Me too... I'm sorry but when your coach is engaged in the game the players perform differently. Phil never looks like he is awake.

I can remember back in the day when Rick Dudley was our coach, He would get so pi$$ed off he would literally bite the clip board.

Lindy would literally lose his mind sometimes and the players would respond.

I want to play for coaches like that....Not a coach who looks like he wants to hand our orange slices and juice boxes all the time.. that may be harsh but it is the way I feel.

now with that said, i am not in the locker rooms after the periods and games are over but something tells me when Phil gets mad people are NOT listening.
- hehateme

and cut off the edges of their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

My breaking point with Phail was last season during the game against Minnesota in Minnesota. We were down 3-0 in the first 5 minutes of the game and risto dropped koivu coming over the blue line with his head down. There was no initial penalty called, they went to a commercial break and helped koivu off the ice. Then they gave risto a 5 minute major for interference and ejected him. I’m sitting 15 rows up right behind the bench and housley didn’t do a thing, just kept chomping his gum. I was losing my mind. If that were lindy he would have gone absolutely ballistic, I would have expected him to get ejected as well. (frank) him (housley)
- TheHank

Phail 😂

That's classic

I like Lindy (like every good Buffalonian). I'm not sure he would be the guy you remember though. When he took the job in Dallas, he acknowledged that the game has changed, and he couldn't be so hard on players anymore. I'm sure age has cooled him off a bit, too. I get your point though. Bylsma was passive, and Housley is a too. I have to think Housley's job is safe this year, right or wrong. It would be the 3rd coach fired after his second year.
- jcragcrumple

Excellent points

Phail 😂

That's classic
- Powerslave

maybe they should have kept Nolan around for another year or two, depending upon results...what he lacked in "x's and o's" he more than made up for in motivating his players to play like a team and leave it all on the ice...Bylsma may have had his system and Housley may know how to activate the defense, but after four years, what do they have to show for all that knowledge?
- Michael Pachla

I disagree. Bylsma was the wrong coach to follow that up, but the game had obviously passed Teddy by. I was honestly a little embarrassed by the Teddy hiring and very ready to see him leave. Bylsma for all of his failings at least gave Eichel a sense of structure. Teddy just told Girgs to fly at the net as fast as he could

First team ever to finish 31st. That’s something.
- TheHank

sorry...epic Phail on my part

sorry...epic Phail on my part
- Michael Pachla

maybe they should have kept Nolan around for another year or two, depending upon results...what he lacked in "x's and o's" he more than made up for in motivating his players to play like a team and leave it all on the ice...Bylsma may have had his system and Housley may know how to activate the defense, but after four years, what do they have to show for all that knowledge?
- Michael Pachla

He certainly excelled at motivating his players.
Absolutely no doubt about that.
He normally seemed to know which buttons to push with each player.

I like Lindy (like every good Buffalonian). I'm not sure he would be the guy you remember though. When he took the job in Dallas, he acknowledged that the game has changed, and he couldn't be so hard on players anymore. I'm sure age has cooled him off a bit, too. I get your point though. Bylsma was passive, and Housley is a too. I have to think Housley's job is safe this year, right or wrong. It would be the 3rd coach fired after his second year.
- jcragcrumple

I don't know, Torts is still a raving lunatic.

I disagree. Bylsma was the wrong coach to follow that up, but the game had obviously passed Teddy by. I was honestly a little embarrassed by the Teddy hiring and very ready to see him leave. Bylsma for all of his failings at least gave Eichel a sense of structure. Teddy just told Girgs to fly at the net as fast as he could
- jcragcrumple

just look what murray had to do in order to finish in last place...he gutted everything and they still barely made it...

am of the opinion that the internal problems the sabres had in 2016-17 wouldn't have happened with Nolan as coach...am interested in what others might think

I don't know, Torts is still a raving lunatic.
- Wetbandit1

This is 100% factual.

My favorite tirade of his was "Brooksie"

Teddy part deux killed my enthusiasm for rehashing exes
- jcragcrumple

In his defense...he had a team of absolute nobodies threatening to ruin the tank. They were competitive on most nights.

