Of course. Of course. Listen I love me some Sabres, but my gut is telling me that this will go down as one of the most heartbreaking scenarios in the annals of Buffalo Sports mishaps. Theodore Nolan was not the right man to have in place if the ultimate goal was to finish 30th. I will forever blame Murray for that if this all falls apart. The Sabres, at this point in the season, are one of the hardest working teams in hockey. I can just imagine Theodore Nolan pacing the locker room floor giving an epic Braveheart speech prior to every game and practice. Columbus is hot but due for a stinker of a loss, and the Penguins are currently trash on ice. Pride is a powerful thing and I fear it will lead our beloved Sabres to 3 out of 4 more points.
- puppa on you

I believe the likelihood that the Sabres win the next two games is very small. But if you factor Buffa-luck into the equation it wouldn't be a surprise that 29th happens. Columbus raped TO last night and they are going to want to put on a good show in their last game at home. And as bad as Pitt has been they will be all out if they are fighting to get in the playoffs. Plus AZ needs to lose their last two, which is definitely possible, but just adds to the likelihood that we will prevail.

(frank) the braves
- homiedclown

If that's what you want to do to 25 guys make yourself happy and complete your goals.


It's 2015 and I don't judge.

Buffalo Sabres ‏@BuffaloSabres 4m4 minutes ago
Ennis: We want to play spoiler.. We want to do our best. Guys are fighting for jobs

Very nice write up as per usual Michael. A few random comments....

- 1 in a 100 chance the desert dogs beat the Canucks tonight. The Canucks are playing very well and their goal-tending has been very solid. The Coyotes are playing like a team that is devoid of NHL talent. Of course I hope I am wrong and the Coyotes win.

- Although I am pro-tank and I want to see Nolan gone after the season is done, there is no way in 100-years that Murray could/would or should fire him with 2 games left. That would be a completely classless act.

- Having said the above, I personally have no problem with GMTM having a chat with Nolan today about putting somebody other than Lindback in net for tomorrow night's game - and maybe even the Pittsburgh game. When you are out of the playoffs and running out the season, part of the organization's responsibility (including the coach) is to evaluate players. I think everyone can see what Lindback can do. He has had lots of games to show his stuff and he has performed very well. I think it is GMTM's management responsibility to instruct Nolan to play one of the other goalies to see how they perform at the NHL level. If goalie "x" shuts out Columbus and Pittsburgh back-to-back - that's life. We likely draft 3rd and we move on.

Well now, You had me on your side, until you said this.
- ImThatGuy

it's an ape thing

If that's what you want to do to 25 guys make yourself happy and complete your goals.


It's 2015 and I don't judge.
- dadeadhead

(frank)er

Buffalo Sabres ‏@BuffaloSabres 4m4 minutes ago
Ennis: We want to play spoiler.. We want to do our best. Guys are fighting for jobs
- metzeric

Canned response by everyone not in the playoffs this time of year.

(frank)er
- homiedclown

Not bad for just waking up.

Canned response by everyone not in the playoffs this time of year.
- BackSlider

This!!!
What do you expect him to say? Oh, we are going to lose this game on purpose?!

*sheeeite!*

I knew I forgot something
- Michael Pachla

You did, it is VIMY RIDGE DAY in Canada.

Very nice write up as per usual Michael. A few random comments....

- 1 in a 100 chance the desert dogs beat the Canucks tonight. The Canucks are playing very well and their goal-tending has been very solid. The Coyotes are playing like a team that is devoid of NHL talent. Of course I hope I am wrong and the Coyotes win.

- Although I am pro-tank and I want to see Nolan gone after the season is done, there is no way in 100-years that Murray could/would or should fire him with 2 games left. That would be a completely classless act.

- Having said the above, I personally have no problem with GMTM having a chat with Nolan today about putting somebody other than Lindback in net for tomorrow night's game - and maybe even the Pittsburgh game. When you are out of the playoffs and running out the season, part of the organization's responsibility (including the coach) is to evaluate players. I think everyone can see what Lindback can do. He has had lots of games to show his stuff and he has performed very well. I think it is GMTM's management responsibility to instruct Nolan to play one of the other goalies to see how they perform at the NHL level. If goalie "x" shuts out Columbus and Pittsburgh back-to-back - that's life. We likely draft 3rd and we move on.
- SabreWest

thx, westie...howard simon brought it up...if murray were to instruct Nolan to play player x and the coach scoffs at the idea, which is his contractual right, simon brought up the idea to either fire Nolan or buy him out...

my point was that ted's a players coach and it may backfire...

I may be in the very small minority, but I want to see Nolan back next year...at the tail end of the hoppe piece, matt "friggen" ellis talks about the foundation teddy's laid...I want to see him work on the framing as well

What do you expect him to say?
- Sabresfan88

"Connor McDavid, Mother(frank)er!"

We need to lose tomorrow for the City of Buffalo alone..you think that rink looked bad when we played the yotes?

If It comes down to the last game at home, it will be the ugliest display weve seen in a in buffalo....Do the right thing, lose tomorrow

I have honestly never been a bigger Calgary and Arizona fan in my life today.

We need to lose tomorrow for the City of Buffalo alone..you think that rink looked bad when we played the yotes?

If It comes down to the last game at home, it will be the ugliest display weve seen in a in buffalo....Do the right thing, lose tomorrow
- yen6d1

Or, if the desert dogs win tonight, it will all be over!!!

"Connor McDavid, Mother(frank)er!"
- buffalofan19

I am sure he said that in his mind very loudly!!!

thx, westie...howard simon brought it up...if murray were to instruct Nolan to play player x and the coach scoffs at the idea, which is his contractual right, simon brought up the idea to either fire Nolan or buy him out...

my point was that ted's a players coach and it may backfire...

