HumanSlinky39

Honestly, and I guess I'm probably biased, but this should be one of the more appealing job openings out there. Despite the regression this season, this is one of the more talented young rosters in the league. Most of the young core is locked up under reasonable long-term deals. They're not on the ground-floor of a rebuild. They barely missed the post season last year and were in the running (even if VERY remotely) until the last week of this season. Add in what is widely seen as the #1 pipeline in the NHL and all the indicators are there that with the right guy, the Sabres are set up for a strong multi-year run of sustained success. Adams seems to be very easy to work for/with and you have an owner that doesn't meddle and has shown a willingness to spend. It's objectively a pretty appealing job.

100% this. Appert may end up being an excellent NHL coach, but this team doesn't need another first timer. They need to go out and get somebody not just with NHL head coach experience, but somebody with playoff experience that can teach these guys what it takes to get to that level. Granato was an excellent developer of talent, but he lacked in many other key areas including experience. It seemed to me like he ran a bit of a country club, and that showed in the lack of accountability which manifested in wildly inconsistent play from game-to-game. They could look like absolute world-beaters one night, then would appear aloof and disinterested the next. That's a lack of discipline to me. A veteran that can get these guys focused and locked in needs to be the target. Hiring your AHL coach would be lazy, uninspired and signal a willingness to accept more of the same, IMO.

Thanks, Meatballs. While ultimately he came up short, it's hard to deny the team is in a better place than when he took over for Raaaaaalph. Not sure why Matty Ellis isn't on the hit list? Hopefully that doesn't have a hidden meaning of some kind. He presided over a horror-show of a power play. Time to root hard for an early Canes playoff exit and parting of ways between Carolina and Brind'Amour. He would be my clear-cut choice, but if not, Adams should go hard after Berube. Time to shutter up the country club and get a coach in here that can whip a talented roster into shape.

Always great to beat the Lightning. And so, the most disappointing Sabres season of my fandom mercifully comes to a close. I wish I could muster some optimism for next season, but I see little chance Meatballs (and Matty Power Play) aren't back next season. As such, I expect more of the same. Wildly inconsistent, frustrating play. Hopefully the leash is reasonably short. Another season in the books, boys. See ya in the fall, Sabres.

God willing, that's the last Sabres power play we have to watch until October.

GREENWAY Finish strong

COZZIE X2

WTF was that? LOL

I actually bought the hype and was thinking playoffs before this season started. By mid-November, I knew I'd been hoodwinked. By Early December, well...

*Fart Noise*

Tage closing the season strong, so we have that going for us, which is nice.

Can't wait to run it all back next season with Granato so we can hang around the outer margins of the playoffs race, but not be a real threat to get in because the team lacks the ability to put together any kind of real winning streaks and no-shows 40-50% of their games. Gonna be great!

Another no-show by the Sabres. Shocking.

Nice win, but it's too little, too late. Yeah, there are token odds we could sneak in, but it'll take a miracle. Where was consistent effort for 90% of the season? As could be predicted the games they no-showed the first four months of the season have come home to roost. Just win, I guess, and let the chips fall where they may. I still say this team won't sniff the playoffs with Granato and his gang of goofs. They need a coach with a pedigree to push them, not a "good guy." Anyway, five games left. If there's one true positive out of this season it's that we appear to have a legit goalie. If Levi can get on track, he and UPL should steal some games for them. How odd that goaltending has turned into our strength.

MOTHERTUCHER

TNT

Balls.

Oh, they show up and show out occasionally. Don't worry, next game they'll be a listless tub of goo again.

PETERKA

Sabres on the power play.

Skinner, Girgensons, Olofsson (HUGE mistake not trading him this past summer when he was coming off of a 28 goal season), Jost, and Comrie should all be on their way out the door. I'd say good chance the last four are not here next season, not so sure they buy out Skinner and I don't think it would be easy to find a trade partner for him unless we eat some of his salary...which if it's less than his buyout, maybe they go that route. He can still get you 30 goals/60 points, so maybe somebody looking for a scoring boost takes the bait.

Take a look at the player Sam became when he got shipped out. Linus Ullmark goes to a team with a winning culture and a sound system and wins a Vezina. The list goes on...

It's largely coaching IMO. How have so many players' performances fallen right off a cliff this season? Did everybody just have career seasons last year? All in the same season? Power can play. He showed it for long stretches last season, and briefer glimpses this. I don't think he has anybody pushing him right now. He doesn't have a coach getting on his ass for mistakes. He's still a kid, he needs to be molded. What these guys have is a country club. Nobody is getting on their ***** for nimrod mistakes. Nobody is getting on their ass for just gliding around the ice for long stretches...or entire ***** games. Too many games this season we've seen a team that looked either disinterested or scared. Get a good, experienced hard-nosed coach in here like Gallant or Berube, or (God willing) Brind'Amour, and watch these guys bounce back and play into May next year.

It would be so goddamned refreshing to hear a coach just say "we sucked. There's no excuses, we sucked and it starts with me. I've failed utterly this season." But nope, we get ***** platitudes game in and game out.

Pride? I don't think it's about pride. I think it's about indifference. I don't get the impression he gives a frog's fat ass about the Sabres.