Ruff-Haters.. Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace (For Now)
by Calvin on Dec 2, 2011 11:00 AM EST
in Month in Review
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Mosey on over to the SB Nation blog for the Buffalo Bills, where the fine folk at Buffalo Rumblings have a very interesting poll going. They do a monthly approval ratings poll for the job Chan Gailey is doing as the head coach of the Bills, and despite the sky falling in and the Bills basically hanging on to playoff contention by a thinner-than-a-spiderweb thread, a full 68% of the voters approved of the job Gailey is doing over at One Bills Drive. Yes, 68%! And this is not a poll of some twenty-odd people, the total number of votes was 1,614 at the time of writing this.
What does this have to do with the Buffalo Sabres? Find out after the jump.
24 games into the NHL season, the Sabres stand seventh in the conference. They are 4-5-1 in their last ten games and three games behind division leaders Bruins. A bunch of players have been injured, and it seems we lose another one about every game we play. These haven't been bit-part fringe-players either - team cogs like Ryan Miller, Tyler Myers, Robyn Regehr, Jordan Leopold have (or will have) all missed time. The team has swung from listless to supercharged and back to slumbering from game to game.
How much of this do you feel is attributable to coach Lindy Ruff? Feel free to use the comments section to tell us about your vote choices.
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Being from Buffalo, I'm a Bills fan as well
But holy crap that poll makes me embarrassed to be one. There’s a very real chance that the Bills will go 5-11 and despite their early season success, the organization is still a tire fire from top to bottom. How much is Gailey’s fault is certainly debatable but 68%???? For a team that has one 9 games in two years so far? Maybe this is why I just don’t really get BR.
There’s no comparison between the two organizations other than geographic location.
Buffalo Rumblings has some of the most knowledgeable and intelligent fans I’ve encountered in any sport and is one of the very best SB Nation blogs around. The season is not over yet, so 9 wins in two years is not really a fair statement, even though you say “so far”. I bet those 68% would tell you that Chan Gailey has done a pretty decent job considering the talent he’s been given and the injuries he’s dealt with. That said, roughly a third of fans there share your opinion, but there’s no reason for you to be embarrassed for a knowledgeable group of fans being optimistic when they see reason to be.
I just can't see any reason for optimism
Am I blind? Every year is exactly the same. They play just well enough not to draft first over all. The injuries pile up and they are out of contention. BR might have knowledgeable fans, but I think they lose sight of the forest for the trees.
There are big differences between the two organizations, and in the last year even more so on the ownership front.
The Bills don’t seem to have enough depth to overcome adversity. The owner wants to spend just enough to prevent the team becoming an absolute laughing stock by picking up cut-price players, some of whom are castoffs from other squads. The players used their ‘unwanted’ status as a rallying call but in the end when it matters the most, they just don’t have the talent and willpower to get the wins.
The Sabres’ future looks much rosier – there is a lot of depth in the ranks, and there is an owner in place who wants to win it all, even if it means literally ‘buying’ the trophy. I for one don’t mind if we turn into the Yankees of hockey and throw money at stars if it means bringing the Stanley Cup home.
Smile.. tomorrow will be worse.
by Calvin on Dec 2, 2011 12:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Thankfully the salary cap will stop anyone from being the Yankees of hockey.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
Look at Ehrhoff's contract
I don’t know about that, unless the next CBA puts an end to front-loaded contracts like Ehrhoff’s, those will become more and more common-place as the GM’s league-wide wise up to Regier’s trickery
Smile.. tomorrow will be worse.
Nix and gailey have inherited almost 20 years of bad drafting. The roster depth was paper thin and bills fans. Where warned about it and that it would take time to turn the team around. The team is still capable of going 10-6. Nix had what seems like a huge draft last year. He has been building from the inside out the right way. The run defense has improved by 40 yards and has gone up 11 ranks. They have over hauled alot of the roster. Gailey has kept the team competive sept for three weeks through all of the injuries. If johnson makes that catch the bills are 6-5. There is alot to be positive about if you look at the big picture.
