Speculation: 2015 Coaching Search: Who will be the next head coach of the Buffalo Sabres?

[BakedBuffalo]

Babcock wearing a "Sabres Jersey Armpit Gray" t-shirt. Toronto, Philly, and Detroot don't have any gray in their uniforms.

He's clearly tipping his hand.

Lock up the thread boys, Babcock is a Buffalo.



Also: why does Holland have a Banana hanging out of his zipper... Is he some sort of joke clown?

This. e5 Babock to Buffalo

 

[Karate Johnson*]

Babcock wearing a "Sabres Jersey Armpit Gray" t-shirt. Toronto, Philly, and Detroot don't have any gray in their uniforms.

He's clearly tipping his hand.

Lock up the thread boys, Babcock is a Buffalo.



Also: why does Holland have a Banana hanging out of his zipper... Is he some sort of joke clown?

Maybe it's not a Banana? Could the Sabres be going back to the Slug? This is facinating.

 

[vcv]

Seems to me like he's likely deciding between Detroit and one other team, which most probably assumed anyway, and he legitimately doesn't know yet. He's thinking about leaving but is uneasy about leaving a good thing for something relatively unknown.

 

[BakedBuffalo]

Seems to me like he's likely deciding between Detroit and one other team, which most probably assumed anyway, and he legitimately doesn't know yet.

I agree. I think there are really only two that he's seriously considering. I'm sure he's gotten multiple offers, but he's already pretty much decided which have no real chance.

 

[Moskau]

3 Crystal things in the background, Half Life 3 confirmed. Who founded Valve with Gabe Newell? A guy named... Mike Harrington. Buffalo confirmed. Where was Gabe Newell born? Washington DC. What city is near Washington DC? Bethesda. Fallout 4 confirmed. Where will Fallout 4 be announced? E3. Eichel, Evander, Ennis.

Close the thread confirm this ****.

 

[Dahlin 2 Eichel]

3 Crystal things in the background, Half Life 3 confirmed. Who founded Valve with Gabe Newell? A guy named... Mike Harrington. Buffalo confirmed. Where was Gabe Newell born? Washington DC. What city is near Washington DC? Bethesda. Fallout 4 confirmed. Where will Fallout 4 be announced? E3. Eichel, Evander, Ennis.

Close the thread confirm this ****.

You may play too many video games but I still enjoyed your post

 

[Gras]

3 Crystal things in the background, Half Life 3 confirmed. Who founded Valve with Gabe Newell? A guy named... Mike Harrington. Buffalo confirmed. Where was Gabe Newell born? Washington DC. What city is near Washington DC? Bethesda. Fallout 4 confirmed. Where will Fallout 4 be announced? E3. Eichel, Evander, Ennis.

Close the thread confirm this ****.

I'd probably be more excited for HL3 than Babcock going to Buffalo.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Exclusive: Babcock discusses coaching future (24:31)

TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger sits down for an exclusive interview with this summer’s hottest coaching free agent Mike Babcock and Red Wings GM Ken Holland to discuss Babcock's hockey future.

 

[Myllz]

Going off the interview, it sounds like Babcock's decision is going to boil down to who he thinks has the best core of young players. Holland himself said the Red Wings are going to go through a transitional period into younger players. Based on that, it sounds like Babcock's real decision is which team has the best chance to succeed with their young core.

 

[OkimLom]

3 Crystal things in the background, Half Life 3 confirmed. Who founded Valve with Gabe Newell? A guy named... Mike Harrington. Buffalo confirmed. Where was Gabe Newell born? Washington DC. What city is near Washington DC? Bethesda. Fallout 4 confirmed. Where will Fallout 4 be announced? E3. Eichel, Evander, Ennis.

Close the thread confirm this ****.

Come on man, you said Half Life 3. There's another 2 years we have to wait, because I said it, another 2 years....

 

[Karate Johnson*]

3 Crystal things in the background, Half Life 3 confirmed. Who founded Valve with Gabe Newell? A guy named... Mike Harrington. Buffalo confirmed. Where was Gabe Newell born? Washington DC. What city is near Washington DC? Bethesda. Fallout 4 confirmed. Where will Fallout 4 be announced? E3. Eichel, Evander, Ennis.

Close the thread confirm this ****.

This is a post I am get behind. Beautiful sleuth work

 

[TehDoak]

Can murray and babcock both come as the grinch to the Christmas party

 

[BUCKSHOT]

Going off the interview, it sounds like Babcock's decision is going to boil down to who he thinks has the best core of young players. Holland himself said the Red Wings are going to go through a transitional period into younger players. Based on that, it sounds like Babcock's real decision is which team has the best chance to succeed with their young core.

