Sabres Management and Coaching Thread

[ThunderD]

Agree.

Also, no need to move Bylsma now. In-season coaching changes are designed to produce results. See Florida. Firing Bylsma now gets Buffalo nowhere. They aren't making the playoffs. Scotty Bowman couldn't get them into the playoffs now.

Better to let the season end, think through the situation, and make a decision.

The added benefit of an extra month to learn the new system is not much in the grand scheme either. However winning a few extra games and picking lower in the draft could hurt us more down the road.

 

[Sabretooth]

And there are signs the agony of this season is getting to him. Not even a month ago, Bylsma told the media that turnovers by Jack Eichel are better than puck dump-ins because it means the franchise center is trying to be creative. He even mused that he'd bench Eichel if he never coughed up the puck.

Last night, he sat Eichel for a shift after his turnover that resulted in the first Flyers goal. For good measure, he postgame criticized the puck management decisions of the player whose creativity produced 2 goals and 3 points.

wow. **** off, bylsma.

Like, imagine this was your job, and you were told, "working fast even if a few mistakes get through is better than taking longer to perfect everything", and then getting written up for mistakes made due to working fast.

 

[Zip15]

It's funny how these things develop. Young guy makes bad turnover. Young guy gets sat for a shift. Young guy comes back and scores 3 pts in the game. The takeaway? **** off, coach.

If the coach was well-liked - and 75% of the board wasn't such a bunch of Eichel-protectionist nancies prepared to go to war over every actual and perceived slight directed at Eichel, but that's a different conversation - they'd be talking about how it woke up Eichel or lit a fire under him or got the message through.

Good players sometimes get sat for a short period. It happened to Malkin last year. IN THE PLAYOFFS. How the player responds matters more, and Jack responded well last night.

 

[Myllz]

It's funny how these things develop. Young guy makes bad turnover. Young guy gets sat for a shift. Young guy comes back and scores 3 pts in the game. The takeaway? **** off, coach.

If the coach was well-liked - and 75% of the board wasn't such a bunch of Eichel-protectionist nancies prepared to go to war over every actual and perceived slight directed at Eichel, but that's a different conversation - they'd be talking about how it woke up Eichel or lit a fire under him or got the message through.

Good players sometimes get sat for a short period. It happened to Malkin last year. IN THE PLAYOFFS. How the player responds matters more, and Jack responded well last night.

He's on one of the longest point streaks in the NHL, you really think he needed to be woken up?

 

[OkimLom]

It's funny how these things develop. Young guy makes bad turnover. Young guy gets sat for a shift. Young guy comes back and scores 3 pts in the game. The takeaway? **** off, coach.

If the coach was well-liked - and 75% of the board wasn't such a bunch of Eichel-protectionist nancies prepared to go to war over every actual and perceived slight directed at Eichel, but that's a different conversation - they'd be talking about how it woke up Eichel or lit a fire under him or got the message through.

Good players sometimes get sat for a short period. It happened to Malkin last year. IN THE PLAYOFFS. How the player responds matters more, and Jack responded well last night.

Have no problem with benching a player, especially a younger player for making a turnover, but you better be consistent with that benching for your other players as well. When you allow your vets(who have been there before) to make mistakes and don't bench them, I think it sends the wrong message to the young kids.

 

[Aladyyn]

Did anyone notice any change in Eichel's game after the benching?

 

[Sabreality]

Did anyone notice any change in Eichel's game after the benching?

nope. still carried the puck through a maze of defenders on multiple occasions. His turnover stunk, but it was also a very nice play by Couts.

 

[joshjull]

It's funny how these things develop. Young guy makes bad turnover. Young guy gets sat for a shift. Young guy comes back and scores 3 pts in the game. The takeaway? **** off, coach.

If the coach was well-liked - and 75% of the board wasn't such a bunch of Eichel-protectionist nancies prepared to go to war over every actual and perceived slight directed at Eichel, but that's a different conversation - they'd be talking about how it woke up Eichel or lit a fire under him or got the message through.

Good players sometimes get sat for a short period. It happened to Malkin last year. IN THE PLAYOFFS. How the player responds matters more, and Jack responded well last night.

Jack played the exact same he's played for quite some time now befor and after getting the benching. You have to be nuts or a complete Disco fanboy if you actual think sitting that one shift had any impact on how Jack played.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

All the best to Dan Bylsma in his future endeavors. Shame things didn't work out but that's life.

*practicing*

 

[Ness]

Jack played the exact same he's played for quite some time now befor and after getting the benching. You have to be nuts or a complete Disco fanboy if you actual think sitting that one shift had any impact on how Jack played.

There have to be a few Stephen A's and Skip's on here to go against the "Bylsma sucks" popular opinion otherwise we'd have nothing to debate about on here.

 

[Sabretooth]

It's funny how these things develop. Young guy makes bad turnover. Young guy gets sat for a shift. Young guy comes back and scores 3 pts in the game. The takeaway? **** off, coach.

If the coach was well-liked - and 75% of the board wasn't such a bunch of Eichel-protectionist nancies prepared to go to war over every actual and perceived slight directed at Eichel, but that's a different conversation - they'd be talking about how it woke up Eichel or lit a fire under him or got the message through.

Good players sometimes get sat for a short period. It happened to Malkin last year. IN THE PLAYOFFS. How the player responds matters more, and Jack responded well last night.

Yup you're right Jacks been struggling for a while now good thing Dan was around last night to finally wake him up maybe now we'll start to see what Jack can do.

 

[haseoke39]

One shift benching is not an issue. That's a minute coaching decision that is warranted in that kind of situation regardless of who it's aimed at. Let's not get distracted from criticism that matters.