"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus
by matthew62 on Dec 2, 2011 1:12 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I disagree with almost everything you said
Except for the 20 years of bad drafting. That’s definitely true. The team is not going 10-6. Nix had an ok at best draft last year. The run defense has been frequently non-existant and the teams that they’re playing has more to do with the improvement (which was over dead last). Other teams in the league have done way more with less. You predicated with If. If a lot of things happened, they would have won more games, and the fact is they didn’t. Stevie Johnson has made lots of drops in big games. I can go on. There’s really nothing much to be positive about and you could see what has happened coming from a mile away.
They have the hardest run stopping schedule in the league yet they have improved. They face most of the top backs in the league this year. To say it has improved because of opponets is not letting yourself see anything. An ok draft. He drafted he drafted five pontential starters in his first five picks and they have all shown ability. Plus rogers has looked good thats six potential picks. Thats is alot of promise from one draft. I said if about one game and one play nothing else. So keep ranting about stuff I did not say. No other teams have not done more with less your wrong. This is the worst team over all talent wise because of the last 20 years. The only team that comes close is detroit 3 years ago. I And they had really bad seasons. I will add the starters proved they could play with anyone. I will also add one thing. If its so emberassing people can be positive. If its so bad and your sick of waiting and have lost all patience be a packers fan. No waiting no patience and no emberassment.
"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus
by matthew62 on Dec 2, 2011 2:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I just don’t buy that they have the hardest run stopping schedule in the league. They’ve gotten trounced by backup RBs.
I wasn’t sure whether you were referring to Nix’s first or second draft. His second was better. His first was the one I was actually referring to.
You’re not going to make me believe that they have the worst team in the league talent wise. Their talent deficient to be sure, but a big part of that was how ineptly they’re run. Not in the past, but currently. And it all starts from the top. Until Ralph passes away, there’s not much to be optimistic about on the field and when that happens, there’s a significant possibility the team will leave WNY for good.
I’m not rooting for the Packers. You don’t get to tell me how to express my Bills fandom, and right now, I don’t think there’s much to be a fan about. Like it or not, I was born in Buffalo, so until the team is moved or sold, the Bills and I are stuck with each other. Just how I roll.
the packers thing is nothing personal. I tell that to ever cliche bills fan that says the basic I am old things do not change I do not have to be patient despite admitting it takes time to turn around the bills. Your wrong about leaving not gonna go into all the evidence that says that will not happen. I do love hiw you say your not a fan but are a fan. Make up your mind. Oh and for good measure I am.from buffalo so do not say it like your parrading it in.my face like it makes me a douche.
"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus
by matthew62 on Dec 2, 2011 2:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’ve heard the same rumors that you have about them not leaving. I’m skeptical. There will be immense pressure to leave.
I am a fan, never said I wasn’t. I want the Bills to do well. I just don’t think that they’re set up to succeed anytime soon in the NFL because of the approach Ralph Wilson takes to ownership.
Kudos to you for being from Buffalo. But again, you can’t tell me not to be pessimistic about the Bills when I think I have perfectly legit reasons for being pessimistic. And you know I’m far from alone.
The Bills are going nowhere...
until they address the OT’s and overall line depth. I will drink no Kool-Aid until that happens.
Go Sabres!
by drwho62 on Dec 2, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If you think this season is exactly like last season, then yes, you are blind…
I’m not saying it is great, or even good at this point, but they actually look like a NFL team this year.
GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!
by hoosier3 on Dec 3, 2011 12:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
They actually looked like one last year too when they beat Cincy and took the Steelers and Ravens to the brink
The point is that they lack the depth to do it consistently. They’ve won 5 games. They’ll be lucky to win maybe 7. Improvement? Modest at best sir.
Very True
Buffalo Rumblings has some of the most knowledgeable and intelligent fans I’ve encountered in any sport and is one of the very best SB Nation blogs around.
40 yrs searching for Bills info & there is no question Brian & his writers provide top shelf information. The Rumblers themselves are very knowledgeable & maintain a civil environment.
Voted No on this poll as I never really have been a Lindy fan, starting w/his playing days(Foligno guy), followed by his coaching. He does deserve respect for his success as both player & coach but I want to see scoring & physical toughness, not grinding D play.
