Could Ted Nolan be fired during the season?

[OpIv37]

I was listening to NHL radio in my car today- it's off-season and they're really bored, so they were discussing coaches that might not make it through the season.

One of the hosts mentioned Buffalo, mainly because Murray came after Nolan and may want his own guy in there if Nolan struggled.

But here's the thing: the Sabres will suck this year. Everyone knows it. They're very young, they're rebuilding, they have no stars and it appears as though they are tanking for Eichel or McDavid. Everything I've seen on the Sabres has basically said "I like what they're doing for the future but they're still going to be the worst team in the league again this year."

So, with expectations that low, is it even possible for Nolan to get fired? What would have to happen to even consider firing him during the season? Personally, I can't think of a realistic scenario bad enough for that to happen. Maybe finishing worse than last year, but we were close to record lows in goals and points in the standings so I don't really consider that realistic.

[Mace]

I'm not sure what the hosts were thinking. Lafontaine-Nolan were linked, Lafontaine's mystery boot left the perfect moment for Nolan to move along or be moved along, after some time passed, Murray extended Nolan. Murray doesn't strike me as someone who wastes much passing time not considering his options, so I think if Murray went in on Nolan, he means it.

Not so sure they're tanking, don't see the value in it, but, I sure don't think it's possible for Nolan to get fired this year, unless he socks Terry, gropes Kim, drops his pants in front of their kids or is arrested naked high on crack trying to ride an unwilling Tim Murray at a supporters luncheon.

If they did fire him during the year for hockey reasons....that would turn my back on the Sabres for the rest of my life.

[OpIv37]

Just to clarify: I don't really think the Sabres are intentionally tanking to get McDavid or Eichel in a lottery-system league.

I do, however, think the decision to break the team down is more palatable to fans and management knowing that one of those two guys is likely to be a consolation prize for 2-3 seasons of suffering.

[Dr. Lecter]

I sure as hell hope so.

But for now let him stay. I guess they won't win even with a good coach

[OpIv37]

I sure as hell hope so.

But for now let him stay. I guess they won't win even with a good coach
You just hate natives because you never win in their casinos. Racist.

[JATMtheJATM]

Why don't we like Nolan? He did wonders for myers.

[chernobylwraiths]

I agree with Mace. Nolan was an interm coach only and was extended by Murray. I see it as virtually impossible for Nolan to be fired during the season. MAYBE he gets fired AFTER the season if some great coach becomes available. But I hope not, I like the guy. Lecter is just butt hurt because he was wrong when he said Nolan would NEVER be rehired. :D

[OpIv37]

Why don't we like Nolan? He did wonders for myers.

I don't have a problem with him. I was his throwing it out there for conversation because I thought it was strange that he would even be brought up as a potential mid-season firing.

[Skooby]

If we're playing .500 hockey, he still might get fired. This is like a free ticket for Murray to ride what was is place when he showed up & then make other moves while extending his employment period.

[trapezeus]

never. i think the sabres are trying to build continuity. aside from pulling the goalie for a full 60 minutes in back to back games, i don't see sabre management giving up on him after this year.

[casdhf]

Maybe we would score more than one goal a game that way ...

[Night Train]

Makes no sense.

Murray could have let Nolan walk and hired anyone he wished...but watched the team finish the year and decided he already had the best guy.

[don137]

If everyone in the hockey world knows the Sabres are young and rebuilding it makes no sense that Murray would fire him after getting an extension. Maybe the leash will be short in 2015-2016 season but doubt anything happens next year.

[WagonCircler]

I think the only way Nolan could get fired would be if he wins too much.

[Dr. Lecter]

Tonight he is going to play Reinhart with Deslaurier and McCormick.

As soon as that line goes out on the ice, Murray should walk down to the bench and fire Nolan on the spot. Send the guy to the Juniors before you play him with two guys that really are not NHL players.

What a joke. He has no business coaching in the NHL

[casdhf]

He only has 6 more games to play this season anyway.

[SpikedLemonade]

Tonight he is going to play Reinhart with Deslaurier and McCormick.

As soon as that line goes out on the ice, Murray should walk down to the bench and fire Nolan on the spot. Send the guy to the Juniors before you play him with two guys that really are not NHL players.

What a joke. He has no business coaching in the NHL

Nolan is all talk and I agree not a NHL coach anymore.

He will not be fired during the season but rather after the season is over.

He is the fall guy for the tank.

How could you possibly bring a coach back after 2 seasons of being dead last or very close to it?

[JATMtheJATM]

Tonight he is going to play Reinhart with Deslaurier and McCormick.

As soon as that line goes out on the ice, Murray should walk down to the bench and fire Nolan on the spot. Send the guy to the Juniors before you play him with two guys that really are not NHL players.

What a joke. He has no business coaching in the NHL

For what it's worth, reinhart will be sent back to juniors and I think grigo will get the call.

[Dr. Lecter]

Oh good. Then Nolan will play him with McCormick and Deslaurier.

I would keep him in Rochester for at least half of the year. Call up Ellis or somebody like that instead

[JATMtheJATM]

Oh good. Then Nolan will play him with McCormick and Deslaurier.

I would keep him in Rochester for at least half of the year. Call up Ellis or somebody like that instead

Agreed. Give grigo a chance. He needs 14 minutes a game with decent linemates.

- - - Updated - - -

I'd call up varone.

[trapezeus]

you ever notice teams that start super hot for like 10-15 games usually can cost into playoffs if they level out after that? also, teams that really suck in the first 10-15 games have a very hard time making up ground later in the season.

part of me thinks reinhart was selected to ensure a weak start and then when they send him back to the juniors, the sabres will develop some of their young talent and get chemistry together.

and i think management is fine with that and they like nolan as a leader to get kid to compete. i will be interested to see how well they compete in february and March losing close games to good teams. then you know the pick is cemented and a core is developing.

[casdhf]

We really need the Islanders to cool off.

[Ginger Vitis]

Reinhart only played 6 minutes last night.. Send him back to junior

[trapezeus]

We really need the Islanders to cool off.

i feel like they've had a couple hot starts and faded away as the season wore on.

[Downinfloflo]

lolz...

[JATMtheJATM]

We really need the Islanders to cool off.

They will. But they dismantled a bad (right now) rangers team.