And his refusal to give up power is likely why he didn't sign.

Give a guy what he wants if you want him to come work for you. If you don't, someone else will.

That's what happened, don't be upset at the guy for taking what he feels the best option for him is.
- Feeling Glucky?

Agreed, especially if you think he's wrong

Lot of Butt-Hurt in this thread.

Gluck is not trolling (Today at least)

I get you feel slighted by Babs.
- ImThatGuy

Agreed, especially if you think he's wrong
- Sabresfan-365

Exactly!

Lot of Butt-Hurt in this thread.
- ImThatGuy

Thanks for pointing out the obvious, we really needed that.

Lot's of bunched up panties here.

What is everyones problem with bylsma. He's a good coach and proved when crosby was injured for that long stretch.
- Carubba-Kaleta

He had Malkin (one of the best players in the world) take the reigns and ride that talent with some other decent players. He won his cup on a team that was built and handed to him, young and hungry

I don't want to get into that this and thats of his success or lack of it, but my main reason is during on of the playoff series when I saw Crosby yell at him like a child on the bench when he was trying to tell him something then Kunitz(may have been neal) do the same thing in another game really sticks with me. Not b/c they yelled at him, but b/c he simply stood there and did nothing about it, then in the post game interview, as usual, he just mumbled into the mic and brushed off the situation like "heat of the moment blah blah"

We have a team full of kids, if you can't control them or you let them walk all over you or don't have their respect you can't do your job. He lost the respect of that team IMO at one point and you can tell by the way some of the playoff series unfolded, where they had so much talent, but no guidance. Just my opinion, he may have a decent enough hockey mind but I do not like his coaching ability or perhaps better to say his leadership

I've now seen three fan bases go from Babcock is Jesus reincarnated to Babcock is an overrated douche (in Toronto's case, in opposite order). Do people ever stop and think how they sound about this stuff?

Look, Babcock would have been a great pickup here - he has good knowledge of systems and is in a good place to kick someone's ass if they need it. He'd have probably helped a great deal with our building and it hurts a bit not to get him.

He also may be exactly what Toronto needs to get Doughnut Boy and the Cro Magnon in line - so that hurts too.

But there are many good coaches still available, and we'll be fine.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious, we really needed that.
- Carubba-Kaleta

You're welcome.

Lot's of bunched up panties here.
- Cheeseballin

Lololololol funniest thing I've ever heard, hilarious guy. you should write comedy I think you have a knack for it.

Exactly!


- Feeling Glucky?

I respect Murray for drawing the line, however the pressure is now on to prove he was right to do so.

So is the rebuild still on... or what happens now?
- Cheeseballin

Still on, no doubt.

Having a coach with a set plan for the next 8 years will help the youngsters grow within the system, rather than the constantly shifting philosophies we've seen over the last 4 years.

I think Babcock is overrated. He's not going to single handidly turn around the team. Carlyle was very good at playing the team to their strengths, which lead to the wild swings the Leafs experienced. Horachek tried to turn them into a more defensive group and it failed miserably. I think Babcock's system will have a similar effect at first, even if they keep all their top players.

I've now seen three fan bases go from Babcock is Jesus reincarnated to Babcock is an overrated douche (in Toronto's case, in opposite order). Do people ever stop and think how they sound about this stuff?

Look, Babcock would have been a great pickup here - he has good knowledge of systems and is in a good place to kick someone's ass if they need it. He'd have probably helped a great deal with our building and it hurts a bit not to get him.

He also may be exactly what Toronto needs to get Doughnut Boy and the Cro Magnon in line - so that hurts too.

But there are many good coaches still available, and we'll be fine.
- nfph

im guessing the "alternate" thread is giant mess right now.

Look, Babcock would have been a great pickup here - he has good knowledge of systems and is in a good place to kick someone's ass if they need it. He'd have probably helped a great deal with our building and it hurts a bit not to get him.
- nfph

I think that is a very important value needed for a team like this. Young and in need of being humbled when time time calls for it, regardless if your a 4th liner or the superstar

I've now seen three fan bases go from Babcock is Jesus reincarnated to Babcock is an overrated douche (in Toronto's case, in opposite order). Do people ever stop and think how they sound about this stuff?

Look, Babcock would have been a great pickup here - he has good knowledge of systems and is in a good place to kick someone's ass if they need it. He'd have probably helped a great deal with our building and it hurts a bit not to get him.

He also may be exactly what Toronto needs to get Doughnut Boy and the Cro Magnon in line - so that hurts too.

But there are many good coaches still available, and we'll be fine.
- nfph

^^^What he said.....

He had Malkin (one of the best players in the world) take the reigns and ride that talent with some other decent players. He won his cup on a team that was built and handed to him, young and hungry

I don't want to get into that this and thats of his success or lack of it, but my main reason is during on of the playoff series when I saw Crosby yell at him like a child on the bench when he was trying to tell him something then Kunitz(may have been neal) do the same thing in another game really sticks with me. Not b/c they yelled at him, but b/c he simply stood there and did nothing about it, then in the post game interview, as usual, he just mumbled into the mic and brushed off the situation like "heat of the moment blah blah"

We have a team full of kids, if you can't control them or you let them walk all over you or don't have their respect you can't do your job. He lost the respect of that team IMO at one point and you can tell by the way some of the playoff series unfolded, where they had so much talent, but no guidance. Just my opinion, he may have a decent enough hockey mind but I do not like his coaching ability or perhaps better to say his leadership
- bberkey1

You know I hate this argument. You know who you can say the same exact thing for. Mike Babcock. He was given Dats, Zetterberg, and you know the best d man in the history of the league in Lindstrom.

