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

Anything is possible. If he's looking for NHL HC experience, that would leave it to Martin and Tippett. I thought Friedman said that Tippett gave a great interview so he could be the leading candidate.

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.”
- ImThatGuy

So dumb. College coaches get chances with no experience (he has college experience btw), but Euros have to have NHL experience. The NHL, man

I still don't hate Jacques Martin.

What about Bob Hartley? Defensive minded coach who has won a cup.
- JVince11

- TheSabresTaco

I'd take Martin, Hartley, or Desjardins over a rando w/ zero experience.

So dumb. College coaches get chances with no experience (he has college experience btw), but Euros have to have experience. The NHL, man
- jcragcrumple

In general, yeah, especially with Gronborgs experience of both the Euro and NA game. I think we'll be able to call BS if Botts hires a college coach with no prior NHL coaching experience, but Vogl's source strongly believes Botts is looking for experience. So be it.

In general, yeah, especially with Gronborgs experience of both the Euro and NA game. I think we'll be able to call BS if Botts hires a college coach with no prior NHL coaching experience, but Vogl's source strongly believes Botts is looking for experience. So be it.
- TheSabresTaco

I'm imagining that whoever Botts hires right now is who he is tethering his job to. So he is going to want it to be the right choice and not the fastest choice. If this coach fails... then it'll be both of them again most likely.

Who is scarface?
- mhp

boucher

I'd take Martin, Hartley, or Desjardins over a rando w/ zero experience.
- JVince11

Why though? You'd throw the field, your next Jon Cooper, your next Mike Sullivan, your next Bruce Cassidy, hell even your next Rod Brind'Amor ((frank) that guy), all because they aren't retreads ancients like Martin, or washouts like Hartley or Desjardins? Seems like a close minded way of going about it.

I'm imagining that whoever Botts hires right now is who he is tethering his job to. So he is going to want it to be the right choice and not the fastest choice. If this coach fails... then it'll be both of them again most likely.
- JVince11

Sure. I definitely don't blame him for being extremely patient.

I still don't hate Jacques Martin.

What about Bob Hartley? Defensive minded coach who has won a cup.
- JVince11

2 thoughts

only bowman has ever won a cup with multiple teams

do we want a defensive minded coach when we have eichel and dahlin?


botts does want an uptempo north /south team, I don't see martin or hartley being those types of coaches


unless this north/south team is just a pr move, I mean berglund, sobotka, scandella, etc are anything but uptempo

In general, yeah, especially with Gronborgs experience of both the Euro and NA game. I think we'll be able to call BS if Botts hires a college coach with no prior NHL coaching experience, but Vogl's source strongly believes Botts is looking for experience. So be it.
- TheSabresTaco

I'd take it a step further and say it's debatable whether the experience of being an assistant at the NHL level is more valuable than being a HC at the international level.

This whole thing reeks of the same good ol' boy network, conservative thinking that is ingrained in the NHL, with some old-school Euro bias thrown in. If they don't want to hire him fine, but to not even interview him is absurd

no matter who buffalo hires someone will do this

Why though? You'd throw the field, your next Jon Cooper, your next Mike Sullivan, your next Bruce Cassidy, hell even your next Rod Brind'Amor ((frank) that guy), all because they aren't retreads ancients like Martin, or washouts like Hartley or Desjardins? Seems like a close minded way of going about it.
- TheSabresTaco

I’d rather have a new guy over someone that has not cut it with other teams before.

To me this sounds like Botts is trying to find a stop gap guy to come in and have some success to show progress.

As said he is trying to save his job too. Just seems very close minded to me at least.

no matter who buffalo hires someone will do this


- SabresFaninIndiana

as long as someone 'shakes their head', I'll be happy.

no matter who buffalo hires someone will do this


- SabresFaninIndiana

You're absolutely right. 25% will love it, 25% will be "open to it", 25% will absolutely go bonkers with hatred over it, and the other 95% 😉 think they know better than the GM. 😂

I’d rather have a new guy over someone that has not cut it with other teams before.

To me this sounds like Botts is trying to find a stop gap guy to come in and have some success to show progress.

As said he is trying to save his job too. Just seems very close minded to me at least.
- ImThatGuy

I like Tippett because of what he's accomplished and his style of coaching and ability to maintain a room. Can he incorporate innovative and new ideas, be adaptable and win consistently? Who knows. If there's one retread I wouldn't mind, it's him. After that, dig around AHL and college.

You're absolutely right. 25% will love it, 25% will be "open to it", 25% will absolutely go bonkers with hatred over it, and the other 95% 😉 think they know better than the GM. 😂
- Powerslave

We all know better than the GM, moran

We all know better than the GM, moran
- TheSabresTaco

Ok, tuff gye.

I like Tippett because of what he's accomplished and his style of coaching and ability to maintain a room. Can he incorporate innovative and new ideas, be adaptable and win consistently? Who knows. If there's one retread I wouldn't mind, it's him. After that, dig around AHL and college.
- TheSabresTaco

He would probably be my top retread but I just don’t like it all that much.

We shall see. No sense of getting upset right now. (Says the guy ranting like crazy yesterday)

He would probably be my top retread but I just don’t like it all that much.

We shall see. No sense of getting upset right now. (Says the guy ranting like crazy yesterday)
- ImThatGuy

Imagine a world where we hire a guy and everyone on this board approves of it, and then he's worse than Housley. Or the opposite.

That's why I pledge to have a vanilla reaction. No preconceptions, no expectations. Just "he's the guy we picked, good luck, Buffalo Sabres"

He would probably be my top retread but I just don’t like it all that much.

We shall see. No sense of getting upset right now. (Says the guy ranting like crazy yesterday)
- ImThatGuy

I try to stay positive, but it's a never-ending roller-coaster with this team.

He's an RFA, not a UFA.

I would offer a 1 year deal to Brandon Pirri.
- mhp

Pouliot isn't' getting an offer from Vancouver, he's going to be UFA.

I try to stay positive, but it's a never-ending roller-coaster with this team.
- Powerslave

Mr. Bones' Wild Ride

https://m.imgur.com/gallery/Wxzbl

I still don't hate Jacques Martin.

What about Bob Hartley? Defensive minded coach who has won a cup.
- JVince11

Randy Carlyle is available. He has the experience JB is looking for and I'm assuming he likes his communication skills.

Id hate it though.

You're absolutely right. 25% will love it, 25% will be "open to it", 25% will absolutely go bonkers with hatred over it, and the other 95% 😉 think they know better than the GM. 😂
- Powerslave

The math checks out.