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I am Defecting

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Posts posted by I am Defecting

  1. Julien would be my choice too given the direction of Sabres build, but Blysma might field a better skating styled team. Claude, the name though says it all, not a great p.r. move, but if the Sabres win the cup... I'll bandwagon him.

    That's the best.  Did you make that up?  I'll bandwagon him.   :lol:

  2. I don't think that Battista runs anything, per say, or makes any decisions.  I think he is Terry's "hatchet man," so to speak.  If there is uncomfortable news to be delivered, and Terry doesn't want to do it himself, he sends Joe B.  That way, Terry can maintain a magnanimous, benevolent image, because Battista is the one who does the dirty work.  For congratulations, welcomes, and praises, Terry does it;  To light a fire under someone's ass, threaten, or terminate someone, Joe does it.

     

    It's your birthday!  Terry got you a present!

     

    You're seen getting drinks with Mike Harrington.  Joe B. paid your wife a visit, and went on and on about the importance of life insurance..

     

    That job would suit him I figure, because he'd know just enough about hockey to not get bamboozled, but not enough to have independent thoughts.  Plus he'd be loyal as name-your-dog.  He's a made man.  Wise-guy.  Legend.  I'm just guessing.  It's fun.

  3. Julien's attitude with the media could make him the best fit within the Sabres organization as far as similarities to Murray and Pegula go.  The three of them could have a real blast sticking it to the News boys.  As to who I'd prefer, it's someone with more charm.  I could see Claud fitting in real well, though, with the aforementioned, and his resume is hard to argue against.  He's not my idea of fun, but it will be the wins and losses on the ice, that count most.  

     

    It's hard to beat Disco Dan for fun-factor, but I have a suspicion that his ease with the media will not be counted as an asset by the decision makers.  I may not be giving the brass enough credit.  As I see it, what they need, is a fun, smart, dashing young guy who can disarm the critics with his guile and wit.  What I fear that they want, on the other hand, is a bully who can put those pissants in their place.  That said, Julien could be a great hockey coach too, for the Sabres.

  4. The Sabres were 1-10-1 in the 12 games before they re-signed Nolan to a multi-year contract.  At that time, 14 months ago, Murray said , “We have to get him better players.  It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.”

     

    Did Murray get Nolan better players?  No, but the Sabres did get Nolan’s replacement better players.  I admire Nolan in that he fought a good fight in his struggle for victories.  His nagging Murray for better players, in the face of a blatant tank job, cost him his job, perhaps.  He might have lost it either way, but I admire how he went out risking everything, head held high.  You could say that losses were wins in those days, but in the heat of the battle,I felt quite strongly that Nolan was being set up to fail, and would be made scapegoat. 

     

    To me it seems the fallout began with Nolan hinting at wanting more time to work with Mark Pysk.  Nolan praised Pysk quite heavily, calling him NHL ready, etc. and made it clear that he wanted him up with the team.  The BN described it as lobbying , and perhaps used the situation as an example of the tank run amok when Pysk was sent down. That’s the way that I remember the fallout beginning.  It grew colder from there.  I felt that Nolan was being more honest about the situation, and, if you've got to choose sides, I found that more admirable.

     

    Perhaps Nolan isn’t a great coach, but what I also admired was his defiant attitude in the face of adversity.  That attitude could go a long way on a better team.  And to say he isn’t an X’s and O’s coach is due perhaps to Nolan’s emphasis on the mental aspects of the game.  On a team without elite physical talent, I could forgive a coach for trying to coach them up mentally.   What’s an X’s and O’s coach?  That makes hockey seem like Atari.  I never expect coaches to divulge their system publicly. He was clearly drawing something on the whiteboards, be it X’s, O’s, P’s or Q’s, it didn’t take a genius to figure out, as Murray said, he needed better players.

     

    Though I was skeptical, I hoped that Murray had an ace up his sleeve when he fired Nolan, maybe even a trump like Babcock.  Murray clearly thought he could land Babcock, otherwise, why pursue him?   The lesson I’ve learned thus far is that Murray  doesn’t hold all the cards regarding who he can sign.  But, there are potentially better coaches than Nolan whom Murray may be able to hire. 

