He's mf'ing me right now...


- grand-magus

Have some sympathy for the Leaf fans. It's tough when you keep on getting rejected by everyone and your captain plus top line winger want out. I guess the self-proclaimed "centre of the universe" is turning into a black hole.......

- SabreWest

Morning everyone. I trust the trolls had their fun yesterday lol.

Anyway, my view on this is that I see this as a good thing Babcock didn't come here. He basically wanted money and control and Pegula did the right thing here, in the end. Get mad and then get over it, time to move on.

My two cents on who the next coach should be is they should either get Guy Boucher or Paul MacLean. They both had good tenures in their first HC jobs and seemingly worked well with young players. I'm not crazy about Richardson as HC but I could see a scenario where he could be be one of MacLean's assistant coaches. I've also liked Kevin Dineen. If TM hires Richardson, it would be a mistake. Get an experienced guy back there. My choice would be MacLean. I love his stash lol.

Morning everyone. I trust the trolls had their fun yesterday lol.

Anyway, my view on this is that I see this as a good thing Babcock didn't come here. He basically wanted money and control and Pegula did the right thing here, in the end. Get mad and then get over it, time to move on.

My two cents on who the next coach should be is they should either get Guy Boucher or Paul MacLean. They both had good tenures in their first HC jobs and seemingly worked well with young players. I'm not crazy about Richardson as HC but I could see a scenario where he could be be one of MacLean's assistant coaches. I've also liked Kevin Dineen. If TM hires Richardson, it would be a mistake. Get an experienced guy back there. My choice would be MacLean. I love his stash lol.
- mhp

I mentioned him yesterday. I don't think he really got a fair shake in Florida and I liked what he was able to do with the kids in the AHL. He's obviously capable of handling and developing young talent. He may even have some sort of previous working relationship with Murray from Murray's Duck days.

FWIW...

was at 716 last night after my game. hanging out at the bar. enjoying a cold beverage after a stinging defeat at the hands of Blades of Steel.

Looked over my shoulder and who do i see sitting at the table- Kevin Devine and a few other Sabre brass (no one higher on the totem pole than Devine). Sleeves rolled up, ties loosened, also enjoying some cold beverages.

So I lean over and share with a teammate who it is. He being of the bold variety immediately orders the table a round of drinks, then proceeds to ask Devine "what happen today???".

Devine without missing a beat says- "Wife never wanted to come to Buffalo". Wouldnt share anymore or elaborate and may have been totally BS-ing us- but and interesting exchange that i figured id share...

You would have to assume he's very loyal to their organization.

I wonder if he's on TM's radar. Can he even be approached by another team? I don't know how things work with him still being in the minors. A contract is a contract.
- Pairo11

Blashill is under contract and they will not give him permission to speak to other teams. Four teams requested and were turned down. They previously gave him a big raise.

I mentioned him yesterday. I don't think he really got a fair shake in Florida and I liked what he was able to do with the kids in the AHL. He's obviously capable of handling and developing young talent. He may even have some sort of previous working relationship with Murray from Murray's Duck days.
- HonkFortheGoose

Always liked him, even as a player.

Any way you slice it (for the most part), we should get a good coach when it's all said and done.

It's done and over with. Can we move on now?
- HonkFortheGoose

Ideally. But you know people's butthurt will go on until we have another definitive coach to talk about.

I mentioned him yesterday. I don't think he really got a fair shake in Florida and I liked what he was able to do with the kids in the AHL. He's obviously capable of handling and developing young talent. He may even have some sort of previous working relationship with Murray from Murray's Duck days.
- HonkFortheGoose

I'm not aware that Dineen was ever in the Anaheim org. I always thought he did a decent job in both Portland and Florida. Doubtful the Sabres will consider him. I wouldn't mind Tony Granato getting an interview as well. Not sure how he fits in Detroit atm.

Always liked him, even as a player.

Any way you slice it (for the most part), we should get a good coach when it's all said and done.
- grand-magus

Honestly, we have a guy very much like that already in the organization as well. I thought Cunneyworth did a great job developing guys in Rochester for years. He got the short end of the stick in Montreal, IMO.

I'm not aware that Dineen was ever in the Anaheim org. I always thought he did a decent job in both Portland and Florida. Doubtful the Sabres will consider him. I wouldn't mind Tony Granato getting an interview as well. Not sure how he fits in Detroit atm.
- mhp

Dineen was the coach in Portland even when Portland was Anaheim's farm club. When the Sabres took over the affiliation, they retained Dineen because they liked what he'd done there.

FWIW...

was at 716 last night after my game. hanging out at the bar. enjoying a cold beverage after a stinging defeat at the hands of Blades of Steel.

Looked over my shoulder and who do i see sitting at the table- Kevin Devine and a few other Sabre brass (no one higher on the totem pole than Devine). Sleeves rolled up, ties loosened, also enjoying some cold beverages.

So I lean over and share with a teammate who it is. He being of the bold variety immediately orders the table a round of drinks, then proceeds to ask Devine "what happen today???".

