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I think we should keep him. Under another coach I bet his numbers get even better. Is he untouchable? No. If the right trade deal comes along (hopefully for a good D-man then deal him. I would like to see what our forwards could do under a different coach with a different system. What's Gerard Gallant up to? (besides getting paid by the Panthers for not coaching?) I would like Claude Julien as well if he gets roasted by Boston. Apparently Hitchcock (whom I would really like) intends to retire so I guess he's out. I like Kane's skills and I think if utilized properly could put up some decent numbers for us.

It has been a while. I try to stay away (sort of) because the true fact of the matter is, this team is really pissing me off. Thanks for the mention. I just see a team with enough competitive talent and decent goalies that are now underperforming. Our guys up front do know how to put a puck in the net but we just aren't seeing it here under coach Dan. You mean to tell me Eichel, O'Reilly, Kane, Okposo, Reinhart, and even Moulson are good for an average of 2 goals per game? No way! On any other team they would be producing more. I had really high hopes for this season and I know Jack got hurt and that slowed things, but he is back and I see a team treading water. The Penguin fan base was correct in their assessment of Dan and we need a new coach in my opinion. I like who we have on this club. our defense could use some upgrading but our forwards are capable. Lehner has given up a softie on occasion but seriously, he's been pretty good and even great at times. Nilsson is more then adequate. what pisses me off more then anything is that the Leafs have completely leapfrogged us and I do believe Babcock is the soul reason. They are a young exciting team to watch and although they got smoked last night, watch how they rebound in their next game. This is with a very young squad also. Babcock will not accept mediocre effort or you sit. I feel we are at least as capable as Toronto is with what we have.

I totally did not know he intended to retire after this season. I wonder if he could be talked out of it or if his heart is even still in coaching? I think he still has a lot to give and I bet this team would play much better under Hitch then what we've been seeing under Dan. I believe there is too much talent up front to be netting around 2 goals per game. I also believe our goaltending isn't too shabby with a shored up defense. Hitch's teams are always competitive and at least he shows some fire behind the bench. I cannot take Dan and I believe his system is killing this club.

Ken Hitchcock was relieved of his duties by St. Louis today. I have always liked him as a coach (except when he coached Dallas remember?!) His teams are always competitive and hard working. For some reason things never went St. Louis way come playoff time. (although they did go to a game #6 in the Western Conference Finals last season) What do you think about having him as the Sabres head coach? I would welcome it. Seriously welcome it.

Right you are Lanny, I forgot about McGinn and Deslauriers. Deslauriers is pretty handy with the fists. I'm not saying Jack isn't capable, I just don't want to see him have to do it and then get a stupid injury because of it. I believe Jack has brought the confidence level of this entire team up a notch combined with Bylsma's excellent coaching so far, that we don't need a "set back" of an Eichel injury. Not sure of Gorges and Zemgus ability to throw down (despite Z's size) As it stands right now I can see this team being a legit playoff contender but as the season goes on, and playoff positioning becomes intense, I can also see a team trying to get his game by any means necessary. But you're right, Marcus, McGinn and Deslauriers are there. Good to know! Here's hoping it isn't even an issue. True enough. I just don't want Jack to be the first of this new breed ghat gets nailed. That would just be Buffalo's luck that someone does target him. You never know who another team calls up and wants to make an impression by being a douche. Again, here's hoping that isn't the case.

As Jack gets even better and the season progresses, I am concerned opponents will start to take liberties with him (cheap shots). The injury to McDavid didn't originally appear to be cheap but when you look at it again, it certainly may have had intent. If this happens (a cheap shot to Jack) and I think it eventually will as teams realize how dangerous he is, do we have guys other then Marcus who can "throw down" if the crap starts? Brendan Gallagher is one who I think would take a cheapie at Jack even though he may not throw down afterward. Do we have guys other then Marcus who can send the message this won't be tolerated?

I was a lurker here for the past few years and now I am a newbie. I don't mind having differences of opinion on these threads. I actually enjoy this and I have also learned a great deal since I have come onboard. Some of the other posters have jumped to my defence when they felt I was getting dumped on and I appreciated that although I didn't feel it was necessary. I am capable of defending my thoughts and actions and am more then willing to do so. I have honestly enjoyed my time so far and cannot wait for this season to begin as it is one with some expectations attached to it. My worry is , what if the Sabres start having tremendous winning seasons? We won't have much to bitch about although I know there will be some of us who will still try! Anyhow, cheers to all my fellow posters on this sight. I look forward to trading thoughts and observations with you and thanks for making me feel welcome. Go Sabres! sorry about the underscoring on the above post. Not sure what the hell my keyboard was doing as it seems to have rectified itself now. Weird.