 

[Zip15]

Have no problem with benching a player, especially a younger player for making a turnover, but you better be consistent with that benching for your other players as well. When you allow your vets(who have been there before) to make mistakes and don't bench them, I think it sends the wrong message to the young kids.

Preaching to the choir. I've been calling for Okposo's demotion in the lineup, or brief benching (half a period or less), since mid-January. Bylsma isn't consistent on this point, and I've bemoaned that fact for some time.

Jack played the exact same he's played for quite some time now befor and after getting the benching. You have to be nuts or a complete Disco fanboy if you actual think sitting that one shift had any impact on how Jack played.

I don't. My point reflects what I believe the narrative would've been if the coach was better liked around these parts (i.e., "he's pressing the right buttons!").

One shift benching is not an issue. That's a minute coaching decision that is warranted in that kind of situation regardless of who it's aimed at. Let's not get distracted from criticism that matters.

Of course it's not an issue...to any reasonable person.

 

[Sabretooth]

If the coach is sending mixed signals, that's an issue.

 

[Gabrielor]

So now we have Cal OReilly making requests to be moved off Rochester? What's going on with this organization? What happened to Hockey Heaven?

 

[pigpen65]

Yes seriously, what does Ted Nolan contract status have to do with the current state of the Sabres? What are you trying to imply with it?

Ted Nolan was fired after 1 year of a 3 year contract. He's still getting paid. Nolan was fired so that Murray could replace him with Bylsma. You are currently posting in (or were before the thread got merged) a thread about the replacement getting fired on year 2 of a 5 year contract. You replied to my post referencing Nolan's firing in respect to patience from the GM. So now putting all of that together..... seriously?

 

[Husko]

Ted Nolan was fired after 1 year of a 3 year contract. He's still getting paid. Nolan was fired so that Murray could replace him with Bylsma. You are currently posting in (or were before the thread got merged) a thread about the replacement getting fired on year 2 of a 5 year contract. You replied to my post referencing Nolan's firing in respect to patience from the GM. So now putting all of that together..... seriously?

still don't see how I think matters

 

[pigpen65]

List the factual mistakes he made. Not the ones you disagree with, but ones that have had led to a hinderance of how our team operates.

I don't know what you mean using the word factual. I know the salary for the team he's built is up to the cap and i know the team he's built sucks. I know, factually, a team that costs a lot and losses a lot is the opposite of what an owner wants.

 

[pigpen65]

still don't see how I think matters

Are you the same dude with another account?

 

[jBuds]

So now we have Cal OReilly making requests to be moved off Rochester? What's going on with this organization? What happened to Hockey Heaven?

What's this??? I've been Bills all day today...

 

[Husko]

Are you the same dude with another account?

Nope. Why don't you spell it out for me. Are you saying it makes it more or less likely that Murray fires bylsma?

 

[wunderpanda]

Rebuilds never follow a specific timeline.

Just look at the Blackhawks. They took off after their owner passed away and his son took over.

Rebuilds have a fairly specific timeline tho. GMs get replaced by year 4 if a rebuild hasn't produced results; the new GM is the start of a new re-build. So looking at the Hawks, the Tallon rebuild was 05-09, went from last place to conference finals in 3 years. Bowman took over after the rebuild succeeded. Pulford and Smith years aren't part of the same rebuild even with the Duncan Kieth selection.

Tallon rebuilt rebuilt the Panthers and got them in the playoffs within 4 seasons. Panthers probably had 3 failed rebuilds since 2000 before Tallon, that doesn't mean it was a 14 year rebuild. They aren't cumulative, starts with a GM and a tank coach, then a real coach & then success by year 4 or a new GM is brought in.

Can look at the the Islanders a little different, Snow was GM when they made playoffs in 07. He orchestrated the tank, began rebuilding with Bailey and Tavares and made the playoffs in Capuano's 3rd season.


Murray just participated in his 4th trade deadline as GM, coming up on his 4th draft. He was able to use compliance buy-outs on Leino & Ehrhoff so cap wasn't a concern. Miller & Moulson were the only other high salaries (UFA's too) he inherited. Bylsma & Jack will be entering their 3rd seasons. Realistically, he should be concerned about getting over the playoff hump instead Murray is still trying to get out of the basement.

*As negative as I made that sound, this team could be one player away and that player could easily be Guhle. Had Guhle been kept after camp, most complaints about Murray's trading of D prospects stop.

 

[fiend540]

Ted Nolan was fired after 1 year of a 3 year contract. He's still getting paid. Nolan was fired so that Murray could replace him with Bylsma. You are currently posting in (or were before the thread got merged) a thread about the replacement getting fired on year 2 of a 5 year contract. You replied to my post referencing Nolan's firing in respect to patience from the GM. So now putting all of that together..... seriously?

Nolan was kept on, and then fired for a reason it had NOTHING to do with a lack of patience.

still don't see how I think matters

It doesn't he just wants to twist it so he can ***** about Murray

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

One shift benching is not an issue. That's a minute coaching decision that is warranted in that kind of situation regardless of who it's aimed at. Let's not get distracted from criticism that matters.

Guess who wins in this battle?
Bylsma might be seeing how far he can go with his star player and be backed up by management. Frankly, he's nuts. Modern athletes are a new kind of animal.

 

[haseoke39]

Guess who wins in this battle?
Bylsma might be seeing how far he can go with his star player and be backed up by management. Frankly, he's nuts. Modern athletes are a new kind of animal.

If you're alluding to the broader issue with systems squelching creativity, it's far from clear that Jack is at real odds with his coach, but who knows. That's behind the scenes stuff.

If you're referring to the one shift benching, that's not a battle. It's a routine thing every coach will do for some player every other game.