Stan Bowman In Big Chair
I just hung up the telephone after speaking to Stan Bowman, about three hours after his first news conference as the Blackhawks' general manager. He was thrilled about the opportunity, as you might imagine, but well aware of the challenges ahead.
The biggest chore will be making sense of the 'Hawks payroll, which he said was hardly unique. He pointed toward the Red Wings, who were forced to lose players off their roster in an effort to stay under the salary cap. If Sabres fans are hoping South Buffalo native Patrick Kane would somehow shake loose given the cap problems and wind up here, think again.
"No way,'' Bowman said when asked he would be traded.
Bowman knows he has some difficult decisions to make, but it's better than the alternative. It comes with having a successful franchise. GM Dale Tallon helped turn around the Blackhawks and get them into the Western Conference finals but with the success comes financial stress. Next summer will be particularly tough with Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith needing new deals.
Such decisions will be left for the 36-year-old Bowman, who was born in Montreal but grew up in Williamsville after his father was hired by the Sabres. Stan knows plenty about overcoming challenges. He twice has beaten Hodgkin's lymphoma and has been in remission for more than a year. Now the trick is winning the trophy after which he was named.
Look for my column about Bowman and his new gig in Thursday's editions of The News.
--- Bucky Gleason
seriously nny. try the bible sometime. the redwood tree in your own eye is the take on pollock and blake, two coaches who had their pick of ANY french canadian kid in a SIX team league for years and years. just because bowman didn't win a cup here means NOTHING when looking at his resume. he drafted barrasso, housley and andreychuk here, and wasn't able to get the right combination. disrespecting what he did everywhere else is just plain foolish.
Posted by: roy | July 16, 2009 at 04:31 PM
You folks are hopping all over CalgarySabre, but facts are facts. Scott Bowman did well for every franchise EXCEPT the Sabres. No finals, two years out of the playoffs...sound familiar?
Francis: When St. Louis made the finals, they were part of a six-team division, ALL expansion teams. Someone had to go to the finals, just happened the Blues were the best of an untested lot. The were swept four straight, two years in a row. Bowman got them there...but so what? Very meaningless finals berths, indeed.
Roy: Best hockey man of all time? Very doubtful. See: Sam Pollack, Toe Blake, Dick Irvin Sr., and many more that are way ahead of Bowman on that list.
I wish Stan the best in Chicago. But Scotty does not belong on a pedastal in Buffalo. He did nothing for the Sabres.
Posted by: NNY Buff sports fan | July 16, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Sorry, forgot to add this re: the Blues in the Cup finals: Their division was all expansion teams, so someone had to go to the finals. Two years in a row, it was St. Louis...and they got smoked both times four straight. Yes, Bowman got them there, but it was a hollow berth at best.
Posted by: NNY Buff sports fan | July 16, 2009 at 10:12 AM
You guys are jumping all over CalgarySabre, but facts are facts. Scotty Bowman did wonderful things for every organization EXCEPT Buffalo. No finals, even no playoffs for a couple seasons. Sound familiar?
Franics: The Blues at that time were in a six-team division, and they were ALL expansion teams. None of them would get to the level of the Original Six for several years.
Roy: Best hockey man of all time? Not by a long shot. Sam Pollock, Toe Blake, and many others are ahead of him on that list.
I wish Stan well in Chicago. But Scotty does not belong on a pedastal. At least not in Buffalo. He did nothing for the Sabres.
Posted by: NNY Buff sports fan | July 16, 2009 at 10:04 AM
i had lent some credence to what you had to say until that bowman take, calgary. the man needs no defense. funny how those good teams courted him to be in their organization. he is merely the best hockey man of all time.
Posted by: roy | July 16, 2009 at 07:53 AM
Calgary, I think you're just looking at stats online. The St. Louis Blues teams that you're referring to: this was the first 2 years of the Blues existence. Scotty took an expansion team comprised of veterans mixed with a few rookies to the dance two years in a row. The fact that an expansion team even got to that point is pretty remarkable in my book.
Posted by: Francis | July 15, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Hey Dwight, I do not disagree with your comments about the so-called management team the Sabres have. It just irks me that this "Scotty Bowman is a genius" myth abides with us yet. (Maybe it is more prevalent in Canada than in the US). During his time in Buffalo, he took the Sabres from a strong playoff team to a team that missed the post season two years in a row. And in St. Louis, his team got swept in the finals two years in a row. Would you think maybe a genius could find a way to win one measly game in the finals? He is a pretty good judge of talent (i.e. "scout") but not any more than an average coach. But as I said, maybe his kid will be a great g.m.
Posted by: CalgarySabre2 | July 15, 2009 at 08:00 PM
hey.. wait a minute!.. "darcy", "lindy" and "larry" took us to the conference finals!.. ok.. but i would rather not finish out of the playoffs 5 out of the last 7 years.. i think the prospect of finishing 10th three straight years looks pretty good!.. we certainly do not need to upgrade!.. "we build from within".. let the pens go get bill guerin at the deadline, change coaches, i would rather have "darcy"., "lindy", and "larry".. yea right!
Posted by: dwight in philly | July 15, 2009 at 06:04 PM
hey calgary.. how many cups have "darcy " , "lindy", and "larry" brought to buffalo.. yea thats right NONE!.. i would rather take my chances with scotty.. forgive me..
Posted by: dwight in philly | July 15, 2009 at 05:58 PM
And that is why the Sabres did so well when they had Scotty Bowman here. Oh, wait, no they did not. Never won the Cup with him here. Never even made it to the finals. The myth persists that Scotty Bowman is a genius. He is really just an old guy who was wise enough to pick his spots by going to good organizations such as Montreal, Detroit and Pittsburgh, and hanging around when they won the Cup. This genuius coached the St. Louis Blues when they got swept in the finals by Boston. Talk about overrated. But maybe his son is a genuius.
Posted by: CalgarySabre2 | July 15, 2009 at 03:50 PM
i hear ya gary!..last time i checked, the sabres do not have an asst GM. its just regier, quinn and ruff. scotty bowman could have been brought in here as a consultant, but heck no!.. we have pure hockey "genius" in the afore-mentioned three.sure does get frustrating year after year listening to the same old tired spin..
Posted by: dwight in philly | July 15, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Kane coming to Buffalo given the Hawks forthcoming cap problems? The thought had never occurred to me. I could see Patrick Kane maybe, just maybe playing in Buffalo in his late 30's, when his career will be winding down. We don't sign superstars in their prime here in Buffalo.
Posted by: Dave | July 15, 2009 at 03:32 PM
It's become impossible for me to read about ANYONE associated with the NHL (player, coach or front office) without wishing they were with the Sabres, in place of the buffoons we have.
Posted by: Gary | July 15, 2009 at 03:21 PM
Bowman will do well. He and his dad know what it takes to win, and will make their choices accordingly.
Posted by: Maverick | July 14, 2009 at 09:32 PM