What they say when you wanna get some answers go right to. So we will it's time to talk Buffalo Sabres hockey with team president Ted Blackmon WGR Sports Radio 550 I went and found -- There -- things -- -- like best -- Well I. They're black and appropriate. And -- Cooper fired off they'll let that blacks they were president studio with us for the next hour -- -- Now I don't the last thing we -- in have a -- -- Solved only that one right there and almost like a ballistic questions -- off the board. -- it's -- -- to distract them get yup thank you very much of that work. Tennis here for the hour until 9 o'clock this morning -- To join us and obviously as you know if you've been with us all season long -- has no problem taking your questions. We'll have your emails as well if you wanna email your question or comment Howard or YD -- WGR 550 -- on the texture available as well 55550. Good morning -- welcome. Good morning harm to an -- that how likely are so I indium well it's kind of like. What does it fattening the -- -- the -- and what type thing skull we figure we'd bring it up and and bagels and coffee to get you ready for the onslaught yes that's my eyes let's get to the big thing proceed you mentioned yesterday that Lindy and -- both coming back. I'll go with the easy question why. You know the easiest questions are often the most difficult. I. You know I I appreciate. The fifteen year. Frustration that the -- that the fans of the franchise. I and Terry. Judge everyone and I and this is certainly singularly focused on one Darcy and -- 11 and the performances we've been there I'd like to use the analogy -- when people are so gracious to say. You know all the wonderful things that transformation of the arena and the work that took place. That wasn't done by me left and hammer or screwdriver that was done by folks that have been there for fifteen plus years. So. The fact that one of those workers maybe didn't you know. Perform at his best five years ago didn't but it really carry that baggage with me personally. As four. Darcy and I think you look at his body of work since we got there. You know he's he's moved quickly to get Christian -- off by and by acquired his rights. To you know. To actually get in front of everyone else to get a free agent. And that turned out to be. Very. A move that I think everywhere and this is pleased with not -- -- that you know Christian and that the season. Not able -- as an injury. Very aggressive in free agency. Trade deadline. You know it's it's kind of funny. In this in in the Twitter world and I'm not trying to sound like an old man you know everything. Happened so quickly people demand instantaneous answers and instantaneous explanation. And there's really. No time. Given for careful deliberation and no. Credence given the careful deliberation but if if you kind of read through Twitter world comments from our laws -- Chats during the trade deadline. If people. -- -- that come around 3 o'clock. In and I think that the RC's performance at the trade deadline. As one and I think we'll look back on. And next year and years to come and say you would that was that was pretty stellar work we're very pleased with that. I think -- -- body of work in the fourteen months we've been yours is. Quite frankly. Pretty good and I like that. -- hear any reaction to that as for. As for Lindy you know. I think -- the fact that if this was a trying season. And we were we he was able to hold this team together and and get him back into playoff contention despite the obstacles. I think that. I think that was. A pretty fair accomplishment. The the fact that we didn't make the playoffs. Is extraordinarily disappointing. And and I'm feeling that we don't -- have again. Do you feel like expectations. Went. Wait too high. Then came down then went up again what I mean by that is at the deadline obviously you're sticking with Indian Darcy when the teams last place for sticking with those two. And then things turned around. And it looked like you would make it in and almost led to two disappointments in the same season -- and like expectations kind of or that all they're gonna make it and then they failed again -- notes one miss playoff season that maybe it kind of feels like to. That it hurt -- this one it was a double kick in and -- and I think. And it's all even off the -- this was a tough -- for fans this was a very. Challenging your that the fans of Buffalo Sabres we have high expectations. There was a period of time we could -- watcher team on TV. Which coincide with the long losing streak. Which you know maybe. -- if we didn't deserve to be on TV. But yet if that's the way it ended. With a run. You know it was you know. It was almost moonlight for Amish that you got so close to the the dream of coming all the way back from. Where we were it just sort of swept away from. I agree with that it was it was a double double double it. That was there any internal debate about our -- Lindy you state your case a moment ago so we know why their back was there any question in your reminder Terry's mind at all or was it basically a slam dollar and never any doubt. I'm not gonna get into any internal discussions like that no one way or another and I know I know. Has approved a film like you re run. And and you guys trying to figure out what you would like an island on -- now means anything I really don't wanna get into an internal discussions over personnel. -- -- again an outbreak that's okay. I'll come up with a long question endometrial -- you're gonna apology -- -- in for the hour and get some calls obviously to get your calls and and the emails are coming in as well get to those two. We start -- -- -- but we have a lot of ground to cover with that. I'm guessing you wanna answer this question about -- I'm asking because I'm curious as you said extraordinarily. Disappointing. With high expectations and you miss the playoffs. Do you ever operated the stereotypical operate with say hey -- Darcy your back what you better make the playoffs are out mandate. Specific -- and and I did the answer your last question you just didn't care for the answer. The now there's no such mandate like that. It's -- your fired if you know make the playoffs I think. The time for everyone to be. Good. And not great is over and I'm speaking primarily for myself I I don't wanna be in good presence in -- -- great presence in. It's time for players to be good not great. Is over it's time for you know. Here is an owner were published in the same thing you know wannabe good -- wanna be a great -- and obviously that applies it department. Coaching staff and -- They can sing anything that they wouldn't speak in this thing microphone. We'll there be any kind of press conference Darcy Lindy you -- anybody available to speak. I don't think so at this point you know how I I think the epitaph for the season has been written. And spoken. Enough over the last week. I think where singularly focused on next year. Last year we we did a year and press conference that was primarily to announce that Wendy's. Contract extension. I think otherwise it just turns -- just. We're gonna wallow in despair and when -- -- with any of us wanted that we're looking forward to moving. Moving this franchise. Toward next year. You