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Sabres GM says he didn’t see awful start coming

Darcy Regier

Buffalo Sabres general manager Darcy Regier talks during an NHL hockey news conference in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was hurt during a puck-chase drill as Jordan Leopold was trying to cut off forward Ville Leino Monday Feb. 6, 2012. Ruff was standing in the middle of the ice looking the other way when Leopold lost his footing and went sliding head first and crashed into the back of his coach’s skates. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

AP

Hockey fans can debate which team has been the worst in 2013-14 so far, but it’s hard to argue against the Buffalo Sabres being the most depressing. GM Darcy Regier told the Buffalo News that he didn’t see this dismal start coming.

“No, I didn’t,” Regier said on Saturday. “I don’t think anyone did, but you’re here and you have to work your way out of it. We want to make sure people are positive.”

(It’s tough not to shout “Didn’t last season provide a little foreshadowing?” or something to that extent.)

The embattled (though maybe or maybe not on the hot seat) GM spoke to the Buffalo News about the team’s strengths - mainly on defense - but ultimately asked for patience.

“Those are the things underneath the difficult times that you point to, to maintain a level of hope,” Regier said of improvements. “You hope that everyone can see that and kind of grab on to that, and it helps to get through the tough times.”

Regier’s certainly seen some tough times since being hired in 1997, so he’d know more than most, right?

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins