I agree that maybe Nolan could have gotten the same results as Bylsma, but I do think it would have imparted some very bad habits to our young players. I don't think that Risto benefited from Nolan at all.

I'm of the opinion that both Nolan and Gio were both overrated in terms of their ability to motivate and get results. And they teamed up for a last place finish. Nolan was the fall guy for a terrible period in Sabres history, and he did that. But we moved on when we should have imo, even if Bylsma sucked for different reasons
- jcragcrumple

fair enough

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

What would going ballistic & looking like an ass have done though?
Risto was gone either way
Not like they were gonna change the decision

You don’t need to scream & yell to be a good coach

maybe that's who he is
- Michael Pachla

It won't be enough to help him imo.

Glad to see CJ up, he is deserving of the call up. Nylander on the other hand, not so good.

0 goals last 10 games
0 points last 6 games
4 total points in his last 16 games

He needs to turn it around. I hate to say it but if he continues, he's approaching bust territory.
- mhp

Nylander was a bust this past offseason. I compared him to every other player U20 that played in the AHL over the past 5-6 seasons and he didn’t even come close to sniffing their PPG.

My 2 best friends Mike Jackson and Dave Chisholm we’re on TPB’s for all 6 seasons. Dave was the key grip and car wrangler
- lulags

What was the reason that mike (Trevor) gave for not returning to the show??

Were the guys really Richards to them??

What would going ballistic & looking like an ass have done though?
Risto was gone either way
Not like they were gonna change the decision

You don’t need to scream & yell to be a good coach
- jdfitz77

I think he looks more like an ass by doing nothing at all. He is great at that.
The refs did change their decision and ejected him. It was bullpoop. That's why you scream and yell in that instance.
It's about passion and trying to spark your team. If the coach doesn't care it's tough to expect the players to do it for him.
We got throttled, it wasn't going to make it worse.
Are you suggesting he is a good coach?
Him just standing by idly when poop like that happens is better than doing anything at all?
Cmon.
He sucked as a high school coach.

It won't be enough to help him imo.
- mhp

here's what the red line report said of Nylander:

"has a knack for lurking on the edges, and then bursting through a small crack at just the right moment to emerge with a great scoring chance. Not as good a skater as older brother, but still very elusive with fine east-west moves and agility. We’d like to see more of a three-zone effort and commitment in the greasy areas — spends far too much time on the perimeter. Rarely initiates contact, and if he’s not scoring, he’s not helping. But he’s a gamebreaker; can be invisible for 57 minutes, then win the game."

I think he looks more like an ass by doing nothing at all. He is great at that.
The refs did change their decision and ejected him. It was bullpoop. That's why you scream and yell in that instance.
It's about passion and trying to spark your team. If the coach doesn't care it's tough to expect the players to do it for him.
We got throttled, it wasn't going to make it worse.
Are you suggesting he is a good coach?
Him just standing by idly when poop like that happens is better than doing anything at all?
Cmon.
He sucked as a high school coach.
- TheHank

didn't risto get suspended for that?...like two games?....or was it something else?

didn't risto get suspended for that?...like two games?....or was it something else?
- Michael Pachla

He got 3 games for the guentzel hit a couple yrs ago.
This play never should have been a penalty in the first place.

What would going ballistic & looking like an ass have done though?
Risto was gone either way
Not like they were gonna change the decision

You don’t need to scream & yell to be a good coach
- jdfitz77

Obviously you have never played for a high intensity coach like Lindy or Torts...
I had a High-school football coach that made the average kids decent and the best players want to run through a brick wall for him with screaming, yelling and foot stomping rages.
If you’re old enough, or if you have ever watched the players on the bench in front of Ruff back in the day, you can see them looking at each other, talking and getting pumped as he’s going off on players, opposing coaches or refs. His coaching style was/is absolutely infectious and worked, players would come off the bench looking to hit someone or skated harder to win puck battles and just all around play harder with intensity that they brought with them from the bench.
It’s true, you don’t NEED to scream and yell, but once in a while you NEED to !

Nylander was a bust this past offseason. I compared him to every other player U20 that played in the AHL over the past 5-6 seasons and he didn’t even come close to sniffing their PPG.
- Pegullaville

I think there could be something to the thinking that his skill set fits the NHL better

But are we ever gonna give him that chance?

Looking more & more like Botts will trade him

I think there could be something to the thinking that his skill set fits the NHL better

But are we ever gonna give him that chance?

Looking more & more like Botts will trade him
- jdfitz77

Who knows. I would trade him in a heartbeat if any team thinks they can get anything out of him.

