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Posted
22 minutes ago, Andrew Amerk said:

What is it that Grönborg would need to learn? How to coach like the other NHL coaches?

No, but I do think he'd need to have a team smart enough to understand his concepts... that wouldnt go well with half this team.

Posted
22 minutes ago, North Buffalo said:

No, but I do think he'd need to have a team smart enough to understand his concepts... that wouldnt go well with half this team.

What type of innovative concepts does he use that only Swedes can understand?

Posted

Todd McLellan took an established Sharks team to the playoffs his 1st 6 seasons as their head coach, but was fired after they didn’t make it in the 7th season of 2014/15.  

However, If we knock Housley for not getting the Sabres to the playoffs with a star player in Eichel, do we then dock McLellan for only taking McDavid and the Oilers to the playoffs once in 4 seasons (actually fired after 20 games this season, his fourth)?

Posted
2 minutes ago, gilbert11 said:

Todd McLellan took an established Sharks team to the playoffs his 1st 6 seasons as their head coach, but was fired after they didn’t make it in the 7th season of 2014/15.  

However, If we knock Housley for not getting the Sabres to the playoffs with a star player in Eichel, do we then dock McLellan for only taking McDavid and the Oilers to the playoffs once in 4 seasons (actually fired after 20 games this season, his fourth)?

 

Never mind, signed with Kings.

Posted

Great listen from earlier today.  Johnathan Willis from the Athletic, Edmonton.

Considers McLellan a good fit for Buffalo, but also considers him a "mid-tier" coach not at the top, not at the bottom.

He also comments on why a Risto for RNH trade with Edmonton doesn't make sense for Edmonton.

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/4-8-jonathan-willis-talks-todd-mclellan-bulldog

Posted
5 minutes ago, WildCard said:

What?

My apologies.  That’s what I get for looking at Wikipedia.  I was just looking up McLellan’s record as a head coach and someone had just added that he signed with the Kings.  I should’ve checked other sources before posting.

 

 I will give myself 10 lashes. 

Posted
5 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Are we talking to anyone else or is JBot so high on McClellan that he has the job if he wants it?  

No word.

If you want to get all cynical conspiracy theory-ish, I’ve got one.  

Theory:  Botterill has contacted several candidates about the job, the rest have not become public.  McLellan is one of them, but has also been negotiating with LA about possibly taking their job.  McLellan’s camp leaked that he was in talks with Buffalo to the media in order to maybe light a fire under LA management to get a more favorable deal from them.

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Posted
4 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Are we talking to anyone else or is JBot so high on McClellan that he has the job if he wants it?  

For all we know, JB is takiing to 5 other candidates or no other candidates. 

I bet this whole “talking to McClellan” didn’t come from JB or the Sabres.

I’m of the mindset of ...

yawn... rumors. I’ll believe it when I see it. Not gonna get too up or down on rumors from twitter junkies.

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Posted
2 hours ago, gilbert11 said:

My apologies.  That’s what I get for looking at Wikipedia.  I was just looking up McLellan’s record as a head coach and someone had just added that he signed with the Kings.  I should’ve checked other sources before posting.

 

 I will give myself 10 lashes. 

No, *I'll* take the lashes for you!

Posted

Given the situations of the respective franchises, other than location, I can’t fathom why LA would be more attractive than Buffalo.  LA is both bad and in cap hell with old guys on huge money... ??‍♂️

Posted
7 minutes ago, Zamboni said:

He looks like a James Bond villain. 

For that.... hire him!

As someone's who played Quantum of Solace and watched Casino Royale, I can appreciate that.

But seriously, what kind of system does he run? Can he bring a winning background to the locker room (all I know is that he had the misfortune of prosiding over the Sens' recent dumpster fire)? Overall is he a good fit to get the Sabres to the next level?

Posted
4 hours ago, Zamboni said:

He looks like a James Bond villain. 

For that.... hire him!

If we're rolling like that give me the bearded Swedish one with the ? in his last name.

Posted (edited)
16 hours ago, Andrew Amerk said:

What is it that Grönborg would need to learn? How to coach like the other NHL coaches?

When has Gronborg coached A) North American Hockey or B) a majority of none Swedish players? 

He would have to learn the NA game or adapt to it and also to learn or adapt to a different culture. Not saying I am opposed to hiring him but that he would have a learning curve. 

Gronborg himself mentions some reasons and some challenges to overcome, he also impresses me a little. 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/rikard-gronborg-nhls-first-european-head-coach-since-2001/

Quote

“Everyone’s playing the same system,” Grönborg said this week. “It seems like they have one team that’s been successful for a year or two and suddenly everyone is emulating everything that they do. Everything from recruiting the same type of players to the same systems. I think the challenge for management is to look what kind of team you have and [say] ‘OK, who is going to fit our team—the team we have right now—and develop us into a contender in the National Hockey League?”

Quote

Grönborg is actually a dual Swedish-American citizen after playing college hockey at St. Cloud State in Minnesota and spending the first 10 years of his coaching career in places like Wisconsin, Montana and Texas. He married a woman from Salt Lake City and holds a master’s degree in management and leadership.

 

Edited by LGR4GM
Posted (edited)

Regarding Gronborg, I would also like to add the question:

When is the last time he coached in an actual league?  It’s been a long while and there is no high level league experience.

That’s what concerns me the most.  Can he keep a teams ear for more than a couple weeks at a time?  Over an 82 game season?  Multiple years of 82 game seasons?  It’s a lot easier to put up with someone when you know that your time together will be short.  More difficult when there is no end in sight.

Edited by Curtisp5286
Posted
56 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

When has Gronborg coached A) North American Hockey or B) a majority of none Swedish players? 

He would have to learn the NA game or adapt to it and also to learn or adapt to a different culture. Not saying I am opposed to hiring him but that he would have a learning curve. 

Gronborg himself mentions some reasons and some challenges to overcome, he also impresses me a little. 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/rikard-gronborg-nhls-first-european-head-coach-since-2001/

 

Honest question. Is the “North American” game even a thing anymore? It’s been leaning towards the Europe game more and more every year. Maybe a coach that already knows it is just the thing to give an advantage. Just a thought.

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, SwampD said:

Honest question. Is the “North American” game even a thing anymore? It’s been leaning towards the Europe game more and more every year. Maybe a coach that already knows it is just the thing to give an advantage. Just a thought.

Since I’ve heard many European prospects mention that exact phrase… “North American game”

They then mention the size of the ice. Angle changes, speed changes, and timing changes. 

 It’s something a lot of European players that come over need a full season to get used to, sometimes longer. 

Edited by Zamboni
Posted

I see a lot of interesting candidates. I don’t know what the right direction is....  there’s potentially so many good plot lines. I’m not afraid to fail here.... and think outside of the box. I don’t think we have to be so rigid as to hire a coach with HC experience.... if he’s truly not the perfect fit for what the team is trying to do or the roster fit.

It’s all a great opportunity for a success story. And if it doesn’t work out again, I’m fine with that. Pivot again. That’s how success works. Don’t keep doing it the wrong way... just because you’ve already invested so much in a single decision. Sometimes, moving forward means cutting your losses.

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