im guessing this is more of a joke right? Because we will have a Sabres rep at the drawing. along with the other 29 teams reps.
- Smittyx36

The lottery happens behind closed doors no?

But yes it was a joke

I'm confused how some think we wont see a drastic change next year.
Just look at what will be added. McEichel, Kane, Pysyk, Reihnart "possibly". Then add in some good depth signings for D and possibly a trade for another top 6 winger.

ANDDDDDDDD a REAL NHL coach! I mean call me optimistic but I see us performing at the level the panters did this season.

The lottery happens behind closed doors no?

But yes it was a joke
- Stripes77

Yes but each team has a rep at it. So i highly doubt they actually try and rig it. If they do though I hope it doesn't go to the Devils, Leafs, Bruins, Hurricanes, or LA.

I think he got fired for one reason only and that is by not directly working on the same page as Murray. Let's face it. If they lost out on McEichel Murray would have looked like the biggest ass in the league.
- Pairo11

I think this is true but I think it has more to do with the way things actually operated than in the results that may or may not have been acheived.

Teddy wanted a say in who got callups. Murray didn't feel that was the way the responsibilities should be split.

Murray wanted more uniform and visible progress across the board from the young players. Teddy wanted to win now.

They just weren't on the same page. It's over. Let's move forward.

I think this is true but I think it has more to do with the way things actually operated than in the results that may or may not have been acheived.

Teddy wanted a say in who got callups. Murray didn't feel that was the way the responsibilities should be split.

Murray wanted more uniform and visible progress across the board from the young players. Teddy wanted to win now.

They just weren't on the same page. It's over. Let's move forward.
- Der Kaiser

What was his record before the great backup-goaltender purge of 2015?? There was no winning on this team other than one small run

I'm confused how some think we wont see a drastic change next year.
Just look at what will be added. McEichel, Kane, Pysyk, Reihnart "possibly". Then add in some good depth signings for D and possibly a trade for another top 6 winger.

ANDDDDDDDD a REAL NHL coach! I mean call me optimistic but I see us performing at the level the panters did this season.
- Smittyx36

I think that is even too high, that is a 40 point swing. I expect 70-75 points next year. The year after another 15-20 point increase to get us to 90-95 or so.

15-20 points a year at this puts them:

Year 1 - 69-74
Year 2 - 89 - 95
Year 3 - 100+

That is if all goes right. Year 2 could possibly be a bigger jump depending on what happens. but it wont be an overnight thing.

I think that is even too high, that is a 40 point swing. I expect 70-75 points next year. The year after another 15-20 point increase to get us to 90-95 or so.

15-20 points a year at this puts them:

Year 1 - 69-74
Year 2 - 89 - 95
Year 3 - 100+

That is if all goes right. Year 2 could possibly be a bigger jump depending on what happens. but it wont be an overnight thing.
- ImThatGuy

Its just very difficult to predict. I mean look at Colorado. They drafted mack and boom they were amazing last season. Not saying that could happen to us but it isn't crazy to think we make a 40 point swing when over half the roster will be different than what we ended with

What was his record before the great backup-goaltender purge of 2015?? There was no winning on this team other than one small run
- stashu

Correct, and it was by design.

Dave Tippett told his team to try and treat the last few games as playoff games. He and Maloney weren't on the same page, but Tippett still has a job.

Murray wants his own guy, and that's 100% fine. But to act like there isn't a degree of shadiness in this whole ordeal is kind of ridiculous IMO

Correct, and it was by design.

Dave Tippett told his team to try and treat the last few games as playoff games. He and Maloney weren't on the same page, but Tippett still has a job.

Murray wants his own guy, and that's 100% fine. But to act like there isn't a degree of shadiness in this whole ordeal is kind of ridiculous IMO
- sbroads24

I flat out just don't care. I didn't want Nolan here from the beginning, thought it was more of a PR move than anything. There was a reason he was never a coach after the Islanders.

He is no longer here, they are going to bring in (Hopefully) an actual NHL coach who has a system, and his hockey vocabulary has more words than "Compete, and effort"

Correct, and it was by design.

Dave Tippett told his team to try and treat the last few games as playoff games. He and Maloney weren't on the same page, but Tippett still has a job.