Both fans & critics of the coach can agree he did not play a European style of play nor has he had much success coaching them. The new additions to this team are of that mold. It seems this ownership wants to win & is smart enough to know they need to score goals to do it; I just dont think Lindy will be able to adapt.
"Alright Men, lets go out there, bust um in the chops & get somebody bloody. Keep working hard till you get it right. Take the W in battle & make the Bills Nation Proud." coach Karma420
by Blood, sweat & Win on Dec 3, 2011 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
There's a difference
With Gailey, the Bills have a chance in every game. He is inovative, straight-talking and inspirational. The only thing he needs to be successful is quality players. Unfortunately, the Bills do not have a sufficient number of healthy quality players and they lack depth.
First off, I like Lindy Ruff as a person; I am not a “Ruff Hater”, but he has lost (although I’m not sure he ever had) the ability to win the big ones. He is the Marv Levy of the the Buffalo Sabres. Unlike Gailey, he is not motivational, not innovative and not successful in getting the most from quality players like Stafford, Myers, Leino, Boyes, etc. He was badly out-coached by Peter Laviolette in the playoffs last year.
I’d like to propose a trade with the Rangers: Ruff for Tortarella. We need some fire in First Niagrara; not a lot of smoke and mirrors.
I'm usually entertained by your posts
This one was just freaking delusional. Chan Gailey inspirational? Really? To who? Maybe in comparison to Jauron.
Yes, there is the answer to your confusion. Chan Gailey is not Dick Jauron, and therefore he’s freaking awesome. By the way, I think Gailey is doing a good job, but not a great job. The last five or six he’s been bad, the games before that, I think he did pretty great. Do I approve of his last month….no…but the season. My feeling on the job he’s been doing can be summed up as follows……meh.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz
by bluecollarbuffalo on Dec 2, 2011 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe Inspirational, Maybe Not
The important thing is that his players seem to like playing for him.
Marv Levy
of the Sabres.
Excellent capsule description. Cant improve on it.
Reminds me of the clubby clueless atmosphere that the Bills had the year Marv was fired. We had bombed out against the Titans in Memphis in the season finale; Marv said to reporters he had no intention of retiring ,things were looking good for next year,blablabla…next day Ralph gives him his walking papers . Out of touch to the end.
One can only hope.
.
he has lost (although I’m not sure he ever had) the ability to win the big ones. He is the Marv Levy of the the Buffalo Sabres. Unlike Gailey, he is not motivational
You have no way to know this unless you know him personally or professionally. And that’s even assuming a coach has the “ability” to “win” “big ones”.
not innovativeFlat out wrong. Ruff has been incredibly adaptive and innovative. He’s coached systems of both end of the spectrum. In the Hasek years he ran a shutdown defense style. In the post lockout years he was run and gun, up-tempo.
He was badly out-coached by Peter Laviolette in the playoffs last year.Again, flat out wrong. Laviolette is the guy who played 3 goalies in 7 games. Nothing more even needs to be said.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
They won in spite of Laviolette.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
by Ogre39666 on Dec 3, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Seriously.
All torts does is depend on his goaltender and slam the media. He’s a bully, not a teacher.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
Looks like Timmy is about to sneeze in the photo.. Probably throw his neck out in the process.
"If we needed any more motivation to win a Cup sooner than later, we've got one now," Black said. "I really want to listen to the game that RJ calls when he finally gets to shout out, 'Buffalo wins the Stanley Cup.'"
What are those patches on the jerseys?
They look like the overseas patches from this year, which obviously makes no sense with Connolly and Griersy in the picture.
Fitz = M(C)²
"Lets Go Buff! a! lo!"
I got a TROPPer in the car, uhh!!
Hall of Fame game vs Toronto.
November 2010
"If we needed any more motivation to win a Cup sooner than later, we've got one now," Black said. "I really want to listen to the game that RJ calls when he finally gets to shout out, 'Buffalo wins the Stanley Cup.'"
by FloridaBuffalo on Dec 2, 2011 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
Voted No
Just another year of the same old same old. 14years and the players just don’t hear what Ruff is saying. If they feel like putting forth an effort they will, if they don’t want to they won’t, knowing that the worse that happens is that they might have to sit in the stands for a game. WOW what punishment
What more would you like Ruff to do as punishment?
