Confirmed with Link: The Coaching Search is Over! Sabres Hire Bylsma, Presser at 4PM

[sjci]

 

[Myllz]

That was obviously the first call Kim Pegula made after Dan signed.

 

[Clock]

I think they did the third just for the sake of humor.

 

[jBuds]

My initial concern:

How does a lifelong grind it out right wing, whose coaching career included the likes of Crosby and Malkin, do with regards to implementing defense?

I picked four categories:

- 5 on 5 GA
- GA per game
- shots against per game
- total hits (just curious)

Themes:

- always top ten in total hits, including top three in his first two FULL years in PIT (year after they won cup)

That's it.

GA/gm
09-10: 20th
10-11: 6th
11-12: 15th
12-13: 12th (lockout short)
13-14: 10th


Shots against per game
09-10: 6th
10-11: 5th
11-12: 4th
12-13: 16th
13-14: 10th

5 on 5 GA

09-10: 22nd
10-11: 5th
11-12: 24th
12-13: 9th
13-14: 14th


That tells me minimal, really. They were never stellar on D, blue line or as a team up front or all around. Fleury, while criticized often (sometimes unfairly), isn't Jon Quick.

They were always in the playoffs.

But they won one cup and Bylsma had 25 regular season games to do with it. Not a ton of playoff success otherwise.

Crosby and Malkin - does that weigh in his favor or against him?

I know this: I am unwilling to sit through more "compete" and "work hard" solutions to problems for which THOSE ARENT CORRECT ANSWERS.

If Bylsma can build a staff and implement structure, we are in better shape. That shouldn't be a tall task if due diligence was done.

Conclusion:

Because Murray has said as much (need more than just "work" speech), id have to believe Murray asked about this and was pleased with the response

 

[SackTastic]

Quickly perusing previous drafts, I'd roughly say 3 3rd rounders per year end up being useful NHL players. I'd take a 10% chance at a solid NHL player over any coach.

Yes, because a coach who has the potential to improve an entire 23 man roster is less valuable than a 10% chance for a middling NHL roster spot. [mod]

 

[Sabretip]

Current Vegas Odds Board :

First Buffalo News 'Journalist' to ask a cringeworthy question at the press conference.

Vogl : +400
Gleason : Even Money
Sullivan : Probably already has his article written, but -200 if he shows up.
Harrington : No Action, nobody would bet against this.
Graham : Won't attend, scribing an article about the journalistic superiority of newspapers.

I would bet my house that either Harrington or Sullivan will at some point ask the awkward, "Dan, you know that you were this team's second choice and if things had gone as everyone expected last week, we wouldn't be here today. How does that make you feel and why did you accept the position?"

To which Murray will get annoyed and shoot some curt reply while Black will say that Bylsma was at the top of their list with Babcock.

 

[Rhett4]

What I want to hear about:

Assistant coaches and Irbe
Impressions of Eichel at WC
Rochester's future
Things learned and new approach on analytics

What I expect to hear:

What's it like to be sloppy seconds to Babcock?
How come the Sabres didn't have a presser to end the season?
Did you like Rex Ryan's video?
How come you ruined the Penguins?
Do you approve of track suits?

 

[sabres4ever]

Can he do any pullups though?

 

[olliho]

Today's shirt has a pocket and last nights doesn't. Last night was clearly his classy shirt and today's shirt is all business.

and he has the winning shoes from the lottery on

 

[SackTastic]

I would bet my house that either Harrington or Sullivan will at some point ask the awkward, "Dan, you know that you were this team's second choice and if things had gone as everyone expected last week, we wouldn't be here today. How does that make you feel and why did you accept the position?"

To which Murray will get annoyed and shoot some curt reply while Black will say that Bylsma was at the top of their list with Babcock.

Yep. I predict a dearth of questions about the process instead of the result. (Mostly because they were frozen out of the 'process' due to prior asshattery.)

 

[sabresfan129103]

I would bet my house that either Harrington or Sullivan will at some point ask the awkward, "Dan, you know that you were this team's second choice and if things had gone as everyone expected last week, we wouldn't be here today. How does that make you feel and why did you accept the position?"

To which Murray will get annoyed and shoot some curt reply while Black will say that Bylsma was at the top of their list with Babcock.

The thing is I bet you're not far off the mark. Our media is so embarrassing.

They should only let Vogl in.

 

[jBuds]

Therefore, approach is wait and see. No judgement.

 

[Sabretip]

Will be interesting to hear who the assistants will be/if irbe is retained

What seems curious to me is what happens to Granato in Detroit. He was Babcock's aide last season so:

1) Does he stay an assistant to Blashill?; or
2) Does he join Babcock in Toronto?; or
3) Is he cut loose by Detroit and then join his former boss, Bylsma, in Buffalo?

 

[Bps21*]

I wonder what the stat is on cup winning coaches taking over 30th place teams.

 

[Jacob582]

That's very surprising - either Murray got enough solid recommendations/endorsements on Bylsma from Fletcher and others to feel the hiring will work out that long, or Pegula's willingness to eat portions of contracts for departed employees gave him peace of mind for such a long-term deal. I was kind of expecting 3 year term to start with.
:

I was hoping it was 3 years, but no way that was realistic. McLellan got 5 years and DeBoer is getting 4 years from San Jose.