I may be in the very small minority, but I want to see Nolan back next year...at the tail end of the hoppe piece, matt "friggen" ellis talks about the foundation teddy's laid...I want to see him work on the framing as well
- Michael Pachla

ughhh. its so frustrating. we have 54 points. we have two more points than the pathetic team that finished 30th last year. we consistently (save for the last week) get thoroughly outshot, outchanced, and outplayed- the only thing that kept us from clinching 30th place by MLK day has been the goaltending (regardless of whichever of the six backups that got marched out). instead of having the goalies take warmups they should have been given a cigarette and a blindfold- but here we are. the problem is that the prize for being bad this year is waaay better than last year- so arizona decided to sell off and drop 33 points in the standings. all we can say about nolan at this point is that he apparently knows goalie coaches and how to get borderline nhl talent to circle the wagons enough to finish at the bottom of the league. as a business decision (not even considering that i suspect murray strongly dislikes him) nolan goes. any argument to keep him would be based on sentiment.

ughhh. its so frustrating. we have 54 points. we have two more points than the pathetic team that finished 30th last year. we consistently (save for the last week) get thoroughly outshot, outchanced, and outplayed- the only thing that kept us from clinching 30th place by MLK day has been the goaltending (regardless of whichever of the six backups that got marched out). instead of having the goalies take warmups they should have been given a cigarette and a blindfold- but here we are. the problem is that the prize for being bad this year is waaay better than last year- so arizona decided to sell off and drop 33 points in the standings. all we can say about nolan at this point is that he apparently knows goalie coaches and how to get borderline nhl talent to circle the wagons enough to finish at the bottom of the league. as a business decision (not even considering that i suspect murray strongly dislikes him) nolan goes. any argument to keep him would be based on sentiment.
- rover16

WE IMPROVED!

You're definitely right though. Murray set this team up in the "best" way possible and Nolan or Irbe or someone is making the most out of what he's given. Murray gave him Lemons and he made Whiskey out of it (which I'm pretty sure is near impossible).

WE IMPROVED!

You're definitely right though. Murray set this team up in the "best" way possible and Nolan or Irbe or someone is making the most out of what he's given. Murray gave him Lemons and he made Whiskey out of it (which I'm pretty sure is near impossible).
- thatsapickle

How much less would our points be if Nolan followed the tank route ?

How much less COULD it be ?

ughhh. its so frustrating. we have 54 points. we have two more points than the pathetic team that finished 30th last year. we consistently (save for the last week) get thoroughly outshot, outchanced, and outplayed- the only thing that kept us from clinching 30th place by MLK day has been the goaltending (regardless of whichever of the six backups that got marched out). instead of having the goalies take warmups they should have been given a cigarette and a blindfold- but here we are. the problem is that the prize for being bad this year is waaay better than last year- so arizona decided to sell off and drop 33 points in the standings. all we can say about nolan at this point is that he apparently knows goalie coaches and how to get borderline nhl talent to circle the wagons enough to finish at the bottom of the league. as a business decision (not even considering that i suspect murray strongly dislikes him) nolan goes. any argument to keep him would be based on sentiment.
- rover16

i'm not sentimental at all...i'm trying to keep it as objective as possible...

as outlined in the other comment section, the 29th place team the last few years has finished with around 65 points...this year there will be three teams at 65 points or less with two of them around the mid-50's...

imo, and it's strictly my opinion, if ted Nolan were not on board with the plan, he'd have gotten this group of borderline nhl talent backed by strong goaltending, into the 60-point range...at the very least...in the past it wouldn't have been enough to get to 29th...this year it 61 points gets them to 28th

How much less would our points be if Nolan followed the tank route ?

How much less COULD it be ?
- cabin

I honestly thought we would be worse, points wise, than last year. I figured we would be the one horse race to the bottom, but we are meeting some formidable opponents.

i'm not sentimental at all...i'm trying to keep it as objective as possible...

as outlined in the other comment section, the 29th place team the last few years has finished with around 65 points...this year there will be three teams at 65 points or less with two of them around the mid-50's...

imo, and it's strictly my opinion, if ted Nolan were not on board with the plan, he'd have gotten this group of borderline nhl talent backed by strong goaltending, into the 60-point range...at the very least...in the past it wouldn't have been enough to get to 29th...this year it 61 points gets them to 28th
- Michael Pachla

That is a great point. The whole team has benefited, or maybe not, from stellar goaltending. I listened to the guy from Grantland on Schopp and the Bulldog on my drive home and his point about goaltenders this year is pretty spot on. If these guys are good enough to get into the NHL, they are likely to steal a few games for you. The Sabres have seemed to found the perfect formula for that.

I honestly thought we would be worse, points wise, than last year. I figured we would be the one horse race to the bottom, but we are meeting some formidable opponents.
- thatsapickle

Seems other teams followed our tank model pretty well. Damn Bastages

That is a great point. The whole team has benefited, or maybe not, from stellar goaltending. I listened to the guy from Grantland on Schopp and the Bulldog on my drive home and his point about goaltenders this year is pretty spot on. If these guys are good enough to get into the NHL, they are likely to steal a few games for you. The Sabres have seemed to found the perfect formula for that.
- thatsapickle

it's been a strange friggen year...enough to drive us all crazy

Seems other teams followed our tank model pretty well. Damn Bastages
- cabin

Thankfully they committed much later, otherwise I think we would be looking at Toronto sitting well out in front.