He certainly excelled at motivating his players.
Absolutely no doubt about that.
He normally seemed to know which buttons to push with each player.
- Over50

winning solves a lot of problems...not saying he would have been a Stanley cup coach for buffalo, but just engraining a work ethic in those young players and how to play as a team and stick up for each other...that's basic stuff we haven't seen from this team in years, outside of the his time behind the bench

and cut off the edges of their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Michael Pachla

see you get me... You don't get the cup by participating, you get the cup by Dominating.

see you get me... You don't get the cup by participating, you get the cup by Dominating.
- hehateme

phil has strong maternal instincts

phil has strong maternal instincts
- Michael Pachla

Well its time to take the players off the Nipple then.

just look what murray had to do in order to finish in last place...he gutted everything and they still barely made it...

am of the opinion that the internal problems the sabres had in 2016-17 wouldn't have happened with Nolan as coach...am interested in what others might think
- Michael Pachla

I liked Teddy as a person and as a coach.
Some qualities that you just can't teach but rather, you are born with them.
And Teddy has those in spades.
His teams always over perfomed in my opinion.

What he lacked in certain areas he over came with others.

There is something to be said for that.

Coupled with an excellent X's and O's guy, he wouldn't bother me one bit coaching this team.

Just my 2 cents is all.

winning solves a lot of problems...not saying he would have been a Stanley cup coach for buffalo, but just engraining a work ethic in those young players and how to play as a team and stick up for each other...that's basic stuff we haven't seen from this team in years, outside of the his time behind the bench
- Michael Pachla

I agree Michael, well said.

Are the Sabres "showcasing " okposo for a trade?

Okposo and our 4 (1st) round picks over the next 2 years to Arizona for a 7th
- Boss34

They should’ve been playing Okposo with Jack ALL YEAR for that very reason

Sheary-Eichel-Okposo
Skinner-Mittelstadt-Pominville
Smith-Rodrigues-Reinhart

At least it's interesting, so, good job?
- jcragcrumple

Finally...

This actually gives us a chance at having 3 lines that can score
Hopefully they keep it like this for more than a period

just look what murray had to do in order to finish in last place...he gutted everything and they still barely made it...

am of the opinion that the internal problems the sabres had in 2016-17 wouldn't have happened with Nolan as coach...am interested in what others might think
- Michael Pachla

Regier had started the firesale before Murray, but for sure Murray sold off some hot goalies when they started getting in the way. Other than Girgensons, he didn't bring out the best in any players, really. Risto didn't see any progression, nor Zadorov. His motivation worked for Foligno and Girgensons because he identified with them, and gave them good roles. I highly doubt he would have gotten better results than Bylsma. Certainly not playoffs imo. And the lack of structure would have hurt Eichel and Reinhart imo. We probably would have gotten more goals a year from Girgensons and Foligno, but Teddy did still finish in last, after all

Larry Brooks
‏ @NYP_Brooksie
9m9 minutes ago

Panthers interested in dealing for Bobrovsky as prelude to enticing him to sign what would be an 8-year extension. Brassard would likely be part of package going to Columbus in return, we're told.
- mattmoulson

I want no part of Brassard
*unless we basically get him for free

Regier had started the firesale before Murray, but for sure Murray sold off some hot goalies when they started getting in the way. Other than Girgensons, he didn't bring out the best in any players, really. Risto didn't see any progression, nor Zadorov. His motivation worked for Foligno and Girgensons because he identified with them, and gave them good roles. I highly doubt he would have gotten better results than Bylsma. Certainly not playoffs imo. And the lack of structure would have hurt Eichel and Reinhart imo. We probably would have gotten more goals a year from Girgensons and Foligno, but Teddy did still finish in last, after all
- jcragcrumple

just curious, why does Eichel need structure?

Botterill Acquisitions in trade:

Bowl - U (-)
Scandella (-)
Pominville (0)
Sobodka (-)
Berglund (-)
Thompson (UNK)
Sheary (0)
Hunwick (-)
O'Reagan (UNK)
Wilson (-)
Skinner(+)
2 1st rd picks (UNK)

6 - players
1 + player
2 neutral (just ok players)
4 Unknowns

not a great start, hopefully it gets better.
- ImThatGuy

Very fair assessment

phil has strong maternal instincts
- Michael Pachla

i dont mind keeping Phail as the D coach.. just can we demote him or something..