Updated:
Derek Roy will end up getting parade and a party in Buffalo after this season is done.
Roy is the reason why the Edmonton Oilers are no longer in the running for Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel.
GWG! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/oEyEqUk2xH
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 26, 2015
A Derek Roy wrist shot was the game-winning goal in the third period, after Colorado came back from down 3-0 to tie the game. The Oilers skated away with a 4-3 win.
Roy is a leading candidate to win the MVP of the McEichel Derby.
“We got off to a good start and then they battled back,… Oilers Interim Coach Todd Nelson said. “When you look at the third period, there were chances traded back and forth. Both goaltenders were making big saves and it was nice to get that power play goal. They kept on coming and Benny made some huge saves for us down the stretch."
The regulation win now gives the the Buffalo Sabres an 8 point lead in the McEichel standings on Edmonton.
Buffalo leads Arizona by 5 points in the McEichel Derby. The Coyotes play the Sabres in Buffalo on Thursday night.
Updated McEichel Standings:
28th place EDM: 55 poiints 29th place ARI: 52 points 30th place BUF: 47 points
***
Would Sabres GM Tim Murray consider replacing Ted Nolan in the off season? Its very possible. Would Murray be interested in hiring his friend Luke Richardson?
“Well, there’s a strong chance. Again, you’ve identified the relationship there and Luke Richardson’s name has been thrown out there very recently. But there’s a lot of work that has to be done between now and that announcement".
Richardson has a family consideration that will keep him attached to the Binghampton area for at least another year. Richardson's daughter is a junior attending Cornell University in upstate New York. The Richardsons are reportedly not interested in leaving the area until after their daughter graduates with her undergraduate degree. Darren Dreger told TSN 1200 Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon that Murray and Richardson are a real possibility to reunite in Buffalo this summer. However, if Buffalo scores Connor McDavid in the NHL Draft Lottery on April 18, then that may be a hot selling point to get Mike Babcock to say yes to Buffalo.
“Here’s another name for you and I know that Mike Babcock isn’t looking for that project. Right? But, you know, if the Buffalo Sabres were to win the lottery and land Connor McDavid, could that be enough to lure a top-notch coach like a Mike Babcock into the equation".
Connor McDavid + Terry Pegula's $5 million per year= Buffalo bonanza for Babcock.
“To balance it all off, you obviously have the deep, deep, deep pockets of the Pegulas. I know they’re not going to be afraid to spend money on a head coach and if you’re trying to lure someone like Mike Babcock, maybe that ticket comes in at 4, 4.5, upwards of $5 million. And if it does, they could afford to pay that and the Detroit Red Wings aren’t likely going to match.
Money is no object for Pegula.
“So it’s not money being everything for Mike Babcock, but if you’ve got Connor McDavid and now you’ve got an owner that’s offering you better than 4 or upwards of $5 million per year, that might be enough to grab perhaps the most coveted unrestricted free agent coach.…
Darren Dreger joins the Drive to talk about the latest hockey headlines @TSN1200
— Stephen Bunda (@TSN1200Bunda) March 25, 2015
Try as they night, no other NHL club could trump Buffalo's offer of McDavid, a ton of young stud prospects, and two goalie bags full of Pegula cash. Brendan Shanahan and Toronto couldn't trump Buffalo, nor could Doug Wilson in San Jose, or Bob Murray in Anaheim, or Ron Hextall in Philly.
****
On April 11, 2001, the Anaheim Ducks announced that Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (AHL) Head Coach Moe Mantha was not being offered a new contract. On July 11, 2000, the Ducks hired an aggressive, astute, cerebral Mike Babcock to be the head coach of their AHL affiliate Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.
On May 25, 2001 the Ducks named Bryan Murray their new head coach. On April 19, 2002, the Ducks announced that President/General Manager Pierre Gauthier was being relieved of his duties. On April 29, 2002 the Ducks announced a multi-year extension of their affiliation agreement with Cincinnati of the American Hockey League. On May 2, 2002 the Ducks promoted Bryan Murray to senior vice president and general manager. On May 22, 2002 Murray tapped Mike Babcock on the shoulder and appointed him to be the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. On June 22, 200 Murray named Chuck Fletcher director of hockey operations. Then, on August 19, 2002 Uncle Bryan named nephew Tim Murray player personnel director for the Anaheim Ducks. On August 15, 2003, Bryan Murray extended the contracts of Head Coach Mike Babcock, assistant coaches Lorne Henning & Paul MacLean, as well as goaltending consultant Francois Allaire to one-year contract extensions. Mike Babcock led Anaheim to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2003 before moving to Detroit. He won the 2008 cup with the Red Wings. Babcock also led the Ducks to another finals appearance in 2009 and lost to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Babcock also has led the Canadian national team to a gold medal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and in the 2014 Sochi games.
Then on June 8, 2004 the winds of change started howling through Orange County. The Ducks named Al Coates Interim GM, replacing Senior Vice President/GM Bryan Murray, who had accepted the head coaching position with the Ottawa Senators. Tim Murray remained with the Ducks as their Director of scouting.
