Speculation: The Coaching Search (Friedman: Ruff to be next HC)

[littletonhockeycoach]

I get Bylsma vibes from Berube. He has a Cup, sure. But…..

If it's Berube, then Steve Ott would not be far behind (IMO he's Craig's X and O's guy).

So I am feeling very cautious about Berube.

I dislike RBA when he's the opposing coach. But would love to have him in charge of the Sabres. He is the real deal.

Lindy will be fine. He has an excellent track record for both improving and developing players, has a system of play that is not outdated, knows his x's and O's, has NHL and Team Canada coaching credentials and requires much of players with no excuses allowed.

 

[old kummelweck]

Kevin weeks just mentioned that Mike Sullivan could be the guy

Only that he's under contract through 2027.

 

[tsujimoto74]

You know, it's happening about 10 years too late, but it does seem like this team is finally doing something that looks like a properly run rebuild. First time around, I think Rolston and Housely were supposed to be the developmental coaches, and Bylsma was supposed to come in and be the win now guy. And then Kreuger was supposed to fr be the win now guy when Bylsma failed. But all 4 of those guys sucked in their roles. Granato actually was (is) a good developmental coach. Now we need to get a good win now guy to take us the rest of the way.

 

[jBuds]

You know, it's happening about 10 years too late, but it does seem like this team is finally doing something that looks like a properly run rebuild. First time around, I think Rolston and Housely were supposed to be the developmental coaches, and Bylsma was supposed to come in and be the win now guy. And then Kreuger was supposed to fr be the win now guy when Bylsma failed. But all 4 of those guys sucked in their roles. Granato actually was (is) a good developmental coach. Now we need to get a good win now guy to take us the rest of the way.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

Based on his comments, I don't think GMKA is going to wait for his ugliness to finish the playoffs. RBA would be my first choice, but it's a pipedream and we'd probably get Babcocked again.

I think they'll apply for Berube and keep Ruff as their safe school.

If Adams waits for RBA, we're getting Appert.

 

[Yultron]

Kevyn Adams wants 'pedigree' in the next Sabres coach: Which candidates fit the bill?

Kevyn Adams is clear he wants a coach with lots of NHL experience after moving on from Don Granato.

theathletic.com

Fairburn's list:

Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
Lindy Ruff
Craig Berube
Bruce Boudreau
Dean Evanson
Todd McClellan
Jay Woodcroft
Gerard Gallant
Joel Quenneville

Also lists Mike Sullivan and Sheldon Keefe as options if they get fired.

If Mike Sullivan is fired he is my top choice

 

[paulmm3]

Craig Berube went 200-132-44 with the Blues. It's not like he just had one good playoff run. He is probably my top choice out of the names being discussed. Would be okay with Lindy though.

 

[Ace]

Only that he's under contract through 2027.

I’m not sure he’ll be under contract by Friday. There’s been reports for a while that if they miss he and the organization may want to mutually part ways. Dubas is going to want his own guy at some point. Sullivan can see the aging group keep aging and they just missed twice…including with Crosby playing out of his mind this year.

 

[Fjordy]

I think about Berube you'd better ask St. Louis fans. Without knowing all the information, I don’t want to put the Bylsma mark on him in advance.

 

[boots electric]

I agree that Ruff seems like the most obvious fit even if I'm not 100% sold on it being a great idea. But thinking more about it given some of the rumors from Weekes and others in the media, people in the Sabres FO do have Pittsburgh connections, They might know something we don't about a pending Sullivan firing, and he absolutely checks a lot of the same boxes.

and FWIW, the Sabres have some of the same connections with Carolina as well, and you could extend the same thought to RBR (but the playoff run dampens that idea some)

 

[old kummelweck]

I’m not sure he’ll be under contract by Friday. There’s been reports for a while that if they miss he and the organization may want to mutually part ways. Dubas is going to want his own guy at some point. Sullivan can see the aging group keep aging and they just missed twice…including with Crosby playing out of his mind this year.

He's under contract through 2027, so PIT would not only choose to eat the 3 years, but also let him go to a conference rival, immediately. But we'll see.

It would be another owner chosing to fire a coach prior to the new contract kicking in.

 

[Jim Bob]

Manifesting stuff in life is total BS. But, my reverse jinx skills on the other hand...