That’s the extent his punishment capabilities can go. He can’t buy out players. He can’t trade them/ He can’t demote them. Would you like he send them to their room without dinner?
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
by Ogre39666 on Dec 2, 2011 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Sit them on the bench for 5 games Let them know that he is the boss
and that they are being paid to play the game, every time they take the ice
I'm pretty sure they know that he's in charge and they get paid.
14 years of coaching and a paycheck will do that.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
What players have been on the team for 14 years and have stopped listening to Ruff? ….Oh wait, our longest tenured defenseman is Andrej Sekera and all the veteran forwards on this team are defensively-responsible professionals who clearly still play his system. If you want to blame Ruff for any shortcomings of this team, you’ll need to come up with some better speculation than that.
by lassathrax on Dec 2, 2011 3:30 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Thats the problem his system. After 14years as head coach
If his system is so good where are all the stanley cups or conference championships
A) you need talent to win, not just a good system. For most of his time here, he had less than the great talent outside of one player and he's won a lot of games.
B) It’s not like he’s only ran one system. He’s changed over the years as the league and his team has changed.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
by Ogre39666 on Dec 3, 2011 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It's not Lindy's fault that his players can't put the puck in the net or stay healthy.
They were competitive in nearly every game during the month. The team does choke at home and see many seem to be gripping the stick too tightly, but that’s a sign of too much pressure, not poor coaching.
Part of good coaching
Is devising drills to improve your players ability!
If Ruff was ever fired, he was be picked up by a new team faster than Boudreau.
by kitaman27 on Dec 2, 2011 12:47 PM EST reply actions 7 recs
How irrelevant!
a sub .500 team looking to steady a sinking ship would likely try him as a respected coach and all…but what team in the top 6 who have been ‘close but no cigar’ recently would move laterally after a coach who has shown his teams dont win the big one? or even get much past the first round?
He doesnt have the respect you think he does (beyond personally ,I mean.)
Right, he's not respected as a coaching talent.
That’s why he wasn’t selected to be one of team Canada’s coaches this past Olympics. Oh, wait…
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
He hasn’t even had a playoff opportunity since having a team that is not on a penny-pinching budget. Give Pegula his 3 years to run for a Cup and try to be patient. Pegula believes in Darcy and Ruff, and he’s the one shelling out tens of millions of dollars to help this team win. So excuse me (and presumably many others here) if we value Pegula’s trust in our coach more than your outsider opinion.
Just fire him already so that Barry Trotz can lead the league in tenure already, OK?
Managing Editor of On the Forecheck, SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators, and founder of Hockey Gear HQ, a site devoted to helping you save on hockey equipment, accessories, and NHL apparel.
by Dirk Hoag on Dec 2, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I like ruff
But sometimes a team and a coach need to part ways. It tends to benefit both sides but you do not fire a guy unless you have someone better lined up already.
"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus
by matthew62 on Dec 2, 2011 1:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions
the second part of your comment is the kicker here. Even if Ruff were responsible for this team’s shortcomings, who would replace him? It would be a gamble no matter what, and since the sky isn’t falling and the Sabres managed a near-.500 record through an absurd number of key injuries, I’d be a little more patient before judging that this team needs a shakeup enough to be worth such a gamble as firing Ruff for whatever unproven young coach or washed up old unwanted loser would replace him
The poll results show that the Bills and Sabres are judged differently by the fans, obviously based on expectations.
Mediocrity for the Bills = A pat on the back and a hale and hearty “We’ll get ’em next year”
Mediocrity for the Sabres = OMG FIRE EVERYONE
by Philaster on Dec 2, 2011 1:41 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
You can't look at things in a vacuum
The Bills are in year two of a rebuild while the Sabres’ core is in their prime and an exciting new ownership has brought in fresh talent to contend now. The franchises simply are at different points and should be judged as such. When Dick Jauron was in his third year and the Bills were supposed to start winning but didn’t, fans called for his head. In his fourth year, Bills fans bought a billboard calling for his removal. Is that complacency? Also, it’s more difficult to make the playoffs in the NFL. The seventh place finish the Sabres had last year wouldn’t have been enough to get them into the postseason if the NHL’s playoffs were structured like the NFL’s, where in a league with more teams with more incentive to win (calling out all southern NHL franchises), only twelve teams make the playoffs compared to sixteen for the NHL.
