BillsFan4

That makes a lot more sense. I was very surprised to read that the Bills were interested. Doesn’t seem worth the headache.

Id be ok with him. He’s not my first choice but he checks a lot of the boxes I’d be looking for. He’s won a Cup (as an assistant), worked/learned under an excellent coach in Babcock, has over 800 NHL games coached and has proven that he can be a successful coach in the NHL. He was an excellent coach when he was with the Sharks. He has a winning record every year he was there and made the playoffs 6 out of 7 seasons. They were an offensive powerhouse almost every season under McLellan. They won a presidents trophy as the NHL’s best team and routinely finished with 100+ points. He was my 2nd choice in 2015 when the Sabres went after Babcock. But Edmonton snatched him up very quickly, before Babcock had even started interviewing.

Yeah me either. As I said, there are still 7 head coaching vacancies (including the Sabres). I think we are higher on the list than Ottawa, but other than that I’m not sure. The Sabres have fired a lot of head coaches in recent years and haven’t f8nished better than 8th last since 2012. They have to get this hire right though.

From yesterday - I also read that they were in on Q. But he already had a good relationship with Dale Tallon. Tallon was the one who hired him in Chicago. Twice (once as a scout right after he was fired in Colorado, and then again as a head coach). Philly was in on him too and missed out. Theres a lot of coaching vacancies and there are better teams than buffalo looking for a coach. Unfortunately, I am not sure how high on any list we are right now. I guess we will find out soon.

juat listening to the Risto locker clean out interview now and I haven’t heard anything even close to the stuff ROR said last year. Risto gave no reason to overreact and ship him out. So there is no excuse for Botterill to screw a Risto trade up. The ONLY way I trade him is if some teams offers us a Taylor Hall type 1 for 1 trade (like Edmonton offered for Risto a few years back). I am legitimately worried that Botterill will make Risto a scapegoat. player exit interviews ongoing

The Atlantic division is gozing to be absolutely brutal for a while, I think. We already have Tampa (who just tied a record (with the dynasty redwings) for best regular season Ever, in NHL history), Boston, Toronto. Montreal has a top tier coach in Claude Julien and are taking steps forward. Now Florida has Q. They have talent, and just a few seasons ago (when they still had a top tier coach (Gallant)) they finished at/near the top of the division. I fully expect them to become a very good team again. Word is they want both Bobrovsky and Panarin too (and Panarin supposedly loves playing for Q and was already interested in a Florida before he signed, so...). Edit -forgot to mention the rumors of Steve Yzerman heading to Detroit this offseason... if it happens, I fully expect him to turn Detroit around. Word is that as of yesterday, LA was already in contract talks with Todd McLellan. Teams are moving fast on these good veteran coaches, and there’s what, 8 coaching vacancies? Whatever happens, Buffalo absolutely has to get this hire right if we want any chance at competing in our division, let alone playoffs.

well, we can officially forget about Q

not sure how much stock I put into Jeremy White’s super secret source. But I figured I’d share anyway. Some people seem to believe he does indeed have a Sabres source

I’m starting to like the idea of a possible Alain Vigneault hire, if Q to Florida really does happen as soon as tomorrow. AV has coached over 1,200 NHL games. He has the experience. He’s been there and done it before - taken over crappy teams and made them better. This wouldn’t (or shouldn’t, in theory) be an overwhelming task for him. He’s won the Jack Adams (as NHL’s best head coach) at least once and been nominated for it at least 3x. His teams have won a number of presidents trophies as the NHL’s best team (Vancouver won it back to back when he was their HC). He was great in Vancouver and left as the franchises winningest head coach. The Sedin’s developed into super stars under him. The first 4yrs of their career they were 30-50pt 2nd liner types, until AV took over. Ryan Kesler went from an ok 3rd line C to an elite #2C under AV. He got an ok NYR team to within a game of a Stanley Cup. That team was good, but not elite by ay means. He has shown the ability to adapt his system to the team he has. He’s had teams that were very defense 1st and he’s has teams that led the league in offense. He is also said to be a commanding presnce in the locker room and a leader.

I honestly think that until that crazy March collapse, botterill planned on keeping Housley. I’m sure you remember that interview at the end of February/beginning of March. Plus every insider (Friedman, McKenzie, LeBrun, Dreger etc) was saying Housley was safe.

I watched every game. It wasn’t that I’m surprised because I thought he did a good job. It had nothing to do with that. It was that Jason Botterill interview about a month ago. He said that Housley would “definitely be the Sabres coach next year”. The media said to him “do you know the the #1 thing fans want is Housley gone?” Botterill actually sounded shocked and pissed off that the media even asked him that and has this kind of disgusted sound to his voice when he answered the question. and then the Pegulas just said a couple weeks ago (at the NFL owner’s meetings) that Botterill wanted to keep housley and they gave him their support. So I thought that maybe they’d try to sell us on housley to start next year. I’m glad they didn’t. But I also said on here a few weeks ago that I didn’t care what Botterill said, that Housley couldn’t survive if this collapse continued.

