IKnowPhysics

If it's Krueger, I'm ok with it, but I really want to know that Tippett was never possible. And if I'm the Buffalo beat reporters, I'm grilling the ***** out of Botterill about selection criteria and why Krueger is a better fit than other candidates (Tippett).

Fair, correct, and agreed. Marlies are now in the semifinals or whatever the 3rd (of 4) round is called in the AHL. A seven game series would go through May 28th. The finals, if seven games, could last until something like June 9th. I think if the Sabres don't hire by like May 30th and the Marlies go to the finals, it'll be clear that we're waiting to interview Keefe. I still think Tippett is given priority over Keefe and could be hired before the Marlies finish. I think Krueger, after interviewing "well," is also currently higher on the Sabres' list than Keefe, but isn't in as much demand, and Botterill might wait to talk to Keefe before deciding between them.

This is how all breaking sports news operates now. Leaks from front offices, agents, and players acting as sources to the twatter feeds of sports columnists. Yeah, a lot of it's horseshit, but you as you weed out twatters that ***** bogus information, it starts to settle down a bit.

If I were to speculate on how the Sabres (not I) were to rank candidates currently, based on qualifications and priority of interviewing, etc, it seems to be something like this: Joel Quennville - locked down by buddy Dale Tallon early. Dave Tippett - seems as if the job is his, if he wants it. Has been talking to Edmonton. Future with Seattle beyond advisory role is unclear. Experienced. Success at coaching NHL teams, notably sparking the Coyotes into the playoffs for a few years before their organizational meltdown. Todd McClellan - Very experienced, held Sharks at high level of regular season success for years. One of Sabres' first interviews, but no offer was made. Signed a deal with LA that was long rumored before season's end. Ralph Krueger - is rumored to have recently replaced Jacques Martin at #2 among available. Interviewed well according to sources. Success in European leagues, good communicator, good manager. Reportedly fired by MacTavish in Edmonton via Skype, which was not well-received by hockey community. Krueger grew up in Winnipeg and played for Cal Botterill, Jason's dad, in grade school. Alaign Vignegaulgt - unknown if Sabres interviewed. Very experienced. Signed with Flyers soon after Quennville and McLellan were signed. Jacques Martin - Very experienced. Got permission from Penguins to interview after Vigneault signed with Flyers. Krueger brought in after Martin. Sheldon Keefe - up and coming AHL champion coach, but no indication Sabres have asked permission to interview him yet (or perhaps Keefe/Toronto have already quietly declined?). Nate Leaman - coach of NCAA champion Providence College. No NHL coaching experience, but success developing college players for NHL. Interviewed early, with no publicly apparent follow up. FWIW, Ron Rolston is the Associate Head Coach at Providence. Chris Taylor - Americans coach and longtime friend of Jason Botterill. Rikard Gronborg - Successful European coach that the media spun up as a potential outside-the-box candidate. Not interviewed. Signed in Switzerland. Todd Richards - assistant coach of TBL. Not interviewed and/or no permission requested/given. It's hard to nail down where McLellan really falls, perhaps #1, perhaps #5, but it's immaterial now. Other new candidates might slide in around the 6/7/8 spot- I think Sabres only strongly consider other candidates if both Tippett and Krueger are out (for whatever reasons). And I think other candidates might bump Leaman and Taylor downwards, based on how long ago they interviewed and would have been selected before bringing more candidates.

https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/video/canada-optimistic-about-fabbro-montour-could-be-in-jeopardy~1682838 TSN: Montour has a lower body injury, may not be ready for the next Team Canada game.

RIP Pancho. https://buffalonews.com/2019/05/14/pancho-billa-ezra-castro-bills-superfan-dies-after-cancer-battle/

SwedSPN:

"Confirmed" five: Todd McLellan, per Bob McKenzie Dave Tippett, per Elliotte Friedman Ralph Krueger, per Eliiotte Friedman Jacques Martin, per John Shannon Nate Leaman, per Bruce Garrioch Unconfirmed: Sheldon Keefe? Chris Taylor? Alain Vigneault? Joel Quennville? "Confirmed" to not have interviewed: (not Rikard Gronborg, per John Vogl) (not Todd Richards, per John Shannon) Wherein "confirmed" means they were "in talks" or "interviewed," not just a "candidate" or "being considered." Reminder that Housley was hired on June 16th, so we could be in for another month of this.

