Could be ..coach wants to win and tries to coach them.. GmTM tells the players otherwise.
- cabin

The coach and players should always want to win and Nolan will be paid handsomely to sit on a beach for 2 more years. Sign me up! Lol

Murray knew the deal along with everyone else so what's the problem, now Nolan is a bad coach ? Murray didn't have to hire Nolan he could have brought in who he wanted but he choose Nolan but he didn't have to, he had no ties to him.
- SABRES 89

I was never on the Nolan Bandwagon.

Not really.

It'll be so much easier for Murray to fire Nolan than it would "his guy".

Murray played this perfectly.
- grand-magus

Murray had every chance to bring in who he wanted at the time, Nolan was only an interm HC. No ties to him he offered him 3 years and Nolan didn't have to take it but he did.

Murray had every chance to bring in who he wanted at the time, Nolan was only an interm HC. No ties to him he offered him 3 years and Nolan didn't have to take it but he did.
- SABRES 89

Great PR move. All the fans knew Pat Lafontaine and Ted Nolan. Tim comes in and I bet 95% of the fans had no idea who he is. If he was the instrumental in both Ted and Pat gone , The fan base could have gotten real ugly.

Carryover...

I really don't want either too, there is more talent for less, just keep looking Murray (as he already is I am sure!)
- Lilroot9


Idk if it's gonna be as easy as ppl think for Murray to bring in more high end talent
Teams in cap trouble are prob gonna try n trade those 2nd tier guys... Sharp for example... Who I do like, but at his age will he for in with the timeline of our rebuild?
Teams aren't gonna be moving their 23-25yr old stars or top prospects...
They're gonna be moving guys that are in the latter stages of their prime

And I don't know if Murray will want that

Plus, a lot of those guys will have bad contracts or NTCs

I think making another big time deal might be tougher than we think
- jdfitz77

I guess when I say more talent, I don't mean there are more talented players than orielly available or that the player should be 23-25 (although I would like that) it seems to be every 2-3 years (if not more) that those type of players are available (like every 2 years, one guy like that is available). With the cap staying (hopefully, lol) the sabres should have the upper hand on teams with the room and picks to make another deal like that happen. Only time will tell, but I can see Murray over paying for another talented top 6, young forward.

Great PR move. All the fans knew Pat Lafontaine and Ted Nolan. Tim comes in and I bet 95% of the fans had no idea who he is. If he was the instrumental in both Ted and Pat gone , The fan base could have gotten real ugly.
- cabin

Everyone acts like Murray had no choice to hire Nolan, he could have hired anyone he wanted PR move or not, you think he cares about PR ? Murray can care less, if people haven't figured it out by now something is wrong.

Not really.

It'll be so much easier for Murray to fire Nolan than it would "his guy".

Murray played this perfectly.
- grand-magus

Agreed. Murray is a very smart, newer GM. He knows what he is doing. If he goes down it will be with his players and staff, so he won't have regrets.

I would not be shocked to see Nolan speak his real mind if he's fired.

Could get ugly.
- grand-magus

Well, he didn't sign the non-disclosure clause... so you might get your wish.

I doubt it though if he wants to remain in NHL circles after his inevitable end there in Buffalo.

Everyone acts like Murray had no choice to hire Nolan, he could have hired anyone he wanted PR move or not, you think he cares about PR ? Murray can care less, if people haven't figured it out by now something is wrong.
- SABRES 89

There was a lot going on. Could be Pegs had some doing in it too. I don't know . Doesn't make me lose sleep anyways. Just making convo and adding my 5cents.

Murray had every chance to bring in who he wanted at the time, Nolan was only an interm HC. No ties to him he offered him 3 years and Nolan didn't have to take it but he did.
- SABRES 89

My point is, Murray knew what this year was all about. He could have brought in who he wanted, yes. But knowing that the team would suck, why would he? It was much more convenient to keep the interim guy (and 3 years is pretty standard), knowing full well that when the time is right, he can, and will, sh!tcan him with ease. Then he can bring in his own guy, when the team has a legitimate chance to improve.

Again, Murray played this perfectly.

But, Ted knew what was happening here, too. So before the "poor Teddy" posts start flying (not you, 89), let's not act as if he were naive to it all.

THIS!!!!
Come on people!!!
Why is it so hard to understand the concept of the TANK???????
Ted Nolan is a good coach, that has been instructed to TANK.
What do you want him to do?
- Sabresfan88

Nolan has not been told to tank, he had no choices. This team is horrible and can't out score anyone, not out shoot anyone. Nolan is trying his best to keep the team in games, but bad players make bad plays, a lot. Hard to fix that with this roster.

