Not only finished last two years in a row but lost the lottery two years in a row have a prospect who doesn't even know yet if he wants to back to friggin college over playing here and now lose all credibility to FA's without the flair that Babcock would have brought us.
- bluengold12

You people are killing me. The future could not be brighter and people are going to be clamoring to come here. That's all the cred you need.

a) Yea that sounds horrible. One cup. Pshhh who wants just one.

b) They never had the best roster. They had Crosby and Malkin. The rest of the roster was S*%T

c) His goaltender s%(T the bed more often than not.
- ImThatGuy

With how many times that team reached at least the conference finals.. they should have won at least once more. They had other pieces and the 2nd best player in hockey since 1990

"He was an AHL coach that was arbitrarily promoted over Therrien" - Ok.. Ever hear of Jon Cooper?

"The best team in the league fell in his lap with along with a Stanley cup." - That team was BADLY under performing prior to his arrival. He earned that win.

"I watched the Pens games in the following year and the guy just doesn't get it. He can't put players in the best place to succeed" - The Penguins are and have been the most over rated team in the past 6 years. Every year except maybe this season, everyone predicts they win the Stanley Cup. Sure as poop, they're a better version of the Flyers. Two elite players and a bunch of other guys who can't get it done. Ray Shero beat the snot out of that team and was consequently fired for it. They have performed very similarly with Mike Johnston at the helm. Hell, they've been worse.
- TheSabresTaco

One...........................trick......................pony


09-10 is awhile ago now


They underperformed since as did Team USA under his leadership. There is a reason Bylsma is unemployed right now.

"He was an AHL coach that was arbitrarily promoted over Therrien" - Ok.. Ever hear of Jon Cooper?

"The best team in the league fell in his lap with along with a Stanley cup." - That team was BADLY under performing prior to his arrival. He earned that win.

"I watched the Pens games in the following year and the guy just doesn't get it. He can't put players in the best place to succeed" - The Penguins are and have been the most over rated team in the past 6 years. Every year except maybe this season, everyone predicts they win the Stanley Cup. Sure as poop, they're a better version of the Flyers. Two elite players and a bunch of other guys who can't get it done. Ray Shero beat the snot out of that team and was consequently fired for it. They have performed very similarly with Mike Johnston at the helm. Hell, they've been worse.
- TheSabresTaco

Bylsma was still winning games with Crosby and Malkin out with injuries. I don't bite on "not being able to adjust" accusation.

With how many times that team reached at least the conference finals.. they should have won at least once more. They had other pieces and the 2nd best player in hockey since 1990
- bluengold12

Really? They should have won it once more?

You say that like it is such an easy thing to do.

Please someone stop the Dan Blysema as our next coach. I rather go with Luke Richardson. Seems to work better with how GMTM operates.


Also as much as this stinks at least Tor still does not have a franchise changing talent like we will in Eichel. Babs will bring Tor back to playoffs but Stanley Cup looks tought odo even 3-5 years from now.

I thought he did a terrible job of coaching Team USA during the Olympics as well.
- HonkFortheGoose

There is that. I'm not a Bylsma fan boy, but I wouldn't ROR it.

Well I'm out before the majority of the crying hits the page...

Really? They should have won it once more?

You say that like it is such an easy thing to do.
- ImThatGuy

If you lose that many times you'd expect to get another one. Why do you think Bylsma isn't' getting tons of offers right now? If he was such a great coach with that record.. teams would be coveting him big time right now..

Any sports fan of any team, not just buffalo. This place becomes a poop show when stuff like that happens.
- Sabresfan-365

in 3...2...1...

Understand the viewpoint, disagree with the sentiment. He wanted what he couldnt get here, and decided he his better than what this organization has going for it.

I think when eichel smashes his teams down 6 times a year, it will become apparent by year 2 that he made the wrong decision.
- ieetbred

Eichel is not going to smash anyone down. He's not McDavid. Eichel is a great prospect, but if people are expecting him to come in and score 30 goals a year I think they will be disappointed.

Please someone stop the Dan Blysema as our next coach. I rather go with Luke Richardson. Seems to work better with how GMTM operates.


