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This hiring of Julien would be an awesome new press conference! It shows that maybe Tpegs and GMTM give a crap. If they keep DD, I'm not sure what the hell they're expecting to see from this club for next season and the season therafter. We are not out of it completely yet. In my opinion you make the move ASAP (as long as CJ would even come here- also not a given as someone will go after him to be sure)

Those Boston friends of yours are totally accurate in their assessment as well. They also shouldn't have let Lucic go. I hate like hell seeing Jack wasted in this town. He is obviously frustrated and should this organization keep it up, he will be gone the first chance he gets and I couldn't blame him one bit.

Why did we want Dan Bylsma again? Oh yeah, he won a Stanley Cup with a loaded roster! Yes, I want Claude Julien. ASAP! His time ran out in Boston. Every coaches time runs out eventually so let us get a coach with at least some fire. I do believe this club would fare much better under Julien then Bylsma. Totally agree. Well said. Bang on assessment. Julien is there. Time to act GMTM. There is no way TPegs and TM can be happy with the performance of this club so far. No progress whatsoever.

At the top of GMTM's list: Fire the current coach. Enough is enough. I don't care who they get or deal (player wise) None of it will matter under this coach. Tiring.

Our most pressing need is a coach. (and a D-man) but I'll settle for a new coach. One preferably with some emotion and cajones. I've seen enough and Jack is getting stagnant under this one.We have enough good players to be much better then where we are and averaging 2 goals per game.

Well, I take some of it back, even though we scored our complimentary 1 goal again tonight The Leafs are getting rocked again in St. Louis, so that would be "back to back" smoke outs for the blue and white. Babcock may lose his after this one. Caught the Blues right after the dreaded coaching change. Again there is a whole third period left in that game but it is 4-1 Blues right now. Maybe a Leafs slump coming? (I can only wish!)

That's exactly what I think would happen under Hitch. I also think he would shore up our D even with the guys we have now. As I see the Sabres just lost 2-1 in OT to NYR. Again a loser point and managing a stingy 1 goal. DD has to go, I'm sorry, this team is playing sad hockey and it's not on Robin Lehner.

I agree, this season is toast. If they brought in Hitch now, I just feel he may be able to get these guys rolling enough to maybe just get in. Under Dan or Terry, I have no hope of even that, but am willing to put up with another lost season if they make a switch in the off season. Again, as of this writing Buffalo is losing 1-0 to NYR starting the 3rd period. Unless Henrik caves in this period I can see the Sabres not getting past 2 goals if that in this one once again. Lehner has been solid once more. Tired of this and from everything I've read on the GDT, it's a snoozer of a game (again!) I'm catching highlights? on nhl.com as I am at work. Sabres hockey is not exciting me at all and I had hopes for this season. Not the same old same old.

right now I would take a Hitchcock on life support over DD. Lets see what game the Sabres serve up tonight in NYC. The Sabres have played decently there in the last little while and King Henrik hasn't been his usual stingy self. I swear, if the Sabres lay another turd like they did in Montreal I would gladly accept the Hitch!

Julien intrigues me also (and perhaps may be available at the end of this season if Boston flounders) I just want a coach who seems like he gives a $#@!. I also feel that some emotion may rub off on these guys. I know our D needs some upgrading but our scoring is still our Achilles heel. 2 goals per game is crap with the player we have. The thing with Hitchcock is, his teams are always competitive and man how long has it been since we've seen that in these parts? If Julien becomes available I would love to have him. Not sure who these new up and coming coaches could be? Whatever happened to Luke Richardson? his name was being tossed around before they signed DD. Gerard Gallant intrigues me also. Not sure Florida made the right move by letting him go. Another fiery coach. I just cannot see this team progressing any further under DD. I think what we're seeing is what we're stuck with.

