y - Crossing Swords ⚔️

#LetsGoBuffalo x @TrainwreckSprts. Doing the best we can with the best the Sabres got. Warpath. Sponsored by @bataviadowns

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

THE BUFFALO SABRES 14-YEAR PLAYOFF DROUGHT IS NOW OFFICIALLY OVER

WE CANNOT BELIEVE IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED

HUG A LOVED ONE

CELEBRATE BUFFALO

THANK YOU, RANGERS FOR BEATING DETROIT

THE WARPATH HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN

[Trainwreck Sports @TrainwreckSprts]

FOLKS! In just 10 days @TSEBuffalo is bringing some Buffalo LEGENDS to the Real Deal Buffalo Sports Card Show in Depew, June 13th and 14th.

Hit the link below to secure pre-sale tickets! ⬇️

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

After bringing the Sabres to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, Lindy Ruff loses the Jack Adams Award to Jon Cooper, a coach he beat 3/4 this season and finished ahead of in the standings

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

Sure

[Tampa Bay Lightning @TBLightning]

IT’S ABOUT TIME 👏

Jon Cooper is your 2026 Jack Adams Award Winner!

[Carson Hayek @CarsonHayek]

#NHL players that are pending free agents that have ties to #Sabres GM Jarmo Kekäläinen:

-Patrik Laine
-Boone Jenner
-Erik Gudbranson
-Sonny Milano
-Gustav Nyquist
-Jack Roslovic
-Sergei Bobrovsky
-Daniil Tarasov

Some of these seem very realistic!

#Sabrehood @CrossSwordsPod

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

On this day in 1999, the Sabres get outshot 35-16 but steal a win in Game 5 of the ECF!

[Trainwreck Sports @TrainwreckSprts]

That Konsta Helenius goal was just insane
https://t.co/wzVLQVhHub

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

On this day 20 years ago, Buffalo takes the lead late in the 2nd in Game 7 but it’s not enough as they fall 4-2 to Carolina.

[Mike Bundt @Mike_Bundt]

The growth of Konsta Helenius has been one of the most exciting developments involving the Sabres this season!

Factor him in with Benson, Östlund and Kulich and the Sabres have a plethora of talented young forwards with very bright futures.

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

KONSTA HELENIUS GOAL WINS GOLD

BACK TO BACK YEARS A SABRE WINS IT IN OT

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

Would you go with UPL and Devon Levi for the 2026-27 season?

If not, who are you moving on from?

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

On this day 20 years ago, Danny Briere forces Game 7.

[Mike Bundt @Mike_Bundt]

As disappointing as it was to see Buffalo lose to Montreal, it’s abundantly clear that the Sabres would’ve had no chance against Carolina.

The Hurricanes look like the best team in the NHL but Vegas can give them a run for their money.

[Carson Hayek @CarsonHayek]

The #Sabres shooting percentage this past season by location. Darker the better.

When this team got to the slot and in front of the net they were really lethal!

#Sabrehood @CrossSwordsPod

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

On this day in 1999, Rayzor finds the back of the net in a 5-2 win to give the Sabres a 3-1 ECF lead!

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

@Mike_Bundt https://t.co/pfZOQKWSnP

[Total Sports Buffalo @TSEBuffalo]

⭐Don't miss out on this great deal! Jim Craig Signed 1980 Miracle on Ice Celebration 16x20 Photo with Replica Ticket Professionally Framed just $175 NOW: https://t.co/Ts7ZPF90iw

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

https://t.co/D3GORctJ5F

[Total Sports Buffalo @TSEBuffalo]

🚨Great deal alert🚨 Get your Ryan McLeod Signed Large Goathead Logo Hockey Puck for just $40 NOW: https://t.co/nqQdCdEuhX

[y - Crossing Swords ⚔️ @CrossSwordsPod]

20 years ago today, a heartbreaking Game 5 loss in Carolina @bataviadowns

[Mike Bundt @Mike_Bundt]

The business of hockey and the product on the ice are two completely different things.

What’s best for the league doesn’t always line up with reality.

Southern expansion was needed to grow the NHL but their traditional markets have sustained the league throughout its history and have more fans according to the metrics.

The NHL needs the south to be invested to show media partners they can be relevant all over the country and maximize their revenue but at the end of the day, the northern markets deliver better ratings.

The ratings bring in the TV money and those broadcast deals are how professional sports leagues in the US make bank.

Ask yourself why the NHL lags behind the NFL, NBA and MLB — It’s because not enough people watch which leads to crappy TV and streaming deals.

The only way that historically changes according to the data is when traditional markets are relevant.

For the NHL to make more money, especially with their next TV contract coming up soon, they’ll need their momentum from early in this postseason to continue and hope for a traditional market to make a run one of these years.

This isn’t saying the competitive balance is rigged or the NHL needs to do something. The product on the ice is great and I love the way the game looks right now.

This is simply about the business side of the NHL.

[Mike Bundt @Mike_Bundt]

As much as the NHL loves to brag about growing hockey in their southern markets, it would do the league some good to have a traditional market or two win the cup in the near future.

It's not a great thing for the league to have teams like Tampa, Florida, Vegas and Carolina dominating on a yearly basis.

Philly, Buffalo, Boston and Pittsburgh all returned to the postseason this year and suddenly the ratings sky rocketed... That's not a coincidence.

If the NHL wants to max their viewership and become more relevant in the United States, they need their hockey hotbeds to have a product worth caring about.

Now, that doesn't mean it's not a success story that the league has developed quality southern hockey markets.

That truly is a good thing but when it comes at the expense of larger traditional markets, it prevents the league from reaching its true potential.

[Trainwreck Sports @TrainwreckSprts]

Have you watched back any of the Game 7 yet?
https://t.co/2MBRxYwyXn