Michael Pachla: Of captains, goalies and the coaching search in Buffalo

Actually it was 1990 when Mess lead the Oil to the cup without Wayne.

As for the rest of the blog, to damn long, didn't read it. I'm sure it was passable though, so keep up the average work!

Actually it was 1990 when Mess lead the Oil to the cup without Wayne.

As for the rest of the blog, to damn long, didn't read it. I'm sure it was passable though, so keep up the average work!
- Larsson_fan

thx

That's a quality post there Larson fan - top shelf!

That's a quality post there Larson fan - top shelf!
- Aussiepenguin

Well I think it's important to keep these bloggers spirits up. There is a shortage of amateur journalists on the internet, don't want any of them quitting on us.

thx
- Michael Pachla

What a cruster right?

Rick Tocchet sounds good to me. Jack bullied Bylsma last season - he won't bully Rick.

ROR should be the Captain

Not sure if you would say the Sens are 'starless'??

What's that guys name on D? I think he was spoken about for 1 of those end of year thingies for the best of the best??????

From a Buffalo prospective, do you find it odd that Botterill has jumped ship mid way through the playoffs? Would you guys think it was appropriate if it was the other way? ( yes yes purely hypothetical because you guys aren't playing..oh don't worry about it!!)

Not sure if you would say the Sens are 'starless'??

What's that guys name on D? I think he was spoken about for 1 of those end of year thingies for the best of the best??????

From a Buffalo prospective, do you find it odd that Botterill has jumped ship mid way through the playoffs? Would you guys think it was appropriate if it was the other way? ( yes yes purely hypothetical because you guys aren't playing..oh don't worry about it!!)
- Aussiepenguin

good point...that "what's his name" is a pretty good at playing the hockey

Well I think it's important to keep these bloggers spirits up. There is a shortage of amateur journalists on the internet, don't want any of them quitting on us.
- Larsson_fan

Your unwavering support for them is admirable. I support your quest to make amateur bloggers great again.

good point...that "what's his name" is a pretty good at playing the hockey
- Michael Pachla

As a non Sens fan, I'm told he hockey's excellently!

Ralph Krueger is out ..... he's already declined a discussion with two teams (Florida and Buffalo).

Thanks, they need all the love they can get.

Ralph Krueger is out ..... he's already declined a discussion with two teams (Florida and Buffalo).
- fastek

He's making mad bank in the Soccer biz. He's pretty much done as a hockey coach. Kinda sad though, he might be one of the best to never get a fair shot in the NHL.

Michael, Contrary to what some no name thinks keep up the great work always look forward to reading your stuff.

I wouldn't mind if we had other good defensive centers
However, we don't
Larsson & Girgensons are both ok,
But not up against top lines from other teams

It just doesn't make any sense to move O'Reilly to wing
None
- jdfitz77

you may disagree with it and it may not be the optimal strategy in your eyes but saying there's absolutely no reason to move a guy who's best career season came on the wing to the wing sounds ridiculous .

Not really
If you're telling O'Reilly to take faceoffs & to take the center position's defensive zone responsibilities, then you're really having him play center
And moving Jack to the wing
- jdfitz77

no because in the o-zone he'd still be the #1 offensive option. everything would run through him.

Michael, Contrary to what some no name thinks keep up the great work always look forward to reading your stuff.
- gordong

I actually like Pachla. I'm just giving him a friendly ribbing. He can take it, he has thick skin, unlike some of his readership. As far as HB goes, Pachla is one of the best...for whatever that's worth.

He's making mad bank in the Soccer biz. He's pretty much done as a hockey coach. Kinda sad though, he might be one of the best to never get a fair shot in the NHL.
- Larsson_fan

never thought much of his work in Edmonton that one year...was there anything I missed being in the east?

Michael, Contrary to what some no name thinks keep up the great work always look forward to reading your stuff.
- gordong

thx, gordo

I actually like Pachla. I'm just giving him a friendly ribbing. He can take it, he has thick skin, unlike some of his readership. As far as HB goes, Pachla is one of the best...for whatever that's worth.
- Larsson_fan

appreciate that, lars (I think?)

never thought much of his work in Edmonton that one year...was there anything I missed being in the east?
- Michael Pachla

Well that team was complete and total garbage. Similar to the 2015-16 Sabres ....but he we picked 7th or 8th that year and for about 3 days in the short season we were in a playoff spot.
Several players had career years under Kruger, most notably Yakupov and I think Schultz ( prorated of course).
He was more of a special teams master than anything, but the players liked and respected him.
He also had that memorable run coaching Austria or some poop in the Olympics where his sad sack team gave everyone fits.
Unfortunately some his greatness is exaggerated here in Edmonton because his successor was possibly the worst pile of poop to con his way through an interview and into an NHL head coaching gig.
Dallas Eakins.
Sabres should hire him.

Not really
If you're telling O'Reilly to take faceoffs & to take the center position's defensive zone responsibilities, then you're really having him play center
And moving Jack to the wing
- jdfitz77

O-zone FOs wouldn't matter too much. Nobody stays in their positions for very long, it would be pretty easy to draw up a shift. But you'd have to switch it up a little every once in a while lest it be used against you in that second or two the shift takes place.

As for neutral zone of d-zone it would be a little different, but for simplicities sake, and we all saw what happens when you try and be complex it's easier just to leave Jack at center since he can do so much more damage there than on the wing, and just have ROR come on to take big draws in which they're usually on the ice together anyway with Jack on the point, or his wing.

appreciate that, lars (I think?)
- Michael Pachla

Well if we're calling a spade a spade being the best among Garth , Tanner, Peng and Hendo is kinda like winning Gold in the special Olympics while
Not being even slightly disabled.

Not sure if you would say the Sens are 'starless'??

What's that guys name on D? I think he was spoken about for 1 of those end of year thingies for the best of the best??????

From a Buffalo prospective, do you find it odd that Botterill has jumped ship mid way through the playoffs? Would you guys think it was appropriate if it was the other way? ( yes yes purely hypothetical because you guys aren't playing..oh don't worry about it!!)
- Aussiepenguin

To seriously answer your question. What's a GM/AGM's job right now as a playoff team? To get his team ready for next year, draft, looking at FAs, dealing with expansion. And if you know you're going to be leaving for another team what's the difference if it's now, or in 6 weeks(from hire date)?

I think had expansion not been this year we'd have gone until the end of the Pens run, but with the time crunch and so much to accomplish in so little a time it was necessary to be a bit unorthodox, and Pittsburgh let him go too, so it's not like he stole away in the middle of the night like Art Modell.

Well that team was complete and total garbage. Similar to the 2015-16 Sabres ....but he we picked 7th or 8th that year and for about 3 days in the short season we were in a playoff spot.
Several players had career years under Kruger, most notably Yakupov and I think Schultz ( prorated of course).
He was more of a special teams master than anything, but the players liked and respected him.
He also had that memorable run coaching Austria or some poop in the Olympics where his sad sack team gave everyone fits.
Unfortunately some his greatness is exaggerated here in Edmonton because his successor was possibly the worst pile of poop to con his way through an interview and into an NHL head coaching gig.
Dallas Eakins.
Sabres should hire him.

- Larsson_fan

thx for the insight