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Mike Babcock, but he's busy, apparently.

You people are wound up way too tight. I thought this thread was supposed to be a fun "lists" thread.

I think Murray summarizes the entire presser perfectly in the last 30 seconds or so. All of the people hating on Murray for this haven't SEEN this presser and that last 30 seconds. Murray wants to improve the team, and he means it. He didn't think keeping Nolan here was going to contribute to the scope of improvement he wants to see. What else is he supposed to do?

You think you were confused? I had no idea what I was doing until I read the username. I guess it's not as bad as someone outright stealing your avatar for other forums and Twitter, which has happened to me several times. Not saying Sabre26 stole anything from me here, of course. But, looks like one of us may have to back down and find another way to express our inner spirit.

1. He wasn't able to appreciate Nolan's system. 2. He wasn't able to appreciate Nolan's approach to teaching compete to the kids. 3. He said he prefers Canadian players. 4. He's prejudiced against non-giant goalies. 5. He takes more unnecessary trips than Obama. 6. We don't know if he's committed to Buffalo and still may leave to replace his uncle in Ottawa.

Where? Where? Links! I want to see!

I suppose I better get off my duff with ZFG Murray at the helm. Nolan is fired. Irbe retained. Sabres draft McDavid Sabres trade Larrson, NYI 1st and McCabe for ROR. I'm with TBPhd that, regardless of how the Sabres get ROR, he signs an extension. Mike Babcock is hired. Babcock urges Murray to extend a qualifying offer to Grigorenko. Hodgson and a 2015 2nd are a trade package. Reinhart starts in Rochester. Michael Frolik is signed. Kaleta gets a one year 2-way contract. Antti Niemi is given a 3 year, $12 mil contract. Lindback gets a one year contract. McCormick retires - Pegula offers him a job somewhere in Hockey Heaven Ellis and Strachan get signed for Rochester.

Waiting for the replay of the presser, but when Murray was saying he wasn't going to throw Nolan under the bus for the media, he did say that "this is part of a bigger plan" or was it "bigger picture". I'm sure Murray already has a short, short list of replacements.

No way. I say 28th at worst (or best...I'm still CHL confused).

I guarantee you I thought they were going to be a lot better. I even scoffed at Hoss who said they'd be fighting for last place. In September, I thought they might even push for a wild card slot. In all fairness, though, the tankers at the time were implying the Murray built the team to lose, and by December were saying he did too good of a job and that he even surprised himself. See eleven's narrative; Murray built a team that he thought would be better, but not enough to not be in the lottery. When it was clear the team wasn't even going to meet those meager expectations, he did what any GM would do and went full bore for 30th.

Absolutely. I think the Sabres, for whatever it's worth, far exceeded their end of the "it's not a tank" ruse.

Hmm, if Babcock is the target, but Murray is supposedly a my-way-or-the-highway kind of guy, I see a disconnect here. I don't think Babcock would like being left out of player decisions, but maybe I'm wrong. I think Murray's explanation of "chemistry" is probably more accurate; I can see Nolan and Murray not mixing well, not talking much over beers, but I can see Babcock and Murray having a grand ol' time over beers.

I'll say one, this team has been interesting since Pegula bought them. Hardly a dull moment, even when they were playing dull.

This is what I'm trying to figure out. Did Murray say the player interviews played a role in letting Nolan go?

I'll send you a bill.

"I didn't foresee us as a 30th place team..." ~ Tim Murray. AHAHAHAHAhahahahahahaaaaaa! Aha! Ha.

I'm listening to WGR online.

Right. It says the brackets are locked once the playoffs begin. So, I suppose you can create and edit them up until that point.

In like Flynn.

What's the deadline? I need to find a thinking cap, and then put it on.

Nice to see all of the Canadian teams. That's been missing from the playoffs for a little bit. What do you think, Rangers vs. Blues for the finals?

WTF? That doesn't make sense. Kids these days.

There's no shame! I was doing my best text-impersonation of Rob Ray.

So, what do they call Eichel? Jackie? Jack-Jack? Eichzies? Jackzers?