I totally agree. This team should be so much better then we are seeing. Every now and again you get a glimpse of it and then they resort to being completely outworked the next game. All season long and I feel there will be no 'dramatic change" as we are in February now. Just treading water. There are some good young guys in the system and I would like to see them coached by someone who doesn't stifle offensive creativity. Let the young guys go like they have in Toronto and just teach them their defensive responsibilities when they don't have the puck. Montreal was all over us last night and frankly, if not for Lehner, it could have been much worse. I expect we will see this happen on several more occasions this month alone. You'll get one decent game from this group and then wonder where that team went the game after. Too many seasons of futility now and it's wearing on me. I can take this season being a washout but if GMTM does nothing in the off season to address another wasted year, he can go as well. Pegula, it's time to get seriously involved and demand better of your staff. (yes. I am a Bills fan also, long suffering)

After last night's game, to be honest with you, I'd settle for anyone but DD. This team is also quicker then we think. We just don't get to see it all that often but there are glimpses every now and again. Last night was not one of those.

I think we should keep him. Under another coach I bet his numbers get even better. Is he untouchable? No. If the right trade deal comes along (hopefully for a good D-man then deal him. I would like to see what our forwards could do under a different coach with a different system. What's Gerard Gallant up to? (besides getting paid by the Panthers for not coaching?) I would like Claude Julien as well if he gets roasted by Boston. Apparently Hitchcock (whom I would really like) intends to retire so I guess he's out. I like Kane's skills and I think if utilized properly could put up some decent numbers for us.

It has been a while. I try to stay away (sort of) because the true fact of the matter is, this team is really pissing me off. Thanks for the mention. I just see a team with enough competitive talent and decent goalies that are now underperforming. Our guys up front do know how to put a puck in the net but we just aren't seeing it here under coach Dan. You mean to tell me Eichel, O'Reilly, Kane, Okposo, Reinhart, and even Moulson are good for an average of 2 goals per game? No way! On any other team they would be producing more. I had really high hopes for this season and I know Jack got hurt and that slowed things, but he is back and I see a team treading water. The Penguin fan base was correct in their assessment of Dan and we need a new coach in my opinion. I like who we have on this club. our defense could use some upgrading but our forwards are capable. Lehner has given up a softie on occasion but seriously, he's been pretty good and even great at times. Nilsson is more then adequate. what pisses me off more then anything is that the Leafs have completely leapfrogged us and I do believe Babcock is the soul reason. They are a young exciting team to watch and although they got smoked last night, watch how they rebound in their next game. This is with a very young squad also. Babcock will not accept mediocre effort or you sit. I feel we are at least as capable as Toronto is with what we have.

I totally did not know he intended to retire after this season. I wonder if he could be talked out of it or if his heart is even still in coaching? I think he still has a lot to give and I bet this team would play much better under Hitch then what we've been seeing under Dan. I believe there is too much talent up front to be netting around 2 goals per game. I also believe our goaltending isn't too shabby with a shored up defense. Hitch's teams are always competitive and at least he shows some fire behind the bench. I cannot take Dan and I believe his system is killing this club.

Ken Hitchcock was relieved of his duties by St. Louis today. I have always liked him as a coach (except when he coached Dallas remember?!) His teams are always competitive and hard working. For some reason things never went St. Louis way come playoff time. (although they did go to a game #6 in the Western Conference Finals last season) What do you think about having him as the Sabres head coach? I would welcome it. Seriously welcome it.

Right you are Lanny, I forgot about McGinn and Deslauriers. Deslauriers is pretty handy with the fists. I'm not saying Jack isn't capable, I just don't want to see him have to do it and then get a stupid injury because of it. I believe Jack has brought the confidence level of this entire team up a notch combined with Bylsma's excellent coaching so far, that we don't need a "set back" of an Eichel injury. Not sure of Gorges and Zemgus ability to throw down (despite Z's size) As it stands right now I can see this team being a legit playoff contender but as the season goes on, and playoff positioning becomes intense, I can also see a team trying to get his game by any means necessary. But you're right, Marcus, McGinn and Deslauriers are there. Good to know! Here's hoping it isn't even an issue. True enough. I just don't want Jack to be the first of this new breed ghat gets nailed. That would just be Buffalo's luck that someone does target him. You never know who another team calls up and wants to make an impression by being a douche. Again, here's hoping that isn't the case.

