TheFunPolice

Now take his cell phone away (or "buy it" for $5,000) whatever...

The Penguins fire the guy and want to continue to pay him not to work for them apparently. They probably want to see if they can twist the Sabres arms for a higher pick. Why not try and see how Murray and Pegula react?

Murray can make you believe that it was Friday today if you gave him 10 minutes. I love the guy but he is very good at politics (which is a plus for a GM IMO)

Hey, he didn't want to be here, he just wants to lose to the Sabres year after year. No big deal... Let's honor his request!

Passions are high right now between Toronto and Buffalo They failed to get the Bills. But they hired a coach we wanted so there! lol I'll take that tradeoff any day. Babcock is going to lose there and eventually "mutually part ways."

Honestly this is a great first step in the bringing us all together again process. Hiring a solid HC will be #2. Drafting Eichel will be step #3 This season is going to be a LOT of fun! No more constant fights between the pro and anti tank crowds. Can you imagine an eventual playoff series between Toronto and Buffalo in the next few seasons? Incredible!

Maybe not but right now he's the man. After a few years of medicore teams and the fans getting restless, things can change. Babcock wasn't always the man and there are always up and coming coaches ready to take your place. It happens all the time in sports, especially since he has 1 cup. He isn't someone like Phil Jackson or Bill Belichick with a handful of league titles to fall back on. Look at Mike Shanahan, who has two Super Bowl rings. He WAS a legendary NFL coach just 5 years ago, and the Bills were offering him the moon and stars, maybe even a % of the team to take the HC gig. Other NFL teams were falling over themselves offering him anything he wanted. Money, power, control. He chose Washington because he wanted to "solidify his place in the Hall of Fame." It was the best chance to win big in a big market. Plus, he even mentioned that his family wouldn't want to come to Buffalo. Washington gave him ENORMOUS money and all the power he wanted. In short, he was a big f-ing deal in America's biggest sport. Fast forward 5 years to today. He is out of work, and no NFL team seriously considered taking him on. The Bills brought him in after Marrone quit, heard him out, and said "thanks for your time but no thanks." He had a few other interviews but nobody really was that interested in him. In short, he's pretty much finished. Keep in mind that Shanahan actually made the playoffs with Washington during his time there. But he didn't seal the deal, or even get that close. That's all anyone remembers now. The stench of failure on a big stage is a LOT to overcome. I hope Babcock fails as spectacularly in the NHL as Shanahan did in the NFL and ends up 5 years from now getting passed over by the Florida Panthers and Arizona Coyotes for HC gigs. He will still have his tens of millions to count and can probably live on his past glories and coach Team Canada every 4 years.

Best case scenario? Toronto finishes 9th place in the conference lol

I think he would care quite a great deal. Sure he gets paid, but he would suddenly go from superstar hotshot to yet another big name coach who failed in Toronto. It isn't like the Laughs haven't tried this route before (big name HC)

One thing is for sure: Pegula is a feisty one who is not used to coming in 2nd and doesn't seem to handle it well. That's good news overall for us! I think he nailed it with the Bills HC hire after Gruden and Cowher turned him down. It will all work out well in the end. Plus, we get to CRUSH Babcock's team time after time every season, AND they can watch us play in the playoffs!

I totally agree with the bitterness toward Babcock. I get it, and he is now a villain here and will hopefully spice up this Leafs/Sabres rivalry a bit. But all these attacks by Buffalo media makes us look small-time and kind of sad. I look forward to three things: 1) The day when the Sabres are the villians for winning all the time so fans around the league hate/envy us. 2) EVERYONE actually cheering for WINS this season! It's going to be so much fun to all be on the same team again! 3) The look on Babcock's face when Toronto fires him/runs him out of town by the end of year #3.

Babcock is not the only big name, good head coach out there.

They did not lose all of that. Babcock just played them and went behind their backs to get more $$ from Toronto. This roster is still stacked with young prospects and will draft Eichel. Pegula will spend big time $$. SOMEONE is going to come here and win.

Paul Hamilton is mad at Babcock now.... Looks like he played the Sabres for more money and Pegula said "See ya"

How important is a hockey coach, honestly? I am more of a football fan than a hockey fan, so forgive me if that's blasphemy or something. In football, coaches are extremely important, calling plays on offense, defense, and special teams, challenging plays, making hundreds of decisions each week. On the other hand, I always feel like in hockey it's more player-driven with the coach adding a lot less than an NFL coach adds. Am I wrong on that?