It Is Time: Fire the GM, the Coaching Staff, get some experience in here. Fans deserve better!!!

[#freejame]

5 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Didn’t say they were cool. I said I found them to be more likeable. 

I think the new core is the definition of cool

Not sure how you can think this when Owen Power LITERALLY wears glasses. 

[Thorner]

6 minutes ago, #freejame said:

Not sure how you can think this when Owen Power LITERALLY wears glasses. 

Ironically

[LGR4GM]

12 hours ago, #freejame said:

Not sure how you can think this when Owen Power LITERALLY wears glasses. 

Have you seen his hair? 

[FrenchConnection44]

So now how are we feeling about Granato? 

[Sidc3000]

I don’t see DG being fired. They just extended his contract. Have we ever heard what his term was? 

[Scottysabres]

15 minutes ago, FrenchConnection44 said:

So now how are we feeling about Granato? 

I feel the same, it is time.

[Doohicksie]

Comment on a random Sabres thread on FB:

[Mango]

On 12/3/2023 at 7:55 AM, Sidc3000 said:

I don’t see DG being fired. They just extended his contract. Have we ever heard what his term was? 

I believe it is $2M per year. 

[inkman]

On 11/27/2023 at 7:03 PM, #freejame said:

Not sure how you can think this when Owen Power LITERALLY wears glasses. 

I realize your comment may be a little tongue in cheek but do people still view glasses as a nerd accessory?  My nine year old wears them and if anything, it’s helped his popularity (not that I care, it’s just what I notice). 

[Stoner]

15 minutes ago, Mango said:

I believe it is $2M per year. 

That would seem high.

Edit: Sources say just under 2.

Edited December 4, 2023 by PASabreFan

[Mango]

Just now, PASabreFan said:

That would seem high.

https://apnews.com/article/nhl-sports-buffalo-sabres-don-granato-f766f866a094d2ae84fc307f6be4ffef

[Stoner]

Just now, Mango said:

https://apnews.com/article/nhl-sports-buffalo-sabres-don-granato-f766f866a094d2ae84fc307f6be4ffef

My apologies for doubting.

He's certainly earning it.

[Drag0nDan]

My issue with firing him?  It's basically a punt on the season.  There isn't an experienced assistant on the coaching staff who I'd have any confidence in righting the ship.  And if you hire someone outside the organization, you have a team trying to implement a new system mid-season.  The chances of that happening are pretty low, and you don't get a full array of options since other coaches might be available in the offseason.  

[Mango]

4 minutes ago, Drag0nDan said:

My issue with firing him?  It's basically a punt on the season.  There isn't an experienced assistant on the coaching staff who I'd have any confidence in righting the ship.  And if you hire someone outside the organization, you have a team trying to implement a new system mid-season.  The chances of that happening are pretty low, and you don't get a full array of options since other coaches might be available in the offseason.  

I think the issue is the vision for the team/roster. Any change in coach will only be a band aid. The fact that the last 4 years have been full bore "stay the course" very much worries me that we have no idea how to pivot, or how to fill the holes in this roster. I think any change in coach or trade will be performative and take ammunition away from a GM who knows WTF they are doing. 

[Drag0nDan]

15 minutes ago, Mango said:

I think the issue is the vision for the team/roster. Any change in coach will only be a band aid. The fact that the last 4 years have been full bore "stay the course" very much worries me that we have no idea how to pivot, or how to fill the holes in this roster. I think any change in coach or trade will be performative and take ammunition away from a GM who knows WTF they are doing. 

Pretty much - there needs to be considerable roster turnover going into next season - and you can't replace them all with rookies.  They need to make a couple of trades to shake stuff up.  The only players i probably wouldn't move are the 8 listed below.  

Okposo girgensons olofsson and johnson for sure.  Probably Jost.  I'm pretty good if krebs isn't here.  

Skinner - Thompson - Tuch

JJP - Mitts - Quinn 

Benson - Cozens - ???

??? - ??? - ???

Ideally 1 of those holes is filled by a young player - Kulich, Rosen, Savoie, Östlund.  I think you have to move 1 of them too.  

[#freejame]

1 hour ago, inkman said:

I realize your comment may be a little tongue in cheek but do people still view glasses as a nerd accessory?  My nine year old wears them and if anything, it’s helped his popularity (not that I care, it’s just what I notice). 

I don’t think there’s any stigma about glasses these days. Once the hipsters repackaged them they became cool. 

[mjd1001]

48 minutes ago, Drag0nDan said:

My issue with firing him?  It's basically a punt on the season.  There isn't an experienced assistant on the coaching staff who I'd have any confidence in righting the ship.  And if you hire someone outside the organization, you have a team trying to implement a new system mid-season.  The chances of that happening are pretty low, and you don't get a full array of options since other coaches might be available in the offseason.  

