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With the trade deadline less than four weeks away, Black was asked if the current three game points streak and improved play would alter what they’re thinking as far as deals are concerned. “I don’t think it impacts it that much” Black said. “Our goal is to see what we can do to make our team better and if we have an opportunity to do it without sacrificing a long term goal of winning a championship, that philosophy remains.” Black added “I think there’s a real opportunity here to pick up pieces that help us in years beyond.”
As a follow up to that response, Black was asked if that means the Sabres will be more of a buyer than a seller. “What we won’t do is just go all in right now like you see a lot of teams do” Black responded. “Its not a model we want to follow that we sacrifice for a short term risk. If there’s an opportunity to make this team better for the years beyond, Darcy will do that.”
The Sabres President said this season reminds him of the 2005-06 campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins when Black was serving as their team President. Sidney Crosby was coming in and Mario Lemieux was still playing. Pittsburgh brought in John Leclair, Ziggy Palffy and Sergei Gonchar during the off season and expectations were very high. Lemieux was limited to about 20 games, Palffy was injured early and Gonchar had an off year and those lofty expectations were not achieved that season.
As a follow up to that response, Black was asked if that means the Sabres will be more of a buyer than a seller. “What we won’t do is just go all in right now like you see a lot of teams do” Black responded. “Its not a model we want to follow that we sacrifice for a short term risk. If there’s an opportunity to make this team better for the years beyond, Darcy will do that.”
The Sabres President said this season reminds him of the 2005-06 campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins when Black was serving as their team President. Sidney Crosby was coming in and Mario Lemieux was still playing. Pittsburgh brought in John Leclair, Ziggy Palffy and Sergei Gonchar during the off season and expectations were very high. Lemieux was limited to about 20 games, Palffy was injured early and Gonchar had an off year and those lofty expectations were not achieved that season.
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