Maybe.... still sounds like Florida is the front runner, though. Dale Tallon (their GM) hired Q in Chicago and assembled much of the team that Q won 3 cups with. Plus, the panthers are currently a better team than the Sabres. But hey, at least it sounds like we might be trying to go after him.

crap. The Q dream may be over before it even started...

It depends on who’s fired. I’m hoping/thinking Bruce Boudreau will be fired in Minnesota. I would love that hire. Alain Vigneault might be a name to watch. He has a lot of experience, was known as an innovator and has taken 2 teams to the Cup finals. He was named the head coach for team canada at the upcoming worlds, where Botterill is the GM. Some other experienced veteran coaches out there: - Michel Therrien (HC in Pittsburgh when botterill was hired) - Todd McLellan - Darryl Sutter - Randy Carlyle (puke...) Rikard Grönborg could be another name to watch. He’s been team Sweden’s coach for years and is said to be looking for NHL opportunity. Botterill clearly loves the way Swedish players are developed (and has said as much). If Botterill goes with less experience again, Chris Taylor (Amerks Head Coach) could be a candidate (too inexpensive need IMO. Only 2yrs as a head coach at any level) Or Sheldon Keefe of the Marlies. That’s a hire I wouldn’t mind. He’s won at every level. Q is definitely my #1 choice, though. I don’t know if Botterill will be looking for a veteran HC or not. I think he 100% should, but I worry that he may go with a less experienced candidate again.

I am actually hoping that is one of the advantages the Sabres have (Eichel + Dahlin being others) is that they can offer a coaching salary that most teams won’t match. I think that Philly is going to go hard after Q though, and their GM has a prior relationship with Q. In fact, iirc Chuck Fletcher’s dad gave Q his first professional head coaching job (with the marlies I believe). Oh, and Paul Holmgren is still their team president and no one likes a to make a big splash more than him. There will be a lot of teams after him, I’m sure.

Oh wow. I am surprised to be honest. I thought they’d keep him another year. I kinda figured it’d be tough to survive that insane collapse in March though. Now, please go get Quenneville or Boudreau or someone on that level! Edit - here’s the tweet from the Sabres -

No. It’s a very nice top 2 but not on that level. I would easily put them behind the top 2 in 2015 (McDacid, Eichel), and behind the top pick in 2016 (Matthews). I’d put them behind Dahlin too. Hughes is probably about what Pat Kane was as a #1 pick and Kakko’s game is kind of like a lesser Matthews or a guy like Rantanen.

Jack Hughes (C) is probably the top prize and Kaapo Kakko (wing) going 2nd. It looks like tiers, as usual. Hughes and Kakko are tier 1. Then there’s a tier from about 3-7. Then 8-9. Then a drop off.

Well, things somewhat worked out for Buffalo last night (as far as potentially getting the higher STL pick). Almost every team we needed to win did. Has the Blues not won in the shootout like they did, their pick would have been #19. Currently it sits at #20 but we still have a chance... If any of Colorado, Vegas, Dallas, or Columbus make their respective conference finals (and St. Louis does not), then St. Louis's pick will go up to the 19th pick (or as high as 17, potentially), and Buffalo would retain it. So I know what teams I will be rooting for when the playoffs start! Vegas seems like the most likely to make the finals. Let’s hope Fleury gets hot again.

Wow, unbelievable. 7-1. I love it! When is the last time the Sabres ended the season with a win? It feels like forever. Especially a blowout 7-1 win... I know it screws up their draft position by 1 spot but I’m still happy for a definitive win like this. The Rangers game is in overtime so that locks Buffalo into the #5 spot. Now let’s hope for some draft lottery luck!

Skinner with #40! His first 40g season. And Buffalo has a 40 goal scorer for the first time since 2008 (iirc). I love that Housley moved him back to the top line for the 3rd and that all his teammates were trying to set him up to score, passing up chances of their own to get Skinner the puck. Love seeing that type of stuff.

As of now it’s the St. Louis pick (currently #22). The San Jose pick is currently at #24. We we have to wait and see where everything falls after the draft lottery though. We will have a bit better idea after the regular season ends tonight. There is still a tint chance the St. Louis pick could end up at #19 (after the draft lottery) depending on what happens tonight. Anaheim gets the better of the 2 picks if the STL pick ends up #20 or higher. Buffalo keeps it if it ends up at #19. Then we also have to root for both STL and SJ to lose by the 2nd round of the playoffs. If one makes it to the conference finals, it pushes the pick to the 28-31 range.

Yeah, I’ll be rooting against Toronto too. But I wouldn’t go as far as t9 say that I am rootain’t for Boston. My ideal 1st round would include both of hem being eliminated... lol. But really though, The only thing I truly care about is that both St. Louis and San Jose lose by the 2nd round. If they make it to the conference finals, it pushes their 1st into that 28-31 range.

they gave Dareus about the same, too.