 

[Jim Bob]

Lindy if it happens quickly and RBA if it doesn't makes sense.

Joe pointing out that Adams said he had a plan points to Adams having first hand experience with the coach he wants makes sense and Lindy & RBA check that box.

 

[Sabre Dance]

I feel like I’ve posting this Darryl Sutter quote forever.

"If somebody is getting ready to win, that’s what they do; you hire really good coaches when you’re getting ready to win. Until you’re doing that, you don’t.”

I think the Sabres are finally going to get serious.

 

[Fjordy]

I feel like I’ve posting this Darryl Sutter quote forever.

"If somebody is getting ready to win, that’s what they do; you hire really good coaches when you’re getting ready to win. Until you’re doing that, you don’t.”

I think the Sabres are finally going to get serious.

I thought Ralph Krueger said that.

 

[Bobby Bottle Service]

Bonus for any coach that gets us to the playoffs...

Automatic consideration for the Jack Adams.

 

[BFLO]

You know, it's happening about 10 years too late, but it does seem like this team is finally doing something that looks like a properly run rebuild. First time around, I think Rolston and Housely were supposed to be the developmental coaches, and Bylsma was supposed to come in and be the win now guy. And then Kreuger was supposed to fr be the win now guy when Bylsma failed. But all 4 of those guys sucked in their roles. Granato actually was (is) a good developmental coach. Now we need to get a good win now guy to take us the rest of the way.

Think you've got your coaching timelines mixed up. Kreuger came in after Housley failed, not Bylsma.

Ron Rolston	2013–2013
Ted Nolan	2013–2015
Dan Bylsma	2015–2017
Phil Housley	2017–2019
Ralph Krueger	2019–2021
Don Granato	2021–2024

 

[jc17]

If ellis and wilford stay on in some capacity, and we bring in berube, we'll have a good dent in a cast for a flinstones live action film

 

[Fezzy126]

If Mike Sullivan is fired he is my top choice

Sullivan and staff coached a worse power play than the Sabres this year. That's a PP that had Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, Guentzel, and Rakell for most of the year.

I don't talk puck with my PA buddies as much as I used to, so I don't know what happened there. But the numbers are enough to justify a deeper dive to see what happened there.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

More than I’m getting in either direction, ha. I have nothing and I want more.

Aside, I’m surprised by the sentiment on Ruff. I haven’t allowed my emotions to process that idea yet, either, but the overwhelming acceptance of that reunion is definitely not what I expected to see when I checked in here.

I know I wouldn’t lose my mind with anger. But does it excite me? I’m not there yet.

Small steps. This team has left a long burn on my mind and body… shocker…

The only ones that would actually excite me are the ones who might get fired soon -- Keefe or Sullivan. If Sullivan gets fired at the end of the week, I could see his name zooming up the charts.

 

[5 Minute Major]

If it's Berube, then Steve Ott would not be far behind (IMO he's Craig's X and O's guy).

So I am feeling very cautious about Berube.

I dislike RBA when he's the opposing coach. But would love to have him in charge of the Sabres. He is the real deal.

Lindy will be fine. He has an excellent track record for both improving and developing players, has a system of play that is not outdated, knows his x's and O's, has NHL and Team Canada coaching credentials and requires much of players with no excuses allowed.

 

[BuffaloGooner]

It’s controversial for obvious reasons but I really want Q.

Adams stated he wanted experience and pedigree. Who has more than Q in terms of on ice productivity? My second choice is Lindy. His teams are ALWAYS good until they aren’t. Guess what, I want to be good for a little bit.

 

[Fezzy126]

Quenneville may have the biggest wart of them all! But I hear you

For sure, but my feeling is that JQ is going to get reinstated at some point, and there are no warts with his ability to coach a winner. So if he's going to get back into the league, why not us?

 

[slip]

It’s controversial for obvious reasons but I really want Q.

Adams stated he wanted experience and pedigree. Who has more than Q in terms of on ice productivity? My second choice is Lindy. His teams are ALWAYS good until they aren’t. Guess what, I want to be good for a little bit.

It's hard -- very hard, practically impossible -- to advocate for a coach who refused to protect his players from scumbags. That's the minimum a coach should do. I'll gladly pass on Quenneville.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

I'm I the only person who remembers Myers with Ruff? *glances at Power*