Someone said, "Well, Pegula sits in on draft meetings and trade deadline day!!!"

No sh!t, Sherlock. I would, too. It's interesting, fun, exciting, and I OWN THE (frank)ING TEAM!

That doesn't mean they're telling the scouts who to draft or the gm who to trade.
- Powerslave

For sure, who wouldn't. I would definitely be there and would ask questions fro. A curiosity perspective, so I agree.
I think the issue wasn't his being there, but someone insinuated he gave input on what he would prefer.
I have a hard time believing he was telling the guys who to draft, so I blew it off as someone adding to the story without knowledge.

Toe Blake isn't available.
Maybe they could entice Scotty back?

Every great Coach started at some point as a rookie coach.
AV's knock is he relies on Vets at the expense of younger players
McLellan couldn't take a very good Sharks team to the ultimate win.
Everyone has a black mark or two.
- IonSabres

Even he couldn't win a cup for the Sabres when he was here.

For what it's worth, I ran into John Van Boxmeer in Vancouver last year prior to a Canucks game he was scouting. He is one of the west coast scouts for the Sabres. He said that Botts ran the hockey operations far better - and more professionally - than Tim Murray.

I think the Swede would be a perfect hire as an NHL assistant for the new Sabres coach (McLellan or AV). Let's see if his Swedish magic can translate in the NHL - but not an a HC level. Regarding Taylor, what exactly has he done in two years in Rochester? He got swept in 3 games last year. He hasn't earned anything yet. As 89' says, let's keep him developing our young guys. Hopefully he has a deep run in Rochester to help fortify his resume.

No more "learning on the job" coaches for me.

Even he couldn't win a cup for the Sabres when he was here.

For what it's worth, I ran into John Van Boxmeer in Vancouver last year prior to a Canucks game he was scouting. He is one of the west coast scouts for the Sabres. He said that Botts ran the hockey operations far better - and more professionally - than Tim Murray.

I think the Swede would be a perfect hire as an NHL assistant for the new Sabres coach (McLellan or AV). Let's see if his Swedish magic can translate in the NHL - but not an a HC level. Regarding Taylor, what exactly has he done in two years in Rochester? He got swept in 3 games last year. He hasn't earned anything yet. As 89' says, let's keep him developing our young guys. Hopefully he has a deep run in Rochester to help fortify his resume.

No more "learning on the job" coaches for me.
- SabreWest

Agree on Taylor, but for a reason you touched on that may be outside the experience vs inexperienced point.

Taylor is loved by his players right now. You can tell in how they're playing, but also their post game comments just ooze compliments about the man.

What a better scenario to have for a young organization than to have a good developmental coach in the minors? Personally, if we're going to take Botts way of doing things and leave guys down until they're 100% ready, that job is very important. I'd argue, given our current state, that this would be almost as important as the HC job in Buffalo.

I say leave him and let him work the magic he did this year. Keep it rolling.

One guy that may be available that I have not seen mentioned is Marc Crawford. He is a candidate for Ottawa, but they have not committed to him stating that they would be looking at all available candidates. I think I would prefer him over AV or Todd McLellan. He checks a lot of the boxes people seem to be looking for. Won the Cup in Denver. Very vocal and demanding of his players. He spent time in Europe and was the one that convinced Auston Matthews to play overseas.
If Ottawa doesn't sign him I would think Buffalo should consider him. If not, I am on the Grönborg train. Here is a good article with him. It's from last year, but it is a pretty good read for anyone not familiar with him.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...an-head-coach-since-2001/

One guy that may be available that I have not seen mentioned is Marc Crawford. He is a candidate for Ottawa, but they have not committed to him stating that they would be looking at all available candidates. I think I would prefer him over AV or Todd McLellan. He checks a lot of the boxes people seem to be looking for. Won the Cup in Denver. Very vocal and demanding of his players. He spent time in Europe and was the one that convinced Auston Matthews to play overseas.
If Ottawa doesn't sign him I would think Buffalo should consider him. If not, I am on the Grönborg train. Here is a good article with him. It's from last year, but it is a pretty good read for anyone not familiar with him.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/...an-head-coach-since-2001/
- adambuffalo

Good read.