As Jack gets even better and the season progresses, I am concerned opponents will start to take liberties with him (cheap shots). The injury to McDavid didn't originally appear to be cheap but when you look at it again, it certainly may have had intent. If this happens (a cheap shot to Jack) and I think it eventually will as teams realize how dangerous he is, do we have guys other then Marcus who can "throw down" if the crap starts? Brendan Gallagher is one who I think would take a cheapie at Jack even though he may not throw down afterward. Do we have guys other then Marcus who can send the message this won't be tolerated?

I was a lurker here for the past few years and now I am a newbie. I don't mind having differences of opinion on these threads. I actually enjoy this and I have also learned a great deal since I have come onboard. Some of the other posters have jumped to my defence when they felt I was getting dumped on and I appreciated that although I didn't feel it was necessary. I am capable of defending my thoughts and actions and am more then willing to do so. I have honestly enjoyed my time so far and cannot wait for this season to begin as it is one with some expectations attached to it. My worry is , what if the Sabres start having tremendous winning seasons? We won't have much to bitch about although I know there will be some of us who will still try! Anyhow, cheers to all my fellow posters on this sight. I look forward to trading thoughts and observations with you and thanks for making me feel welcome. Go Sabres! sorry about the underscoring on the above post. Not sure what the hell my keyboard was doing as it seems to have rectified itself now. Weird.

Sizzlemeister, these are gold! I needed a good laugh today and you have delivered sir! I am in your debt!

HERE HERE! Right on! They all smoked back then. LaFleur absolutely!!! It was a different era. Phil Esposito himself said: "The offseason was the off season, you didn't set foot on any ice" We used training camp to get ourselves into playing shape". Smokes was big back then.

Totally agree with you on this. I hate the Leafs big time but there is some underrated talent there. They had serious dressing room issues after Halloween there. Google that if you don't know the crap behind it. Babcock may be just what they need like Burns or Quinn was to them so don't rule them completely out as non-playoff contenders. Reimer and Bernier can be solid with some decent defense in front of them This will be a serious test of how good a coach Mike Babcock truly is and I do believe he will make a major difference there (it pains me to say that but I am expecting it, as I am in Edmonton with McLellan)

Coming from Hamilton, Ontario where almost all my friends and schoolmates were either Leafs or Habs fans. They would always ask me 'Why the hell are you a Sabres fan?" I flat out told them "I love the French Connection". The way they broke up ice and the way they could finish. They were my idols all 3 of them (and tough as nails Jimmy Schoenfeld- loved him too!) I have never looked back and while I may be seriously critical of this organization at times, I do bleed blue & gold and it is all because of them. Great times and I was fortunate enough to see them play live as well. :doh:

That person would be me also. This is the part that worries me about Bylsma being our coach-saviour now. He had infinitely more talent in Pitt then he has here in Buffalo and that was his one and only Cup. Not completely sold on the puck possession times and Corsi stats etc. etc. The Leafs were huge on that this past season and man, they sucked as well. It is the thing to do right now and while puck possession matters to a certain extent. You can have it all you want in the perimeter but if you aren't generating chances with it it won't matter. What matters most is what you can do when you do have the puck. I am willing to give Disco Dan a try as I don't really know who else is out there of relevance. I would take a youngster like Richardson over DeBoer (I think DeBoer is crap, I really do) as he does have a decent track record coaching youth. Should i start a "getting to know Ron Wilson thread"? :w00t:

The bottom line for me is this. People here complained that Nolan didn't really have a system (The PP was crap, penalty killing, forechecking etc.) If Disco Dan can come in and show me some semblance of a system with this young talent, I, for the most part will be happy. It may take a little time for "Dan's system" to be successful, but if you can actually see it on the ice, with this group of youngsters, then I would be satisfied that we are moving in the right direction and that Dan Bylsma may indeed work out here. Here's hoping! Go Sabres!!