Sabres Management and Coaching Thread

[dotcommunism]

Who is he?

McPhee

 

[B U F F A L O]

Bob you ruined my night.

Uhhh... The "cataclysmic disaster down the stretch" was coming off the bye week in the playoff hunt and winning 2 of 10 games in which we blew big leads late in games or simply played uninspired hockey. Am I missing something here??

 

[Duddy]

Jim Benning seems to be getting smarter the longer he's in his job in Vancouver. It's absolutely ludicrous to think he'd give up Tanev for Kane+ considering Kane quite conceivably will be available to him for free in just a year's time.

Uhm, the guy signed Eriksson to a long term/bunch of money deal just last offseason.

I wouldn't call that smart.

 

[1972]

Uhhh... The "cataclysmic disaster down the stretch" was coming off the bye week in the playoff hunt and winning 2 of 10 games in which we blew big leads late in games or simply played uninspired hockey. Am I missing something here??

I'm in no way a Bylsma supporter, but look at the defence he's had this year and a number of injuries to key players this team has had.

 

[Jame]

Uhhh... The "cataclysmic disaster down the stretch" was coming off the bye week in the playoff hunt and winning 2 of 10 games in which we blew big leads late in games or simply played uninspired hockey. Am I missing something here??

You're not missing anything... you're spot on

 

[Jim Bob]

Care to elaborate more on the 2nd half of your statement?

Murray said there was some specific language remembered by both men regarding a favor being owed, implying that they both agreed he owed Murray a favor. It was during a discussion re: expansion draft

And some more on the expansion draft:

http://www.wgr550.com/articles/news/murray-we-recognize-where-we-have-get-better

Despite the team's issues, Murray does seem to have a plan in place with the expansion draft, "Everything is in play, including trades with teams that may have an issue with the expansion draft coming [with defense]..." Murray stated. "It has affected business a little bit, but for us, I think we're in good shape. I won't say we've made our final decision on the seven forwards protected or anything like that, but we are in good shape and we have players that do fit the criteria for Las Vegas to pick."

 

[B U F F A L O]

I'm in no way a Bylsma supporter, but look at the defence he's had this year and a number of injuries to key players this team has had.

The Leafs defense is no better for the worse than ours and are in the playoffs. How about Eichel putting up near PPG numbers. How about having the number 1 PP?

The biggest blight on this team, and the reason they are not in the playoffs, are not the injuries. Are not the suspect defense. Are not the player personnel. It is totally a system and player usage problem. Coaching. Bylsma has to go with this play down the stretch. We have too good of talent on offense for us to not be a playoff team and one of the leagues worst teams at even strength scoring.

 

[dasaybz]

Reinhart back to wing, and Foligno on Eichel's wing ... wtf Bylzzzma.

This dude is completely clueless.

Ennis-O'Reilly-Okposo
Folingo-Eichel-Reinhart
Kane-Rodrigues-Gionta
Carrier-Girgensons-Mouslon/Fasching

 

[Samsonite23]

If Bylsma isn't fired in the offseason, I'm officially on the Murray-out bandwagon. He consistently makes decisions that leave me flabbergasted and is completely hindering our progress as a team.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I'm in no way a Bylsma supporter, but look at the defence he's had this year and a number of injuries to key players this team has had.

NYR, Toronto, Boston. Look at those defenses. They're no better than ours, and yet those teams are in/legitimately competing for playoff spots. If injuries were the problem, you'd think the team would be better when healthy than not, but that hasn't been the case at all. The failure of this season is on Bylsma.

 

[OkimLom]

The Leafs defense is no better for the worse than ours and are in the playoffs. How about Eichel putting up near PPG numbers. How about having the number 1 PP?

The biggest blight on this team, and the reason they are not in the playoffs, are not the injuries. Are not the suspect defense. Are not the player personnel. It is totally a system and player usage problem. Coaching. Bylsma has to go with this play down the stretch. We have too good of talent on offense for us to not be a playoff team and one of the leagues worst teams at even strength scoring.

