MakeSabresGrr8Again

Maybe you could help us a bit. Rather than rating these players against each other in a mock draft, could you compare them to lets say....Mitts/ Nylander/ Risto or others as far as the hype around those players as the draft closed in on us and what to maybe expect from these picks in comparison to past picks. In other words, do you expect players like Cozens/ Dach/ Zegras, Turcotte to be better than what we expected Mitts to be right from the get go or will they need some AHL time. Will Byram likely be twice as good as Risto or 10x better or is he Keith or TJ Brennan? I think this would help in any confusion as to what to expect instead of which pick is better than rest. If you compare Turcotte and Zegras it doesn't give us any idea of how they compare to Mitts. Are any of them better and can we expect more than other players that we picked in that general area of the draft. Seeing that you think Byram will be gone before we pick, what other Dman would you rate as the best option for us? Is there a Dman who might rate somewhere between a Dahlin and Risto in terms of pure talent. Thanks ahead of time for all your input and time you put into this.

He pulled a Nolan in Phoenix, but had talent in Dallas.

I lived in Glendale. Spent last winter there with my dad after mom passed away. Couldn't believe they picked up Wedgewood...terrible and inconsistent. Lived near 55th Ave and Greenway Rd.

Worlds are May 10th- May 26th....I would imagine sometime in that time frame.

You're fine and I agree. But who's to say that Gronberg or anyone else for that matter wouldn't be able to do the same? I know some coaches are known for a certain style, but some are also adaptable and know how to deal with certain situations and players as individuals. Lindy was tough on the players and that didn't always work either. Adaptable may be the trait to look for. But that would likely be found during an interview process than looking at stats and styles.

I'm not saying that he is a bad coach or should not be considered for the Sabres.....just trying to down play the hype that there may not be better options. As far as Coyotes go....that team was a mess with ownership and the threat of moving the team. Maybe no others wanted the job and they kept him as long as they could.

Lot's of playoff losses and missed playoffs? We've had those already too. Team Year Regular season Post-season G W L T OTL Pts Finish W L Result DAL 2002–03 82 49 17 15 4 111 1st in Pacific 6 6 Lost in Conference Semifinals DAL 2003–04 82 41 26 13 2 97 2nd in Pacific 1 4 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals DAL 2005–06 82 53 23 — 6 112 1st in Pacific 1 4 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals DAL 2006–07 82 50 25 — 7 107 3rd in Pacific 3 4 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals DAL 2007–08 82 45 30 — 7 97 3rd in Pacific 10 8 Lost in Conference Finals DAL 2008–09 82 36 35 — 11 83 3rd in Pacific - - Missed playoffs PHX 2009–10 82 50 25 — 7 107 2nd in Pacific 3 4 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals PHX 2010–11 82 43 26 — 13 99 3rd in Pacific 0 4 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals PHX 2011–12 82 42 27 — 13 97 1st in Pacific 9 7 Lost in Conference Finals PHX 2012–13 48 21 18 — 9 51 4th in Pacific - - Missed playoffs PHX 2013–14 82 37 30 — 15 89 4th in Pacific - - Missed playoffs ARI 2014–15 82 24 50 — 8 56 7th in Pacific - - Missed playoffs ARI 2015–16 82 35 39 — 8 78 4th in Pacific - - Missed playoffs ARI 2016–17 82 30 42 — 10 70 6th in Pacific - - Missed playoffs Total 1,114 553 413 28 120 — 3 division titles 33 41 Don't take it wrong, because I'd love to just see the playoffs again. Five 1st rd exits and 6yrs missed playoffs (11 out of 14yrs) sounds like just what the Doctor ordered.

That's exactly what I'd like to see....no matter who the next coach is and no matter who's right in their opinion or not and no matter how it happens. yours checks out too.