Also as much as this stinks at least Tor still does not have a franchise changing talent like we will in Eichel. Babs will bring Tor back to playoffs but Stanley Cup looks tought odo even 3-5 years from now.
- Beezer33

I'd rather an independent thinker than a puppet. They're both boring in my opinion. Missed out on a game changing coach simple as that. He'll suck and rot in Toronto that's for sure but doesn't cool the burn of having to jump our chances at being good dramatically.

If you lose that many times you'd expect to get another one. Why do you think Bylsma isn't' getting tons of offers right now? If he was such a great coach with that record.. teams would be coveting him big time right now..
- bluengold12

EXACTLY,

If you lose that many times you'd expect to get another one. Why do you think Bylsma isn't' getting tons of offers right now? If he was such a great coach with that record.. teams would be coveting him big time right now..
- bluengold12

You do realize Babcock only has one ring right?

With how many times they were in the playoffs and lost, you would think he would have more....

If the only way to get Babcock was to pay him a giant amount of money AND to give him at least equal say on the same level as Murray, I wouldn't have given him that power either.

Stick to one job and do that well. I don't want somebody trying to do both jobs.

Eichel is not going to smash anyone down. He's not McDavid. Eichel is a great prospect, but if people are expecting him to come in and score 30 goals a year I think they will be disappointed.
- Pierceme69

He is absolutely capable of doing that. Maybe not in his rookie year but he's definitely got the talent to put up big numbers as well...

Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 26m26 minutes ago
Source says Babcock told Blues 2 days ago he was out. Things change? If not, the Leafs may have won the sweepstakes
- stashu

Good for him. And really, if they're looking at a dual GM/Coach role for him, it actually kind of makes sense for Toronto. They have these petulant jerks as top players there - you get a guy who's your boss twice and maybe they straighten-up. Could be just what Toronto needed.

I for one would like to have those good old rivalries back up the QEW.

I love when people say 'Well he has only won the cup once'. Good argument. Any guy who won the cup once has won it 1 more time than all the coaches in Sabres history.
- Pierceme69

Babcock only has one cup........

You do realize Babcock only has one ring right?

With how many times they were in the playoffs and lost, you would think he would have more....
- ImThatGuy

I love when people say 'Well he has only won the cup once'. Good argument. Any guy who won the cup once has won it 1 more time than all the coaches in Sabres history.

Eichel is not going to smash anyone down. He's not McDavid. Eichel is a great prospect, but if people are expecting him to come in and score 30 goals a year I think they will be disappointed.
- Pierceme69

Why do you think that Eichel can't score 30 goals a year?!?!?!
I think he can easily do that!!!

He is absolutely capable of doing that. Maybe not in his rookie year but he's definitely got the talent to put up big numbers as well...
- Sabresfan-365

Not by 'year 2' like someone said.

If the only way to get Babcock was to pay him a giant amount of money AND to give him at least equal say on the same level as Murray, I wouldn't have given him that power either.

Stick to one job and do that well. I don't want somebody trying to do both jobs.
- kingcong39

Well, more to the point we have a GM already and he should be allowed to do his job. I'd expect Murray to have the coach be one of the most important voices in his office, it'd be dumb not to. I wouldn't expect Murray to look at this as an opportunity to get in more vacation time.

Why do you think that Eichel can't score 30 goals a year?!?!?!
I think he can easily do that!!!
- Sabresfan88

We will see. I don't think he's going to be a perennial 30 goal scorer.

Eichel is not going to smash anyone down. He's not McDavid. Eichel is a great prospect, but if people are expecting him to come in and score 30 goals a year I think they will be disappointed.
- Pierceme69

I think you are letting babcock disapointment cloud your judgement.

After watching eichel in the worlds i have no doubt he puts up the same numbers mcdavid does in the ohl.

He will be this teams best player next year, he was mostly the best player at 18 years old in a tournament full of nhl vets and pro experience.

Not by 'year 2' like someone said.
- Pierceme69

That really comes down to who he plays with and how good the team is by then.