MakeSabresGrr8Again

I agree with most everything you said. I too am an Olofsson fan. The optimist in me says that if he is with Jack's line.....expect more than 40pts. I've been an avid fan of Asplund also. I think he could be a difference maker in the bottom six for sure.

I don't believe that GT would have made as big a difference with us. It was our bottom 9 and D-zone play moreso the problem. The Blues on the other hand had much more talent and depth that a GT could make that difference. Or same for a coaching change. Our GT may have been better if we had more upfront talent to support them and better D-zone play by both Dmen and support from forwards. I think the 10g streak shows that. Having confidence in your goalies works if you have the talent in front of them.

Sorry but not necessarily true. ROR was performing well right from the start of the season....most others were below career averages in all stats. Coaches and goalies don't score goals and Dmen are supposed to help keep pucks out. That team wasn't doing anything right. The coach is a better bet maybe because of the system they played...not sure that was the problem though. They struggled in all areas. The coaching change came early on and didn't change that until after Binnington came along. But they had problems offensively too in the beginning.

My OP was in contempt of the ROR "Leading his team into the semi's". If it said he was helping his team....I would have had no issue. The pedestal was erected and like you may have said(Not sure it was you) one player does not carry a team. The Blues have a nice mix and most contribute to their success, but there is no doubt that season change came on the heals of Berube and Binnington. The playoffs are a different animal and others always seem to rise up. Maroon is one I've always liked the way he plays. I don't try to take away from the fact that ROR is a very good player, I just don't put him on that pedestal like others do. And what's up with the 47% FO .

We definitely have some work to do.....I don't envy whomever the next HC is. We need to hit on this draft and maybe a draft day deal. The Bozak line played well in the Dallas series as well. Just don't understand why that team was so bad early on with all that talent.

He's listed as #30 on the NHL stats page and that's what I go by. 14 players ahead of him have played less games and 15 are no longer in the playoffs. Yes he will likely climb above some and yes he is a good player, but let's not make him out to be the next "face of the NHL". And he is 3rd on his own team, so he is not "leading" his team to the promise land.

And were near bottom feeders until Bennington showed up and got hot. And yes, I agree there is a lot of talent on that team and none really changed anything except the goalie. I will give some of the credit to Berube.

Let's not exaggerate.....ROR is 3rd on his team and 30th in NHL as far as playoff scoring. His biggest asset (face-offs), is at 47.8%....not exactly near his usual 60%.

I could tell you what I've read but it might keep you wanting more. A simple start is just looking him up on wikipedia and going to some of the links to other things. But to start....there was an incident with Barrie Colts when he was captain involving the refusal to shake hands, the league Commissioner, and an awards event where there was issues. His agent (Frost) was....I'll let you read about his background and association with the Brampton Boys. I know you are looking for links most likely but would rather you look these up and form your own opinion without anything being pushed on you. I haven't seen much indicating that Keefe might have just been rebellious for some reason and was the team captian. Just that I feel some of his past and associations have some questions for an interview at the very least.

And they have a goalie to thank for that.

I was reading up on Keefe a bit and found he's had a rather "tainted" past. I'm sure if Keefe is considered, that Pegula will do his due diligence looking into such things as the Barrie Colts incident, his part in the "Brampton Boys", and his association with David Frost. I've read up on some of these things and I'm sure there might be more to it (whether it be good or bad). Also, people sometimes learn from their mistakes (if they even feel there was a mistake). Just would like to know they check into all his past before hiring him. The guy checks most of the boxes and would like to know for sure there isn't any issues later on that might haunt us. Do any of you know more about this, I've read some links in articles, but not sure what the deal was with the Barrie Colts thing.

I try to be a little optimistic on the other hand. San Jose was only 1pt better in the standings with the addition off Kane than they were last year. St. Louis only 5pts better with ROR. Last year they missed the playoffs with 94pts....those same 94pts this year would've got them in the playoffs. The Sabres were 14pts better than last year without either of them and Lehner, while having coach lynched at the end of the year. Lehner was probably the one player that made the most difference to the team he joined. Good for him if he has changed his life around.

That could melt the ice.

We need to get this right no matter what....I don't want to be known as the Oilers of the East. Generational talent, coaching changes, changes in management....nothing has worked long term.

So, next year we can expect to either pick 1st overall(depending on lottery) or sneak into the playoffs. Great!

All they need to do to get a deal done...is buy him some new jammies.

I would say it will likely go into June and maybe closer to the draft.

That is this years line-up and I didn't see it. Didn't realize there were that many. But, he still has less to work with seeing that Swedes are the third in numbers from the NHL. I might try looking back at the previous years rosters to see how they compare. But thanks for the info, as usual you are on top of things and it's appreciated. Wish I was better on the computer researching things but you know us old farts.....rage against the machine.

I was referring to his time spent working with the U-18 and U20 mostly. Even so, with less quantity of players in the NHL to choose from than teams such as Canada and USA it still means something. Let's just say he doesn't have players like McD, Eichel, Matthews, etc to work with. I do understand where you stand though. Just saying that he has less to work with as far as quantity and quality, if that makes sense.

Thanks again and very helpful. One question....I thought Cozens was one of the best skaters in this class?

What impresses you most about Tippett's coaching career....seriously asking. Any certain time frame?

It depends on "what" you believe is sensible and what success is. Here's another thing to think about....try taking a mostly new roster every year or two, implement a system, train those players to play within the system, compete against the best in the world, and still have success doing it. Best case scenario.....Tippett as HC, Gronberg as Associate Coach, and Keefe as Asst Coach. Go for the gusto.

Thanks....helps a lot. So we're probably not looking at any immediate help and that's what I was looking at. I have ideas as to whom I like for a pick but your assessment is helpful in evaluating those ideas. Thanks also to @GASabresIUFAN for reminding me about Krebs.

Did you read the article I posted? He doesn't have NHL HC experience....but he has coached NHL players in International play and coach against them too. He also has played and coached in NA and should have no problem adjusting. He is a dual American-Swede citizen and married to an American, so no language barrier. I won't hate any pick if success comes with it. Some people feel that Keefe will get his opportunity and be a winner....that we need to move on him and be ahead of the curve. This is the same way I feel about Gronberg. Gronberg is known to be a great communicator and has a Masters degree in Management and Leadership from St.Cloud State, played hockey in the US (Dman), coached in the US and Sweden, scouted for Sweden all over the world. Back-to-back Golds and medals in 7 of last 10 yrs as HC/asst coach. IMO he seems more qualified and the real question, which I don't think will be an issue, is that 82g season lacking in his resume.

Just my opinion but....then there's the best of both worlds....Gronberg. When talking about SHL all we hear is that they are a level below the AHL in comparison. Yet, this guy can take lower level than AHL players and sprinkle in some NHL players and put them up against the best that the rest of the world wants to offer up and come away with the GOLD. This is coaching a mix of vets and younger players and putting them up against the Eichel and McD's and Hughes and Reinharts of the world and not the Spokane Chiefs or Beauts. But, unlike some, I think I'd be happy with any of the three as long as the Sabres find a way to WIN. Here's a recent article... https://www.diebytheblade.com/2019/4/23/18511391/buffalo-sabres-rikard-gronborg-is-a-risk-worth-taking-botterill-coaching-search