This is all true. Biggest problem for this team is coaching. BUT, at the same time, Bylsma had to deal with a revolving door of injuries, injuries which he can't control. Most of this impacted the defense which is our weakest position depth-wise, and further magnified the flaws of Bylsma a lot. He has had to deal with injured guys on defense for close to 90% of the season, even the best coach will have trouble with the defense injuries he had to deal with.

 

[OkimLom]

NYR, Toronto, Boston. Look at those defenses. They're no better than ours, and yet those teams are in/legitimately competing for playoff spots. If injuries were the problem, you'd think the team would be better when healthy than not, but that hasn't been the case at all. The failure of this season is on Bylsma.

Do you think our guys coming back from injuries are 100% healthy when they are playing?

 

[Zip15]

Toronto and their 16 man games lost from their top-9 forwards and top-3 defensemen is definitely a useful comparison.

 

[B U F F A L O]

This is all true. Biggest problem for this team is coaching. BUT, at the same time, Bylsma had to deal with a revolving door of injuries, injuries which he can't control. Most of this impacted the defense which is our weakest position depth-wise, and further magnified the flaws of Bylsma a lot. He has had to deal with injured guys on defense for close to 90% of the season, even the best coach will have trouble with the defense injuries he had to deal with.

The lack of a good defense or injuries to the defense is no excuse to the inefficiencies of our talented offensive group to not being able to score at 5v5.

I'd also argue that this idiotic stretch pass breakout without any support from the forwards is an even dumber system to employ when you have AHL fodder to run it through on the backend.

So, no, the injuries on defense are not an excuse for Bylsma. His decision to stick to his idiotic system which plays to the weaknesses of our players rather than their strengths is.

I want a coach who runs a puck support system. We have players with ability to handle and control the puck in tight situations. We've added speed to the lineup, let's use short quick passes to our best puck carriers and support them down the ice to maintain possession and spark creativity.

 

[OkimLom]

The lack of a good defense or injuries to the defense is no excuse to the inefficiencies of our talented offensive group to not being able to score at 5v5.

I'd also argue that this idiotic stretch pass breakout without any support from the forwards is an even dumber system to employ when you have AHL fodder to run it through on the backend.

So, no, the injuries on defense are not an excuse for Bylsma. His decision to stick to his idiotic system which plays to the weaknesses of our players rather than their strengths is.

I want a coach who runs a puck support system. We have players with ability to handle and control the puck in tight situations. We've added speed to the lineup, let's use short quick passes to our best puck carriers and support them down the ice to maintain possession and spark creativity.

I swear I remember having this argument back in the 2016 draft's thread. Yes, it does.

But again, problem for the 5 vs 5 scoring woes are rooted in Bylsma's system. But the quality of defense whether through injuries or not, does have an impact on the 5 vs 5 scoring and the inefficiencies of the offense.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Calgary acquired defenseman Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins in a trade for their first-round pick (No. 15) in the 2015 NHL Draft and the two second-round picks (Nos. 45 and 52) they previously acquired from the Washington Capitals.

And we got Fasching and Lehner to show for the 21st and 2 2nds

Murray is a disgrace.

 

[Aladyyn]

Calgary acquired defenseman Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins in a trade for their first-round pick (No. 15) in the 2015 NHL Draft and the two second-round picks (Nos. 45 and 52) they previously acquired from the Washington Capitals.

And we got Fasching and Lehner to show for the 21st and 2 2nds

Murray is a disgrace.

Are you implying Murray should have gotten Hamilton? .

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Are you implying Murray should have gotten Hamilton?.

I am implying that we threw away our picks. Also can you give me a list of tradable players that Murray can not obtain but other GMs will so I won't dumb.

Do you mind not insulting me. I dont call you stupid when you post dumb stuff. I find your comment quite ignorant or are you in love with Murray that I hurt your feelings?

 

[hizzoner]

Toronto and their 16 man games lost from their top-9 forwards and top-3 defensemen is definitely a useful comparison.

