thats a lot of Santarpios pizzas. http://deadspin.com/jack-eichel-missed-out-on-a-2-million-contract-bonus-b-1794201575
The clearing out the locker with Jack was extraordinary. He was as pissed off as I can ever remember any player that was trying to maintain his composure. I think that's a very good thing since he's far and away the Sabres best player on the ice, and he's de facto becoming their leader off the ice. He had a quick response to when he was asked about his nearly 1 PPG pace for the season: "but I didn't", (hit 1 PPG). I guess missing a couple of mil will leave you in a sour mood. Jack missed the first 21 games with a high ankle sprain which is very hard to recover from. In his first two months back he was, at times, still bothered by it. So, to get a good look at how good he is, focus on the last 25% of the season. Bob commented somewhere else that he should be promoted to 1C. I think his 2C role was a form of sheltering him. I agree that it's time to move him up and make him the true face of the franchise. If BUF models their identity after Jack, then the future is bright.
I'm liking Tim Murray. He tells us stuff you rarely hear from a GM. Yesterday he said that "Dan Bylsma is (Buffalo's) coach today". Then he elaborated: DB is still HC because TM has not yet met with his boss for his own evaluation. "If I'm still here, then we'll evaluate the coaches". Hardly a ringing endorsement. I won't cheer if DB is fired, but it'll be the right thing to do for this team.
It would be a good thing if some of the Pegulas' teams began to win more often. They enjoy a great reputation with players. I guess you could call Terry and Kim players-owners. That qualifier is more quickly frequently attached to a coach, and it usually bodes bad things. They don't seem so GM and HC-friendly. They came close to landing Babs two years ago, and it's interesting, but probably useless, to speculate about the difference that would have made. Personally I think they're going to go the same route the Bills took after axing Rex. I'm thinking of a younger GM and HC with no prior top-job experience in the NHL. My early favorites: Norm MacIver, AGM, Chicago Blackhawks, and Phil Housley, AC, Nashville Preditors. Regardless of who is hired - and it is critical they get this right - they must act quickly. They probably need the GM in place within about one month. Ideally the HC will also be in place by then. Therefore, we can take solace in one indisputable fact: the Pegulas have a great deal of experience in hiring sports management & coaches.
https://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news...didate-for-the-sabres-open-gm-position?ref=jo Dan - how do you feel about Pierre getting the job?
There are probably a dozen "legit" candidates for the Sabres GM job. I think it's one of the more appealing jobs in the NHL* and we'll see a lot of names trotted out. I do not really have enough information now to draw a strong conclusion on any candidate, but I think the Pegulas are more likely to hire someone with AGM or GM experience. Is Buffalo an attractive GM (& HC) job? *: - The team is extremely young but has solid talent through most of the >50 contract spots, and one budding superstar. This gives the person tweaking the roster and the one behind the bench a chance to put their stamp on a group that could have tremendous long term success. That would appeal to any alpha male's ego. (No woman is going to get either job.) - The owners are involved and interested, but not overbearing. They are one of the richest in all sports and are willing to spend. There is certainly not an internal cap that hogties several teams. The Sabres will not lose a player, or get outbid for a FA, solely due to budget restraints. - Buffalo is an exceptionally strong hockey market. They've gone through years of terrible play, yet the team still draws well. The city has a great reputation as a hockey center. (They have probably the finest hockey facility on the planet - good enough to pull the draft combine away from Toronto. They will hold the next IIHF WJC, and we're just awarded the 2019 Frozen Four.). With the passion for hockey, and the facilities to accommodate anything- hockey, Buffalo will always be a strong candidate to host events. This makes it a very fun city for a hockey person, but also makes it more attractive to NHL players. If you combine ample budget and few restraints with an appealing situation with talent in a hockey destination I believe everything aligns to make these job openings very attractive. I do not expect applicants to trip over themselves trying to get these jobs, but there will be no shortage of appealing candidates. IMO, the Pegulas are most likely to go with a younger talent that has not yet had the top jobs, but that has a resume that directly points to future success. The Hawks getting bumped early is a real blessing if my favorite candidate, Norm MacIver, is interested.