He had Malkin (one of the best players in the world) take the reigns and ride that talent with some other decent players. He won his cup on a team that was built and handed to him, young and hungry

I don't want to get into that this and thats of his success or lack of it, but my main reason is during on of the playoff series when I saw Crosby yell at him like a child on the bench when he was trying to tell him something then Kunitz(may have been neal) do the same thing in another game really sticks with me. Not b/c they yelled at him, but b/c he simply stood there and did nothing about it, then in the post game interview, as usual, he just mumbled into the mic and brushed off the situation like "heat of the moment blah blah"

We have a team full of kids, if you can't control them or you let them walk all over you or don't have their respect you can't do your job. He lost the respect of that team IMO at one point and you can tell by the way some of the playoff series unfolded, where they had so much talent, but no guidance. Just my opinion, he may have a decent enough hockey mind but I do not like his coaching ability or perhaps better to say his leadership
- bberkey1

Ok fair enough many good points. I was not aware that he had no respect in Pittsburgh but crosby is kind of a female dog.

I've now seen three fan bases go from Babcock is Jesus reincarnated to Babcock is an overrated douche (in Toronto's case, in opposite order). Do people ever stop and think how they sound about this stuff?

Look, Babcock would have been a great pickup here - he has good knowledge of systems and is in a good place to kick someone's ass if they need it. He'd have probably helped a great deal with our building and it hurts a bit not to get him.

He also may be exactly what Toronto needs to get Doughnut Boy and the Cro Magnon in line - so that hurts too.

But there are many good coaches still available, and we'll be fine.
- nfph

Please, there are a few Leafs fans bashing the hiring right now

You know I hate this argument. You know who you can say the same exact thing for. Mike Babcock. He was given Dats, Zetterberg, and you know the best d man in the history of the league in Lindstrom.
- Cheeseballin

Never mentioned babacock once there, b/c I tend to agree, only Dats and Zets were nowhere near the level of Crosby and Malkin. Again, regardless of who had what or what went down, I've stated what I don't like about the guy

I have no idea who the next coach of the Sabres will be. Last year I was thinking Luke Richardson but we shall see, I don't think it will take long though.

And his refusal to give up power is likely why he didn't sign.

Give a guy what he wants if you want him to come work for you. If you don't, someone else will.

That's what happened, don't be upset at the guy for taking what he feels the best option for him is.
- Feeling Glucky?

The part that's most interesting to me about the whole thing is actually the money portion. He could have come to Buffalo, gotten paid the same amount (let's not even get into taxes and all that BS), and had less he needed to do.

Instead, he chose to go to Toronto where he's got some sort of "control" but he's not getting paid any more to do more work essentially.

I'm not mad he didn't come here. It is what it is. We'll find a coach. There's no guarantee he would have taken us any further than anyone else they bring in. Nobody knows that for sure. I just think the logistics behind the whole thing are a bit odd.

I think it came down to this too....

I think Murray has gutted and reformed this team already and picked up 2 #2 overall draft picks in the process. Added a ton of exceptional talent to our pipeline and been through 2 years of pooptyness.

I think that Babcock wanted to do some retooling of his own... gutting of his own.. and Murray wasn't willing to give him the power to do it.

Toronto is in a situation where even their best players can be had in a trade because they are just going down the toilet bowl of rebuilding where we are already in the refilling process.

He would have been a big touch to this team's resume and brought a wealth of experience. Can't cut him down for that. I think that we will still get a great coach to come here with our glut of young and high potential talent. We will probably compete but miss the playoffs this year and then be a regular playoff team in the years after that.

I am happy to be at that stage instead of starting over completely again. Nice backdoor move by Toronto.. good for you... have fun rebuilding.

I have no idea who the next coach of the Sabres will be. Last year I was thinking Luke Richardson but we shall see, I don't think it will take long though.
- GilPerreault11

If they go from Babcock to Luke Richardson people are going to have a meltdown

Please, there are a few Leafs fans bashing the hiring right now
- Feeling Glucky?

There were leafs fans in here bashing that Buffalo was willing to put that money to him and that he wasn't worth it. You can't speak for the entire fan base and they don't speak for you but just know that there are dumb people on both sides of everything.

The part that's most interesting to me about the whole thing is actually the money portion. He could have come to Buffalo, gotten paid the same amount (let's not even get into taxes and all that BS), and had less he needed to do.

Instead, he chose to go to Toronto where he's got some sort of "control" but he's not getting paid any more to do more work essentially.

I'm not mad he didn't come here. It is what it is. We'll find a coach. There's no guarantee he would have taken us any further than anyone else they bring in. Nobody knows that for sure. I just think the logistics behind the whole thing are a bit odd.
- HonkFortheGoose

It's pretty clear to me. Winning a cup in toronto and turning that franchize around would make the guy a legend. Winning a cup in Buffalo is nothing compared to winning a cup in Toronto. His legacy will be remembered forever if he manages to win a cup there.