What are the three biggest blunders in the history of our organization?
Some immediate nominees (hopefully some of the older fans can add some early ones):
- co-captains walking
- Hasek trade
- slug logo
- Ron ROLSTON
What say you?
Rolston wouldn't even make my top-10. How many games was he coach - 25? There were a lot of musical-chair coaches in the late 70s after Floyd Smith and late 80s after Bowman. Rolston didn't ruin anyone's career, didn't trade anyone of key importance, etc.
Its simple, the biggest organizational blunder ever was when they named Scotty Bowman as the GM. Great coach but the worse GM the Sabres ever had.
My #1 as well. Rushed Rick Martin back from injury. Traded Schoenfeld and Gare. Coached, then didn't coach, then coached.
Not stocking up on d before the 2006 playoffs.
Letting Dumont, Grier, and McKee go.
Not signing Briere to the 5x5 he originally wanted.
My #2. Just 1 NHL journeyman, bottom-pairing d-man would have avoided the catastrophe.
Thinking Roy and Connelly could take over for both Briere and Drury
The Fuhr trade
Letting Tim Horton drive home
Honorable mention.
Going way back.....
Drafting Ric Seiling instead of Mike Bossy !!
Imagine Bossy with Perreault.
No love for Moosejaw, Saskatchewan? I can only assume the Sabres were keen on Ric because of his older brother.
I was too young to follow the draft at that time (and the media coverage, let alone instant social media, didn't exist then either).
As a boy, I remember reading Bossy had been a prolific scorer since he started playing hockey, usually playing years-up to get equal competition. I remember reading a magazine article that he scored 21 goals in his first game, against players 3 years older than he was. Bossy and Lemieux are, by far, the best pure goal scorers I've ever seen.
Interesting. Had not considered that one. [I work with a guy from Coudersport who was boyhood friends and school teammates with Tim Rigas. My co-worker still had contact with him - golfing, dinner, etc. - on trips home until his imprisonment. Without being protective of him, he insists he's a great guy, and exceedingly generous.]