it sucks

best option now, scarface?
- homiedclown

Who is scarface?

I hope they’ve been waiting this long to interview Keefe...

Botts certainly isn't in any hurry and I tend to think that's the wrong strategy considering other teams are also looking/hiring. It seems to me it comes down a trio of Tippett, Martin and Keefe. I can't think of anyone else, maybe Marc Crawford if Ottawa fires him.
- mhp

Why not an assistant with one of the playoff teams like SJ, CAR, STL, or BOS?

What about Mike Vellucci who has the Checkers in the Calder Cup vs the Marlies? (He's also assistant GM and Player Development for the Canes tho so maybe not interested in a sole HC job in the NHL)

Derek Laxdall is the Texas Stars HC who were in the finals last year.

Clark Donatelli is the Wilkes coach since 2015 w/ 2 best record in the AHL seasons under his belt.

Why not an assistant with one of the playoff teams like SJ, CAR, STL, or BOS?

What about Mike Vellucci who has the Checkers in the Calder Cup vs the Marlies? (He's also assistant GM and Player Development for the Canes tho so maybe not interested in a sole HC job in the NHL)
- JVince11

It seems to me the only AHL coach on the menu is Keefe. I'd have to check who the assistants are of those teams. I have no clue who Botts will get.

it sucks

best option now, scarface?
- homiedclown

Bills 7/1 odds to win the division. I'd put the same or worse odds on the next coach making it past Easter 2020. The next GM will be picking a coach by mother's day next year. I've lost faith in Botterill to turn this around, barring some remarkable transformation in the next 2 months, which seems totally unlikely

It seems to me the only AHL coach on the menu is Keefe. I'd have to check who the assistants are of those teams. I have no clue who Botts will get.
- mhp

Steve Ott is on STL staff.. lol. Didn't realize that.

Nolan Pratt is on Colorados.

Joe Sacco is on Boston's but we know how he did with the Avs. Yikes.


Steve Spott is on the Sharks... he was a great coach for the Marlies and has a ton of head coaching experience in Juniors. He seems like a bit of a DeBoar disciple though.

Either Kane or ROR will be in the Cup Final. We got super sniper Tage Thompson so we are all set. Gronborg doesn't even get an interview. Get this (frank)in loser lazy ass paper bag breathing useless straight edge putz of a GM out of here before he does anymore brain damage to the organization.

Either Kane or ROR will be in the Cup Final. We got super sniper Tage Thompson so we are all set. Gronborg doesn't even get an interview. Get this (frank)in loser lazy ass paper bag breathing useless straight edge putz of a GM out of here before he does anymore brain damage to the organization.
- Hatboro_Swords

You're fun at parties.

Gronborg has never even coached the NA game nor the SHL level. lol. You are that upset.

Steve Ott is on STL staff.. lol. Didn't realize that.

Nolan Pratt is on Colorados.

Joe Sacco is on Boston's but we know how he did with the Avs. Yikes.


Steve Spott is on the Sharks... he was a great coach for the Marlies and has a ton of head coaching experience in Juniors. He seems like a bit of a DeBoar disciple though.
- JVince11

Nothing that moves the needle.

Nothing that moves the needle.
- mhp

Not disagreeing with you there old friend.

Botts certainly isn't in any hurry and I tend to think that's the wrong strategy considering other teams are also looking/hiring. It seems to me it comes down a trio of Tippett, Martin and Keefe. I can't think of anyone else, maybe Marc Crawford if Ottawa fires him.
- mhp

I'm wondering if McClellan was a real option, that Botts spoke with him and told him he wanted to interview other candidates, and McClellan said no thanks Imma jump to LA for the surety.

I honestly thought it would be Grönborg.

And if the reports from Toronto that Keefe will decline an interview w Buffalo are true, then YIKES.
- Powerslave

Maybe Keefe sees the spot in Toronto opening up soon for him?

Either Kane or ROR will be in the Cup Final. We got super sniper Tage Thompson so we are all set. Gronborg doesn't even get an interview. Get this (frank)in loser lazy ass paper bag breathing useless straight edge putz of a GM out of here before he does anymore brain damage to the organization.
- Hatboro_Swords

You, I, and everyone else here literally have no idea what transpired, any preliminary talks that happened, and what the hiring process truly looks like.

There are more teams than just Buffalo looking for a HC. So are you going to tell me that he just randomly joined a Swiss team, after virtually begging to be an NHL head coach because BUFFALO didn't interview him?

