Archives for February 21, 2013

'"It wasn't so much buying the coach more time but it’s ... you’re responsible as a player to play a certain way," Miller said. "We've struggled to find an identity with this team for a few years now, if not four years. It’s come and gone. We've gotten close. At the end of last year we were playing good hockey and beating everybody. And then this year we’re in the same mental … [Read more...] about Sabres still in shock over Lindy Ruff’s firing

'Rolston really hasn’t had a chance to change much, but the one thing that pops out to him about this team is the shortcuts they take, “I have a lot of film and watched as much as I could intermixed with our schedule. From what I saw it was more of just a lot of shortcuts, a lot of rest in shifts, things you just have to eliminate if you’re going to be a good hockey team. It’s … [Read more...] about Sabres begin the Ron Rolston era

'“Shocked, I didn’t see it coming. I think yesterday was just a tough day for everybody. Obviously we weren’t happy with the way we played the night before. We show up at the rink to get back to work, had some meetings just like we usually do and go on the ice for practice and we get one of our guys pulled off the ice and told that he’s put on waivers then head to the bus after … [Read more...] about Sabre players are still in shock

'Ruff never won a Stanley Cup but could have (Brett Hull) in 1999 and, had he not lost four starting defencemen for the seventh and deciding game of the 2006 Eastern final, and another during the game, could easily have been the Stanley Cup winner in that post-lockout season.' … [Read more...] about Too bad for Lindy … Ruff’s tenure a pleasure

'I don't know if anyone will ever find out the truth but my guess is Regier had to be convinced to make this move. Either Terry Pegula realized the fan base was fed up and his franchise was suffering or perhaps someone persuaded Pegula that it was time to release the man who, when Pegula bought the team two years ago, said "ain't going nowhere."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Ruff had run out of answers

'Regier said the decision was “ultimately my decision,” but it made after talking with team owner Terry Pegula and top Sabres officials Ken Sawyer and Ted Black.' … [Read more...] about Ruff learned his coaching fate at home

'“The hockey world knows how I and the entire Buffalo Sabres organization feel about Lindy Ruff not only as a coach but also as a person,” Pegula said. “His long tenure with the Sabres has ended. His qualities have made this decision very difficult. I personally want Lindy to know that he can consider me a friend always.”' … [Read more...] about Firing brings Ruff era to startling end

'“I watched Lindy’s press conference after the game, and it’s as down as I’ve seen him in a long, long time,” Playfair said Wednesday night in First Niagara Center during a Junior Sabres game. “I don’t typically do it, but this morning I watched it again on Sabres.com. You can just see he’s tried everything he can try and the guys aren’t responding. If he’s out of answers, I … [Read more...] about Sabres’ slide costs Ruff after 26 years with franchise

'It would have been merciful to fire Ruff then, allowing him to find another town in which to prove himself. Instead, Regier waited, as he has done so many times at the trade deadline. Ruff set about “reinventing” himself. He stuck around until the situation had become unbearable, with the home crowd booing throughout Tuesday’s loss to the Jets and Ruff fielding questions … [Read more...] about Firing Ruff is too late, and it’s too little

'Ruff spent 26 years, nearly half of his life, working for the Sabres as a player and a coach. He wanted to win a Cup for himself. Mostly, he wanted to win a championship, in Buffalo, for you. To me, that meant something.' … [Read more...] about Lindy’s time was up – but what a time it was

'Served as captain of the Sabres. In 1989 he was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a draft pick, used to select Richard Smehlik.' … [Read more...] about Time line: The Ruff years

'If Regier really knew that he was making the right choice, if he knew Rolston was ready for the NHL, if he knew his team would respond to the calmer, more cerebral approach of Rolston, then there would be no interim title.' … [Read more...] about Coaching shuffle between Amerks, Sabres

'“Very difficult. Extremely difficult,” Regier told a packed media room at the First Niagara Center about his conversation with Ruff. “But this is professional sports. He understood it. He was extremely professional. It’s a tough thing. It really is.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ regression ultimately doomed Ruff

'The 46-year-old has no NHL coaching or playing experience. The Sabres recruited him from Team USA’s development program in 2011 to lead their top affiliate club. He’s still new to the professional game, having coached only 124 AHL games.' … [Read more...] about Sabres tab Rolston to replace Ruff on interim basis

'Wednesday's change didn't happen because the experiment failed, and Regier said Ruff trying to reinvent himself was a risk he needed to take. Ultimately, it didn't pay off, though, as the team compiled a 6-10-1 record through its first 17 games.' … [Read more...] about Sabres fire longtime coach Lindy Ruff after poor start to 16th season