This is gonna be a fun offseason. Wish we were in the playoffs, but atleast I have anticipation and hope of what's to come.

They’re built for both IMO

Guys like Asplund, Mitts, Thompson, Cozens are all guys who can forecheck and also have speed to play in transition. They also don’t shy away from playing a possession game.

Guys like Olofsson probably would fall out of favor real quick. And that might not be the worst thing. Skinner too.
- sbroads24

Asplund and Cozens can definitely play a Torts game. Same with Eichel. He can grind. Mittlestadt and Thompson need space and time created by a tempo system that allows them space on rushes. I have no worries about Asplund and Cozens under Torts. It's guys like Dahlin, Bryson, Joker, Skinner, Mitts, Laaksonen, Thompson and Olofsson who will never reach their offensive potential under Torts

They’re built for both IMO

Guys like Asplund, Mitts, Thompson, Cozens are all guys who can forecheck and also have speed to play in transition. They also don’t shy away from playing a possession game.

Guys like Olofsson probably would fall out of favor real quick. And that might not be the worst thing. Skinner too.
- sbroads24

And the Sabres have an obligation to make Skinner work to the best of their ability. Otherwise they're punting 1/10th of the cap into the sun

Then I would hope they would atleast talk with him. We do need a coach that can change the losing Culture. But with things I have read, IMO that guy is already here.
- Buff36

i like donnie meatballs and was initially against torts favoring bbq bruce over him...however, the more i play devils advocate, the more torts' coaching abilities stand out to me....yes, i get the short shelf-life, but it might be well worth it to shake this franchise out of their losing ways

The best players on Torts teams either bail out of his teams when possible or he flames out spectacularly. He's going to have them play a highly structured game. I don't want to get mad at a hypothetical Torts hiring because it hasn't happened, but we all saw what happened when Krueger tried to play lock-down hockey. This personnel is simply not built for that. If they're going with an established coach, I sure hope it's BBQ Bruce
- jcragcrumple

please elaborate...outside of panarin, who fits this description, who else... and define exactly how he flames out "spectacularly"....cbj was struggling, yet still semi-respectable (15-18-8) prior to jenner and werenski going down on april 6 and 8, respectively...

i like donnie meatballs and was initially against torts favoring bbq bruce over him...however, the more i play devils advocate, the more torts' coaching abilities stand out to me....yes, i get the short shelf-life, but it might be well worth it to shake this franchise out of their losing ways
- Michael Pachla

Hey, I can agree with that, and it would not be against it. I just think Granato can do that to, especially if you add 4 decent pieces.
1RD
2LD
Goaltender
RW

i like donnie meatballs and was initially against torts favoring bbq bruce over him...however, the more i play devils advocate, the more torts' coaching abilities stand out to me....yes, i get the short shelf-life, but it might be well worth it to shake this franchise out of their losing ways
- Michael Pachla

Torts also has the Buffalo/Rochester connections that Uncle Terry loves....

Tortorella's coaching career began with the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Rochester Americans and the ECHL's Virginia Lancers. He was also an assistant coach for the AHL's New Haven Nighthawks and Rochester Americans, and the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, Phoenix Coyotes, and New York Rangers. He won the Calder Cup with the 1996 Rochester Americans.

Hey, I can agree with that, and it would not be against it. I just think Granato can do that to, especially if you add 4 decent pieces.
1RD
2LD
Goaltender
RW
- Buff36

i bet savard would give buffalo consideration with torts as coach...maybe brandon saad, who had the best two years of his career under torts, would consider it...ryan murray...

in fact i'd go as far to say that torts and bbq have enough respect as coaches to put buffalo in the mix on many free agents...as a vet, would you put your faith in donnie g's lack of nhl experience and 9-16-3 record?

Asplund and Cozens can definitely play a Torts game. Same with Eichel. He can grind. Mittlestadt and Thompson need space and time created by a tempo system that allows them space on rushes. I have no worries about Asplund and Cozens under Torts. It's guys like Dahlin, Bryson, Joker, Skinner, Mitts, Laaksonen, Thompson and Olofsson who will never reach their offensive potential under Torts
- jcragcrumple

I don’t think you’re giving enough credit to how Mitts and Thompson have improved their possession games this season

And it’s not like star players don’t produce under him. So I wouldn’t be worried

His big problem is his message gets stale within 3-4 years, always.

He wins games

please elaborate...outside of panarin, who fits this description, who else... and define exactly how he flames out "spectacularly"....cbj was struggling, yet still semi-respectable (15-18-8) prior to jenner and werenski going down on april 6 and 8, respectively...
- Michael Pachla

Fighting Bob Hartley in a hallway and getting fired after one year fits this bill

I don’t think you’re giving enough credit to how Mitts and Thompson have improved their possession games this season

And it’s not like star players don’t produce under him. So I wouldn’t be worried

His big problem is his message gets stale within 3-4 years, always.

He wins games
- sbroads24

Both of whom looked like garbage under Krueger and look very good under Granato

I don’t think you’re giving enough credit to how Mitts and Thompson have improved their possession games this season

And it’s not like star players don’t produce under him. So I wouldn’t be worried

His big problem is his message gets stale within 3-4 years, always.