Not a single organization wants to hedge their bets on a European coach. That much is crystal clear. There's a chance that Botts spoke with him informally, Botts asked him to join the staff as an assistant, Gronborg said thanks but no thanks, and took the job security.

Maybe Keefe sees the spot in Toronto opening up soon for him?
- jochfr

Toronto came out publicly and declared Bab(frank) would return next season.

Maybe Keefe sees the spot in Toronto opening up soon for him?
- jochfr

In 3 seasons under Babcock they have garnered 95-105 pts each season but can't get out of the 1st round. Even after adding John Tavares to an already killer forwards group.


Toronto did have to announce that Babcock would be returning this week. I was surprised they had to announce that.

You, I, and everyone else here literally have no idea what transpired, any preliminary talks that happened, and what the hiring process truly looks like.

There are more teams than just Buffalo looking for a HC. So are you going to tell me that he just randomly joined a Swiss team, after virtually begging to be an NHL head coach because BUFFALO didn't interview him?

Not a single organization wants to hedge their bets on a European coach. That much is crystal clear. There's a chance that Botts spoke with him informally, Botts asked him to join the staff as an assistant, Gronborg said thanks but no thanks, and took the job security.
- TheSabresTaco

He has a ton of connections in the midwest and Texas. His wife is from Salt Lake... Gronborg never came out East from my research. Maybe that has something to do with it.

In 3 seasons under Babcock they have garnered 95-105 pts each season but can't get out of the 1st round. Even after adding John Tavares to an already killer forwards group.


Toronto did have to announce that Babcock would be returning this week. I was surprised they had to announce that.
- JVince11

The fact that Botts just sniffing around Keefe would create a poopstorm in Toronto is worth the interview.

I'm wondering if McClellan was a real option, that Botts spoke with him and told him he wanted to interview other candidates, and McClellan said no thanks Imma jump to LA for the surety.
- TheSabresTaco

If you believe the interview the Schoop and Bulldog has yesterday with some “insider” and he said that McClellan has no intention to sign in Buffalo and used Buffalo as a bargaining chip to get a better deal in LA

From John Vogel

““The main reason that I signed with ZSC, besides being the top job in Europe, is that no NHL team wanted a coach with no prior NHL head coaching experience. ... My goal is to coach in the NHL sometime in the future. Just need to get a chance.” - Rikard Grönborg via text.”

If you believe the interview the Schoop and Bulldog has yesterday with some “insider” and he said that McClellan has no intention to sign in Buffalo and used Buffalo as a bargaining chip to get a better deal in LA
- ImThatGuy

meh. So be it.

He has a ton of connections in the midwest and Texas. His wife is from Salt Lake... Gronborg never came out East from my research. Maybe that has something to do with it.
- JVince11

I know what his resume says, but at the end of the day, he's a European coach with NA experience. He has no AHL or NHL experience. And, by his own admission just now, not a single org wanted to take a chance on him. That much was clear the second he signed his Swiss contract.

I hope they’ve been waiting this long to interview Keefe...
- Pegullaville

If they don't plan on interviewing Keefe, I'm not really sure what he's waiting for

I know what his resume says, but at the end of the day, he's a European coach with NA experience. He has no AHL or NHL experience. And, by his own admission just now, not a single org wanted to take a chance on him. That much was clear the second he signed his Swiss contract.
- TheSabresTaco

BUT BUT BUT..... BUFFALO IS A GRADE A DUMPSTER FIRE AND WORST ORGANIZATION IN ALL OF SPORTS. THEY HATE CHILDREN AND PUNCH KITTENS IN THE FACE. THEY POLLUTE THE OCEAN TOO!!

If they don't plan on interviewing Keefe, I'm not really sure what he's waiting for
- mattmoulson

I still don't hate Jacques Martin.

What about Bob Hartley? Defensive minded coach who has won a cup.

BUT BUT BUT..... BUFFALO IS A GRADE A DUMPSTER FIRE AND WORST ORGANIZATION IN ALL OF SPORTS. THEY HATE CHILDREN AND PUNCH KITTENS IN THE FACE. THEY POLLUTE THE OCEAN TOO!!
- JVince11

It's too bad, really. He sounds extremely intelligent and very well spoken, has obviously had success, looks like he commands respect, has coached in North America...

What's not to like?