Rebuilding Buffalo
It was an eventful week in Buffalo. They fire GM Darcy Regier and head coach Ron Rolston. In to replace them are Pat LaFontaine (as President of Hockey Operations) and Ted Nolan (as the interim head coach).
The Sabres are in the midst of starting a rebuild, but this doesn't seem like the time to clear house on the staff side. It was almost a guarantee that Regier would be fired, it was just a question of when. Firing him now instead of the offseason seems ill-timed. His free agent track record of late hasn't been good, but for a team that is in a rebuild he does the one thing a GM should be good at in that scenario: Trading. The Sabres should have let him ride out the year, see what he could bring back after trading away Miller (and maybe Ott? not much for veteran trade value on that team) then fire him once the season ends and let a new guy take it from there. As for Rolston, this move may come back to bite the Sabres later on. We've seen the effect that constantly changing coaches has on players (looks at Edmonton). Not having that consistency in the dressing room dose seem to have a negative effect. With Rolston, he coached some of the younger guys in the AHL, he has that connection with the team. As the Sabres head coach, he lasted under 60 games. It was time for a shakeup in Buffalo, but it might have come too soon.
As for the new guys, this is pretty mixed. LaFontaine seems to be that prototypical ''hire former player to run things'' hire. He doesn't have any management experience (outside of a short-lived consultant position with the Islanders) so it will be interesting to see how he does in this position. Ted Nolan isn't really new, as he coached the Sabres before (and won a Jack Adams!). The big knock on him is that he hasn't coached in the NHL since 2008. He hasn't been inactive though, leading Latvia to 10th and 11th place finishes in the last 2 World Championships and a spot in Sochi. He is titled the interim head coach*, but that interim tag will no doubt be removed. The Sabres did respond yesterday with a win, but it is still a long season in Buffalo. The hope now is for their young players to keep developing and for this rebuild to turn this franchise around.
*When was the last time an interim head coach did not become the full time head coach? I can't remember.
Suspension Of The Week
This weeks suspension is Nazem Kadri running wild on Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom (pun fully intended). As a Habs fan and a goalie, I'd say 30 games sounds better than 3 games, but I don't want to be that mean. I get that Kadri is more focused on the puck and tipping it, which lead to his body shifting so it's square to Backstrom. I could argue that if he had left his body angled to Backstrom, he probably gets away with just a penalty and no suspension. Being square to Backstrom and going with some speed led to Backstrom being injured and Kadri sitting for 3 games.
Lineup Notables
Buffalo Sabres vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Ted Nolan's: Mike Weber (upper body) is out. Ryan Miller is expected to start.
Maple Donuts: Tyler Bozek (lower body) and David Bolland (ankle) are out. Nazem Kadri is suspended. James Reimer might be in net.
New York Rangers vs. Montreal Canadiens
New York R: Rick Nash (concussion), Taylor Pyatt (concussion) and Dominic Moore (oblique) are out. Cam "Don't Call Me Max" Talbot is in net.
Montreal: Alexei Emelin (knee) and Davis Drewiske (shoulder) are out. Carey Price starts.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames
Edmonton: Steve MacIntyre (knee), Tyler Pitlick (knee), Justin Schultz (groin/ribs) and Richard Bachman (groin) are out. Devan Dubnyk is expected to start.
Calgary: Curtis Glencross (sprain MCL) and Mark Giordano (ankle) are out. RReettoo BBeerrrraa starts tonight.
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