Talk about wearing rose colored glasses!
Ruff has been horrible this year. Line combinations are bad. He ignores the obvious, they are short down the middle and never once has he considered moving the teams best stick handler (Ennis) and giving him a shot there. I am a Sabres fan but if you were objective and looked at the playoff futility, most teams would have fired him years ago. He gets a pass because he is a former Sabres player and does a good job with the media. I don’t see him solving any problems. I am not a James Patrick fan, who prefers smallish puck moving defensemen. The staff is Lindy’s choice. Be objective!!
I am frequently annoyed by Ruff’s constant line-juggling, but I wouldn’t say he has been horrible this year, or any year since the lockout, really. He’s been effective overall in getting offensive production and defensive responsibility out of his players. He has a winning record and knows every trick in the book. He may as well have written the book. I think many fans are very short-sighted and impatient, if things go sour for even a month they call for someone’s head. Ruff has the trust of the ownership and management, and that is what matters. Pegula, unlike previous owners, is a devout fan of the team. If he feels that a coaching change (or any change, really) is needed, then I support him in it. At the end of the day, Pegula is the one who gets to make these decisions because he is the one footing the bill to get us all a Stanley Cup.
Ever
Ever since he took Adam off the first line it’s productivity has dropped. So, what does Lindy do, Adam still isn’t back on it. Lindy also has a tendency to put guys in the dog house but has sacred cows as well.
Adam’s productivity may have dropped, but how has the top line been? I’d say Hecht’s goal-per-game with Vanek and Pominville has been a successful experiment so far, and Hecht is like ten million times more defensively responsible than Adam… I think that is why Adam got demoted, he kept forgetting to backcheck and cover his opponents. Hecht is an upgrade in both departments on that line.
And if anyone is going to turn Adam into a complete player
it’ll be Ruff.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
by Ogre39666 on Dec 3, 2011 6:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Hecht is no center
He might be scoring but he is not feeding his teammates. That line was better with Adam on it. Hecht is on the downside of his career and he is more effective on the left wing. I don’t think I’m too worried about defense with my scoring line and Adam is prolly the best defensive player on that line. I think Adam will easily outscore Hecht this year, do you guys actually watch the games?
Adam is better defensively than Pominville and Vanek?
Huh?
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
Wow...
I don’t know how to respond to this.
Your demonstration of ignorance is astounding.
Bottom line: If the line is scoring, does it matter if it is the center or the wingers?
And, I just can’t ignore this… Adam is not the best defensive player on ANY line on ANY team in the NHL. He needs a lot of work on his defensive coverage. Pominville, Vanek, and Hecht are three of our most defensive forwards. Do YOU watch the games???
It's funny, because when the Bills were 5-1, or 3-0,
I’m pretty sure Gailey’s approval rating was an absurd 99%.
Here's a couple of emails...
I have a friend who is very knowledgeable about hockey; has played his whole life, and is in the UT HOF. Got a few sniffs, but nothing ever panned out. He and I argue all the time through email about Ruff – he wants him gone, I want him to stay. Here’s a few of my emails the last few days.
[Note – he also complains that Ruff hinders offense, is a big Goose fan, doesn’t buy the injury excuse, and despises Ruff’s record in one goal games]
Here’s another take of mine on Ruff…
It’d be so stupid to can him now. All the idiots calling in to WGR today were
calling for that. Ray/Eb – do you really want to be lumped in with those guys?
And Ray, I literally pulled an “I’m coming home Elizabeth” Red Foxx style when
you said you liked Ruff.
The “insanity thing” Eb talked about is ridiculous. Ruff has not coached the
same team, the same way during his tenure. At first he rode Hasek with a
collection of castoffs. His top line featured Jason Dawe & Dixon Ward; I’d call
that over achieving to say the least. Then the bankruptcy years came. Then the
run with Drury & Briere. Again, ownership handcuffed him there. And then they
did again when they let those two walk.
