I have always liked and respected your articles as they are written with fairness and courtesy unlike one of the mainstream Buffalo writers who is an opinionated bully.
I disagree with your assessment of Ted Nolan.
He has 22 players working with him, most with a number of NHL games on their resume.
Name one who is better this year as a result of Nolan's leadership?
"Work hard" is good but you have to accompany it with something else.
- strongsupporter

much appreciated, and I respect you all...

imo, Nolan has worked well within the framework of the overall goal which is to....

that was the thrust of the piece

Raffi Torres
Dominic Moore
Dainius Zuprus
Bob Corkum
Etc........


Those days are over Sabres fans! Pegula hired a GM with some grapefruit size balls to make bold moves and make this team tougher to play against, with a better overall team skill set!

34 points in 48 games in the lockout season
44 in 72 last season
9 in 58 this season...

When put in a position to succeed he does a decent job.

Playing the PP and playing with more talented players is what he is best suited for. Its the coaches job to put him there and Nolan is not doing that.

I wouldn't say its the same Coho at all
- Stripes77

if coho was put in a postion to succeed, or if any of their scorers outside of ennis and Girgensons were put in that position, how many more wins would this team have?

if coho was put in a postion to succeed, or if any of their scorers outside of ennis and Girgensons were put in that position, how many more wins would this team have?
- Michael Pachla

What more of a position could he have been given? He was terrible when given an opportunity and then was terrible when told he had to earn it. This was the guy that was shocked when he was (mercifully) put into the press box. Clearly doesn't get it and never will. Three coaches have said he is pretty much uncoachable and does what he wants. But hey, he gets some PP point every now and then....

Awesome article - as per usual Michael. I personally don't really even think there's a debate regarding Nolan's status. Not that he's done or poor, or even a good job, as the Sabres coach, but I just think he is what he is, and that's the sacrificial lamb.

Nolan had to have come in knowing this team wasn't even going to approach anything that resembled a competitive club. His task was to change the culture of the locker-room from the player-friendly era of Ruff, back to the blue-collar, gritty style of hockey that Buffalo fans want to see.

Depending on how the season ends, Murray's masterpiece work will almost be complete, and one of the next steps will then be bringing in a guy with the ability to coach the newer, upper echelon level of talent this roster will have. Nolan's a developmental guy; he taught hard-work and brought accountability to the locker-room. Now Murray will bring in someone who knows how to take that hard-work and transform that into success.

And honestly - what Sabres fan out there thought to themselves when Nolan was hired "Oh man - NOW this team gets back to playoff caliber." Nolan was hired to be fired. No animosity, it just is what it is.
- Poopspawn

thx, your dudeness...and this is well stated...


now the question, should Nolan be out the door...who is the coach to "take that hard work and transform it into success"...minus babcock

luke Richardson?...or as john vogl wants, wayne gretzky?

thx, your dudeness...and this is well stated...


now the question, should Nolan be out the door...who is the coach to "take that hard work and transform it into success"...minus babcock

luke Richardson?...or as john vogl wants, wayne gretzky?
- Michael Pachla

Firehose Pachla dousing us all in quality.

Next coach = Jeff Blashill.

Do something Murray!!!

Elliotte Friedman retweeted
Chris Johnston ‏@reporterchris 3m3 minutes ago
The #flames have claimed David Schlemko off waivers from Arizona.

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 2m2 minutes ago
TOR claims Erixon

Elliotte Friedman ‏@FriedgeHNIC 1m1 minute ago
On waivers: Cunningham (BOS) Aulie (EDM) Carey (COL) McGinn (SJ) Bourque (ANA)

What more of a position could he have been given? He was terrible when given an opportunity and then was terrible when told he had to earn it. This was the guy that was shocked when he was (mercifully) put into the press box. Clearly doesn't get it and never will. Three coaches have said he is pretty much uncoachable and does what he wants. But hey, he gets some PP point every now and then....
- Slump Buster

yeah, i'm with you...if anyone can get through, they'll have a pretty good player on their hands...

he does have two goals in his last two games

Firehose Pachla dousing us all in quality.

Next coach = Jeff Blashill.

Do something Murray!!!
- Der Kaiser

I know nuthink!

thx, your dudeness...and this is well stated...


now the question, should Nolan be out the door...who is the coach to "take that hard work and transform it into success"...minus babcock

luke Richardson?...or as john vogl wants, wayne gretzky?
- Michael Pachla

McEichel makes Gretzky expendable

But, in seriousness, I would pass

McEichel makes Gretzky expendable

But, in seriousness, I would pass
- EnrothWeTrust

that was vogl...am a big fan of his writing and overall work, but not so sure on that one

that was vogl...am a big fan of his writing and overall work, but not so sure on that one
- Michael Pachla

I can admit to being surprised that he suggested it. I feel as though the hire would be Nolan 2.0, no matter how you look at Ted Nolan's time here.

