Holy crap, some of you are really hurt by this huh? I'm not pleased we didn't get him, but jeeze louise, you gotta chill!

Babcock was smart -- he played it perfectly. It appears that he pulled the blocks out from the bottom of the Jenga tower and he ended up building it up higher instead of knocking the whole thing down. Seems like he got everything he wanted in the end. Did he slight the Sabres? Maybe. If so, that sucks, but that's business. It's exactly this style of thinking and maneuvering that made you want him in the first place.

After thinking about it, who we end up with now is mostly irrelevant to me. I feel like we end up in about 10th place this upcoming season. The roster is going to be improved, but it will take some time for the new kids to learn what's what and for everyone to gel. I'd say the next season we're sniffing seeds 6-8, with a chance to finish outside. After that the team will be a powerhouse unless something goes wrong. And i think just about any coach -- Bylsma, Torts, Julien, whoever -- could work with what this team has in a meaningful way. That's my prediction though.

It will be interesting to see what's next. Will the team lash out? I hope not. Just beat him on the ice. I'm curious to see who's next. The next coach has a wellspring of potential to work with in this roster, and a ton of cap space to scoop up missing pieces.

I guess what I'm saying, is calm down. Take a breath, brush off the dust and look forward. The rebuild is still on, it still looks good, and the future is still bright.

I hate leafs more
- navinrjohnson

Fixed

- navinrjohnson

Eakins?
- walshyleafsfan

torts, boucher, bylsma, robinson, granato

anything but a future puppet for Murray

Holy crap, some of you are really hurt by this huh? I'm not pleased we didn't get him, but jeeze louise, you gotta chill!

Babcock was smart -- he played it perfectly. It appears that he pulled the blocks out from the bottom of the Jenga tower and he ended up building it up higher instead of knocking the whole thing down. Seems like he got everything he wanted in the end. Did he slight the Sabres? Maybe. If so, that sucks, but that's business. It's exactly this style of thinking and maneuvering that made you want him in the first place.

After thinking about it, who we end up with now is mostly irrelevant to me. I feel like we end up in about 10th place this upcoming season. The roster is going to be improved, but it will take some time for the new kids to learn what's what and for everyone to gel. I'd say the next season we're sniffing seeds 6-8, with a chance to finish outside. After that the team will be a powerhouse unless something goes wrong. And i think just about any coach -- Bylsma, Torts, Julien, whoever -- could work with what this team has in a meaningful way. That's my prediction though.

It will be interesting to see what's next. Will the team lash out? I hope not. Just beat him on the ice. I'm curious to see who's next. The next coach has a wellspring of potential to work with in this roster, and a ton of cap space to scoop up missing pieces.

I guess what I'm saying, is calm down. Take a breath, brush off the dust and look forward. The rebuild is still on, it still looks good, and the future is still bright.
- OnPoint

If randy cunneyworth or luke richardson is the next puppet, I am done investing time and drinking the kool aid

Disagree

if we get an AHL coach, with no NHL head coaching experience, we need to question what kind of GM we have and if he needs to be moved.


You don't finish dead last 2 years in a row and hire a question mark to be behind the bench as that sets the team back 5 years and I am sick of losing
- navinrjohnson

I seriously doubt hiring Richardson instead of Tortorella or Granato will be the sole reason this team gets set back 5 years.

A lot of the current day contenders had buffer/placeholder coaches before hiring their eventual winner

I seriously doubt hiring Richardson instead of Tortorella or Granato will be the sole reason this team gets set back 5 years.

A lot of the current day contenders had buffer/placeholder coaches before hiring their eventual winner
- Sabresfan-365

If it fails and the GM is canned in 2 years it will IMO

I want the best NHL head coach available not someone learning on the fly with an unproven NHL GM pulling his strings

I seriously doubt hiring Richardson instead of Tortorella or Granato will be the sole reason this team gets set back 5 years.

A lot of the current day contenders had buffer/placeholder coaches before hiring their eventual winner
- Sabresfan-365

Ron Rolston and Ted Nolan make 2, I do not want a third

I seriously doubt hiring Richardson instead of Tortorella or Granato will be the sole reason this team gets set back 5 years.

A lot of the current day contenders had buffer/placeholder coaches before hiring their eventual winner
- Sabresfan-365

and another thing


Fire Alex Anthopoulos right now

Lose a starting pitcher before the season and refuse to go out, get one and get a proven closer

another season pissed away

If it fails and the GM is canned in 2 years it will IMO

I want the best NHL head coach available not someone learning on the fly with an unproven NHL GM pulling his strings
- navinrjohnson

If it fails it will be because the players didn't live up to the expectations. Nolan/Babcock are on the extreme end of the spectrum but the difference in wins between bylsma and an AHL coach (especially with a very young team) is minuscule.

