OT- Mike Babcock destination
You're mistaken.
Terry Pegula came in as the owner right at the end of the glory years. It's only been 4 years.
He had to dig out of the hole they were already in. When he took over we had a long time coach/GM duo, and a roster full of big contracts and players getting to the end of their careers.
Pegula traded every asset and contract they had and stocked picks. They have the #1 prospect system in the league.
Even without McDavid, this is still the kind of rebuild that sets up a franchise to compete for the next 10 years.
The Sabres are at the bottom of their rebuild. They've got a pretty solid farm system right now and still a number of draft picks for the next few seasons. The Dave Brandon / Jed York comparison is competely out of left field...you didn't say how they went together
They've been building from the ground up and should be on the upswing again soon
Maybe the comparison was bad... I'm not a sabers fan and don't know all the details, but my co-worker is and we'be been talking about this a bit. he has a slightly different outlook about the team and the owner, though he's a Mets fan too so maybe he just has a jaded outlook about his sports team.
April 10th, 2015 at 12:52 PM ^
Tanking doesn't even guarantee you get that top pick. It's a terrible strategy if true.
It certainly helps your odds at getting McDavid or eichel
Buffalo fans have been actively rooting against their team for months. They say it's there only hope.
The Sabres were destined to be a bottom 5 team this year and this year has the McDavid-EIchel sweepstakes. Why pull for the Sabres to get 20th and extend their awfulness vs. hoping they finish last as an investment for future seasons? It makes sense.
So it is effective. If they finish last they're guaranteed McDavid or Eichel
April 10th, 2015 at 12:53 PM ^
I can't believe the passion for that team! I think Babcock's staying where he is, but they are doing everything right to put together a great team in the next few years.
April 10th, 2015 at 12:57 PM ^
in order of likelihood....Detroit
Buffalo
Pittsburgh
Michigan
Edmonton
San Jose
Their farm system is really getting back into gear again and they do look like they're heading for an upswing. Plus he's going to get a shiny new office in 2 years; unless the arena gets pushed back, I'd be surprised if he doesn't spend at least a year or two there after the move.
I want him to stay in Detroit
hope Detroit gets him to sign a long term deal.
Listening to the Canadian broadcast of last nights game, they brought this up during intermission. Their thoughts were that he will stay in Detroit, and that the money won't matter. I tend to agree with their main point being that he will get paid by Detroit, and why would he leave somewhere that has made the playoffs for 24 straight years for a potential rebuild. Just found it interesting that even some Canadian broadcasters feel he won't be leaving
Detroit is most likely but I wouldn't be surprised to see him go. I just hope it's Edmonton because him at Toronto, or worse, with Pittsburgh, would probably kill me. I think Blashill is ready to be an NHL coach and if we lose Babs I would love to see him behind the bench for us
I would be floored if he's not in the wings bench next year
Babcock would even consider going to a dumpster fire like toronto or edmonton?
90% Stays with the team he shaped into a consistently competitive franchise again.
9% Goes to another pro team
1% Comes to Michigan
...is what I said last October about Harbaugh.
#ITSHAPPENING
The Red Wings job is like, I don't know, equivalent to coaching the Yankees. It is a flagship franchise, and not known as Hockey town for nothing.
Hockeytown is a marketing moniker. Fans in Detroit give up on the Wings as easily as the wind blows.
But the Wings are the premier organization in the league.
How about Boston?? We will trade you Claude for Babcock. Sounds fantastic to me. Please and thank you
I think he stays in Detroit but could go to Toronto for big bucks since it is the center (I should say centre) of the hockey universe. Don't think so, just ask anyone who lives within 100 miles of that city!