Rest In Peace, John Muckler

[Chainshot]

Per TSN, Mucks has passed away at the age of 86. He had a hand in creating the LaFontaine era teams as well as bringing in Hasek. He will be missed.

 

[Slangston]

Wow.

RIP.

 

[EmeraldCitySabre]

RIP Mucks, I loved watching his Sabres teams play, very entertaining.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

RIP. He was our GM when I was old enough to start following the Sabres. He did a great job in Ottawa too.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[TheMistyStranger]

RIP. 2020 continues its wrath.

 

[Member 308457]

I found it odd that tsn didn't mention Muckler's time with the Sabres...He was a good hockey man. I almost expected the Sabres to win a Stanley Cup with Muckler at the helm. But like Bowman, he will always be associated with other teams who had the luck and committment to bring in their unbeatable roster of players. Muckler had Hasek's respect for sure...and he always looked like he was 86.

 

[Chainshot]

I will always appreciate his time in Buffalo, be it as advisor, coach, or GM. He helped lead them out of the long, dark tea time of the soul that was the Bowman Era and the milquetoast of the Meehan teams. The '92-93 team was the height of entertainment prior to the start of the misery of dead puck hockey. They also satisfied my youthful bloodlust for gladiatorial sport as one of the toughest teams in the league. It cemented my fandom, certainly.

 

[Butt Ox]

.

Rup Rup Mucks

 

[Buffaloed]

He was born a grumpy old man. There's tributes from various players in this article. Hasek and Biron thank him for getting their NHL careers started.

John Muckler, coach and GM of Sabres during tumultuous 1990s, dies at 86
Muckler's cantankerous nature caused many players to bristle but it grew on many others. During the four-overtime marathon again the Devils, enforcer Rob Ray had not played since the second period of regulation but appealed to Muckler to put him on the ice during the second OT.
"It's like 1 in the morning and I'm standing behind the bench with the coaches because I felt bad taking a spot on the bench," Ray told The News in 2019 while reflecting on the game's 25th anniversary. "I look at 'Mucks' and I go, 'Hey look, I usually do my best work this time of night. Why don't you give me a shot?' He looks at me and goes, 'Not tonight you're not.' Never used me. He'd grouch and growl at you. That was Mucks."

 

[Myllz]

RIP

 

[dortt]

Muckler set up Darcy for the most successful stretch in team history from 1996-2001

Just wish he traded LaFontaine instead of Mogilny though. Probably would have had a dynasty those years with 3 cups

 

[Paxon]

Sad to hear. He looms large over a substantial portion of my Sabres fan lifespan.