He wins games
- sbroads24

Except when he goes bananas and gets fired by the Canucks after a year

i bet savard would give buffalo consideration with torts as coach...maybe brandon saad, who had the best two years of his career under torts, would consider it...ryan murray...

in fact i'd go as far to say that torts and bbq have enough respect as coaches to put buffalo in the mix on many free agents...as a vet, would you put your faith in donnie g's lack of nhl experience and 9-16-3 record?
- Michael Pachla

This is a very interesting point and probably one that should not be over looked. Especially with the pieces that need to be brought in to be competitive.

I do like Donny and I’d like to give him a shot. But if Adams thinks he can attract more talent with a torts or a bbq. I guess I can’t blame him.

Now if Adams taps another young or first time coach over Donny, I’ll probably scratch my head a bit.

i bet savard would give buffalo consideration with torts as coach...maybe brandon saad, who had the best two years of his career under torts, would consider it...ryan murray...

in fact i'd go as far to say that torts and bbq have enough respect as coaches to put buffalo in the mix on many free agents...as a vet, would you put your faith in donnie g's lack of nhl experience and 9-16-3 record?
- Michael Pachla

How many FAs did Torts attract to Columbus?

What?

I don’t get the bold.

I never said Hall was worth 8 mil, and I’ve repeatedly said a million times Skinner is overpaid

Are you blaming Hall for taking money that was offered to him? He said in interviews post trade that he wanted to be behind someone who he believed was better than him. (Eichel)

He wasn’t great here, but the idea he’s “washed” is just nonsense
- sbroads24

What?

Sorry Broads, but I never said he was washed. I responded to your post in which you claimed he wanted to be a role player..and I ridiculed the idea of signing $8m contract HE wanted (I mean let's be freakin serious, his agent asked for it)..to be a role player.
That's it.

You then jumped down my back trying to justify his play with a positive impact.
Goals Broads, Goals. Same with Skinner...Goals.
Positive impact stats is for 4th liners. Actual production is for the highest paid players.

Spin it any way you want.

Fighting Bob Hartley in a hallway and getting fired after one year fits this bill
- jcragcrumple

that was a good one...point taken while pointing out one year out of 20 behind the bench with 4 different teams

How many FAs did Torts attract to Columbus?
- jcragcrumple

idk...brad richards signed in ny when he was there

idk...brad richards signed in ny when he was there
- Michael Pachla

So in Columbus, he lost Duchene, Panarin and Bob while attracting no one of note. I don't think he adds anything to a FA search. Maybe Foligno if they overpay

So in Columbus, he lost Duchene, Panarin and Bob while attracting no one of note. I don't think he adds anything to a FA search. Maybe Foligno if they overpay
- jcragcrumple

the reasons for those moves with panarin and bob are well documented and they knew duchene would be a pure rental...props to them as they went for broke knowing those three were leaving...

that said, the question really is, can john tortorella coach successfully in the nhl?...yes or no?

Except when he goes bananas and gets fired by the Canucks after a year
- jcragcrumple

he wanted out of Canada

I think I'd slit my wrists if we hired him. Guys like him are a thing of the past and it isn't a coincidence that he wears out his welcome. Dolan loves him so hopefully the Rags get him.
- Slump Buster

Yet, many, many former players absolutely love him and would play for him again.
He holds all players accountable, nobody gets a free ride. Vets especially love him. New oattycake guys probably hate him because he demands their best every single game.
Such a novel idea that is out of vogue with youngins.

the reasons for those moves with panarin and bob are well documented and they knew duchene would be a pure rental...props to them as they went for broke knowing those three were leaving...

that said, the question really is, can john tortorella coach successfully in the nhl?...yes or no?
- Michael Pachla

Yeah, absolutely Torts can coach. He's a hell of a coach when he's on his game. But I think hes the wrong guy at the wrong time with the wrong players.

A. Panarin is a Russian, they want to play in big cities. Was there any documented tension with he and Torts?
B. Laine isn’t good. Probably the most over rated player in hockey
C. PLD on him requesting a trade -

“ I said since the start I’m not going to go into detail, and I won’t,” said Dubois. “I can say It was a process. I was thinking about a long time. It wasn’t overnight. It wasn’t that I just woke up one morning and it was a decision to make. It was something I thought about. As negotiations were going, obviously you don’t take anything personally, but as they go longer and longer you kind of start to think about stuff and situations.”

He felt disrespected by the contract negotiations.
- sbroads24

Bingo 24. It's GM K's aggressive contract negotiations that causes issues. Most players/former players love Torts.

Yeah, absolutely Torts can coach. He's a hell of a coach when he's on his game. But I think hes the wrong guy at the wrong time with the wrong players.
- jcragcrumple

ted nolan
disco dan
thrill housely
r lph
donnie g.

maybe he's the right guy at the right time to right the ship

So in Columbus, he lost Duchene, Panarin and Bob while attracting no one of note. I don't think he adds anything to a FA search. Maybe Foligno if they overpay
- jcragcrumple

How many playoff series did Columbus win before he got there?