- theblueandgold

If it fails it will be because the players didn't live up to the expectations. Nolan/Babcock are on the extreme end of the spectrum but the difference in wins between bylsma and an AHL coach (especially with a very young team) is minuscule.
- Sabresfan-365

I expect upgrades for the top 4 and a winger though


If the prize was the best proven coach out there, I just don't want them to settle like the flyers did in the next 48 hours

We got BabCocked

Who the heck is Ted Sator???
Let's not try to hire any bum off the street now!!!
We NEED a real coach!!!
- Sabresfan88

That right there tells me you're in your very early 20's.

He's too unstable for my liking. Very much a look at me personality. We need a coach who's patient and level-headed who can groom the young'ns to have team first attitudes.
- BackSlider

Team first attitude is exactly what Torts brings....are you actually familiar with his work or do you see the Canucks fiasco and figure that summarizes the man? He's a good coach, just look at his record.

Eakins?
- walshyleafsfan

He would be great for Buffalo.

Holy crap, some of you are really hurt by this huh? I'm not pleased we didn't get him, but jeeze louise, you gotta chill!

Babcock was smart -- he played it perfectly. It appears that he pulled the blocks out from the bottom of the Jenga tower and he ended up building it up higher instead of knocking the whole thing down. Seems like he got everything he wanted in the end. Did he slight the Sabres? Maybe. If so, that sucks, but that's business. It's exactly this style of thinking and maneuvering that made you want him in the first place.

After thinking about it, who we end up with now is mostly irrelevant to me. I feel like we end up in about 10th place this upcoming season. The roster is going to be improved, but it will take some time for the new kids to learn what's what and for everyone to gel. I'd say the next season we're sniffing seeds 6-8, with a chance to finish outside. After that the team will be a powerhouse unless something goes wrong. And i think just about any coach -- Bylsma, Torts, Julien, whoever -- could work with what this team has in a meaningful way. That's my prediction though.

It will be interesting to see what's next. Will the team lash out? I hope not. Just beat him on the ice. I'm curious to see who's next. The next coach has a wellspring of potential to work with in this roster, and a ton of cap space to scoop up missing pieces.

I guess what I'm saying, is calm down. Take a breath, brush off the dust and look forward. The rebuild is still on, it still looks good, and the future is still bright.
- OnPoint

You're a bottom 5 team next year until this improved roster you speak of is signed, sealed and delivered. Not trolling, same goes for Edmonton. A couple rookie centres added to the mix does zero for your playoff hopes.

Lastly...I read some crap on one of those sad Facebook articles that the Sabres brass are livid and were somewhat deceived by Babcock? Any truth to that? Did the GM make any comments?

Lastly...I read some crap on one of those sad Facebook articles that the Sabres brass are livid and were somewhat deceived by Babcock? Any truth to that? Did the GM make any comments?
- Jeropotato

Rumor is the Sabres thought this was wrapped up Monday and are livid.

Lastly...I read some crap on one of those sad Facebook articles that the Sabres brass are livid and were somewhat deceived by Babcock? Any truth to that? Did the GM make any comments?
- Jeropotato

Yep, heard the same thing. It was all set and they were going to hold a press conference then it was suddenly a no go. He burnt the candle at both ends. Wanted Toronto control and used Pegula to jack up the price.

Yep, heard the same thing. It was all set and they were going to hold a press conference then it was suddenly a no go. He burnt the candle at both ends. Wanted Toronto control and used Pegula to jack up the price.
- sippyd

Nothing wrong with that. That's how it leverage works in negotiations. Hopefully Tim Murry keeps his silly mouth shut about it. He's been on the job a year and already is coming off a bit like King Joffrey, what the obvious Tank effort and subsequent crying over McDavid and firing of Nolan. If he comes across like too much of Whitney female dog it won't bode well for attracting talented free agent players, coaches or management staff.

what the obvious Tank effort
- Jeropotato

Pure gold coming from an Oilers fan....6 years of obvious tanking and the Sabres organisation is lambasted for basically cleansing out their roster of crap.

Pure gold coming from an Oilers fan....6 years of obvious tanking and the Sabres organisation is lambasted for basically cleansing out their roster of crap.
- MikeyOz

I'm glad you missed the point and focused on a team completely irrelevant to the convo. Smart work.

I can understand the frustration and anger that comes from losing s deal they thought they had in place, but time for a very solid signing. I don't understand why Murray is being seen as a bad guy or control freak- they had a deal and Babcock tried to renegotiate it. That's a fair thing for him to do, but it's also wise to say - for many reasons - were not gonna give you more than you already agreed was a deal. Thatmight be OK after 3 or 4 years, not on day 2

I can understand the frustration and anger that comes from losing s deal they thought they had in place, but time for a very solid signing. I don't understand why Murray is being seen as a bad guy or control freak- they had a deal and Babcock tried to renegotiate it. That's a fair thing for him to do, but it's also wise to say - for many reasons - were not gonna give you more than you already agreed was a deal. Thatmight be OK after 3 or 4 years, not on day 2
- Der Kaiser

Agreed and have moved on already. Just have to beat the Leafs every game we play.


Edit: No more STH status.