...

Possibly. I'm very tired and should probably not post much right now. Although, I will say that, PR-wise, it shouldn't matter who they hire, they just went through two-years plus of tanking and got away with it. Yeah, a Babcock hire, on paper, would have been a nice reward to the fans (PR-wise, although as it turns out, I think Babcock is sleazy). But, just like they were patient and careful with the PR during the tank, they can do the same for Richardson, so long as Richardson can actually bring the results. Mind you, I'm not advocating for Richardson - just taking up and defending the position.

No it's not. You're creating some sort of relationship between the two where there is, in fact, none. At all. If the Sabres short list goes 1. Babcock 2. Richardson, then, that's their short list. There is no other relationship or connection. YOU may have preferences, or might be able to rank the candidates based on whatever factors you choose, but the fact is that if the Sabres find it in their best interest to go hire Richardson after making a play for Babcock, then they are doing what they think is in their best interest. Anything negative is a result of chatter amongst the fans, and nothing to do with the business of bringing a championship to Buffalo.

So much for your internet sleuthing. I may have a browser open to this thread, but that doesn't mean I've actually spent 10 minutes "in" the thread. It's two pages long, WTF could I be doing in ten minutes in a two page thread?

No. The Sabres had a deal with Babcock. This is Lucy pulling the ball out before Charlie Brown could kick it. They were going for who Pegula thought would be the best coach for his team. Using your analogy, this is being told, yes, you bought the new Lamborghini, we just need to finish the paperwork, but, oops, uh-oh, this guy down the street just gave me more money...forget the deal.

AS MANY AS IT TAKES.

OMG. I can't listen to WGR if this is it. Now a caller is blaming Murray. People are stupid.

Do you sell time? Because if you do, I'm a buyer...

Nope. The big, flashy move was attempted. Murray wins this round, and it was Pegula's move. Now it's Murray's turn, and he won't lose. If he wants Richardson like it was rumoured, then ZFG Murray will take whomever he damn pleases. Seriously, is this the narrative now? They're on WGR with it. Why can't you go from Babcock to Richardson? That's like saying if the answer is choice B on this question, it certainly can't be choice B on the next question.

That's why I would like to re-visit that period to figure out what was going on. And, as I mentioned in the other thread, if MacLean has learned a lesson. We all learn lessons as we grow old.

FWIW, GoDD, good call on saying Babcock was a potential sell-out. If everything coming out since 11:35am this morning is true, that's exactly what Babcock did: sell out.

I wish I had the time, because I have all of a sudden become interested in MacLean. I would like to re-visit the season leading up to his firing. Apparently, after he won the Jack Adams he became a douche to the players (SOURCE). As a player he was a goal scorer, and apparently a tough guy. That's what the Sabres need, if he can teach it.

He had a few 30 and I think a 40 goal seasons. If he was a tough-guy, too, then, I like that.

Paul MacLean was also a skill player, whom our under-performing and up-and-coming skill players could relate to. Our Murray would probably have to be convinced that MacLean learned some things by being fired from Ottawa. Whatever happens, I think it'll be an interesting tussle between Pegula and Murray. Seems as though Murray has been winning those as of late, though. So, Pegula likes splash and cronies, and the next in line to fall under that umbrella is Bylsma. Meanwhile, it has long been said Murray wants Richardson. If the recent past is any indicator of future paths, I think the Sabres next coach will be Richardson.

So I guess Babs wanted what I would call an unreasonable amount of control, and that you can't trust what he says in interviews. Okay.

Julien and Torts, no.

You guys talking about Claude Julien should get that out of your heads. He's a disgusting coach who coaches a disgusting game - we're not going to want his style of hockey here.

Uhm, do you think they're sitting around drawing with crayons in between Babcock tweets? They didn't want McLellan. Their list is not anyone's list here. And, do we know if there haven't already been other interviews or conversations? We don't. Well, Hamilton said earlier that they have.

Just like giving the NHL the finger on coaches' salaries thanks to the draft lottery, I hope Babs learns the hard way why TO is a talent vampire.

BOOM! Goes the dynamite.

T'was the night before Babwatch And all through the forum Not a creature was stirring No breaks of decorum My wife in her PJs I on my device Had just settled our brains For a night of Center Ice The children were nestled All snug in their beds With visions of Babcocks Dancing in their heads When out in the Twitterverse There arose such a clatter I logged into my account To see what was the matter I tore through the posts Checked on Sabrespace When what to my wondering eyes appeared GM Tim Murray with TPegs in chase Like a Zamboni circles the ice between periods Scraping the ice razor thin and clean They entered my house in a fury And demanded use of my fax machine Murray cried "the old fool doesn't use texts" "How shall we keep contact" "While we hem and we haw" "And finish up this contract?" ...okay too tired to finish this.

1:30am...where are the updates? WTF?

Only if it immediately breaks down into personality conflicts and forum culture clashes, so that by the end of page two, the original topic is a distant memory. Please? I can't get enough of that.

You missed the edits. You likey more...long time G.I.!