Thanks for the link.

He's intriguing, to say the least.

Will he be able to "hang" in the Atlantic division, where you have 3 heavyweights in TB, Bos and Tor, and then in the next tier, have teams coached by Q and Julien? Yikes.

Hey Gerbe, you should check this out:

https://www.wivb.com/news...94srPdBOkn7p1_T6wcsNPSDxg

It's about Perry's new oat cream ice cream.

Good read.

Thanks for the link.

He's intriguing, to say the least.

Will he be able to "hang" in the Atlantic division, where you have 3 heavyweights in TB, Bos and Tor, and then in the next tier, have teams coached by Q and Julien? Yikes.
- Powerslave

I think it's interesting the Botterill didn't use the word "experience" when he was rifling off qualities he looking for in a head coach. I'd say that's a smart move, by not automatically eliminating anyone but retreads. He's got 3 guys on his radar, and McLellan is one of them. I wouldn't be so sure Tayls is one, as he only has two years of head coaching experience. I wouldn't be surprised if they are talking to one or two college coaches.

I think it's interesting the Botterill didn't use the word "experience" when he was rifling off qualities he looking for in a head coach. I'd say that's a smart move, by not automatically eliminating anyone but retreads. He's got 3 guys on his radar, and McLellan is one of them. I wouldn't be so sure Tayls is one, as he only has two years of AHL head coaching experience. I wouldn't be surprised if they are talking to one or two college coaches.
- TheSabresTaco

He should have the pick of the litter, since I don't really see any other coaches being fired this year.

Who's left that needs a coach? Is it just LA?

He should have the pick of the litter, since I don't really see any other coaches being fired this year.

Who's left that needs a coach? Is it just LA?
- Powerslave

Philly?

He should have the pick of the litter, since I don't really see any other coaches being fired this year.

Who's left that needs a coach? Is it just LA?
- Powerslave

Ducks
Oilers
Kings
Flyers
Sens
Sabres

Don't know if anyone else is on the hot seat if there is an early playoff exit, but those are the current openings.

Ducks
Oilers
Kings
Flyers
Sens
Sabres

Don't know if anyone else is on the hot seat if there is an early playoff exit, but those are the current openings.
- adambuffalo

The Oilers fired Hitchcock?

The Oilers fired Hitchcock?
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

That situation is murky. Hitchcock has yet to decide whether he wants to return or move up in the org in some capacity. Apparently those are his options.

That situation is murky. Hitchcock has yet to decide whether he wants to return or move up in the org in some capacity. Apparently those are his options.
- TheSabresTaco

Ahh gotcha, haven't been following them at all. Be kinda crazy to bring in a bigger name like that 5 months ago and already move on.

Where IS the proof of these "meddling owners", though?
- Powerslave

the Pegula's have hired MANY consultants on how to run their NHL and NFL teams, over the years


their advice, let your gm's and directors do their job, they don't listen year after year

botts wanted to keep kane and make him an assistant captain in 2017, kim said no and you better trade him at the deadline, your not extending him

letting lehner walk was all the pegulas


botts was told "trade ror this summer"

the tyrod "benching" came from them

you will trade up and draft a qb came from them


you will fire disco dan came from them


and a whole lot more, but if you don't believe these, you certainly will not believe the others

Ducks
Oilers
Kings
Flyers
Sens
Sabres

Don't know if anyone else is on the hot seat if there is an early playoff exit, but those are the current openings.
- adambuffalo

With the Oilers being out, I'd sat the Flyers and Sabres jobs are heads and shoulders better than the scorched Sens and crumbling Ducks/Kings.

