The coaches.

I remember that. I was very hopeful for Carolina fans that he was changing when he signed Ruutu. It was a disaster of a deal but I thought it was still the right thing to do at the time. I just think it's a disastrous philosophy with a veteran team. Armstrong has gotten away with it...a little. It killed the Devils, Preds, etc.

There's nothing wrong with extending a guy early if you want him around in my opinion.

Forgetting about all the reasons to extend FAs early, it should also be noted that FA classes are usually garbage anymore. Anybody worth keeping sees their value shot up.

 

I love this kind positive energy.

 

Not mine, but I thought it was brilliant.

 

This is funny but completely made up. Bruce knows that todays KFC doesn't taste anywhere near as good as it did back in the day. Trans fats=delicious.

 

Did you watch it all the way through?
He was furious that there was 0 trans fat.

 

His brand is riding high right now, the success at the olympics really gives him leverage, but is he worth double or triple of what another coach is? The oilers are looking to hire Mclellan, babs at $5M, does he really help the leafs cause that much more. Five years ago nobody would've thought much of Hartley, today he's a prized coach. Five years ago, a team wouldn't of thought twice about hiring torts and at a high cost, babs knows his stock is real high right now and he's looking to cash in.

 

the continuous loop confused me (not hard to do), but that would make sense that would be the end.

 

It looks like McLellan wlll sign with the Oilers as soon as his current gig in Prague is wrapped up. With half the "big name" HC's off the market the bidding for Babs could get intense.

 

Sunday he met with pegula and TM, he spent two years working with TM in anaheim. I'm expecting him to make a decision based on money and a roster he thinks could come closest to winning a cup.

 

I feel for Trotz. He had a fine run. Did things i didnt expect to see and made it through without his head exploding. COY?

 

TSN aired a 24 minute interview with Babs and the Wings' GM on Friday. It was from Praha where they were to watch Detroit's youngsters. Will posted a great synopsis on the Wings' board.

These are my thoughts:
- Babs was thoughtful and honest with his responses. He came across as very Canadian (intended as a compliment). He was circumspect when addressing questions where discretion was appropriate at this point.
- Money will be a factor but that does not put DET at a disadvantage. In fact, if he decides to stay I think he'll give them a hometown discount.
- The process has been mentally draining and he expects his decision by Wed.
- He'll be a better HC next year because of the process. He's spent so many years with the same FO that, while they've obviously made mostly good decisions, he has learned from what other organizations do differently but well.
- If he has been truly impressed by prospects like Larkin, (he hasn't seen him play since Sept.), then he may conclude that the future is brightest in Detroit.

I think there's a better than even chance that he'll resign with the Wings. If he leaves then he will give an implicit endorsement to the new team's chances for being a SC contender. If it's Buffalo then that obviously won't mean 2015-16, but it will mean that Terry Pegula and TM have convinced him that the Sabres have turned the corner.

 

The only two teams that have permission to talk with him right now are the sabres and the leafs.

 

That's not correct according to the TSN interview. Buffalo and Toronto are the only two teams he's met with, (that we know of). But he has talked to Edmonton, and Detroit has given any interested team permission. They also have obtained a future third round pick if that team signs Babs.

I doubt that he will like the near term prospects of contending with the Leafs. If he selects Buffalo then his horizon for winning is further away than what we've been lead to believe he'd accept. However few who know the game would challenge that Buffalo could become a SC contender within the contract length. The Sabres should become a contender - it's a matter of how long that will take. (Saying they should become a contender is not the same as saying they will become one, just to be clear.)

 

I think what I heard was as of now, there's only two teams, the oilers have Mclellan inked, just waiting for the tournement to finish up.

 

The sabres have a lot of work ahead of them, that's not to say they won't do it, a lot closer to reality with eichel.

 

Eichel and Kane instantly make Buffalo a better team. Ideally Reinhart will spend about half a season in Rochester, but when he's ready the Sabres will be better. Ristolainen really became a vet NHLer in the last month or so of the season, and Zads will no longer be a teenager (and hopefully he acts more like a man). There's a lot for the next coach to work with. Add 3 more top 60 picks this year to the ridiculous number of prospects in the system already, and it's realistic to expect they should become a contender.

I like the plan as executed so far: build from the back (D), and then down the center. Then, be willing to trade quantity for quality when the opp. arises. I think it gives a foundation for a team that can contend for years. But, you are right, there's a lot of work to do still. If Babs buys into this then it could accelerate the rebuild by about a year.

 

I agree that Buffalo is loaded with young talent, but honestly, I don't see Babcock leaving Detroit anytime soon.

 

The sabres have one really good line in the making right now with eichel, kane and reinhart, it's the rest of the rebuild that will define who they are, one line won't get you much more than making the playoffs.

 

one or two defensive guys, along with a goaler would put them in a nice fuzzy dreamland

 

umm, still thinkin' babs stays