Devine without missing a beat says- "Wife never wanted to come to Buffalo". Wouldnt share anymore or elaborate and may have been totally BS-ing us- but and interesting exchange that i figured id share...
- battelmt

Grain of salt information, hell, he could have heard the wife rumors and just played you as well... but it was a reported factor in negotiations and quoted by Babcock himself. Cool none the less, I'd buy a round to get 10 minutes with Devine.

Honestly, we have a guy very much like that already in the organization as well. I thought Cunneyworth did a great job developing guys in Rochester for years. He got the short end of the stick in Montreal, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Yes, agreed. Would be shocked if he didn't at least get an interview.

Honestly, we have a guy very much like that already in the organization as well. I thought Cunneyworth did a great job developing guys in Rochester for years. He got the short end of the stick in Montreal, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Not that I am dismissing either one as a candidate, but being a "good developer of young talent" may not even be half the battle when it comes to being a good NHL coach. In fact, I'm not sure I want my head coach doing much of the developing. I want him gameplanning, and making good decisions that put my team in the best position to win. The best coaching staffs seem to have coaches that do that, and have assistant coaches that do the "developing".

Grain of salt information, hell, he could have heard the wife rumors and just played you as well... but it was a reported factor in negotiations and quoted by Babcock himself. Cool none the less, I'd buy a round to get 10 minutes with Devine.
- TheSabresTaco

I was afraid when they hired Murray that Devine would end up getting let go. Guys usually want to just bring in their own people. Murray must have really liked what Devine had done in the last few drafts.

Dineen was the coach in Portland even when Portland was Anaheim's farm club. When the Sabres took over the affiliation, they retained Dineen because they liked what he'd done there.
- HonkFortheGoose

Dineen did great things with that no name Florida team a few years back. Now that he's got some more experience being on the bench in Chicago, I'd definitely request an interview when Chicago finishes up.

My top three candidates in order would be MacLean, Dineen, & Cunneyworth for all the reasons everyone has mentioned.

I think any of those three would do a very good job here.

Honestly, we have a guy very much like that already in the organization as well. I thought Cunneyworth did a great job developing guys in Rochester for years. He got the short end of the stick in Montreal, IMO.
- HonkFortheGoose

Cunneyworth should be be named the HC in Rochester. No brainer.

Not that I am dismissing either one as a candidate, but being a "good developer of young talent" may not even be half the battle when it comes to being a good NHL coach. In fact, I'm not sure I want my head coach doing much of the developing. I want him gameplanning, and making good decisions that put my team in the best position to win. The best coaching staffs seem to have coaches that do that, and have assistant coaches that do the "developing".
- buffalofan19

I think that's just one aspect, and being that we have a young team right now, I think the head coach should have some sort of knowledge of how to best develop these guys. In the end, you are correct in that the assistants should be the ones doing most of that, but the HC needs to know about it as well, IMO.

Besides, nobody is saying either of these guys need to be the long term answer, but I think for the next 2 to 3 years or so they would be a good option. Both had probably just as much/if not more success at the AHL level thank Richardson, so if Richardson is a candidate, I think they should be as well.

I was afraid when they hired Murray that Devine would end up getting let go. Guys usually want to just bring in their own people. Murray must have really liked what Devine had done in the last few drafts.
- HonkFortheGoose

There's still a few scouts and some higher ups I wish they would have taken an axe to, but one guy I was really pulling for was Devine. Apparently he wasn't too keen on the AGM job and chose to be demoted to DPP, which is basically the guy who feeds the AGM and GM with information. I think he has a pretty impressive resume and I was thrilled that Murray kept him around.

Dineen did great things with that no name Florida team a few years back. Now that he's got some more experience being on the bench in Chicago, I'd definitely request an interview when Chicago finishes up.
- TheSabresTaco

Working with Quenneville has to have helped in some ways. Honestly, put Quenneville and Babcock in front of me and ask which I'd rather, I'd say Quenneville. I think he's done a fantastic job in Chicago. There's a lot of big personalities/egos in that locker room. Takes a good coach to balance them all out the way he has.

Cunneyworth should be be named the HC in Rochester. No brainer.
- mhp

Cunney to me hasn't proved anything to me about whether he deserves a shot at NHL HC, but for Rochester, I totally agree, it's a no brainer he should be a leading candidate.

My top three candidates in order would be MacLean, Dineen, & Cunneyworth for all the reasons everyone has mentioned.

I think any of those three would do a very good job here.
- kingcong39

McLean would be horrible choice IMO, he looked completely lost before getting fired by the Sens. They need a bigger name coach and not another has been.

MacLean's history with Murray and as Ottawa's HC there would be the likely choice imo. He could also bring in Richardson as an assistant. After the Babcock debacle, Murray will want to hire people he knows well and trusts. I'd be fine with this.

Wasn't MacLean a Jack Adams winner a few years ago?

Cunneyworth should be be named the HC in Rochester. No brainer.
- mhp

The Rochester job won't be figured out until the Buffalo one is. So it'll be a while before we hear anything about that.