Edmonton Oilers

 

[Sabretip]

To me it seems almost assured he'll leave. Why else would he refuse to sign an extension multiple times? Why else would Holland establish the stipulation that it would cost a team a 3rd round pick if another team signed him? Why would Holland refuse to allow teams to talk to Blashill if he was so sure of Babcock's return?.

Why would he go through the interview about his contract situation along with Holland if he's gone?

If he's leaving, I think he does the interview solo.

Why would you be doing an interview and not just signing a contract.

If he is leaning towards staying, he sure is teasing his current employer and letting Holland twist in the wind for nothing. All the signs pointed out above are big hints of a departure. Ultimately, if he just renews with the Wings, the entire hoopla that Babcock fostered with indecision will reflect poorly on him and bring grief to the teams he spoke with for nothing.

If prefer Blashill but i think it'll be Richardson if Babcock stays with Detroit... Dammit.

That's what really scares me about the prospect of a Babcock rejection: if Murray fails to land his dream date, he'll immediately fall back to picking up the girl on the street corner that no one else is interested in. If Babcock isn't available, I pray that someone of Blashill's, McLellan's or Bylsma's stature is the backup plan rather than DeBoer or Richardson.

I hope Babcock resigns with Detroit. And I hope Blashill is our next guy and not someone like Richardson. The only concern I have with Blashill is that there will likely be more suitors for him since there are a few other teams that need a coach that wouldn't be in the running for Babcock.

Agreed - and I can share that concern but with less fear. Even though he's eager to land his first NHL head coach gig, one would think that Blashill would also want to choose from amongst his suitors (assuming he has more than 1) who has the best chance to win and what kind of management, ownership and resources the team has. Of the teams fitting the boldfaced, Edmonton seems intent on hiring an experienced coach but Toronto might have to settle for an inexperienced coach. Shanahan's time in Detroit preceded Blashill's but one could theorize that Shanahan might want to bring the Detroit system and model of operation to the Leafs. However, if given the choice between the Sabres and Leafs and money were equal offers, wouldn't common sense say that Blashill will have less lumps to take in Buffalo via losing than in Toronto?

 

[sabresfan129103]

I think we have a real shot to get him. I guess the biggest obstacle is whether or not he is willing to be kinda bad for a season or 2 while our young guys come into their own.

 

[Bps21*]

I'm actually 100% fine with going from Babcock to a guy that isn't a known. Babcock is a lock it down for a decade franchise coach. If you can't get him id rather swing on a new guy and see what happens. I can fire Richardson's after 2 years even though my team is improving and take the best coach on the market when Im making the big jump. Am I firing Bylsma in that situation? if babcock and McClellan are gone...I don't want the whoever is left next top guy that isn't a top guy. Give me a guy that can work with young players and when the next actual top guy hits the market I can snag him with my improved roster that's going to happen naturally anyway. And hey...who knows...that new coach might even be good.

 

[stokes84]

I think he's leaning towards leaving. I doubt he would have had to go home to talk with his family if he was staying in Detroit. Leaving is a more serious conversation, and if staying in Detroit was his first choice, this thing would be done. His family still may talk him into staying, but I doubt it's what he really wants.

 

[EichHart]

What do people think are the chances we snag Babcock? Looks like he is making his mind up by Friday?

"Earlier today, Yahoo's Nick Cotsonika reported Babcock will make his decision on who he will coach for next season and beyond by next Friday. Dreger's report indicates Babcock's decision could come sooner than that."

http://www.wgr550.com/Babcock-discusses-future-on-TSN/21522684

 

[cybresabre]

 

[Woodhouse]

Hehe. I thought about putting a Buffalo Sabres or "I Like Eich" tee on Babcock, but I was lazy and figured you'd step up with something.

 

[Paxon]

I really want to see that piece, but TSN continues to think I don't have flash installed. Looks like a deliciously awkward premise for a dual interview.

 

[Beerz]

Glorious.

 

[DazedandConfused]

I really want to see that piece, but TSN continues to think I don't have flash installed. Looks like a deliciously awkward premise for an dual interview.

I found it to be pretty smooth considering the circumstances. Nowhere near as tense or awkward as I expected.

 

[mikemcburn]

So I'm curious... Theorizing that Babcock does jump over to the Sabres, what type or types of player are most likely to thrive or sink under his style?

I mean the roster will have a lot of fresh faces even without any more trades/moves, and whether a new addition or a returning player, the roster looks to be stuffed with guys who have something to prove, spots throughout up for grabs, etc.

So like what type of player or character are most likely to be a fit for Babcock's type of team?

 

[Reddawg]

I think he's leaning towards leaving. I doubt he would have had to go home to talk with his family if he was staying in Detroit. Leaving is a more serious conversation, and if staying in Detroit was his first choice, this thing would be done. His family still may talk him into staying, but I doubt it's what he really wants.

I know my family would want to be part of the conversation if I was planning on keeping them in Detroit.