dudacek

My take was he clearly has a target, or a short list of targets and he is going to start chasing them immediately. Sounds like he has a very specific list of qualities in mind and not many people fit those criteria, but one or more that do is available right now. And they will all be names you've heard of.

Just out of curiousity, when was the last time you heard Adams going hard into the 'won't block prospects" thing? Weren't Lukas Rousek, Ryan Johnson, Jiri Kulich and Devon Levi "blocked" by more veteran players this year? My sense was that blocking was the byword in the fall of 2021 and had all but fallen by the wayside by the fall of 2023. He didn't want to block his young players 2 1/2 years ago because he wanted them to play and learn by doing, with the idea that they would get experience and get better. This year was the year that "better" was supposed to turn into good. But, instead, it kinda marked the first year in three they were supposed to be better than they were. I'm not sure about this being "sudden urgency." Isn't it more of a growing urgency as the plan slipped off the rails?

Berube has been an NHL head coach for 6 full seasons and parts of 2 others (he was hired and fired mid-season) He's also had 2 years as an NHL Associate coach, 2 as an AHL head coach and was an NHL assistant for 7 more. His head coaching record is 206/132/44 with the Blues, 75/58/28 with the Flyers and he has .584 career winning percentage. And he has a Stanley Cup ring. What kind of sample size are you looking for?

I've been banging the drum for awhile here on the 3 seasons/200 games for a while on here in terms of the Luukkonens and the Powers and the Quinns. you don't have to sell me on your point. But that cuts both ways: Tuch, Thompson, Skinner and Cozens were the season's big disappointments and major reasons why the Sabres are on the outside looking in. They are past that rationale. The concern about Granato prior to the year was "he's a great coach fro developing kids, is he a great coach for guiding an NHL contender?" I think Adams showed us he thinks he got his answer.

To me it just means the development portion of the build is over and the time to win portion is here. it isn't about bringing in more veterans to push the kids on the roster down, it's about pushing the kids already on the roster to a place where the need to do that becomes redundant. it's about getting the types of seasons out Thompson, Dahlin, Quinn and Power that Tocchet got out of Petterson, Hughes, Boeser and Demko. Adams expected the Power to Thompson age group to be better. They got worse and that's why Donnie got fired. His replacement will be the guy Adams thinks can make this group take another step.

It varies with the circumstances obviously, but I've always thought in a perfect world a "fair shot" for a GM is two coach hirings and/or 5 years.

The parallels between this year's Sabres and last year's Canucks, and between Rick Tocchet and Craig Berube are not lost on me.

I stand by my comments upthread about not having a real clue. But by appearances, he certainly seems an excellent fit: a no-nonsense presence with a track record of both winning and of coming in and quickly focusing a locker room that desperately needed it; experienced, but not too much of a retread; and despite his reputation as a player, he seems to have a brain in his head. His worst season was 81 points. His Blues weren't particularly loaded with high-end talent, at least for a cup-winner, but they were deep. Not sure he's got much of a track record with young players, but Kyrou and Thomas did emerge nicely under his watch.

That's quite the clickbait thread title and not in the way I think @inkman intended

I haven't had a favourite Sabre in a long time, but it dawned on me watching yesterday's game that he's it. This shouldn't be read as "he's going to be great and save the franchise". It's just me saying "I love watching him play". He plays the game the right way, every night.

No one is. I hate coaching searches because we have only the most peripheral idea of what any coach brings to the table, what the current needs of the team are, and how well those two situations match. There's a reason all coaches are hired to be fired. Most candidates are going to be qualified. It's all about trusting Adams to find the right match for these players in this particular place and time. Granato, in hindsight, was a good match for the summer of 2021, so I guess Adams has that going for him.

My point was simply to reply to what I thought was hyperbole and I explained why. I respect your opinion, and don't mind that you disagree. Ask Promo what the point of Captain Hindsight game is.

I'm aware of one for sure (Babcock) and likely 2 (McLellan). Each chose better offers, so it doesn't negate the point being made.

Really, it's about comfort level with Terry and whether he's going to be with you or an obstacle to what you want to do. If that's established, the situation should otherwise be enticing for most unemployed guys with egos.

There's a few who were shitting on him earlier in the year who should be thinking about apologizing Anyone paying attention over the years knows Webster is a credible source who talks to people. He's not always right, but he doesn't claim to be. He shares what he hears without embellishment and we're lucky to have him.

Picks in the 20s most often are Roslovics and Whites, so no. Look, GMTM was a ***** manager. No one in his right mind would support his tenure and I'm not aware of anyone who does. But his biggest failing was people: the types he chose for his organization, and how he treated them. The number of prospects he "squandered" is overrated.

But... what about Brind'Amour?

I think the only question with Ellis is whether or not the coach wants him on his staff. If not, he will be offered another role with the organization.

This feels right on a macro level. Step one: clear the room Step two: develop the talent Step 3: teach them how to win

There was a well-publicized quote a few years back that I think came from a GM/former GM: Expect the process to be somewhat collaborative, but the exec said coach typically gets to pick one assistant and the GM another. Don't know what the deal is with any additional guys, but I imagine consensus. I'd also imagine the ground rules are part of the process of hiring the head coach. In the case of the current staff, I always felt Christie was there strictly to be Donnie's crony. He has no obvious role and not much of a pedigree. I think he was let go because of that personal connection. I suspect Ellis, Bales and Wilford have more tenure and more respect from the GM and their future will be decided in conjunction with the new coach.

I realize there is a whole different vibe around the Bills fan perception of Pegula and the Sabres fan perception. But I wonder how much the Diggs trade has in common with the O'Reilly trade? Did the owner feel disrespected by the star and decided he no longer wanted him in the organization?

Once again, Adams unexpectedly shows he really is wiling to make the hard decisions, and is not too much in love with "his guys". I like Donnie a lot. I like the way he treats people and I think he deserves a ton of thanks for pulling our kids out of the Krueger black hole and for developing them into NHL players. In the end, they let him down and I hope that's the last lesson he teaches them. This is professional sport: win or be replaced. Hope he lands on his feet.

Two: Colin White and Jack Roslovic. Still taking O'Reilly.

For those keeping track (sorry to the majority who won't) From that "#1 rated prospect pool" Tim Murray traded away Girgorenko, Zadorov, McNabb, Armia, Lemieux and Luke Adam. Personally, I would still give up that entire group for Ryan O'Reilly alone. But hey, that's just me. Edit: Missed JT Compher. Doesn't change my opinion.

Woke up thinking about the kind of goals the Sabres scored last night: hard forecheck, bodies and pucks to the net. Every single one of them. 🥹