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Is Jack Eichel a coach-killer? Who do the Buffalo Sabres hire to run their team?

Buffalo Sabres fired head coach Dan Bylsma and GM Murray this morning, less than 48 hours after Eichel said that he would not play for Bylsma (and then walked it back). So is Jack Eichel a coach-killer?

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  • Alpine
    Lv 6
    4 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    I came here to post (much) the same question.

    I generally think of a coach-killer as an under-performing superstar (or one that doesn't perform when he's needed most) which ends up in the coach being fired (since you can't fire players)

    Having said that Eichel is no superstar. This kind of thing (the firing(s) seems more prevalent in the NBA where it's become part of the culture for the "lunatics to control the asylum". We saw Montreal deal away PK Subban for an aging Weber based on the fear that Subban was becoming "bigger than the franchise" (or at least bigger than Michel Therrien) only to axe Therrien. Now, Montreal has a bit of history with such things (the Tremblay/Roy fiasco) and apparently didn't want to risk a repeat; the face of a franchise shipped out of town under duress with a minimal return. Again, Eichel is no superstar; he's still a developing player who seems to have a poor attitude.

    I imagine the scenario in this case was Eichel's agent may have bypassed the GM and went straight to the owner. Subsequently Pegula went to GM Tim Murray who stuck up for Blysma and got himself fired in the process. (John Shannon suggested this today on Sportsnet-but I'd already drawn that conclusion). It's not like either one have been in their positions all that long and to expect much of a turnaround given the injuries and the fact this was a basement dwelling franchise two years ago seems premature at best.

    This seems to be a case of micro-management and interference by ownership which doesn't work out too well.(see the left coast of Canada for reference) I imagine Peluga will get taken aside by some of the veteran owners at the next Board of Governors meeting and informed that this isn't the NBA.

    Eichel's got a bone up his **** because he figured he didn't get enough ice time and it cost him 2 M in bonus money (on a Draisatl assist on a McDavid goal that pushed Eichel out of the top 10 in ppg). Eichel says he's better than McDavid but can't prove it- and never will because he's NOT. If Laine and Matthews were available in the same draft he'd have been the 4th overall pick.

    This creates a situation where drawing in the best people to the front office or behind the bench could be rather difficult. This isn't just on Eichel, matter of fact it's on the ownership more so. I imagine Mike Babcock right about now is glad he chose Lake Ontario over Lake Erie. He's not in a place where the owners interfere and he has a up and comer who scores four goals in his first game but concedes "It was my fault we lost because I didn't cover the guy coming back".

    Clearly Eichel is not "that guy". He seems entitled and wants things he hasn't earned. Whether he's a coach killer (or may be un-coachable?) remains to be seen.

  • 4 years ago

    Eichel is raw! He needs players around him to be better. They should bring Panerin in from Hawks and a few other guys. I think Ruff is coming back also.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    4 years ago

    Nope, just a spoiled twenty something!

  • Mike W
    Lv 7
    4 years ago

    Maybe, I'd need more evidence to say whether he is or isn't a coach killer. Dan Bylsma being fired may have nothing to do with what Eichel said, and everything to do with the fact that the team isn't winning with him as coach. It's a bad team, and it seems to be getting worse under current management. Eichel could have said what he said out of frustration with the organisation and their poor decision making.

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