tom webster

There is the difference. Nolan would put Mitchell with Crosby and Ovechkin.

His track record with high end, offensive talent would indicate a lack of success in the future. Coaches are like every other profession, build a resume and get a chance higher up on the ladder. We all work with people that are sure they could have been the boss of only given the chance. It's always someone or something that stood in their way. Using your argument approach, Cody Hodgson would be one of the leading scorers in the league if he played with Crosby and Ovechkin. Prove me wrong.

My parting shot, Girgs, Risto, Larsson have only played for TN. How does anyone know how they would have developed unde anyone else. Myers and Stewart have been up and down their whole career. I will give Ted credit for playing Ennis almost exclusively at wing. I think everyone has pretty much covered why he will be gone and JJ has pretty much admitted that there is nothing any of us can say to change his mind, so can't add much more.

Thanks. You Saved me from responding.

I'm not somewhere I can check but in pretty sure even LA's numbers surprised me.

I had this debate with Deluca a couple years back. The numbers don't back your contention. Sure they all have a certain amount of grit and as Lindy always said, players have to play out of their normal confort zones. Chicago and Detroit traditionally rank near the bottom in hits and blocked shots, to give two examples.

Murray gave Nolan a chance and he has failed miserably. At least you admit you will never accept that he just isn't capable of winning in this league. Have a great afternoon.

Just saw a Mirtle thread that Max Afinigonev is third in the KHL in penalty minutes. Thought that was funny.

If he is back, I will be stunned and disappointed but will admit I'm wrong. I won't blame anyone or anything for it. I wish I believed that Teddy will go out with the same attitude. My question is what will you say when he is gone and his name never comes up in interview rumors?

He is in record as saying he was shocked he didn't get a call. This debate is actually easier then most. His historically bad record and the fact that he will be out of the NHL should settle the debate. My guess is he takes a job with the NHL and his pal Pat and I'm sure they will spin it that its all he ever wanted to do.

I haven't mentioned Grigs once in this thread and am on record as saying he doesn't deserve to be here so try again. You say you will take the word of analyst over fans but analyst are there because they can't get hired as GM's. The GM's have spoken. Without even checking I would guess that over 30 coaches were hired between Nolan's Islanders job and this job. Did he even get an interview?

You might want to look were the Black Hawks and Red Wings and even the Kings rank in those categories. Possession teams win and if you have the puck you don't have to hit and you don't have to block shots

You didn't miss it because no one in their right mind would hire him to coach a highly talented team which should be the end of the discussion but I'm sure you can find someone else to blame for that. It is kind of appropriate because it's Nolan's MO to blame everyone else as well.

Who keeps hiring him? Latvia? He will be out of the NHL next year. He has lost two NHL jobs because of his inability to develop young players. He will lose a third this year. Try and find a top six forward who benefited from Nolan's coaching. The only people who speak highly of him are the old guard, Canadien analyst who still believe blocking shots and hitting win hockey games.

I have been trashing Nolan since he was here the first time. I can't speak for anyone else. If you like him fine but back your reasons with facts. He has no history of working well with young players and in fact has a history of just the opposite. If you bought in to the blood and guts, hardest working team in hockey, that's fine. I for one one always preferred Lindy beating Philly with speed and guile the year after Ted lost trying to out tough them.

One of the biggest mis conceptions about Nolan is that he works with young players. His issues with Muckler began when he refused to play Satan after Muckler acquired him. He wanted guys like Ed Ronan, Rob Ray, Matt Barnaby, grinders who he perceived had paid their dues in the minors. Those teams played just like this team is playing. Only two things are different. He doesn't have a hall of fame goalie and the rest of the league has evolved into a puck possession league and guys like Nolan have not. He will never coach again in the NHL.

If they decided he wasn't good enough, I am alright with that but right now it seems like a continuation of Buffalo getting the second tier guys and missing out on the top tier. Buffalo signs Chad R and Tim Schaller, Detroit gets Dekeyser, etc. etc.

I would love to hear an explanation on this one. It will be a disappointment although history suggests these college free agents seldom live up to the hype.

I had no desire to read the tin foil hat thread but hopefully someone pointed out that TM was tweaking the nose of the establishment. Clearly believing that the worst team should get the first pick he made light of the fact that if he finishes short of the playoffs he would love to win the lottery that starting next year will allow the 17th best team to move up to one of those three top spots.

Interesting that the MAC was represented in the sweet 16 that same year. Like I said, you have history, I am pretty sure I have the present and the future but only time will tell. And lighten up, it was all in fun. Its good to be invested in something positive and I'm sure you feel the same way. For what its worth, I would be just as excited if Bona was in big dance. I have a lot of fond memories of the Reilly Center......and some not so great ones to.

There is no doubt they were the better program. There is no doubt they are in the better basketball conference. I am arguing that at this point there is no basis to say they are the better program now just because their conference is better. With what UB has coming back and what they have coming in already comitted, I would be surprised if Bona could stay within double digits next year everythiing being equal.

Interesting that you keep telling me about the conference and only one note about Bona winning the conference in a down year for the A-10 three years ago. As I said, Bona beat an injury depleted team, at home while Lamonte Bearden was still getting his feet wet. At least in this thread I don't have to worry about figuring out what is fact and what is your opinion. Finally, it would be great if they were in the same conference but UB is kinda of a stickler about stepping down with schools that don't have the same academic standards.

It might be now, but I know that I'm at least on the side of potential future big time and not pining for the good ole "glory days!"

How many "big dance" victories since the Lanier days? UB will win one game next year in March and will "surge" ahead of Bona's legacy. Its like leaf fans telling me how they won the Cup when there were six teams in the league.

History. I'm talking future. Hopefully UB has time for its three little sisters moving forward. See, now this is going to be fun.