The difference is, no false hope.
Everyone knows they are building from the bottom and it will take time. Murray is doing the best he can do now, which is establishing the right culture.
Erhoff had talent but was gutless. There was a Blues game where the Sabres were down 1 with several seconds left and Erhoff gained the puck at center ice, only to skate backwards to kill time and not even attempt to move forward and fire the puck.
I'm sure that film impressed Murray.