[News] Sabres hire Dan Bylsma as head coach

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Not so sure Byslma is all that's cracked up to be. He had Crosby, Malkin, and a lot more arsenal with the Pens for so many years and won it only once when he first took over. He's like a one hit wonder and he's probably lucky to have won it since that coaching change sparked that team late in the season. The Pens could've won it with another coach and maybe more than just one cup in a weak conference for the longest time. Heck, even Ted Nolan could've won it with that group of Pens that year.

Right now, Buffalo is in the same situation that Edmonton was in for the past 10 years or so. I think Edmonton will turn it around this year while Buffalo still have bad management, a one-dimensional coach, and a young team with no direction. They'll be the new No-Good Oilers.

One could make many of the same arguments about Babcock -- coached an even more dominant team full of Hall of Famers to one Stanley Cup, had a bunch of good regular seasons and limited playoff success otherwise.

These last two seasons have been awful, but in the process we've established a very good core of players to build from. Post-draft we'll have two of the top three center ice prospects in the world and a fantastic crop of young defensemen (Ristolainen, Zadorov, McCabe, Pysyk) that would make just about any team jealous. We have some great veterans that signed as free agents to help lead this team (Gionta, Moulson) and some talented u-25's that have already established themselves as top 6 NHL regulars (Ennis, Kane, Girgensons). It's WAY too early to call Murray a bad manager -- his personality has left a bit to be desired but his hockey moves have been good and forward thinking. Bylsma is a Stanley Cup and recent Jack Adams award winning coach, far more pedigree than any of the jokers the Oilers ran with the last several years. And at the top of it all is Terry Pegula, who is passionate about the team and committed to building a winner instead of giving his buddies jobs and making money.

The only thing that really, desperately needs to be addressed is the goaltending situation, which it will be. This team is a long way from being in as dire of straits as the Oilers and has based their re-build on the right kinds of players (centers and big defensemen, not soft wingers). We may not be a playoff team next year but the turn-around is coming much sooner than you think.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

One could make many of the same arguments about Babcock -- coached an even more dominant team full of Hall of Famers to one Stanley Cup, had a bunch of good regular seasons and limited playoff success otherwise.

These last two seasons have been awful, but in the process we've established a very good core of players to build from. Post-draft we'll have two of the top three center ice prospects in the world and a fantastic crop of young defensemen (Ristolainen, Zadorov, McCabe, Pysyk) that would make just about any team jealous. We have some great veterans that signed as free agents to help lead this team (Gionta, Moulson) and some talented u-25's that have already established themselves as top 6 NHL regulars (Ennis, Kane, Girgensons). It's WAY too early to call Murray a bad manager -- his personality has left a bit to be desired but his hockey moves have been good and forward thinking. Bylsma is a Stanley Cup and recent Jack Adams award winning coach, far more pedigree than any of the jokers the Oilers ran with the last several years. And at the top of it all is Terry Pegula, who is passionate about the team and committed to building a winner instead of giving his buddies jobs and making money.

The only thing that really, desperately needs to be addressed is the goaltending situation, which it will be. This team is a long way from being in as dire of straits as the Oilers and has based their re-build on the right kinds of players (centers and big defensemen, not soft wingers). We may not be a playoff team next year but the turn-around is coming much sooner than you think.

I agree 100%. Even with McDavid I take Buffalo any day of the week over Edmonton.

[btimbit]

Sign a guy like Ramo or Niemi and they could be the team to watch in a year or two

[killer_carlson]

I also think that Bylsma also had enough street cred to tell the GM that he's not allowed to trade the goalie who is on a hot streak, or the teams best defender for an enigmatic forward who is injured for the rest of the season.

Buffalo will be coached and managed a lot differently this year. I also think their dressing room gets a make over as well.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by The Hendog

The thing about NHL and sports in general when it comes to firing coaches and executives as that when they get fired they are still often under contract, just not doing the job they were contracted to do anymore. Its not like if you or I got fired, if we fired, we fired! No more job, no more pay! But these guys still get paid even if they are "fired". So since they are still under contract with a team I sort of understand why the team would want to compensated - they are giving up contractual control over the situation and they want to get some benefit for that. Now does the NHL have to complicate it so much with this steadfast rule of a 3rd round pick - no. The rule needs to be changed and just like all contracts & the the buying out of contracts, it should be negotiated for that specific situation.

I get the rule as you explained it (thanks btw), but it's an easily closed loophole. Instead of 'under contract' change it to 'working for the team contracted to as under contract job title'. The lawyers could probably word it better.

It's dumb that a team gets compensation for a guy they don't want. Unless one goes so far to say that, that is an advantage to over signing a coach that they actually take into account when drawing up the contract. Who knows, maybe it is.

[Daradon]

I'm not so sure about Bylsma either. I was a big supporter in the early years, but fell off the bandwagon shortly before he got canned. He should have had more success. I do think some of the problems fall to the GM too, but Bylsma should have done better.

Buffalo will be tough for him. But it'd be tough for any coach. Who knows, he may thrice under lesser expectations allowing him to get a good thing going as they rebuild.