Not really.

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

Murray played this perfectly.
- grand-magus

Yes he did.

There are only 2 things that matter:

1) Nolan has successfully tanked.

2) Murray does no like Nolan and he will not be our coach for much longer.

Meh,

Nolan can go. He is very overrated NHL Coach.
- ImThatGuy

He has a Jack Adams trophy. You don't get those for being "over rated".

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.
- stashu

Nolan was in a lose-lose situation. If he won more, Murray would want him gone sooner, lol

Stevie Wonder could see before the season started that this team would be bad, why Murray and CO. are shocked is beyond me.
- SABRES 89

89 I normally love your position on things...but, if you remember at the beginning of this season, may fans on this site had the team pegged for 25th or higher...certainly not at the top of the league by any stretch, but much, much better than this historically p-poor performance...many had them improving by 10 - 15 points.

He has a Jack Adams trophy. You don't get those for being "over rated".
- Lato649

He rode Hasek. He was barely a .500 coach with (Arguably) the best goalie the game has ever seen.

Nolan was in a lose-lose situation. If he won more, Murray would want him gone sooner, lol
- Lilroot9

Is it possible the book is out and Nolan and he is part of the tank? not saying Nolan is purposely doing this, but Murray knew Nolan would be part of problem.

He has a Jack Adams trophy. You don't get those for being "over rated".
- Lato649

He doesn't get a sniff of it without Hasek.

He rode Hasek. He was barely a .500 coach with (Arguably) the best goalie the game has ever seen.
- ImThatGuy

So that tells me that to win the Cup, a team doesn't need the absolute best Goalie.
I hope TM finds a suitable combination, but doesn't go overboard to land one through trade.
Didn't Lindy also have Hasek and never won anything...he sucks too.

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

Was he ever a good coach?

Stevie Wonder could see before the season started that this team would be bad, why Murray and CO. are shocked is beyond me.
- SABRES 89

the only thing I remember murray saying about Nolan and the team is that everyone is judged daily...there may be other things I've forgotten, but the "judged daily" thing has been a constant

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.
- IonSabres

thx for the idea on the next blog, ion

the only thing I remember murray saying about Nolan and the team is that everyone is judged daily...there may be other things I've forgotten, but the "judged daily" thing has been a constant
- Michael Pachla

" I didnt plan on being in 30th" Whether that is BS from Murray or not. He said he did not believe the team would be this bad, which reflects on the coach, IMO.

Is it possible the book is out and Nolan and he is part of the tank? not saying Nolan is purposely doing this, but Murray knew Nolan would be part of problem.
- ImThatGuy

I guess it is possible, if true he was told to track after the winning streak they had, cause that was the first time Murray was worried about not finishing 30th.

" I didnt plan on being in 30th" Whether that is BS from Murray or not. He said he did not believe the team would be this bad, which reflects on the coach, IMO.
- ImThatGuy

That is a sign he wants him gone at years end for sure.

Was he ever a good coach?
- jochfr

well, like many new coaches, they come in when the team sucks and try to build a winner within a 3 - 4 year window.
Never got he opportunity his 1st time around in Bflo, not sure what happened in NYI.
Likely won't get the opportunity here again.
I'm cool with seeing him gone and turning over to a new coach...ANYTHING was better than RONRON, that beedy-eyed miniture Regiere

" I didnt plan on being in 30th" Whether that is BS from Murray or not. He said he did not believe the team would be this bad, which reflects on the coach, IMO.
- ImThatGuy

he also said on gr just after he took over the team (this is a paraphrase): if the team is a little too high in the standings come trade deadline, to the point it will jeopardize the goal, things could be done to make sure the short-term doesn't derail the long term

Not really.

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

Murray played this perfectly.
- grand-magus

Maybe so...
But there's absolutely NO WAY Pegula would allow a guy to be hired with the intention of firing him in a year... No chance
He just doesn't conduct business that way
Going forward, who knows?
But Nolan will be the coach to start next season

The Sabres deserve the next Alexandre Daigle.
- RazzDazzle

It's always the cowards that post like this.

oh hey
- Lucas Neilson

Hey Lucas

the only thing I remember murray saying about Nolan and the team is that everyone is judged daily...there may be other things I've forgotten, but the "judged daily" thing has been a constant
- Michael Pachla

Since Ted's an "Inspirational Coach" I would think, HARD WORK, and STANDING UP for the Name on Front not the name on Back would stand out, be damned with winning! But didn't happen, in fact most if not all of our players have digressed.

- MEBSabresFAN

yeah, that mullet was pretty bad

It's always the cowards that post like this.
- Pairo11

Rule #3 Pairo, rule #3

yeah, that mullet was pretty bad
- Michael Pachla

Average coach IMO.

Gets the most out of some of them but in all an avg coach.

Average coach IMO.

Gets the most out of some of them but in all an avg coach.
- dadeadhead

I can agree with that.

Wonders about our boy Hodgson though...interview this morning make it clear Nolan and he don't see eye-to-eye. talk about regression.