Not buying that. Its the Buffalo sports fan convincing themselves who ever is in front if them is the answer. Like when we didn't land Richards and got Leino and suddenly we have our #1 center and we're winning the cup. We do the same thing all the time with the Bills. Just because we can only get the 3rd or 4th best guy and we decide to overpay him doesn't make it a good idea.
- Buffalo--Sabres

And I don't buy that. If that were true I don't think fans would have bought into the rebuild. We bought into it because we realized (thanks ville) that we need to have a better standard, much better. I don't think too many people are convinced any of these remaining coaches is the answer (good chance he'll be let go in a few years). Not even sure you could say babcock is the answer, it will ultimately be the team and how good it is that wins the cup.

I've been saying all along guys like Sharp weren't gonna be his target.
Too old
I'm glad too BC I totally agree
- jdfitz77

Don't be surprised when he can't make a trade then. Young star players aren't exactly available all the time

Right, but even a guy like Luke Richardson isn't really one of those highly sought after AHL coaches. His resume in the AHL is good, but not great, and what really gives him the inside track is his familiarity with Murray. If a guy like Blashill, who's now essentially a lock for the Detroit job, or so it seems, were really available, I'd be more inclined to say, let's go somewhere else. The reality is, that type of coach really isn't available.
- buffalofan19

But the familiarity could be valuable. In the development stage of the rebuild the coach and gm being on the same page is integral.

Outside of Richardson it is slim pickings but there are some names there. I won't be too thrilled or disappointed either way

I'm not saying he's "the answer", simply that he's the best available. Dan Bylsma has at least won a championship before. Ville Leino had never even played center in the NHL before, let alone #1 center. It's apples and oranges.
- buffalofan19

That is so up for debate. This isn't even close to being the #1 #2 like the draft is this year.

Don't be surprised when he can't make a trade then. Young star players aren't exactly available all the time
- sbroads24

Mentioned earlier that Stone, Hoffman and Zibanejad are all RFA's. He could look there given ottawa's financial constraints.

I don't get the Babcock fetish. Probably a good coach I guess? Whatever.

The only value of this is Garth being humiliated. He's annoying.
- Tangled

Because we have no championships random things gain momentum around here. Usually off field/off ice things. Fetish is a good word for it. In a matter of days Babcock went from being a guy we respected to a guy we immortalized to a guy we despise. In all fairness we've been through a lot of poop as Buffalo fans.

Heh, sure.
- Tangled

May not even be for those 3. But the fact that they need to re-sign all 3 probably means they'll be moving someone out to make room.

Because we have no championships random things gain momentum around here. Usually off field/off ice things. Fetish is a good word for it. In a matter of days Babcock went from being a guy we respected to a guy we immortalized to a guy we despise. In all fairness we've been through a lot of poop as Buffalo fans.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Babcock is still a guy I "immortalize" if you want to call it that. I fully expect him to do great things in Toronto. I don't buy the notion that he's going to get stuck in the mud there. He's too good for that.

To be fair, that's because it was pretty much Babcock or bust at that point. The way this episode went down absolutely does have a lot to do with Bylsma becoming a bigger candidate.
- buffalofan19

I'm sure the coaches that are interviewed will have a voice in their head telling them" Hey wait .. he might pick me and settling for me cause he lost out on his choice.

Babcock is still a guy I "immortalize" if you want to call it that. I fully expect him to do great things in Toronto. I don't buy the notion that he's going to get stuck in the mud there. He's too good for that.
- buffalofan19

They've got a smart trio there. Wouldn't surprise me if they won before us.

And I don't buy that. If that were true I don't think fans would have bought into the rebuild. We bought into it because we realized (thanks ville) that we need to have a better standard, much better. I don't think too many people are convinced any of these remaining coaches is the answer (good chance he'll be let go in a few years). Not even sure you could say babcock is the answer it will ultimately be the team and how good it is that wins the cup.
- Sabresfan-365

That really contradicts itself. You can't say we need Bylsma but not even sure Babcock was the answer.


Since a great coach is out, we need the guy for the job right now. Whoever we hire is almost certainly a guy we dispose of at just the right moment when the next big "guy" is set to hit the market. So we need a guy for this situation just as Nolan was the guy for the tank. A guy who can coach this team, in it's very unique state of doing a 180 on a losing culture with a lot of young pieces.

Mentioned earlier that Stone, Hoffman and Zibanejad are all RFA's. He could look there given ottawa's financial constraints.
- Sabresfan-365

I don't think Z or Stone gets moved. Hoffman maybe but I wouldn't give up too much. I don't think he's a perennial 25+ goal guy

I don't think Z or Stone gets moved. Hoffman maybe but I wouldn't give up too much. I don't think he's a perennial 25+ goal guy
- sbroads24

21 too much?

Babcock is still a guy I "immortalize" if you want to call it that. I fully expect him to do great things in Toronto. I don't buy the notion that he's going to get stuck in the mud there. He's too good for that.
- buffalofan19

I just think when out of a nowhere a rumor starts that we can have someone(because of Pegula money) that we bump them up a few pegs(no pun) just because.