TP comes in now. Says “Lindy ain’t going anywhere,” and he said it for good
reason. Dude hasn’t has the chance yet to coach under an owner who wasn’t a
scumbag. But you wanna run him just because they haven’t won the Cup in
November. Sounding just like the idiots who call in to radio shows…
TP & Black say they have a three year plan. I believe in them. How do you
doubt a guy with 3B+ in his checking account?
I said this before at the ten game mark – I can’t believe I have to say it again
at the 20+ game mark – give them time. Let the new players fit in. I dont’
care what you say – Ehrhoff sucked the first month or two of the season; he’s
starting to come on now. Rehger is solid. Adam doesn’t look like a rookie
anymore. And for Jimminy’s sake, yes, injuries are an excuse. Name me another
team this year who has had to ice 9 out of 20 guys who weren’t on the roster at
the beginning of the season.
Still waiting for stats on leads given up. You like to quote that, but you
can’t back it up. Pathetic.
And for the record, I can’t stand the way they play at home. Drives me nuts.
Don’t understand it one bit.
Here’s another email one day later…
Ray – you itch about scoring. Still 11th in the league, and that’s with
getting:
One, just one goal from Goose in 24 games (that’s bad – admit it)
Two goals from Kaleta in 16 games
Two goals from Hecht (albeit in just 4 games)
Zero goals from Ennis & McCormick
Two goals from Boyes in 21 games
Two goals from Leino in 24 games
Four goals from Stafford in 23 games
Three goals from Gerbe in 24 games
And six goals from Roy in 24 games
If all of these guys just chip in one more goal a quarter of the way through the
season, they’re in the top five in scoring. And looking at that list, it’s not
hard to see all of those guys have under-achieved to a certain extent. Sure
you’ll blame it on Ruff. To which I’ll add…
Milbury did a piece the other night on VS, talking about teams that have changed
their coached in season. He took the average of the 80 games prior to the
change, and compared it to the next 80 games. The results? You don’t wanna
know. Look it up yourself. It shoots down your whole theory about coaching
changes being SO beneficial.
Still waiting for you to provide info on the Sabres’ rank in giving up leads.
Crickets, and I figured as much.
You saw how quickly your boy Boudreau got snapped up after he got fired, right?
If Ruff gets fired in season, Bourbon bet says he has a new gig even faster than
that.
Eb – Brayden McNabb is not related to former Sabre/Bruin Peter McNab. For some
reason I thought Peter’s last name was spelled “McNabb” too. No relation. On a
side note, McNabb & Myers did play together in their prep school days.
Read the stupid rumor sites around the web, or local fishwraps, and you’ll see a
lot of teams are looking for defensemen. With that said and how we’ve seen
McNabb hit so much and play reasonably well, it’d never surprise me to see
Sekera or Leopold traded in the near future. McNabb has stud written all over
him.
Honestly surprised to see no one has made an inquiry to Rochester D Morrisonn.
Heard he was playing well in AHL (and he should be) while playing with that
Giant the Sabres just called up (Finley, the guy Boudreau gave up on).
Yes – I’m going to bang on Goose here. Like him, like him a lot. Just always
said he needs to produce more. Since you’re a stat loser, here’s one for you.
Goose has as many goals as Corey Tropp, TJ Brennan, and Zach Kassian. Compare
their minutes played: Goose – 348, Tropp – 96, Brennan – 43, Kassian – 33. Paul
needs to step his game up.
I knew Adam was going into this season as a “rookie”, and is currently 3rd in
rookie scoring. What I didn’t know is that Gragnani & Enroth were both
considered “rookies” too. Thought both of them played enough games last year to
disqualify them from that distinction. Guess I was wrong. Gragnani is 14th in
rookie scoring, and 3rd in +/-. Enroth hogs all of the G categories so far.
Can I just say that if I were GM, Gaustad would be one of the first to go? I know everyone loves him, but I feel like John C. McGinley in Office Space “What would you say you do here?” He does faceoffs. That’s about it. He plays softer than his size. He’s slow. Doesn’t score much.
What a Relief!
I was pretty scared about what I would see in the voting here. Good thing most people seem to have retained their sanity.
Right now, the Sabres have 99 problems, but the coach ain’t one.
