Doohicksie

Ah. Matt Ellis, the Victor Olofsson of Bench Coaches.

Is the Buffalo job that great of a challenge? The roster has a just a few holes, some of which at least might be filled internally They're one season removed from being the 3rd highest scoring team in the league, and all the top scores, save Mitts & Olofsson, are still here They have a good cap situation They have one of the top prospect pools Their core is just coming into their prime They have a good and deep defensive core They have a goalie that just stepped up to a high quality starter and another close prospect on the rise They just fired a fine development coach that couldn't quite get the team to win enough games With the a new perspective and the right coaching, the Sabres could easily be a playoff team, perhaps SC contenders

It really depends on Adams and Pegula (not our perceptions of Adams and Pegula, but what the reality is, and how that is communicated in an interview). The Sabres do have a lot of young talent already on the team and supposedly the best prospect pool. I could see experienced coaches jumping at this position. If Kevyn agrees to involve a newly hired but experienced HC in roster tweaks, and TPegs agrees to let the hockey guys go out and hockey, I could see an experience HC jumping at the opportunity.

I know Brind'Amour was instrumental in running Skinner out of CAR but there are a lot of miles between then and now. I wouldn't mind RBA coming in and making Skinner a complete player. If he could get Skinner to buy in, everyone would. Skinner's got all the tools.

Is that what I heard a while back? I kept thinking it was done but his name keeps coming up. I guess it was the Friedman came out with "practically done" and that closed RBA off in my mind.

Player - Coach - Coach

I was in on Lindy. Now that Meatballs is gone.... the reality of bringing Lindy doesn't seem like the best option. Sabrespase Post of the Day

Rayzor needs someone to talk to in between periods. Someone who uses short words.

Based on the wording of the announcement I think that ship has sailed. No we can't. We don't know him personally. Maybe some do, I dunno. I have a pretty good idea of your character without having met you. I dunno.

Look at each and every coach in the TPegs era and make your own decision.

My point is that when @LGR4GM (I think) said that just squeaking into the playoffs if Quinn had stayed healthy would not have been enough, I was saying that it's not out of the realm of possibility that the Sabres could beat the Rangers in a best of seven. Unlikely? Yes, but possible. It's a moot point anyway. And to further examine the point: Just squeaking in and getting their ***** handed to them in the first round wouldn't have been a bad thing either. It would expose the team to playoff hockey which is something they need to see to further their development.

On the other hand, if TPegs wants something for the money he's paying Donny, it gives both sides a way to save face.

I dunno, I could see the Sabres upsetting the Rangers in the first round. During the season the Sabres were 1-1-1 against the Rags. They could have been this year's Panthers.

So young players lack physical toughness? Zach Benson would like a word.

I think a scenario that is somewhat likely is that Donny is kicked upstairs to an executive position... I dunno, make something up: Special Assistant GM for Player Development or some such, where he works with coaches players in the NHL and AHL to ensure all prospects have a clear development plan to maximize assets. Or some such.

Unless they decide to Gallant Donny.

There's also the proceeds from the deal moving the Yotes to SLC.

It doesn't say he won't be, just that he's not speaking.

Oh please please please let Matt Ellis be the Matt Ellis of fired assistant coaches.

Simple: Donnypuck plays well against some teams, not so well against others. They are good at playing a pressure game against older/slower teams but if a team plays that kind of game against the Sabres, the Sabres wilt under the pressure themselves. A good coaching staff would find ways to match the team as constructed up against teams that play the uptempo game more aggressively than the Sabres. In general it seems that the Sabres historically play only the loose pucks that are at least 50-50 or better.... or even 60-40 in their favor, and don't want to expend the energy to contest pucks they don't think they can control. So when they play a team that aggressively fights for loose pucks, they sit back and let them have the puck, preferring to regroup and organize the defense. I think they need to be more aggressive on the puck in general. Benson is good at this with Quinn as a good complement. Peterka/Tuch seem to work well as a 1-2 forechecking duo. When they try. The problem is they don't try to disrupt the other teams consistently enough. You see it used against the Sabres all the time, and a guy like Dahlin who thinks he can take on a double team is especially susceptible if it's done right.... the first forechecker chases the defenseman behind the net, and right into the second forechecker who's coming down on the other side of the net. If the first guy can rush or disrupt the puck carrier, it can cause a turnover. This is precisely what happened on the Stamkos goal last night. They used Dahlin's tendency to make the cute play against him and hung him out to dry. I've seen the Sabres do the same, but not often enough.

He *did* play well last night. Not as well as Dan and Rayzor built him up with their commentary, but he played well. Oh the Vinzanity.

The problem is he's signed long term... and he has his injury history. Who's going to want to take that risk?

Yep. That was a 3-ply goal fer shur

Look out, here comes... Maybe I'm wrong?