missing practice on Wednesday with a sore groin. Captain, Craig Rivet did not skate today. Lindy Ruff said he was sore, coming off yesterday’s practice and the game in New Jersey. Both Connolly and Rivet will play tomorrow night against Atlanta. Game time is 7:30pm. The Sabres will need to make one roster move to make room for Hecht’s return. They will be one over the limit. To find out who will get sent down to Portland, check out tomorrow’s 5 and 6:00 sportscasts in our preview of their game.