Terry, Kim, and I have a tacit agreement; they're to go about the work of hiring a new GM and HC without me. They'll just report it to me when that's done. Me? I'm not gonna do a damned thing. I was a Sabres fan. I am a Sabres fan. And, I will always be a Sabres fan. If Pierre McGuire gets the GM position, how will I react? I won't. It's gonna be what it's gonna be. Remember, I have many, many years experience dealing with bad teams and perplexing decisions.
^^^ wow. maybe that's the mantra i need to start living on. see i get mad, then angry, then wanna people traded out of town and then i want hextall's head on a platter. at least it makes me feel better, but it doesn't change the situation.
Sabres interviewed Flames? Conroy for GM?gig Yesterday, Associated Press sources revealed that six candidates have already interviewed for Buffalo?s vacant general manager gig. Add a seventh name to that list. Per Postmedia, Flames assistant GM Craig Conroy has also spoken to the Sabres about the job. A native of Northern New York, Conroy transitioned to the management side of things in 2011, when he called it a career after over 1,000 games played at the NHL level. He began in Calgary as a special assistant to the GM, before becoming a full-time assistant three years ago. It?s not entirely surprising his interview in Buffalo coincided with Flames GM Brad Treliving signing a multi-year extension ? assuming Treliving?s going to be in Calgary for a while, Conroy might need to look elsewhere if he wants to take the next step. As mentioned above, Conroy is just the latest to interview for Tim Murray?s old job in Buffalo. The Sabres have reportedly interviewed two Pittsburgh Penguins executives, associate general manager Jason Botterill and assistant GM Bill Guerin. They have also interviewed four other assistant general managers: Columbus Blue Jackets Bill Zito, Nashville Predators Paul Fenton, New Jersey Devils Tom Fitzgerald and Los Angeles Kings Michael Futa.
I would think the Buffalo job is very attractive to an ambitious gm. They have all the built in excuses of being a small market coming off of a bad year but have the talent assembled (players) and ownership support any gm would enjoy starting with. Buffalo has alot of tough decisions ahead but they will be able to pick from several good candidates imo, more than most franchises may be able to say.
Instead of blind ignorance, can I change it to deafening ignorance...kind of sounds better to me. I'm not worried about the meaning.
Bob, you're probably the most qualified to comment on Norm MacIver. I've heard great things about his work ethic. Ain't nobody gonna supplant Stan anytime soon, so he may be interested. The Sabres have interviewed a half-dozen candidates but I have not seen him on any report. I do not think the Hawks are going to be douche bags by refusing the right to talk. (The Rags with Drury, and some other asswipe team are now irredeemably douche bag teams.) Finally, based on what I know now - and my ignorance would make your's look like a Rhodes Scholar - I think the two leading candidates are both in Pittsburgh.
I really don't know much about Norm MacIver. Bowman lost Cheveldayoff and Bergevin without missing a beat. As both of them have struggled, Bowman has done well. It's tough to say how influential MacIver is, One thing Chicago's management has done has been to prove that they know how to slot hires well. The self-scouting (outside of the "give a fuck factor" for this playoff disaster) has been exception, most of the lower coaches have done well supporting the big team, etc. I mention that because I'm thinking it's very possible that MacIver is good for his role and not necessarily a good one to make the decisions himself. Chicago won't restrict access to him if he's sought after.
Thanks. I've heard Norm handles a lot of the contract matters, and given their perpetual cap restraints, that make me take notice. More than anything, I think the Pegulas had their recent bloodbath because they were not happy with the top-down culture. So Norm's experience in Chicago could translate to Buffalo. I really think the most critical need for Buffalo is intangible - they need to develop and identity and team culture. That starts at the top. I will say that if he were hired I'd be very happy.
I agree with your take about the need to develop an identity and culture. They are going to need a GM type to bring it to the front office and they'll have to let the players figure it out themselves. Evander Kane and Gorges are going into a contract year, so that should help with team identity. It's about time they quit bringing in "character" guys like Gionta too. Time to let this group figure out who they are early on, then the gm can make adjustments. I'm very curious about how all of this will shake out.
