Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula reportedly had a private pep talk with the team before its meeting with the Montreal Canadiens. That didn't exactly help.
The Sabres dropped their 11th straight, to the Canadiens 6-1, and are dead last now in the Eastern Conference standings. Even with the team struggling, it doesn't sound like there's much cooking on the trade front.
According to insider Frank Seravalli on Wednesday, several teams have made quality offers for Sabres players but Buffalo has been silent, failing to return calls or make any sort of counteroffer.
But it begs the question: How much longer can the Sabres afford not to trade? Players, most notably Dylan Cozens, Owen Power, Bowen Byram, and Devon Levi, are presumed to have massive value around the league, though the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings might be two of the suitors making calls.
Even normally well-connected Elliotte Friedman has gone so far as to speculate on the potential for a blockbuster trade involving Dylan Cozens and Bowen Byram going to the Vancouver Canucks in return for Elias Pettersson.
It's believed Terry Pegula sat down with the team to impress on them that he has confidence in general manager Kevyn Adams and coach Lindy Ruff, that players shouldn't worry about seismic changes.
But when does Buffalo make a move to change its course? The answers are out there with other clubs, and serious ears from the Sabres are needed if they're going to save this season, and maybe their franchise.