Sizzlemeister, these are gold! I needed a good laugh today and you have delivered sir! I am in your debt!

HERE HERE! Right on! They all smoked back then. LaFleur absolutely!!! It was a different era. Phil Esposito himself said: "The offseason was the off season, you didn't set foot on any ice" We used training camp to get ourselves into playing shape". Smokes was big back then.

Totally agree with you on this. I hate the Leafs big time but there is some underrated talent there. They had serious dressing room issues after Halloween there. Google that if you don't know the crap behind it. Babcock may be just what they need like Burns or Quinn was to them so don't rule them completely out as non-playoff contenders. Reimer and Bernier can be solid with some decent defense in front of them This will be a serious test of how good a coach Mike Babcock truly is and I do believe he will make a major difference there (it pains me to say that but I am expecting it, as I am in Edmonton with McLellan)

Coming from Hamilton, Ontario where almost all my friends and schoolmates were either Leafs or Habs fans. They would always ask me 'Why the hell are you a Sabres fan?" I flat out told them "I love the French Connection". The way they broke up ice and the way they could finish. They were my idols all 3 of them (and tough as nails Jimmy Schoenfeld- loved him too!) I have never looked back and while I may be seriously critical of this organization at times, I do bleed blue & gold and it is all because of them. Great times and I was fortunate enough to see them play live as well. :doh:

That person would be me also. This is the part that worries me about Bylsma being our coach-saviour now. He had infinitely more talent in Pitt then he has here in Buffalo and that was his one and only Cup. Not completely sold on the puck possession times and Corsi stats etc. etc. The Leafs were huge on that this past season and man, they sucked as well. It is the thing to do right now and while puck possession matters to a certain extent. You can have it all you want in the perimeter but if you aren't generating chances with it it won't matter. What matters most is what you can do when you do have the puck. I am willing to give Disco Dan a try as I don't really know who else is out there of relevance. I would take a youngster like Richardson over DeBoer (I think DeBoer is crap, I really do) as he does have a decent track record coaching youth. Should i start a "getting to know Ron Wilson thread"? :w00t:

The bottom line for me is this. People here complained that Nolan didn't really have a system (The PP was crap, penalty killing, forechecking etc.) If Disco Dan can come in and show me some semblance of a system with this young talent, I, for the most part will be happy. It may take a little time for "Dan's system" to be successful, but if you can actually see it on the ice, with this group of youngsters, then I would be satisfied that we are moving in the right direction and that Dan Bylsma may indeed work out here. Here's hoping! Go Sabres!!

Hasek was the best I have seen in a Sabres uniform. Barrasso was brilliant in that the kid came out of High School and won rookie of the year and didn't look out of place whatsoever in the pros. I loved Gerry Desjardins (now I am aging myself !) and felt awful when he had to retire due to the eye injury as I felt he was getting better and better in a Sabres uniform. he gave way to Don Edwards who wasn't too shabby and from my neck of the woods. The Sauve/ Edwards tandem was pretty damn good. My list as follows: 1) Hasek ( the undisputed king- brought me out of my seat several times) 2) Miller (did the same a few times, just not as often as the Dominator) 3) Barrasso (couldn't believe he came straight out of high school) 4) Sauve (back to back shutouts of the Habs on forum ice in the playoffs- never been done before or since) 5) Edwards (saw him play several times, a really good goaltender) 6) Desjardins (Sabre career cut short in my mind) 7) Crozier 8) Fuhr (short body of work as a Sabre) 9) Puppa 10) Biron

I couldn't have said it better myself. Almost exactly what I'm feeling. Hey, if Murray gets this club turned around (and I am cautiously optimistic that he will) as I have stated in other posts, I am ready to worship the man. Time for some winning exciting hockey for long suffering fans. Go Eichel!!! Go Sabres!!!!!

