Real Kyper & Bourne Are the Buffalo Sabres a Real Stanley Cup Contender?
Mar 20, 2026
Doug MacLean, former NHL president, GM and coach, offers blunt perspective on team management and rebuilds. He explains why Buffalo’s pressure lift and roster moves sparked a surge. He debates whether their depth and goaltending make them true Stanley Cup contenders. He also weighs trade choices for Toronto and how GMs handle tanking.
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No Coach Conversation About Tanking
- Doug MacLean never had a direct conversation about 'tanking' with a coach during seasons when the team was out of contention.
- He says genuine tanking usually happens by shedding players at the deadline, citing his experience in Columbus and with Tim Murray in Buffalo.
Tank By Moving Players Not By Coaching Orders
- If a team wants to 'tank' legitimately, MacLean advises trading away players at the deadline rather than asking coaches to lose games.
- He says removing players for rest or via trades is the realistic method to change outcomes.
Rebuilds Are Now Shorter Retools
- MacLean argues modern rebuilds are 'retools' using trades, waivers, free agents and analytics rather than long tear-down drafts.
- He points to Buffalo's turnaround via waivers/trades and three former first-round defensemen developing into impact players.