Exactly. Better players would have been in the lineup. Players need to get in sync with themselves and other players on the ice. Team chemistry develops when players play together a lot. If the Leafs had the injuries the Sabres had the standings would no doubt be reversed. That said I still do not in hindsight think that the Kulikov or Bogosian trades have worked out, Gorges is a warrior who should be in a veterans home, Bylsma has not endeared himself to me with the way the breakouts occur(not), his lines, his earlier OT shenanigans......

 

[Jame]

I am implying that we threw away our picks. Also can you give me a list of tradable players that Murray can not obtain but other GMs will so I won't dumb.

Do you mind not insulting me. I dont call you stupid when you post dumb stuff. I find your comment quite ignorant or are you in love with Murray that I hurt your feelings?

but that's dumb

 

[Icicle]

I am implying that we threw away our picks. Also can you give me a list of tradable players that Murray can not obtain but other GMs will so I won't dumb.

He traded 3 picks for a #1 goalie that is just hitting his prime age and a player who is much further along in his development and the timeline than what 2 2nd round picks, who have a 30% chance of ever even making the NHL, would give. The alternative would've been a random goaltender and 3 more years before we'd even begin to see if said picks would turn into anything.

Circle the wagons!

 

[Aladyyn]

I am implying that we threw away our picks. Also can you give me a list of tradable players that Murray can not obtain but other GMs will so I won't dumb.

Do you mind not insulting me. I dont call you stupid when you post dumb stuff. I find your comment quite ignorant or are you in love with Murray that I hurt your feelings?

Can you give me a list of young top 4 or better young defensemen traded for picks and scraps in the past few years? Leddy and Hamilton don't count.

 

[OkimLom]

Calgary acquired defenseman Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins in a trade for their first-round pick (No. 15) in the 2015 NHL Draft and the two second-round picks (Nos. 45 and 52) they previously acquired from the Washington Capitals.

And we got Fasching and Lehner to show for the 21st and 2 2nds

Murray is a disgrace.

You mean the 2 2nds that we previously got in the Regher trade from LA?

 

[tsujimoto74]

Toronto and their 16 man games lost from their top-9 forwards and top-3 defensemen is definitely a useful comparison.

Again, look how Buffalo's played this season when relatively healthy: not any better.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

The NHL world is so drearily disappointing. Andrew Peters had Elliotte Friedman on his radio show this morning. Andrew gave him a question from Twitter 'Who should the Sabres look at for their next coach?'

Friedman acted like we were all insane, he'd read Harrington's articles about the disconnect between some players and Bylsma and the growing din among the fans to can Bylsma. He thinks it would be madness for Murray and Pegula to fire Bylsma, he made a big deal that it would be only 2 years into a 5 year deal. Uh...... Pegula just fired Rex Ryan in that same contractual situation. Friedman went on to say that it would make the Sabres look dysfunctional - he's probably got somewhat of a point there. So he recommends that the owner has to get all the parties - players, GM, coach - in a room and essentially say the coach isn't being fired and they all have to figure out a solution to whatever problems exist. LOL - when has that scenario ever played out on a major league sports team?

Elliotte's naive, that isn't happening. Tim Murray may decide that he's not ready to fire Bylsma yet and he starts another season as the coach and the players are told that in their exit meetings. He could also talk to Pegula and request permission to fire Bylsma, Pegula may say no, try to work it out. We'd never hear about that. Just like we'll never know if Buffalo was one of the teams to contact Boston for permission to talk to Claude Julien.

As far as the Sabres reputation being damaged by firing Bylsma, the damage would be small imo. Keeping him carries more risk of more damage. Maybe there are coaches who would be leery of coming to Buffalo knowing the owner fired the last guy 2 years into a 5 year deal but NHL head coaching jobs are so sought after that I really don't see it hurting us. Money talks and that's one thing Pegula has lots of.

I'm going to be so depressed if Bylsma's not fired by July 1st. We're a young team, we're not going to lose Eichel for the first 21 games of next season so my fear is if Bylsma isn't fired we'll be a mediocre team maybe a few games over .500 and we'll be stuck with Bylsma for another couple of seasons. And to me that's a disaster.