Here we are again: Ready to embark on another season of Buffalo Sabres hockey, as training camps are opening.  And the web of deceit and false promises I am sure will follow.

There is a lesson to be learned from decades of being both a Buffalo Bills fan and a Buffalo Sabres fan: Don’t believe hardly anything you read about these franchises. Do not fall for the bait, as you will be burned over and over again.

Don’t believe me Sabres fans: Two words to start: Tyler Myers. Nothing more needs to be said about that.

Take Sabres Owner Terrence Pegula for example. He comes into town blazing, talking Stanley Cups, and gets myself and so many other Sabres fans brimming with excitement. Finally, Buffalo has an owner with the passion AND money to back it up. The possibilities were endless.

Fast forward to today, September 12th, 2013:  The same old General Manager Darcy Regier STILL has a job (I have never seen a GM live off two seasons like Darcy has in any sport), Head Coach Lindy Ruff was fired, the interim coach Ron Rolston was lifted of his interim tag. Coaches like John Tortorella could have been available if the Sabres went about this the right way, meaning allowing Lindy Ruff to finish the season, and then jettison both Ruff and Regier and start anew with an entirely new coach and GM.

What franchise do you know of claims to go through a total rebuild AND keeps the GM that forced the rebuild idea to come into mind based on his poor moves in the first place?

Mr. Pegula, please explain how this is a complete rebuild? I would love to hear the spin on this one.  Let me get my popcorn.

Rebuilding in the NHL is a long and arduous process. Prospects take years to develop, especially when you do not draft the elite prospects such as a Steven Stamkos, Evengi Malkin, Sidney Crosby, just to name a few.  If Regier thinks the Sabres have any prospects close to the caliber of the players I just mentioned, he better get new contacts or glasses, or better yet a stiff drink. And the league knows it. The league is noticing what a joke the Buffalo franchise has suddenly become. GM’s talk. Agents talk. Players talk. Pegula better take note of this, and quick.

Pegula has become loyal to a fault, almost becoming a nice Jerry Jones, without the championships. He is sticking his nose in the business where it does not belong. He can sit back and be the face of the franchise and allow better, more competent hockey people to run the organization. That is how a great owner puts his stamp on a franchise, and not by meddling in the on the ice product.

And now Thomas Vanek has appeared to make it known he wants out. Or maybe he did not. Who really knows, but can you blame him if he did? And then the Sabres announce ‘we will keep some of the salary’ if we do trade him. Way to kill your leverage, I am sure teams will line up to give Regier the best offer (maybe on NHL ’14, but not in the real world). What will the Sabres do with goaltender Ryan Miller? The rumor of trading Miller to Colorado for Paul Stastny is a comical one, as Paul is also on the last year of his contract and is very injury prone. He should fit right into Pegula’s three ring circus. Regardless, Miller has to go. His act has worn thin, and to me is a symbol of Regier and the “Status Quo” feeling that has resonated over this franchise for far too long.

Reading ‘As The Sabres Turn’ really makes you want to run out and buy that NHL Center Ice package? I will, once Regier is fired.