     

    I don’t think it was a shot at Nolan, what Murray said.  Nolan couldn’t smooth over whatever rift developed, and Murray didn’t seem to want to patch things up, or get Ted better players for last season either.  That said, Nolan shouldn’t want a public fight now, and neither should Murray.  If Babcock, or Bylsma or whomever called Nolan, I’m sure Ted would give them some version of a story where he was promised better players, and when he didn’t get them, the relationship went sour.  Both Murray and Nolan run the risk of seeming difficult to work with and impossible to please.

     

    I don’t think it was shot at Nolan, what Murray said, nor what Weber and other players didn’t say.  If the players had anything good to say about Nolan, it would be risking their jobs to say it.   If they had anything bad to say, I haven’t heard a peep yet.  Anybody can make up what they want to hear, in the silence, thus far on the issue.  We speculate a lot on this message board.  It’s just speculation. 

     

    I’m just noting that I didn’t take offense, as a Nolan fan, to what Murray said, because the internet meme of Ted Nolan, that you might take his words to represent – work hard, forecheck – probably doesn’t register with Murray,  a guy that’s re-hired and fired worked with Nolan extensively.  There’s little there to indicate he was talking about Nolan. Murray seemed to be trying to get across the point that it would take a lot of sophistication both to get the open coaching job, and to hire the right guy this time.

  5. Guess you must have faith to believe in the words of charlatans.

     

    You all are worshiping at the alter of Mel Kiper, assuring as you are, like prophets, you happen to be proselytizing to all who come within your influence.

     

    "Possibly wayne gretzky or for sure messier or modano"

     

    Assured.  Have the words "I hope that" been removed from the English Language?  No needs to sound like an expert.

  6. you are a last place team. one loss in your last three assures you of either possibly wayne gretzky or for sure messier or modano. you play your arse off to win the last 3. ...Only in Buffalo.

    I've bolded "assures" to prove that you have little grasp of English.  Is English your second language?  If so, welcome to our country!  I hope we can help you to understand the facts from the opinions, so that you will not be taken advantage of.

  7. Yeah, because we started Coyotes GDT for the other 48 losses they had. 

     

     

    MD  Callaway wanted to start a thread where we could discuss a specific topic, so what.

    It's nothing to be proud about.  People make mistakes.  I've made a few, and they resulted in warning points.  That was a different time, though, where winning was winning, and we would shoot Coyotes on sight.  Callaway ain't half bad for starting this thread, but it goes against the current, and he can either realize it, or fight against it.  Likely, he'll ignore it, seeing as he ain't even signed in.  I reckon it ain't a jinx, it's just a bunch of losers rooting for Coyetes, and a guy who is standing up for the right to such leisure time activities.  Hyah!

  8. I would hire Ted Nolan as personal coach if he is not retained by the Sabres.  I would like to make two points.  Firstly, no matter what GMTM might want, it will be up to TP.  Secondly, it has been reassuring to me personally to hear Ted Nolan speak about trying your best, and living for the present in the face of adversity.  

     

    I think he is a good coach.  I am not an expert.  I will, however, claim as much expertise in judging a man's character as the next gal.  To me, Ted Nolan is an absolute keeper.

     

    I am tired of the drama - the I will hate you unless, the I will not spend a dime unless, the do this or else.  It is a team game, and even the boss is just a player in the game.  When people say "perspective," they usually do so to claim objectivity, or even omniscience.  In this case, it is just me, and what I think of the guy.

  9. McDavid making me look like a fool tonight.  Erie had home ice advantage, but Marner's opening shortie gave the Knights the early lead.  The Knights were outshot 20+ to 3 after 1.  Domi tacked on another at the beginning of the second, and was looking like a miracle in the making.  Then it all came together for the Otters, who scored 5 unanswered.  

     

    It's a 7 game series, but McDavid and company just made a big statement.

  10. I would take one for the team. (If I knew that no one would be harmed and the pick would not be jeopardized.)

    You would certainly gain notoriety, and it would be interesting to talk about. 

     

    I have never accepted the premise that they should be trying to lose, but if I did accept that premise, I could see the merit in your plan.

     

    As a pure hypothetical, how would you pull it off? 

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