Curt

It’s too far in the future to really be able to predict. If the team is still terrible 3-4 seasons from now, I would say blowing it up could become a viable idea.

He has been quite bad.

Any player, including Crosby, Ovechkin, McDavid, E Karlsson or whoever, if relied on to consistently carry a team, will fail. I don’t believe that is possible in the NHL. Hughes would be no better at “carrying” the Sabres than Eichel is. It takes a whole team to play good hockey.

Regarding the Seattle job, isn’t that going to Dave Tippett? I believe he is already employed by the organization in an advisory role, with the inside track on being their first HC. Q and AV may still not want to work for Buffalo though. Who knows.

He’s worn the same number his entire 9 year NHL career. Probably not going to change now.

In the first half of the season, the goaltending was much better. That’s a major part of how.

Not League wide I suppose, but Bob McKenzie recently mentioned Buffalo as a team that could be making a coaching change. He usually is pretty on top of things and plugged in to talk around the league. For the record, I think they make a change after the season is over.

https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/players-think-d-j-smith-destined-to-be-a-head-coach Last season, Smith voted by NHL players as #1 NHL assistant coach who should be hired for next HC vacancy. Why do you think he’s not the guy for Buffalo right now?

Thanks. I’ve been lurking for quite some time, decided that I might as well add my 2 cents every now and then.

I would prefer an experienced HC. I’m thinking Quennville or Boudreau (I think he gets fired) ideally. I’m a maybe on Vigneault. If going with a first time NHL HC, I’d like Sheldon Keefe, DJ Smith, or Kris Knoblauch. I also think Todd Nelson may be worth a look. He is going to get a second shot at some point.