Per my own research, Dr. Cal Botterill (Jason's father) graduated University of Winnipeg (with a bachelors) and was a teacher at St John's-Ravenscourt prep school in Winnipeg from 1970-1974 while he persued an MA, DipEd, and PhD ('77) before becoming a longtime professor at University of Alberta. While at SJR, he taught Geography and Phys Ed in the Upper School (high school), and he was the only teacher listed for those subjects in the Upper School, and was coach of the senior hockey team. Botterill was the teacher of Richardon House in the lower school in 1970-71 and was the coach of Playground B. Ralph Krueger, son of German immigrants (his father was Dr. Karl H Krueger, a surgeon on the faculty of University of Manitoba)), grew up in Winnipeg and attended St Johns-Ravenscourt, where he played for the school hockey team as a center. Ralph played Bantam Minor in '72-'73; that team was 15-0-0. Her played Pee Wee A in '71-'72, and was the top scorer on the team. Ralph was a student of Richardson House in 1970-71 and played Playground C. Because of the small class sizes, and shared coaches among teams, it is likely that Cal Botterill (Jason Botterill's dad) was among Ralph Krueger's hockey coaches and was his school teacher. Yearbook photos:

The last Sabres playoff win was more than six girlfriends ago for me, and yet I stay in this abusive relationship.

It was speculated that because Krueger's contract with Southampton was to expire June 30, and that he was released amicably on April 12, he has begun looking for another opportunity. Speculation extends that he is looking for another opportunity in hockey.

It's not a good idea, but it's also not technically the worst possible idea.

Barf. My biases established in 2006 prevent me from liking this until it's forced upon me.

In that order.

I still miss Jim Kelley. Especially in the twitter age. Jim would have killed it on Twitter, kinda like Bob McKenzie.

Ross is stating his belief that the movement to create awareness of widespread sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace is dumb. I thought it was clear.

The business model and CBA/cap of the WNBA I think is a relevant read of what it might take to bootstrap a womens pro hockey league. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_National_Basketball_Association Caps would have to be higher because of larger rosters, but the initial number of teams would be fewer by roughly a proportionate amount. Unrelated, I'd think it'd be easy for the NHL to include womens pro hockey as part of a package to be included in the NHL national TV contract. A couple games year plus playoffs on NBCSN, and the revenue from such a package, would do wonders. It'd damn sure be a better watch than Pro Bull Riding or whatever garbage used to follow hockey back when NBCSN was Outdoor Life Network. And you can't tell me, despite how much I enjoy it, that the Curling World Cup, which currently being broadcast live from China, is a moneymaker for NBC Sports.

What I thought was a novel thought: Botterill might interview Ralph Krueger now that he's done at Southampton. Botterill wanted to interview him in 2017. Joe Dibiase already thought of that and posits that interviewing for NHL Jobs is why Krueger left a couple months early. https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/opinion/keep-eye-ralph-krueger

I think it is. See also: Yzerman, GM.

I don't know what the solution is, but having an NWHL season next year without those players seems like a non-starter. I don't think it's the skill factor. I think a significant number of players and fans would be hesitant to cross real or virtual picket lines, at least a large enough number to significantly damage the NWHL's shoestring budget, particularly if the national team members start shaming the league.

PSE handing Beauts back to NWHL is almost certainly in preparation for something. I don't think this happens without a reason, particularly for how supportive the Pegulas have been of the league. Obviously the question is: what's the reason? Speculative possibilities, without making any claim about accuracy or likelihood (some of these are right out of my ass): PSE to NWHL: fix your labor issues and get back to us. PSE to NWHL: we see potential PR issues for us and/or suspicious or illegal activity on your part and we don't want to be involved. PSE wants to divest as a financial precaution before NWHL folds. PSE had some conditional arrangement with NWHL as part of the agreement for PSE taking control of the Beauts, and NWHL did not deliver, resulting in termination of the agreement. PSE wants to divest to free up NWHL to make more extreme changes in the name of self-preservation: Move or fold individual teams as needed. As a singular entity, be purchased by or partner with a third party. The third party could be the NHL, an ownership group led by the Pegulas, or other. (Example: NHL buying NWHL with PSE as a franchise owner/controller would be messy; divesting simplifies this.) PSE wants to divest from NWHL before the NHL begins discussing or actualizing among owners/governors an alternative to NWHL. (Conflict of interest for PSE-Beauts partnership). PSE wants to divest from Beauts because of a potential conflict of interest as the owner of The Rinks at HarborCenter. edit1: PSE to NWHL: your labor costs are about to skyrocket. I want out.

Blues over Stars in 2OT.

Ehh... Weirdness does happen sometimes -Willie Desjardins (AHL HC and Calder winner) turned down the Penguins to take the Canucks HC job the same year in 2014- but I don't know of any AHL HC that turns down an extended offer for an NHL HC only to remain an AHL HC that year. That said, it's hard to find data on this. So I could see Keefe having a choice between NHL jobs, but I'd find it very unlikely he doesn't take a Buffalo job if it's the only offer on the table.