This is a tweet/retweet from Grönborg back in December

https://twitter.com/ComRi.../1079845122999832576?s=19

Don't know if how he came across the original tweet, but could have been a little foreshadowing. Also, looking at who he follows on Twitter (ok I admit I may be creeping a bit) he follows a lot of the insiders many here probably follow: Lebrun, Dreger, Custance and guys like BizNasty and JR, but the only coach I saw that he follows is Marc Crawford. I wonder if Buffalo hired one if the other would come as an assistant.

the Pegula's have hired MANY consultants on how to run their NHL and NFL teams, over the years


their advice, let your gm's and directors do their job, they don't listen year after year

botts wanted to keep kane and make him an assistant captain in 2017, kim said no and you better trade him at the deadline, your not extending him

letting lehner walk was all the pegulas


botts was told "trade ror this summer"

the tyrod "benching" came from them

you will trade up and draft a qb came from them


you will fire disco dan came from them


and a whole lot more, but if you don't believe these, you certainly will not believe the others
- homiedclown

All hearsay or insider, nothing says otherwise, how dare you say this without any evidence. I see I got bashed yet gain earlier. F ing joke around here.

All hearsay or insider, nothing says otherwise, how dare you say this without any evidence. I see I got bashed yet gain earlier. F ing joke around here.
- SABRES 89

letting lehner walk was all the pegulas


botts was told "trade ror this summer"

- homiedclown

These two I would have to question. First, Lehner was coming off a bad season and required a qualifying offer of around $4.5m I believe. That could have come from the owners, but I don't know of any one here that would have an advocate of re-signing him at that cost.
Secondly, I don't believe they told JBotts to trade ROR, however when it was decided that he did not want to be here any longer I do believe they wanted the deal made before his bonus was paid, which lowered his trade value.

All hearsay or insider, nothing says otherwise, how dare you say this without any evidence. I see I got bashed yet gain earlier. F ing joke around here.
- SABRES 89

A lot of tough fellas around here

Depends on the type of offseason Botts has. Mittelstadt’s development is the biggest wildcard. If he finishes with 45+ points next year this team should be competing for a playoff spot.
- Pegullaville

We’d need more than just that
Some on here don’t even think that with RORs 60+ pts we’d have been in playoff contention
So 20 more from Mitts isn’t gonna make a huge dent

I think we’d need 60+ from Mitts
And then adding at least 2 guys who score 20+ goals...
whether that’s UFAs, or some of the kids coming up (Tage, Olofsson, Nylander, Cj)

And keeping Skinner of course

We finished about 50 goals shy of the WC teams remember
So Botts has some work to do still

A lot of tough fellas around here
- adambuffalo

Try and bring some info when I hear it and I got bashed, why bother anymore.

Try and bring some info when I hear it and I got bashed, why bother anymore.
- SABRES 89

You do it for the OTPHs

We’d need more than just that
Some on here don’t even think that with RORs 60+ pts we’d have been in playoff contention
So 20 more from Mitts isn’t gonna make a huge dent

I think we’d need 60+ from Mitts
And then adding at least 2 guys who score 20+ goals...
whether that’s UFAs, or some of the kids coming up (Tage, Olofsson, Nylander, Cj)

And keeping Skinner of course

We finished about 50 goals shy of the WC teams remember
So Botts has some work to do still
- jdfitz77

No of course I probably should of clarified more at the beginning of the post when I said “Depends on the offseason Botts has”. Mitts hitting 45 points along with a major addition to the top 6 in the form FA/trade alone with a full season of Olofsson/Nylander (if he isn’t moved).

https://www.nhl.com/sabre...as-samuelsson/c-298944758

Baker posted this from last year. If you guys like Borgen, you'll like this guy even more. Imagine having a defensively responsible Bogo on your team at 925K. He's probably 2 years away, but he's a dimension this team doesn't really have right now. Closest guys are Bogo and Borgen, except Samuelsson is just.. better.