I'll take Bylsma over DeBoer. Something about DeBoer scares me. As for the situation in Pitt. I am starting to get the impression that Malkin and Crosby may not be too crazy about each other. Cannot understand why Pitt was so lousy this past season despite the decent play of their goaltender Fleury. Maybe that dressing room may not be all it's cracked up to be. I don't care who the coach really is either, as long as they can develop our young talent into a competitive club. I am not sure though that DeBoer is that guy.

My apologies on that one shrader. Even though I come from the land of McDavid, I did indeed know that Eichel played for Boston University. Typo on my part. And a shout out to Hoss for showing me how to use the quote button. Still a student on this site but I am learning. Thank guys for keeping me honest!

I actually believe Babcock. I think on his own, he actually would have come here, but I do believe the family angle. I guess his wife didn't and the family has to be happy. The Toronto gig won't last forever and being a douche to another club can come back to haunt you if you wish to work for another organization because who knows where Tim Murray may be in 8 years? (or less) Plus if T-pegs felt Mike lied to him, as an owner with deep pockets, who I feel has some clout at the NHL table, he may get to influence other owners as to Babcock's character and if he felt it was poor, Mike may not work again at the NHL level should he want to. Anyhow, as other posters have stated and I agree. He is The Leafs head coach now and I look forward to booing him and hoping that we beat his ass each and every time we play the Leafs because it just never gets old for me! (most of my friends are Leaf & Hab fans)

LTS: I agree with Touched by Boyes. If I have a 100% chance of getting 4.5 million dollars and only a 20 % chance of 5 million, I'm holding up the 4.5 million sign. Not even a question. I was just commenting on another post that claimed that Murray shouldn't be criticized for getting Eichel (and I wasn't criticizing him for that at all) It really did seem at the post lottery presser that he was truly disappointed with not getting the first pick. Hence that infamous quote of his which SportsCentre enjoyed replaying. Even if you are disappointed, I felt Murray shouldn't have said what he did because as everyone here agrees, Jack Eichel is a very good player and we are getting him. This caused me to seriously question TM as our new messiah. He did a lot to redeem himself in my eyes with the coaching search presser post Mike Babcock. SportsCentre then brought up the question, "How do you feel if you are Eichel and his camp?" What if you now decide to go back to Boston College for another year? They never answered their question and that worried me because I didn't understand the NCAA rules regarding drafting their players (which was later pointed out to me by another poster and I am grateful for that) I got scared we were going to lose both Eichel and McDavid (and now with the loss of Babcock) I just felt all this insanity the past 2 seasons was going to be for absolutely nothing! I am glad we have Jack and I want nothing but success for him here (which would translate into success for this club and us fans. Anyhow, as I stated, if Murray can turn this around, I am ready to worship at his altar. If you wanted to see disappointment, did you see McDavid's face when the Edmonton sign went up? He could barely mask it. Poor kid. He really, truly wanted to come here. Many of my friends mentioned the same thing. In Jack we shall now trust!

SMJ: Murray sure as hell looked disappointed to me that he didn't get McDavid. Let me paraphrase him: "It was like getting the call at 6 a.m. to tell you that you've been cut from the Canadian Junior team". Also, correct me on this. whenever they showed the crowd at First Niagara Centre on Sabres lowlights this season, there seemed to be many signs, posters saying "We want McDavid" not so much any Eichel posters. In fact, from the television highlights that I saw, I never saw one for Eichel.

How come no one has mentioned Ron Wilson? He's come close to winning a Cup? Is he available? Works well with youth! See what I did there? :P Torts would be a blast actually. I just like listening to him lose his $#@! with the media. I miss him!

I was not a Murray fan either but I thought this was his best presser so far. I guess he is talking with Bylsma as he wouldn't confirm nor deny it. He said he doesn't like to make the candidates known as it is a job search and likes to keep that confidential. But Disco Dan is on the short list.

Again, me being lazy with the long paragraphs. More learning. I just like to go on long rants (can't you tell) Not sure what BeerMe1 is talking about. I am not posting under any other name. This is me and me alone.

I think the coach in Edmonton will make a huge difference this year. He would have been my choice after Babcock. I think Edmonton will tighten up defensively under McLellan. As will the Sabres choice as coach, huge decision for the development.

I hear you. No more capitals. Basically lazy was the main reason, not yelling. Loving the give and take today. Yup Babcock lied to Buffalo. Do you think Nolan was lied to also? (or LaFontaine?)