 

[Moskau]

My initial concern:

How does a lifelong grind it out right wing, whose coaching career included the likes of Crosby and Malkin, do with regards to implementing defense?

I picked four categories:

- 5 on 5 GA
- GA per game
- shots against per game
- total hits (just curious)

Themes:

- always top ten in total hits, including top three in his first two FULL years in PIT (year after they won cup)

That's it.

GA/gm
09-10: 20th
10-11: 6th
11-12: 15th
12-13: 12th (lockout short)
13-14: 10th


Shots against per game
09-10: 6th
10-11: 5th
11-12: 4th
12-13: 16th
13-14: 10th

5 on 5 GA

09-10: 22nd
10-11: 5th
11-12: 24th
12-13: 9th
13-14: 14th


That tells me minimal, really. They were never stellar on D, blue line or as a team up front or all around. Fleury, while criticized often (sometimes unfairly), isn't Jon Quick.

They were always in the playoffs.

But they won one cup and Bylsma had 25 regular season games to do with it. Not a ton of playoff success otherwise.

Crosby and Malkin - does that weigh in his favor or against him?

I know this: I am unwilling to sit through more "compete" and "work hard" solutions to problems for which THOSE ARENT CORRECT ANSWERS.

If Bylsma can build a staff and implement structure, we are in better shape. That shouldn't be a tall task if due diligence was done.

Conclusion:

Because Murray has said as much (need more than just "work" speech), id have to believe Murray asked about this and was pleased with the response

Today's NHL is all about depth and the Pittsburgh teams had virtually no depth for the last 2 seasons Bylsma was there.

 

[jBuds]

Today's NHL is all about depth and the Pittsburgh teams had virtually no depth for the last 2 seasons Bylsma was there.

I agree.

But the first spot you look to for depth is down the middle.

Crosby

Malkin


Doesn't that end that argument, to a degree? I'm asking.

 

[Leafs2020]

The thing is I bet you're not far off the mark. Our media is so embarrassing.

They should only let Vogl in.

After the crap they pulled in Toronto they shouldn't be given media passes for today's event. Just my opinion

 

[sabres4ever]

What I want to hear about:

Assistant coaches and Irbe
Impressions of Eichel at WC
Rochester's future
Things learned and new approach on analytics

What I expect to hear:

What's it like to be sloppy seconds to Babcock?
How come the Sabres didn't have a presser to end the season?
Did you like Rex Ryan's video?
How come you ruined the Penguins?
Do you approve of track suits?

You forgot, "Why would you want to coach a team who purposely tanked just to get a chance at Connor McDavid?"

 

[Bps21*]

I agree.

But the first spot you look to for depth is down the middle.

Crosby

Malkin


Doesn't that end that argument, to a degree? I'm asking.

200 times in his games there one of them was unavailable.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

BUTTON: BYLSMA AN ‘EXCELLENT CHOICE’ TO COACH SABRES

NHL Network analyst Craig Button breaks down why the Sabres chose Dan Bylsma.

DUFF: BYLSMA BRINGS WINNING PEDGIREE TO BUFFALO

He was drafted four picks ahead of Pavel Bure in the 1989 NHL Draft, but scored fewer goals per game over the course of his 429-game NHL career than Sabres “legend†Rob Ray. (Is this the time to be asking, “How?†and not “How many?â€)

He shares a birthday (Sept. 19) with late-night comedian Jimmy Fallon and some of his own comedic instincts helped him earn a nickname – “Disco Dan†– that could gain further traction in Western New York given our penchant for a certain annual event, The World’s Largest Disco, which sells out every November in downtown Buffalo.

But most importantly, as he is introduced Thursday as the new head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, Dan Bylsma brings with him an impressive coaching resume.

 

[TehDoak]

Gleason: Welcome Dan, Bucky Gleason from the Buffalo News. Has Tim Murray informed you of plans to tank this season? How many games do you plan on throwing?

Harrington: This is for Ted Black. Since you didn't have a season ending presser, I have some questions from then:

Who is on your short list for head coaches since you have unjustifiably fired Ted Nolan for his last place finish?
Do you think Buffalo will be able to attract a head coach given they are an embarrassment to the league?
When can we speak to Terry Pegula?
Where you aware that OTHER teams had a season ending press conference?
How many twitter followers do you have? BLOCKED

Sullivan: Hey Terry, who will be the bills starting QB and why will race be a factor?

 

[SackTastic]

I agree.

But the first spot you look to for depth is down the middle.

Crosby

Malkin


Doesn't that end that argument, to a degree? I'm asking.

Have two top line centers doesn't really help you when you have to play 3rd and 4th line guys next to them for weeks at a time due to injuries.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I agree.

But the first spot you look to for depth is down the middle.

Crosby

Malkin


Doesn't that end that argument, to a degree? I'm asking.

iirc, both of those guys missed quite a few games to injury during Bylsma's tenure there.

 

[sabrebuild]

Pit gets the better of the isles or Canucks pick. Offersheets is still alive.