Obviously you have never played for a high intensity coach like Lindy or Torts...
I had a High-school football coach that made the average kids decent and the best players want to run through a brick wall for him with screaming, yelling and foot stomping rages.
If you’re old enough, or if you have ever watched the players on the bench in front of Ruff back in the day, you can see them looking at each other, talking and getting pumped as he’s going off on players, opposing coaches or refs. His coaching style was/is absolutely infectious and worked, players would come off the bench looking to hit someone or skated harder to win puck battles and just all around play harder with intensity that they brought with them from the bench.
It’s true, you don’t NEED to scream and yell, but once in a while you NEED to !
- 22sabresQ

Thank you. Pretty simple.

I think he looks more like an ass by doing nothing at all. He is great at that.
The refs did change their decision and ejected him. It was bullpoop. That's why you scream and yell in that instance.
It's about passion and trying to spark your team. If the coach doesn't care it's tough to expect the players to do it for him.
We got throttled, it wasn't going to make it worse.
Are you suggesting he is a good coach?
Him just standing by idly when poop like that happens is better than doing anything at all?
Cmon.
He sucked as a high school coach.
- TheHank

I’m not suggesting he’s a good coach
I’m saying you don’t necessarily have to yell & scream to be one

That’s mostly for show
And while it may work for motivational purposes in the short term,
I don’t see it as having a lasting effect
Usually wears pretty thin, fairly quickly

A psycho like Torts wouldn’t have had these past rosters in the playoffs any more than Phil or Bylsma

here's what the red line report said of Nylander:

"has a knack for lurking on the edges, and then bursting through a small crack at just the right moment to emerge with a great scoring chance. Not as good a skater as older brother, but still very elusive with fine east-west moves and agility. We’d like to see more of a three-zone effort and commitment in the greasy areas — spends far too much time on the perimeter. Rarely initiates contact, and if he’s not scoring, he’s not helping. But he’s a gamebreaker; can be invisible for 57 minutes, then win the game."
- Michael Pachla

Reading that it makes me think of two things- #1 it reads of a scouting report of a potential 2nd or 3rd rounder and #2- just doesn't come across as a long term NHL'er. Just my thoughts.

He got 3 games for the guentzel hit a couple yrs ago.
This play never should have been a penalty in the first place.
- TheHank

thanks

Linus Cronholm has been named to Sweden’s U19 team for the Five Nations Cup this weekend in Finland. Was part of Botts’ last draft class. Laaksonen is also being looked at for the first time by Finland’s men’s team in Europe as well which is a great sign.

I’m not suggesting he’s a good coach
I’m saying you don’t necessarily have to yell & scream to be one

That’s mostly for show
And while it may work for motivational purposes in the short term,
I don’t see it as having a lasting effect
Usually wears pretty thin, fairly quickly

A psycho like Torts wouldn’t have had these past rosters in the playoffs any more than Phil or Bylsma
- jdfitz77

What are you even arguing here?
There's a time and a place for everything. That was one of them. I knew right then and there that he's a wussy.

Nylander was a bust this past offseason. I compared him to every other player U20 that played in the AHL over the past 5-6 seasons and he didn’t even come close to sniffing their PPG.
- Pegullaville

I would agree. I hate to say it and although I want him to succeed, he just doesn't have it. This pick will really hurt down the road. A bust at #8 is a tough one to swallow.

thanks
- Michael Pachla

Yeah I think that was his only suspension?

Reading that it makes me think of two things- #1 it reads of a scouting report of a potential 2nd or 3rd rounder and #2- just doesn't come across as a long term NHL'er. Just my thoughts.
- mhp

I talked with those guys after the first round...they weren't really thrilled with the pick...I was ok with it although I really thought sergachev was going to be, and should have been, buffalo's choice

I talked with those guys after the first round...they weren't really thrilled with the pick...I was ok with it although I really thought sergachev was going to be, and should have been, buffalo's choice
- Michael Pachla

Sergachev or Keller there would have been sweet. (frank) Arizona for not taking nylander.

Sergachev or Keller there would have been sweet. (frank) Arizona for not taking nylander.
- TheHank

yup...doesn't look good right now...an eighth overall pick just got bypassed by a college free agent and may also get bypassed by a seventh-rounder

Glad to see CJ up, he is deserving of the call up. Nylander on the other hand, not so good.

0 goals last 10 games
0 points last 6 games
4 total points in his last 16 games

He needs to turn it around. I hate to say it but if he continues, he's approaching bust territory.
- mhp

he's there.... He shouldn't even get called up this year he done nothing to deserve it. Perfect example of a high draft pick turning into ZIP.

Who knows. I would trade him in a heartbeat if any team thinks they can get anything out of him.
- Pegullaville

Doesn’t seem like Nylander or Guhle are in Botts’ future plans

I think he should at least explore what he can get for them
And even (you'll hate this part) add a 1st if that can get us a “core” guy back

I’m guessing there’s still some GMs out there that would like them