The only thing I would change about Ruff is that I would want him to be more willing to play his energy/checking line more when the team is struggling to score (i.e. – these past couple games). Every team/line/player will go through stretches when it seems like there is a solid-brick wall in front of the net. To me, it makes good sense to wratchet-up the intensity and the defense if the offense isn’t getting the bounces.
Tell me that
If they don’t make the playoffs or get bounced in the first round again. I remember the Bruin series two years ago when the Sabres had just won at home. What happens, he changes the line-up after the win ( going to a smallish lineup) and the Bruins run the Sabres right out of the rink in Boston. A lot of you guys must not be paying attention to the coaching!! Or like I said earlier just give him a free pass since he was a former Sabres player.
Mistakes were made.
I can dig it, Coach Bob. I’m not saying that Lindy hasn’t made some questionable calls in the past. I’ll attribute those to gut-instinct, which I believe probably serves the Sabres pretty well in other situations (no facts here, just MY gut).
The thing is, Ruff has done more with less for alot of years. He deserves a couple of fat seasons to see if he can do more with, well, MORE. I believe we will begin to see some improvement before the All-Star break, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a run to the Eastern Conference Finals this year.
The measuring stick will be Boston. When we start to beat them consistently, a corner will have been turned. Until then, we a just another talented team that doesn’t have enough guts and grit to get over the hump.
Anyway, with minor adjustments (not a coaching change), I like our chances.
GET RID OF RUFF
Take a look at our inept power play. The reason we can’t score is coaching!!!! Ruff designes the plays sends out the players he wants on the ice. Ruff is responcible for motovating this team, enough said NO ONE FEARS RUFF. RUFF SHOULD BE SENT PACKING
Our PP is tied for 13th in the league at 17.6%.
It could be better but it’s far from inept.
Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place
Guys
It’s more than that, Ruff ignores basic hockey coaching rules. If your best player on a line is a left wing, you pair him with a right handed center. There is a reason why should pair a right-handed and left-handed defensemen together. A puck moving defensemen with a stay at home defensemen. How do you ever have Sekera and Gragnani together, give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!! His line design is bad to begin with from the start and he juggles too much, upsetting the continuity. It’s no secret why Detroit is so smooth, they don’t juggle that much. I think he is overrated!
Not true
Detroit don’t juggle that much? I’m sorry, do you even watch Red Wings hockey? Babcock is always juggling lines to get the best matchups for his forwards.
Smile.. tomorrow will be worse.
You are quick to brand defensemen as "offensive" or "defensive"
Sekera is both. Same for Myers and Leopold.
Gragnani and Ehrhoff are offensive-only
Regehr and Weber are defensive-only.
Pairing two defensive-only defensemen together (i.e. Regehr-Weber) can work well as a shutdown pair. Ruff never pairs Gragnani and Ehrhoff together for good reason. Sekera-Grags is not a bad pairing so much as Gragnani’s lack of defensive development is exposed no matter who he is paired with.
Many may disagree with me on Ehrhoff, though, but judging from what I’ve seen I am not too high on his defensive game. He is improving in earnest, though. Gragnani, IMO, could use some more time in Rochester when the team gets healthy.
Ehrhoff was not brought to Buffalo on the strength of his defensive responsibilities.. that’s what Regehr was expected to tighten up.
Ruff’s tactics are based upon the d-men carrying the puck forward, and aggressively supporting the offense by pinching up at the blue line. As a result the team has been reflecting that policy in the last few drafts and free agent acquisitions. Regehr was brought in for his seniority, and the brand of his hockey is more suited to the playoffs.
Smile.. tomorrow will be worse.
Amen
All the Ruff fanboys ere can SPIN things all they want. Ruff is so overrated it would be laughable if it wasn’t our team he keeps screwing up.
Unless he is secretly injuring half our roster on his own, I don’t see how anyone could blame Ruff for what’s been happening to this team this season. We are talking about the present, correct? Because if we’re talking about the past, you could point your blame at Golisano and Co. for handcuffing Regier and Ruff. Even under those conditions, they did a pretty damned commendable job. Same goes for the injury situation this year. If another team had injuries this bad all at once, they would probably be doing worse in the standings than Columbus. May I remind you we’re in 7th in the East? How exactly has Ruff screwed this team up?
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