know as a responsibility. For the fans there threw us questions today what happened how do you go forward what are your plans to make the team better any of that stuff to get the message out. Here for now world -- although I'm I'm glad you're here I'm just saying in terms of you know you're GM and coach being available at some point. You know availability and those guys have through weekly show like I come on the Wimbledon there was an on this week and we've got no indication he's coming on. I feel as a responsibility. We communicated and with the fans and with the media freely and openly and transparently. And I don't I don't know that having a press conference. It in any way. Undermines that statement. Were available all the time I. The reason whether there was an article from off. In the Paper today this is a reporter called me and I've I've told every reporter media well I'll call you back. I'll always give you an honest answer. And now along. Might not. Might not like the answer sometimes so sometimes it may broach subjects that I am not gonna talk about I hope that that's respected. 8030550. To join us -- president -- black here 88550. To 550. Let's start with Karl here on WGR with Ted go right ahead. Out and I think oh -- you're not really appreciative. We expect accurate we know it's our practice by a fire or their oracle we really would like major change. It shouldn't make the change -- first fortnight are but. What they're a different -- -- -- -- the years. Actually change its spot in order. Because other person or not start out that great. Apparently there are the first well for. Much different. Don't know what are gonna be right now. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- You know really actual thing you're saying they -- from our change comes break up. Are in fact -- Polarization of injuries or major reason purpose. You know at this point. -- credit for the car around its injury goes. Are the same -- what -- never anything different what differ from going forward. Thanks Carl and you are frequent. Caller in and I Iraq after frequent caller points with me so I do appreciate take that time too -- and the case what's the dark -- are up for -- what's -- done differently and then. Because he hasn't done anything differently in in fifteen years and then -- so well other than signing Christian their half training for his rights and another than. Signing it. Trading -- for first rounder you know those are two big other -- You know we traded for the rights to negotiate with one of the -- Defense of free agents that I don't think that's something you can quickly say well other than that. How did you enjoy playing mrs. Lincoln. The first round trade that's only happened 20/20. One times. Going back thirty years and I would guess. It depending on how you can look at Augusta -- his third liner fourth liner. About a -- analyzed every trade deadline. Transaction -- the first round her I would doubt that any involved a third or fourth rounder. And I don't think those two things should be that quickly dismissed. We also traded for and got. Robin are -- waive his no trade clause that's something that. Didn't happen very often in buffalo and and the Ville -- trade is the subject to our thoughts are free agent signing as is the subject of a lot of criticism because he didn't play to his handicap this year and could be the first to admit it. But at that time that was the that was. One of the better available forwards. That was on the market and we were. We were aggressive and and we -- site. I don't know that I yeah I agree with that certainly Carl understand the fifteen years of frustration. I guess that. Your second point was. White is -- get credit. If injuries where the problem wisely and he -- credit. Four of the turnaround implying. Not quite sure how to. The answer that and I don't think any one individual gets credit for that turnaround. I think I think you're right. In the observation that the team. When healthy. This performance. A different level. I know how people have such an allergic reaction to injury words so henceforth I will only refer to those as unhealthy scratches. Eagle 30550 Jonas 888550. To 550. -- black when this for the hour NIC you're on WGR 550 with jet black right have a question or comment. Good morning gentlemen to -- And I got a question about when we play Boston and you got that she did you guys pardoned. What do we get into about those guys. He got 220 year old kids you can't expect them to be Politico because. Okay there are -- these invented I mean even started to meet them a rabbit here couldn't handle pardon and boutique is tougher. Which you planning to do what we played Boston they come in here and they start taking shots that are players and they know they don't have anything to worry about I mean. You gotta get some guys and their answer is -- brand of tough and it stated that element that it's that type of thing laying up and adherence to thank you. Thanks -- you're dead on we we need to be a tougher team to play against and we need to. You know I think Terry said in his very first press conference he was it pretty players and I think we absolutely need to become harder team to play against. Not true that's one. -- action items in the off season. You. Is there a list of priorities you guys gave to charge you like your your here's -- here's -- we think the team needs to be better -- go get it done does that work it doesn't really work. That way it's it's more collaborative. And I think I think you know guys like nick. You don't have to be a rocket scientist. Makes observations like that and perhaps it is a rocket scientists don't know. But it made it doesn't really work like you know hey Darcy here's your mandate it is. It's a little bit more collaborative than that and you know I think we have these discussions and if you roster. And find out what what's out there with the options are. Unfortunately the the free agent market isn't is this because you would hope that would be. Certainly last year and perhaps this year but that's an area that you look at look at trades. I think the way that teams have walked -- players. Long term. The end and that way that the trade deadline falls in the year that so many teams are still in it. I think the phenomenon that yes you've seen the last couple years. Being that there's a lot of trade activity in and around the draft and I think that's morphing into sort of one of one of the more important times of the year. Two to improve your came through trades this is -- around the drafted. And so we'll definitely well. Have you guys had your meeting plan in place here like you said looking at your roster looking at what's out there and have a plan of how you wanna approach -- seasons I've done already. That's never gonna be done because it's a lot's gonna. Depend on you know. Teams could announce tomorrow that they lock somebody up long term so it's it's it's an evolution. We have spent the better part of this week and I and I. Certainly Darcy and and Lindy have spent all of their time. Looking toward next year and in conjunction with -- enough this year Terry was in the office this week he spent a lot of time. Together as a group this starting the process of moving forward next year.