21 too much?
- Sabresfan-365

Is rather see that pick used either at 21, or try and move up.

I think using a 2nd rounder to get a lower profile winger as a stop gap might be a better idea short term.

I just think when out of a nowhere a rumor starts that we can have someone(because of Pegula money) that we bump them up a few pegs(no pun) just because.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Babcock was going to be the most sought after coach this offseason, Pegula money or no Pegula money, and for good reason. He's that good of a coach.

That really contradicts itself. You can't say we need Bylsma but not even sure Babcock was the answer.


Since a great coach is out, we need the guy for the job right now. Whoever we hire is almost certainly a guy we dispose of at just the right moment when the next big "guy" is set to hit the market. So we need a guy for this situation just as Nolan was the guy for the tank. A guy who can coach this team, in it's very unique state of doing a 180 on a losing culture with a lot of young pieces.
- Buffalo--Sabres

I don't actually want bylsma, im just not convinced that warming up to a guy after taking a harder look at him is typical buffalo sports fan thinking.

I agree with what you're saying on getting a guy for this particular situation(babcock being the exception) but i also won't automatically view him as the answer because of the situation we're in.

We've seen it so many times with the current contenders they all had intermediary coaches before hiring the eventual winner.

You wanted to be taken advantage of earlier. Change of heart?
- HonkFortheGoose

Context is very important

Is rather see that pick used either at 21, or try and move up.

I think using a 2nd rounder to get a lower profile winger as a stop gap might be a better idea short term.
- sbroads24

Id rather move up as well, but Im not sure that option will be available. 21 is kind of an awkward spot. There seems to be quite a drop once you get out of the top 15 or 16, may be better served moving down. Not sure the guy at 21 will be that much better than at say 26, and it could get you an extra 2nd.

Babcock was going to be the most sought after coach this offseason, Pegula money or no Pegula money, and for good reason. He's that good of a coach.
- buffalofan19

Was he though? Or did Buffalo again hyper inflate the market for a person or position based on Pegula's over zealousness? Thankfully Toronto picked up that tab.

I don't actually want bylsma, im just not convinced that warming up to a guy after taking a harder look at him is typical buffalo sports fan thinking.

I agree with what you're saying on getting a guy for this particular situation(babcock being the exception) but i also won't automatically view him as the answer because of the situation we're in.

We've seen it so many times with the current contenders they all had intermediary coaches before hiring the eventual winner.
- Sabresfan-365

The reality is this: no matter who they hire as head coach, the best they can do is a distant second. Babcock was the prize and nobody else came close. The Ville Leino comparison is invalid on so many levels. First of all, in the case of Babcock, the Sabres didn't abandon ship on him simply so they wouldn't miss out on their 2nd choice in a panic move. The head coaching spot is still vacant. Second of all, barring some absolute shocker, they're not hiring a guy that hasn't done this before, like the case with Leino.

Babcock was going to be the most sought after coach this offseason, Pegula money or no Pegula money, and for good reason. He's that good of a coach.
- buffalofan19

I always had the feeling Babcock wasn't coming here, though I was shocked he went to toronto. And any talk about him not being close with buffalo is bs because why would Toronto fly in Boucher from Switzerland if they thiught Babcock was coming there. Babcock used our offer to get the toronto offer. Murray was nice today but Babcock still screwed us a bit

Was he though? Or did Buffalo again hyper inflate the market for a person or position based on Pegula's over zealousness? Thankfully Toronto picked up that tab.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Babcock had been outspoken about getting NHL coaches' salaries on par or at least closer to the head coaches in other sports. He was going to get paid an unprecedented amount of money, no matter what. Did Pegula getting involved up his salary a bit more? Possibly, but the reality is this: whoever landed Babcock was going to make him the NHL's highest paid coach, and they were going to do it by a lot. The notion that Buffalo made Toronto overpay for him is more of a coping mechanism than the notion of Bylsma or anybody else being the next best option will ever be.

The reality is this: no matter who they hire as head coach, the best they can do is a distant second. Babcock was the prize and nobody else came close. The Ville Leino comparison is invalid on so many levels. First of all, in the case of Babcock, the Sabres didn't abandon ship on him simply so they wouldn't miss out on their 2nd choice in a panic move. The head coaching spot is still vacant. Second of all, barring some absolute shocker, they're not hiring a guy that hasn't done this before, like the case with Leino.
- buffalofan19

You're also more likely to find success with a "distant 2nd" head coach vs a plan b ville leino in your top 6. It was a calculated risk going all in with Babcock and I doubt they regret it.

You're also more likely to find success with a "distant 2nd" head coach vs a plan b ville leino in your top 6. It was a calculated risk going all in with Babcock and I doubt they regret it.
- Sabresfan-365

Seeing as how there hasn't been a coach hired since Babcock to Toronto was made official, I would agree.