In February 2005, Henry and Susan Samueli reached an agreement to buy the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from the Walt Disney Company. On June 20, 2005 the Samuelis officially assumed ownership of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. On June 20, 2005 Samueli name Michael Shulman Chief Executive Officer, Brian Burke executive vice president and general manager, Tim Ryan executive vice president and chief operating officer, Bob Wagner senior vice president and chief marketing officer, and Mike O’Donnell as senior vice president and general manager (of the Arrowhead Pond). On July 14, 2005 Burke named Bob Murray senior vice president of hockey operations. On August 1, 2005 Burke hired Randy Carlyle to guide the Anaheim Ducks as their new head coach.
The shrewd moves of the Samuelis and Burke paid off in 2007 when the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup.
The point of this exercise is three-fold:
1). To illuminate the relationship that exists between Mike Babcock and Tim Murray 2). Babcock’s journey from relative anonymity in the AHL to Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medal winner. 3). Babcock’s flexibility and his ability to change coaching locations without losing his intensity nor ability to teach young players the right way to prepare, compete, and win in the NHL. Sportnet’s Doug MacLean mentioned on Hockey Central @ Noon on Tuesday that he has heard that Tim Murray and the Sabres are interested in hiring a “big, big name head coach…. There are none bigger in the NHL right now than Mike Babcock, who will also be aggressively pursued by Toronto, San Jose, and Boston among others.
Don’t rule out Tim Murray’s relationship with Babcock from their days spent together in Anaheim. The Ducks enjoyed much success while Murray and Babcock worked closely with one another. The duo got a good kick at the Stanley Cup can while working with one another from 2002-2004. Murray was Director of Player Personnel, which meant that he and Uncle Bryan bought the groceries that Babcock would could to near perfection. Tim Murray would stay in Anaheim one season longer than Babcock did. Murray landed in Ottawa and Babcock took charge in Detroit. You are probably saying to yourself: “Babcock would be crazy to leave Detroit for Buffalo…. To that I would respond, don’t put your thoughts in Mike Babcock’s head. How do you know what Mike Babcock is thinking about his coaching future? He will be an unrestricted free agent head coach after his Red Wings are eliminated from playoff contention. He will be free to sign with any NHL that he chooses to sign with. Why has Babcock not signed a contract extension to stay in Detroit? It’s not like his GM Ken Holland hasn’t tried to get Babs to sign a new long term contract extension. I’m told that Babcock is seeking $5 million plus per season to coach in the NHL. His motives are two-fold: he wants to be the highest paid coach in the NHL and he wants to raise the salary scale for all of his peers. There is no NHL coaching union that can negotiate contracts on behalf of the coaches. Therefore, it’s incumbent upon the head coach and his agent to craft the best deal possible with his team’s ownership. There is no salary cap for NHL coaching salaries. Babcock thinks that NHL coaches are grossly underpaid compared to NFL, NBA and MLB coaches and managers. His mission is to raise the average salary for his contemporaries and NHL peers. Babcock knows that on the open market he will command some serious offers and he will be able to choose his next coaching destination. Babcock need only look at Terry Pegula’s courtship and eventual acquisition of Rex Ryan of the Buffalo Bills to see that Tim Murray and the Sabres are committed to paying top buck to coaches in order to win the big prize. I’ve been told that Babcock and his advisors have been watching the Rex Ryan signing very closely. Babs is also keeping abreast of the Sabres and their treasure chest of young prospects and their role in the McEichel Derby. Babcock knows a thing or two about coaching youthful, all-world talent having mentored Nik Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Nik Krownwall, John Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom, and others in Detroit.
For now, Babcock’s attention is affixed to his Detroit Red Wings. However, when his team is eliminated from the NHL playoffs, he will be the hottest name available on the NHL head coaching free agency market. Babs will have the ability to hand select a tailor-made deal that is best for him. Tim Murray will hand Babs the keys to the vault of hot young prospects, along with a blank cashier’s check.
There have been no indications from Murray whether or not Ted Nolan will continue to be the head coach of the Sabres after this season. Nolan will have two years remaining on his contract at season’s end. If Murray lands Babcock it will be a coup. However, if he loses out on the opportunity to woo him to Buffalo to say Toronto, San Jose or Boston, Murray will likely shift his laser pointer-like focus to his great friend and former head coach Luke Richardson who is still the bench boss in AHL Binghamption. Look at the success that the Ottawa Senators are having right now. They have leap frogged the Boston Bruins for a wild card spot by winning 15 of their last 16 games. Its an incredible story. Luke Richardson’s fingerprints are all over the Sens’ NHL success right now. He personally groomed the baby Sens for this success. Richardson has coached Hamburglar, Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, Matt Peumpel, J.G. Pageau, Mika Zibenajad, Eric Condra, Cody Ceci, Eric Borowiecki, and others.
We’ll talk more about Richardson on another day. For now, we watch Ted Nolan’s Sabres intently. They have nine games remaining and they hold a five point lead on 29th place Arizona and a six point lead on 28th place Edmonton in the McEichel Derby. Losing the McEichel Derby would not look good on Nolan, would it?