dudacek Posted May 14, 2019 Report Posted May 14, 2019 4 hours ago, IKnowPhysics said: 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. Unsure how much of this I should read as speculation.
IKnowPhysics Posted May 15, 2019 Report Posted May 15, 2019 27 minutes ago, dudacek said: Unsure how much of this I should read as speculation. Well, the order of which coaches they might prefer is definitely speculation. Most of the notes on the coaches have been written other places, however.
Brawndo Posted May 15, 2019 Report Posted May 15, 2019 3 hours ago, Curtisp5286 said: Just a note on a Keefe: Buffalo would not ask permission to interview him while he was still working with his team in the playoffs. Once the Marlies’ season is over, then we may (or may not) hear something about Keefe. I do wonder if Botterill has reached out through a second party (Keefe’s agent) to gauge if he would have interest in the Buffalo Job. Not a formal request through the Leafs, but a back channel inquiry to see if there is any mutual interest.
IKnowPhysics Posted May 15, 2019 Report Posted May 15, 2019 9 minutes ago, Brawndo said: I do wonder if Botterill has reached out through a second party (Keefe’s agent) to gauge if he would have interest in the Buffalo Job. Not a formal request through the Leafs, but a back channel inquiry to see if there is any mutual interest. I don't know if tampering rules (which, for players, is in the CBA) exist for coaching staff. I know there's obvious nondisclosure clauses, etc, as part of team employment. I also think it's professionally courteous to ask permission from competing entities to communicate to staff under contract, but that's not necessarily a written rule.
Zamboni Posted May 15, 2019 Author Report Posted May 15, 2019 Well, I guess once it’s officially official… You can close up this thread
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