Boston to keep quite about trade? So GMTM can flip Neuvirth for highest pick possible Stewart, Weber for Suppan +

What more of a position could he have been given? He was terrible when given an opportunity and then was terrible when told he had to earn it. This was the guy that was shocked when he was (mercifully) put into the press box. Clearly doesn't get it and never will. Three coaches have said he is pretty much uncoachable and does what he wants. But hey, he gets some PP point every now and then....
- Slump Buster

I like most have soured on Hodgson but he hasn't been in a position to succeed here.

He's a guy bad teams will have in their top 6. Like a Sam Gagner.

This year is an anomaly for him. He's a 15-20 goal defensive liability. Not a 5 goal healthy scratch

Boston to keep quite about trade? So GMTM can flip Neuvirth for highest pick possible Stewart, Weber for Suppan +
- Olaffub101

welcome...

Will let everyone know if there is any deals very soon.
Nolan and Cassidy will be gone at end of year.
Ted Nolan is a laughing joke in the NHL for being a head coach. That is factual.he has no system,he openly criticizes the general manager,he doesn't look at one bit of hockey videos. He is considered a joke
Did anyone see Eichel chug a beer and say here I come Buffalo?

yeah, i'm with you...if anyone can get through, they'll have a pretty good player on their hands...

he does have two goals in his last two games
- Michael Pachla

Buyout....errr... sell high!

thx, your dudeness...and this is well stated...


now the question, should Nolan be out the door...who is the coach to "take that hard work and transform it into success"...minus babcock

luke Richardson?...or as john vogl wants, wayne gretzky?
- Michael Pachla

That's a tough one to answer, as there's so many levels of professional and developmental hockey across North American, that you never know who Murray has in mind. Ultimately, I'm just going to trust that Murray is going to make the right decision. It wouldn't surprise me if he's been doing his research and making phone calls since before the season even began.

To the point of Gretzky though - I read that article this morning, and I don't think Vogl raised a single decent point to lobby bringing Gretzky in. I'm seriously weary about bringing anyone in based on their playing career alone, and while some players in Phoenix did well under him, I don't think his coaching resume is impressive enough to warrant sending mega-cash on someone the entire city is relying on to make this franchise the premier- club in the league. To me, it sounds like Vogl just wants the prestige of being able to say Gretzky and Buffalo in the same breath.

Will let everyone gone know if there is any deals very soon.
Nolan and Cassidy will be gone at end of year.
Did anyone see Eichel chug a beer and say here I come Buffalo?
- Buffalo39

thx, b-39'er

Will let everyone gone know if there is any deals very soon.
Nolan and Cassidy will be gone at end of year.
Did anyone see Eichel chug a beer and say here I come Buffalo?
- Buffalo39

Me like, any ideas on replacements? and on the trade front any surprise names?

That's a tough one to answer, as there's so many levels of professional and developmental hockey across North American, that you never know who Murray has in mind. To the point of Gretzky though - I read that article this morning, and I don't think Vogl raised a single decent point to lobby bringing Gretzky in. I'm seriously weary about bringing anyone in based on their playing career alone, and while some players in Phoenix did well under him, I don't think his coaching resume is impressive enough to warrant sending mega-cash on someone the entire city is relying on to make this franchise the premier- club in the league. To me, it sounds like Vogl just wants the prestige of being able to say Gretzky and Buffalo in the same breath.
- Poopspawn

word is that murray really likes luke Richardson who's contract is up at the end of this season...but he's never coached in the nhl and his teams have gotten bounced in the first round the last two seasons

word is that murray really likes luke Richardson who's contract is up at the end of this season...but he's never coached in the nhl and his teams have gotten bounced in the first round the last two seasons
- Michael Pachla

We all hear luke richardson,which again would be a mistake. Don't be surprised if they make a huge offer to Babcock or bylsma

I like most have soured on Hodgson but he hasn't been in a position to succeed here.

He's a guy bad teams will have in their top 6. Like a Sam Gagner.

This year is an anomaly for him. He's a 15-20 goal defensive liability. Not a 5 goal healthy scratch
- sbroads24

Girgs started on the 4th line this year playing ten minutes a night. There was nothing but opportunity on this team as there was very little talent.

Also, we (rightfully) killed Larsson when he complained about playing time/linemates.

Girgs started on the 4th line this year playing ten minutes a night. There was nothing but opportunity on this team as there was very little talent.

Also, we (rightfully) killed Larsson when he complained about playing time/linemates.
- Slump Buster

Co-Ho hasn't said a word publicly about his playing time or line mates...

Look he has had an AWFUL season but to say he has 1 foot in his NHL grave is a bit over board. Now if next season he does the same then I will agree

Co-Ho hasn't said a word publicly about his playing time or line mates...

Look he has had an AWFUL season but to say he has 1 foot in his NHL grave is a bit over board. Now if next season he does the same then I will agree
- Stripes77

The Patrick sharp story is 100% true. If I was murray,I would make a huge play for patrick kane. Kane and keith ,how can they continue to play there.