Pimlach

None of the Buffalo media asked about roster improvements and what Lindy thinks they need. I would have ask him that. Ruff knows what they need. But will he say it on Day 1?

Southern Tier Smoked Bourbon.

I watch the game with the volume muted and I either stream music or spin vinyl. I have a nice Bourbon for tonight.

I will be watching the Broons and Leaves tonight. Go Broons (cant believe I said that)!

Did any coach ever do that?

Byram Dahlin Power Joker Muel Clifton Johnson Bryson Still developing: Novikov Lines are through the most movable players. I would keep Power over Byram. Byram will fetch much less in a trade but after listening to Lindy talk about how todays game is played you have to stick with Power. They at least have to see what Lindy can do for him as a player. They will probably keep both Power and Byram and let Lindy evaluate things. The Byram contract will be interesting. Joker is a decent 3rd pair guy that plays 2nd pair on our team, this is a problem. He can be moved. It is a matter of time before Bryson fades away but he can be 7/8 until then. I want a bigger and more physical, defense first guy in the top 4 to pair with Power. Not gonna wait for Novikov, go get a guy now and give Novikov time to mature. Adams will need a complete mindset shift away from "no blockers" and "players that want to be here". We can be a real team now. Win a lot of games and fill the house and players will want to be here again.

The players today make so much more money than on the past, they can live were they play and anywhere else that they like. Once they get married and have kids in school it changes and they tend to have their family in one place. Buffalo is a good place for that. Always was an still is. Just get a winning tradition back and they will love it.

What toll has time taken? He is smarter and more patient as a coach.. He recently led a very young NJ team way past Buffalo and to their best point season ever. I am still far more worried about the roster than the HC. Watch the playoffs and you see we need at least 6 players. Ruff has 2 years. Adam’s better get him a few more players.

Ruff’s input on the roster is going to be important if Kevyn is going to bring in some help. Two way hockey and fast and hopefully with a physical presence. We are going to join the NHL soon

They need a center to replace Mitts. After that, the the middle and bottom 6 must be improved. Lindy wants a face-off guy. He wants someone to put out for key draws, especially in the defensive zone. We also need one tough SOB that can also play hockey and will pound people if need be. We have a middle weight in Clifton that handles some things. Now gimme a heavy weight too. It's not Greenway, Tuch, or anyone else. Then there is backup goalie. Bring one in and let Levi start in the AHL? If you can swing that insurance then why not.

Don’t hate the game, hate the league

Hmmmmmm. Ruff is not going win that much more than Granato did if they roll back the same roster. Maybe enough to make a wild card, sure. Ruff talked about the little things, winning key face offs, protecting leads, winning puck battles, having leaders call out players, goaltending, building from the defense and out. All great stuff. They still need more players that have done that and will show the way.

Sure. But that is not what Adams says. He said it again today - He was on it immediately after the Press Conference, he made it seem like he was just getting on it. Maybe that was to protect Granato a bit. What I really think is that Adams was on the Lindy track for months, and maybe not so much for the other vet coaches. I am fine with Lindy, he is certainly qualified, he is a life long learner, he is accomplished, and he deserves respect.

The article is wrong then. Bowman never left, GM to coach to GM to Coach was not the criteria. Back in the 6 team era lots of Coaches were GMs too.

I should have never gone back to Toronto and that dam Harold Ballard.

No way did he do formal interviews of double digit guys in 6 days. How long were the interviews? Any follow up? He admitted he spent time on numerous calls with Lindy. If Lindy took multiple calls then why wouldn't some of the other candidates? If just 4 of the double digit choices are compelling choices then you are going into the next week. Here is a scenario: KA: "Hello Mr Gallant, this is Kevyn Adams GM for the Buffalo Sabres, your not interested in coaching the Sabres, are you?" KA: "Oh, MAYBE?" "Thanks, I am just checking on it. Good Bye for now" Hangs up, calls Terry. "Hey Terry, I just talked to Gallant and he said maybe." Terry: "Maybe? What else did he say? Nothing? Will if he doesn't want it move on, I heard he is a pain anyway." click Ok, I jest. But I do not consider Adams to be credible anymore. Not until there is more follow through on roster improvements.

It is uncommon. Definitely. This is the root cause. The bottom 6 is important. The Sabres lack diversity of skill and diversity of age. We cannot fill the 3rd and 4th lines with 20 year old prospects and have a balanced team. We cannot have Tuch fighting Tkachuk, and Cozens fighting Hathaway, and Dahlin fighting Wilson, or whatever. We need good solid experienced role players. We need to stop being the developmental day camp for the rest of the league.

Here are the two term with same team coaches. https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1043798 It has happened five times, and now will be 6 with Lindy's return. None won a Cup the second time or even reached similar past heights. Punch Imlach and Jacques Lemaire are the only Cup winners that went back to their Cup teams.

You give the Pegula run Sabres way too much credit. This hire is another Pegula pivot and jump. It is just as much about selling tickets than about winning games. I mean, I really hope that the Sabres did start looking at and talking too coaches during the regular season. The issue with the players and the fans would be reason enough for me. I sure hope that they talked to Berube and Gallant and found out if they were interested and a good match. I would not be surprised if they was not interested in working for Terry and Adams. The Sabres having a succession plan in place for replacing Granato is the folly. They just extended him the last off season. They extended him for almost making the playoffs, like teams would be beating down his door after this season. The Pegula's also gave Boterill a public vote of confidence and then fired him just weeks later. They asked Adams to gut the front office and lean everything down and start another rebuild while publicly stating the Sabres cannot adversely impact the "family lifestyle". Adams was on nobody's radar as a viable NHL GM at that time. I like Lindy, and wish him well, but if didn't have strong Buffalo connections he would not be coaching here again either. Something tells me the other vet coaches are not interested. If Lindy succeeds it is because he is a good coach, and he is extremely dedicated to the fading honorable past of this hockey club.

Everybody that plays the PK should be taking away passing and shooting lanes, and blocking shots. Thompson did what he should have done. Injuries happen.

Uh, Quinn is already a better 2way player and was already on a higher line, playing top 6 minutes.

They really should move on from Ellis and Wilford. Flush that era and move on.

It works. You first download the app. Then you run the app and use “search” for WGR or Buffalo Sabres and it takes you there. It is easy.

My second favorite Lindy Ruff moment. Here he is a 20 year old rookie.