Sabres Head Coach Search 2

[Fezzy126]

Usage issues (which are closely tied to lines) were a huge story of this season and of Phil's tenure.

Babs doesn't have the shine he did four years ago. If you want to talk systems, his team's stretch passing today would have made Bylsma blush. Abysmal puck support

If anything has become really obvious to me, it's that the Q's and Babcocks of the world really thrive with a committed veteran team. Then there's coaches like Trotz, Lavy, Boudreau, Gallant, and Deboer that have strong technical systems and can communicate to their team regardless of roster construction.

That being said, I was listening to JW the other day and he mentioned something that was dead on; To paraphrase - Was there a more franchise defining game than that game 7 for Toronto?

If they won:

• Progression, a step forward from last year
• Without Tampa in the picture, possible open road to the cup
• No one is considering firing Babs
• No one is considering roster surgery
• "We're young and on the right path, stay the course"

Now that they lost:

• Babs job in jeopardy?
• Questions about roster construction (i.e. they're not built to win in the playoffs)
• Can't even get past Boston, how the hell will they ever get past the elite teams in the league?
• "The sky is f***ing falling!"

I still think that they just bring it all back (for the most part) and take another crack at it, Dubas seems way to smart to make panic moves. But that fan base will certainly be full of irrational hot takes for the foreseeable future.

 

[Buffalo Norsemen]

Maybe he can leave his wife in Toronto lol

So when do we get Babcock?

 

[OkimLom]

Who are we, as Buffalo fans, to be picky about hiring Babcock?

The 2015-2016 Toronto Maple Leafs, when he was hired, were levels above the current Buffalo Sabres with a worse roster in terms of competitiveness. I would love to see what he can do with a Rasmus Dahlin, Jack Eichel, and Sam Reinhart on the team.

I don't care about his recent playoff record, I don't care about his line usage. I want him to straighten this franchise out, something he has shown to do in the past. If he can't succeed in the playoffs, THEN I will worry about that when that time comes. But until then, I want the best coach available/possible to be hired so they can put us on the right path. At least then, we can figure out once and for all, is it the players, or is it the coaching. And we can then plan accordingly.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

I don't see Babcock getting fired. I don't think anymore NHL coaches get fired.

I think Babs gets 1 more year.

 

[Sabre the Win]

I don't see Babcock getting fired. I don't think anymore NHL coaches get fired.

I think Babs gets 1 more year.

I think so too because that is how things work with Buffalo, when good coaches hit the market we are stuck with the Housley's and when we do a coaching search the market is slim.

We will hire someone this year and next year Babs, Laviolette, Beaudreu and others will be on the market.

 

[sufferer]

I think so too because that is how things work with Buffalo, when good coaches hit the market we are stuck with the Housley's and when we do a coaching search the market is slim.

We will hire someone this year and next year Babs, Laviolette, Beaudreu and others will be on the market.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

I think so too because that is how things work with Buffalo, when good coaches hit the market we are stuck with the Housley's and when we do a coaching search the market is slim.

We will hire someone this year and next year Babs, Laviolette, Beaudreu and others will be on the market.

We should bring in an interim coach then.

 

[brian_griffin]

I don't think Babcock's going anywhere, but the strength of his will and decisive personality and his engagement behind the bench is the antithesis of Housley, and certainly in the direction I believe the Sabres need to go with their next hire.

 

[BananaSquad]

Give me Keefe or Babs lol.

 

[Chainshot]

We should bring in an interim coach then.

Ultimately, they are all interim.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Leaf fans complaining Babcock refused to make in game adjustments and misused players.

 

[Sansbacon]

Give me Keefe or Babs lol.

In a hypothetical where Babs gets fired and we hire him, then the Leafs would likely promote Keefe.

So why not just go for Keefe, let the Leafs Fire Babcock next year if he underperforms, and then they can deal with a dire coaching search after we’ve already stolen their next-in-line. Take the rug right out from underneath them (assuming Keefe works out).

 

[sufferer]

Coaching the Marlies is probably more rewarding than coaching the Sabres. Not financially, but in every other facet.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[AustonsNostrils]

FIRE BOTTERILL RIGHT NOW!

Darren Dreger just told Biron and Peters that Jacques Martin is a top candidate for the Buffalo job according to his sources.

 

[darcyRegier]

Dreger just said on WGR that Jacques Martin is among the top candidates. I don’t know a lot about him though if anyone could share some insight.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[truthbluth]

Eh, could be worse. At this point I’m expecting Randy Carlyle. That is exactly the choice that would be worse. The one.

 

[Sabre Dance]

FIRE BOTTERILL RIGHT NOW!

Darren Dreger just told Biron and Peters that Jacques Martin is a top candidate for the Buffalo job according to his sources.

I wanted experience.

 

[truthbluth]

Oh sweet baby Jesus shoot me.

 

[Zman5778]

Martin might not be the worst thing. Take a look at this:

Marshall: Deciphering Jacques Martin's 'coach speak'

Dude is knowledgeable. If he's gotten away from his defense-first ways some, he might be just fine.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I’m not being sarcastic when I say this but I am a bit embarrassed that I didn’t know Jacques Martin was still alive. If someone told me Jacques Martin passed away a couple years ago I would have believed them.

 

[Myllz]

I think so too because that is how things work with Buffalo, when good coaches hit the market we are stuck with the Housley's and when we do a coaching search the market is slim.

We will hire someone this year and next year Babs, Laviolette, Beaudreu and others will be on the market.

Except the market wasn't slim this year, there were good options available. Botts just didn't get it done and now we pick at the remaining scraps.

 

[SundherDome]

Coached for 33 years in the pros and has a sub .500 record.. give em Babcock money before Anaheim does.