Yet we want an innovative forward thinking out-of-the-box GM who will hire the next coming of a brain child AHL coach with no NHL experience. Or a re-tread. Or an NHL assistant coach. Or a (former) Cup winner.Or a HOF Alumni. Or.....Or.....Or.....Nolan.....Or....Rolston......Or.......????? Next thing you'll be saying is that we should take fighting out of the game. Or change the rules for whether or not an 18yr old kid can play in the AHL instead of the going back to Jrs. Or take out the center red line offsides. Make players wear a helmet or a mask. Make sticks out of something other than wood. How about we don't have analytics. How about we change the rules so a player like John Scott or Zemgus Girgensons can't get voted to the All-Star Game. I get it.....it's never been done before, rules never change, thinking out-of-the-box is just stupid, and there's never "a first time for anything". I stop when others stop trying to promote "their" ideas of how things should happen and that any other coaching hire is the second coming of ......? Isn't that why we're all here....to express our thoughts and get feed back that isn't just.....these things don't happen, stop it or you'll get a spanking.

He said he might have to start out as an asst just to get started in the NHL. So, maybe.

Maybe an apprenticeship for Gronberg under Tippet for 1yr then Tippet moves on to Seattle if offered. Allows Gronberg to get acclimated.

I pretty much agree with you. You can replace Skinner with two 20g scores which are likely easier to obtain. That could actually create more offense by giving us more depth and quality throughout the line-up. The one thing that I might add is that we need to somehow reverse the TEAM +/-. We scored more goals than Dallas and only 2 less goals than the Isles....look where they are and where we're at. The difference being that we allowed much more goals than they did (202g and 196g respectively, to our 271g). All the teams that were on the plus side made the playoffs, with the exception of the Habs. I think this is a pretty good indicator of what it takes to get there. Even the teams like SJ and TO, who let allot of goals scored against, still were a plus in differential. We need to definitely close that gap. The worst part of that gap for us is in the goals against.

Sure would like some idea of what "Plan B" is. Replacing a 30+ goal scorer isn't easy. Replacing one that meshes with Jack is even harder. So, maybe two 20g scorers would be the plan with the possibility of Jack making one of them better? The other one making our 2nd line better.

It was just an interesting observation I noticed when I looked up the team roster and staff. But take it where ever you see fit....asst to Gronberg? LOL

I hope not, Keefe I could deal with but not Babs. I don't think Babs would like it either. Just a thought but, we are the laughing stock of the NHL right now and Babs turned us down for TO. Wouldn't that be embarrassing for both sides? Babs must be thinking right now that maybe the better choice would have been Buffalo because there would be less scrutiny when he at least got us to the playoffs. Making that choice now would be admitting he was wrong in his choice. Also, if he doesn't have success here it would just be another strike on his resume for the next time. Buffalo would be just walking the line of "settling" for the lesser of the evils. I don't want someone who didn't want us before when we needed them.

Just a note....not sure if anyone knows this, but Dahlin's dad (Martin Dahlin) is an assistant coach for Sweden's U-18 team.

How about words like.....using analytics and in game adjustments? Something we know Phil never knew.

Exactly, and that's why I don't see it as a problem. Forwards are playing in defensive positions on the PP all the time, not precisely the same as a 5v5 situation but similar.

How well have they feasted on this guy and his system on an international level in recent years? EDIT: I might add that the international size rinks being larger would even add to their ability to feast seeing there's more room to get around a D-man and more room for the d-man to defend.

Many people think of Gronberg as a Swede only (not saying you are one of them). He has coached in the US at the college and CHL levels. He has coached NHL players and likely helped in their development also. He has coached against NHL players at the international level. He's not some inexperienced coach with a short resume and the Swedish team has won 7 medals in the last 10 years (3 golds). We also have Dahlin, Vickio, Asplund, Larsson, Pilut, and others in the system that could possibly flourish under him.

How long has Gronberg been coaching at a "professional" level? Just asking. I've been sold on him as our "out-of-the-box" choice over any AHL coach. He's coach professional NHL players and against them. The Swedes have 7 medals in the last 10 years (3 golds). I think he would do wonders for all the Swedes we have put our future up against. Again, just my opinion and you are much welcome to yours. I don't think we could go wrong either way though, but my choice would be ....Gronberg?

Well, he had some success with Rob Ray, Vaclav Varada, and Denis Hamel on the team.....oh yeah, and LaLime in net. That should qualify him, LOL.

Uh oh....this is the wrong place to ask for data. How long have you been a Mod on here? LOL You are probably gonna get some FU% chart or a BS% Fenwick result that you didn't want to really see. Or my post...LOL Good luck either way.

https://smumustangs.com/ Just kidding.

Not many options is my point. Not much of a punishment that's for sure.