Murray wants his own guy, and that's 100% fine. But to act like there isn't a degree of shadiness in this whole ordeal is kind of ridiculous IMO
- sbroads24

Who's acting that way though? Only if you believe the public comments regarding the firing is anything remotely "shady" - and believing the public comments of a GM who designed his team to lose and "passing the blame" on to the coach is pretty naive, IMO.

I flat out just don't care. I didn't want Nolan here from the beginning, thought it was more of a PR move than anything. There was a reason he was never a coach after the Islanders.

He is no longer here, they are going to bring in (Hopefully) an actual NHL coach who has a system, and his hockey vocabulary has more words than "Compete, and effort"
- ImThatGuy

Same... Fcuk that guy.

Correct, and it was by design.

Dave Tippett told his team to try and treat the last few games as playoff games. He and Maloney weren't on the same page, but Tippett still has a job.

Murray wants his own guy, and that's 100% fine. But to act like there isn't a degree of shadiness in this whole ordeal is kind of ridiculous IMO
- sbroads24

So its shady for a guy to make sure he got a 3 year deal knowing he wouldn't be finishing that contract? So Nolan was shady too then by your standards...

Of course Murray isn't going to come out and throw Nolan under the bus but if you listened to his presser it was very clear Nolan is not a good coach. He kept saying he is a good man, not I think he is a good coach.

There is really a simple answer for any fan of another team that complains Nolan got a bum deal in Buffalo; Would you replace your head coach with him? If the answer is 'No', then their opinion holds no value.

There is really a simple answer for any fan of another team that complains Nolan got a bum deal in Buffalo; Would you replace your head coach with him? If the answer is 'No', then their opinion holds no value.
- Smittyx36

no one wants nolan as their head coach.. the only shady part would be if TM knew nolan was not a good coach and hired him because of that. and i believe that to be true

So its shady for a guy to make sure he got a 3 year deal knowing he wouldn't be finishing that contract? So Nolan was shady too then by your standards...

Of course Murray isn't going to come out and throw Nolan under the bus but if you listened to his presser it was very clear Nolan is not a good coach. He kept saying he is a good man, not I think he is a good coach.
- Stripes77

Nolan's not an idiot...he knew exactly what he was getting into. He was in a win-win situation. A Sabres team that overachieves, he looks like a great coach...the Sabres team that finishes 30th, he got a team of AHLers is an easy excuse (that the media is pumping).

It will be interesting to see if someone picks him up in either NHL (I'm assuming as an assistant) or AHL.

no one wants nolan as their head coach.. the only shady part would be if TM knew nolan was not a good coach and hired him because of that. and i believe that to be true
- IndianaSabresFan

I have a terrible memory, wasn't Nolan Patty's hire?

I have a terrible memory, wasn't Nolan Patty's hire?
- BackSlider

yes

When is locker clean out day ?

Yes but each team has a rep at it. So i highly doubt they actually try and rig it. If they do though I hope it doesn't go to the Devils, Leafs, Bruins, Hurricanes, or LA.
- Smittyx36

Say the lotto balls are rigged (weighted) beforehand. So all the representatives witnessing a drawing that will be predetermined anyways.

I have a terrible memory, wasn't Nolan Patty's hire?
- BackSlider

yes, but i believe murray extended him.

I have a terrible memory, wasn't Nolan Patty's hire?
- BackSlider

Yes, then Murray purposely extended a bad hockey coach in order to lose games. Then fired him the day after he achieved his goal of 30th place. Nothing shady at all

Either way, Nolan is average at best and we can do better

yes, but i believe murray extended him.
- rover16

I think that was just a PR move after Patty left.

Yes, then Murray purposely extended a bad hockey coach in order to lose games. Then fired him the day after he achieved his goal of 30th place. Nothing shady at all

Either way, Nolan is average at best and we can do better
- sbroads24

40-87-17

yes
- cabin

I thought so and after the entire good feelins PR move made when Pat and Ted were brought back into the fold GMTM was not going to completely alienate the fan base by firing the rabidly fan favorite head coach. I'm sure he also knew knowing Nolan's track record of having little hockey sense that he'd be the perfect candidate to guide this team to the bottom of the pit subsequently cushioning the fan blowback once it was time to fire him.

When is locker clean out day ?
- cabin

Didn't it happen yesterday?