Yes and No.  But I still feel 'kinda' good about Granato.

My issue is the Young(er) guys up front, they aren't playing well across the whole ice.  Will a new coach get Krebs, Cozens, Peterka, and any other young guys you bring up and play (Kulich or Rosen) play a better all around game?  Get those guys to be better in your own end?  If Granato and his staff are the reason for the young guys lacking in that regard, then I would listen to the idea of a change. BUT, as you mentioned, who is going to step in here and do better?  If someone will please consider it, but instead of just saying "fire Grananto, bring in someone with experience", who is that? and specifically what is their 'experience' going to do to make this team better?

[PerreaultForever]

Granato's a nice guy. I think everybody likes him and he knows a lot about hockey and he's a valuable guy on a coaching staff. I can see him talking softly with younger players, teaching them skills, playing the "good cop" role. problem is we don't have a "bad cop". We don't have the motivator. Nobody has set an adequate standard and demanded we strive for it and then meet it as a minimum after. 

Somebody needs to set that standard and whip these guys into shape. Then you can have a guy like Granato take them aside after they get yelled at and help build them back up. Granato's idea that these guys have to collectively learn to elevate their game and face adversity just doesn't work. 

You have to set the standard first. Anyone who doesn't devote themselves to trying their best to achieve it can exit through the one way out door. 

[pi2000]

11 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Granato's a nice guy. I think everybody likes him and he knows a lot about hockey and he's a valuable guy on a coaching staff. I can see him talking softly with younger players, teaching them skills, playing the "good cop" role. problem is we don't have a "bad cop". We don't have the motivator. Nobody has set an adequate standard and demanded we strive for it and then meet it as a minimum after. 

Somebody needs to set that standard and whip these guys into shape. Then you can have a guy like Granato take them aside after they get yelled at and help build them back up. Granato's idea that these guys have to collectively learn to elevate their game and face adversity just doesn't work. 

You have to set the standard first. Anyone who doesn't devote themselves to trying their best to achieve it can exit through the one way out door. 

I agree.   Granato is a great individual developmental coach.... he's 56, that's what he is and always will be... there's a place for him in the game and he's excellent at what he does.

That said, this team is lacking accountability for structured team play.  

Eric Johnson hinted at this earlier in the season when he mentioned that they won't accomplish much until they ALL commit to play within a certain structure.   

Until that standard is set and enforced this team will just continue to drift aimlessly like a rudderless ship. 

[JohninMinn.]

30 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

I agree.   Granato is a great individual developmental coach.... he's 56, that's what he is and always will be... there's a place for him in the game and he's excellent at what he does.

That said, this team is lacking accountability for structured team play.  

Eric Johnson hinted at this earlier in the season when he mentioned that they won't accomplish much until they ALL commit to play within a certain structure.   

Until that standard is set and enforced this team will just continue to drift aimlessly like a rudderless ship. 

They don't win puck battles,faceoffs,go to the net,clear the net or stick up for each other. That's not coaching. They're timid.

[Pimlach]

On 11/27/2023 at 3:44 PM, inkman said:

I didn’t like any of the aforementioned players.  Are they good players? Sure.  Are they guys I want repping the franchise?  Outside of Ullmark, nope.  Grumpy, sleepy and smurfette weren’t going to cut it here. 

[pi2000]

12 minutes ago, JohninMinn. said:

They don't win puck battles,faceoffs,go to the net,clear the net or stick up for each other. That's not coaching. They're timid.

Those are details which are lacking accountability.... be that by a coach or more importantly the core group.

[Scottysabres]

The coaching staff is equally to blame for the current state of the team just as the players themselves are. As many are saying, there is no accountability, that starts with the players holding themselves and their teammates accountable, but it also is the coaching staffs responsibility to do so as well.

Take a look at what happens when coaching changes are made elsewhere. Does the change make a positive impact, and if so, how often? If it does, is there a coach available now that can assemble a staff, come in, and make that impact?

Adams isn't going to get rid of the roster, the next logical choice is the coach and his staff. The clock is ticking, there is still time to make this type of move if it needs to be done. Since I started this thread, it's been time imho.

[Carmel Corn]

Did I miss the player injury update (Tuch, TNT, Girgs, etc.) that DG mentioned yesterday?  If I did miss it, then my apologies for not looking in the right place.  If there has not been an update, then I think it's just another nail in DG's coffin....in this case his credibility.  I feel we have been deceived by this AHL caliber coach and staff.

[bunomatic]

12 hours ago, Doohickie said:

Comment on a random Sabres thread on FB:

Elvis Costello has left the building