When Nolan said he was not in on trade talks, that is because he wants to win now, where Murray wants to win next year and beyond!

Everyone acts like Murray had no choice to hire Nolan, he could have hired anyone he wanted PR move or not, you think he cares about PR ? Murray can care less, if people haven't figured it out by now something is wrong.
- SABRES 89

So you think he's a lock to be the coach to kick off the 15/16 season?

Everyone acts like Murray had no choice to hire Nolan, he could have hired anyone he wanted PR move or not, you think he cares about PR ? Murray can care less, if people haven't figured it out by now something is wrong.
- SABRES 89

GMTM is not going to go down with Nolan as his coach when things start getting serious with the rebuild and if you haven't figured that out by now then something, besides the heat in Las Vegas, is wrong with you.

So you think he's a lock to be the coach to kick off the 15/16 season?
- stashu

Blaming Nolan for what is going on is wrong IMO, this team was set up to fail and they wanted the pick why is this Nolan's fault.

GMTM is not going to go down with Nolan as his coach when things start getting serious with the rebuild and if you haven't figured that out by now then something, besides the heat in Las Vegas, is wrong with you.
- GilPerreault11

Time will tell

Nolan has not been told to tank, he had no choices. This team is horrible and can't out score anyone, not out shoot anyone. Nolan is trying his best to keep the team in games, but bad players make bad plays, a lot. Hard to fix that with this roster.

When Nolan said he was not in on trade talks, that is because he wants to win now, where Murray wants to win next year and beyond!
- Lilroot9

He had a choice to sign knowing what was about to happen. He's in it for the money

My point is, Murray knew what this year was all about. He could have brought in who he wanted, yes. But knowing that the team would suck, why would he? It was much more convenient to keep the interim guy (and 3 years is pretty standard), knowing full well that when the time is right, he can, and will, sh!tcan him with ease. Then he can bring in his own guy, when the team has a legitimate chance to improve.

Again, Murray played this perfectly.

But, Ted knew what was happening here, too. So before the "poor Teddy" posts start flying (not you, 89), let's not act as if he were naive to it all.
- grand-magus

Why bring in a coach just to turn around and fire him after 1 year knowing you still have to pay the contract no matter if Pegula can afford it or not. Murray didn't have to hire him.

Blaming Nolan for what is going on is wrong IMO, this team was set up to fail and they wanted the pick why is this Nolan's fault.
- SABRES 89

Is that a...yes?

Oh boy Pach, now you've gone and done it!
What's tomorrow's blog...how Tyler Myers was never really good here?
Nolan was dealt a crappy hand, and is playing it out. When he and Patty came in, they were not planning for a total tank and who knows what Murray really told him during contract negotiations...so did he really sign-up for this, I say not.
This myth of no system and no teaching is so overblown...when reportedly HE is on the ice daily and is providing instruction to players on where to be positionally. Not sure what else everyone Nolan-hater wants him to do...I have never heard it.
That said, I am surprised he isn't getting better results, as that is what his history is...so the data does point to him not being the long-term solution here.

Stevie Wonder could see before the season started that this team would be bad, why Murray and CO. are shocked is beyond me.

Is that a...yes?
- stashu

I don't see why he wouldn't

He had a choice to sign knowing what was about to happen. He's in it for the money
- Zschalberg

Right. But Nolan is not tanking. He had no choice! He is not good with X's and O's (I think he said it himself) so why wood anyone want him to coach a talented young team that could benefit from better organized plays and schemes. So you want McDavid to dump and chase? Lol

Edit: maybe signing Hasek could have helped Nolan again? Lol

oh hey

I don't see why he wouldn't
- SABRES 89

I agree with many (most?) that what he's dealing with as a "roster" is not doing him any favors, but as others have pointed out, who exactly is doing better as this season progresses? I'm not talking wins or anything, but who has improved their play at the hands of the coach?

Foligno has looked good recently people have said, but it sounds like it's attributed to health.

Even Girgensons is doing worse as the season goes on.

Blaming Nolan for what is going on is wrong IMO, this team was set up to fail and they wanted the pick why is this Nolan's fault.
- SABRES 89

Get this blame out of your mind. He served his purpose up to this point but he won't be there to reap the rewards because he isn't a top notch, sophisticated, elite, NHL coach. Why you have this infatuation for a guy who took over last year and led the team to 30 out of 30 and so far 30 out of 30 is another head scratcher.

Not to mention there is word he isn't the best behaved and I wonder why he has so many supporters.