Could it be time for a coaching change?

[rickshaw]

I like Ruff, but I am starting to wonder about some of his decisions in regards to who plays and who doesn't. I have never liked how he's dealt with goalies. It was easy when he had Hasek but there is no Hasek playing on our team any longer.

 

I just wonder if maybe, maybe, the players are in need of some new direction. A new voice. He's been the coach forever. Thoughts?

[Kristian]

Problem is, as long as Darcy is the GM, the makeup of the team won't change.

 

What's needed here is a change of how they approach the game. They thought they were smart building the team for the "New NHL" long before it was implemented, yet I'm sure they were expecting it to be in effect for more than a single regular season.

 

They need to adapt to the way the game is played now, problem is I don't think Darcy knows how to. We were small and non-physical before the lockout as well, back in the days of the clutch & grab fest,

[LabattBlue]

They thought they were smart building the team for the "New NHL" long before it was implemented, yet I'm sure they were expecting it to be in effect for more than a single regular season.

They may have thought they were smart, but in reality they were lucky....very lucky. The didn't know the "new" NHL was coming. It was just Darcy being Darcy and assembling a group of skill/finesse players and still today even with the "new" NHL long gone, we have a SOFT defense corp and a whole bunch of interchangeable forwards most of who, don't give a damn about playing in their own end.

[darksabre]

I think Lindy could coach a team made of the right players. Maybe Lindy wants to make a coaching change? I'm sure a grittier Western Team would LOVE to have him.

 

Darcy needs to give Lindy the right tools.

[frisky]

I think the players need to be accountable. I don't think it's the coaching. More execution and discipline.

[Kristian]

I think Lindy could coach a team made of the right players. Maybe Lindy wants to make a coaching change? I'm sure a grittier Western Team would LOVE to have him.

 

Darcy needs to give Lindy the right tools.

 

At this point, I wouldn't blame him one bit if he wanted out.

 

Not so much because of the current team, but more because I think he knows it's going to be the same deal next year, the year after that, and so forth.

 

Players and fans aren't the only ones who like winning cups, coaches do too.

[Claude Balls]

Well with all the same type of players in Portland, I don't see much changing with the Sabres anytime soon.

 

As for Lindy, it almost looks like he doesn't give two turds behind the bench anymore. It's like he knows he has tried numerous times to give these guys a boot in the asss but it just doesn't matter. These guys are not changing their style of play. Once a pansy......always a pansy. He looks like he is giving up and I don't blame him with all the garbage he has been given. He has nothing to work with anymore.

[dante23x]

I like Ruff, but I am starting to wonder about some of his decisions in regards to who plays and who doesn't. I have never liked how he's dealt with goalies. It was easy when he had Hasek but there is no Hasek playing on our team any longer.

 

I just wonder if maybe, maybe, the players are in need of some new direction. A new voice. He's been the coach forever. Thoughts?

 

 

I think that the players are not buying into his system anymore. He's always preaching "system" but clearly its not working. Changes are definately needed but I think it should start with the the GM first and foremost. Get someone in here to come up with a new strategy and to be aggressive in improving the team. Marginally talented smallish forwards are not getting it done. When your team is not good enough to make the playoffs last year, why would you think it would be good enough this year after making virtually no changes to the roster?

[Kristian]

I think that the players are not buying into his system anymore. He's always preaching "system" but clearly its not working. Changes are definately needed but I think it should start with the the GM first and foremost. Get someone in here to come up with a new strategy and to be aggressive in improving the team. Marginally talented smallish forwards are not getting it done. When your team is not good enough to make the playoffs last year, why would you think it would be good enough this year after making virtually no changes to the roster?

 

Because it's an organisation of excuses.

 

There's always a good "reason" we're not winning, not making the playoffs, losing games we should be winning.

 

It's either "injuries", "young players", "bad bounces", "officiating", "bad ice" or "ran into a hot goaltender".

 

Bottom line is, there's always something. Nobody ever comes out and says, "we just weren't good enough and until we adress this, we won't be going anywhere".

 

Of course, the players will on occasion say things like, "we need to be smarter", "be better in our own end" etc. etc., but these are just phrases they've all picked up along the way, nobody actually buys into it.

 

What's worse though, is that I feel confident that the front office actually believe in all these excuses themselves.

[Stoner]

:doh:

[Stoner]

Kristian, in your sig, I see you put quotes around "general body soreness." Who said that's what Connolly has?

[dante23x]

Because it's an organisation of excuses.

 

There's always a good "reason" we're not winning, not making the playoffs, losing games we should be winning.

 

It's either "injuries", "young players", "bad bounces", "officiating", "bad ice" or "ran into a hot goaltender".

 

Bottom line is, there's always something. Nobody ever comes out and says, "we just weren't good enough and until we adress this, we won't be going anywhere".

 

Of course, the players will on occasion say things like, "we need to be smarter", "be better in our own end" etc. etc., but these are just phrases they've all picked up along the way, nobody actually buys into it.

 

What's worse though, is that I feel confident that the front office actually believe in all these excuses themselves.

 

That is a great point. I think its time for the organization to admit and understand that the players aren't good enough to win and do whatever it takes to remedy that.

[Kristian]

Kristian, in your sig, I see you put quotes around "general body soreness." Who said that's what Connolly has?

 

It's just a phrase taken from The Bleacher Report, though the team called his injury a "bruised chest", before that musco-fancy-schmancy term was used.

 

It's what you might call a "frustration sig", seeing as the old one wasn't excactly bringing much luck.

[Claude Balls]

It's just a phrase taken from The Bleacher Report, though the team called his injury a "bruised chest", before that musco-fancy-schmancy term was used.

And that's just a polite way to say - contusion to the mammary gland.

[bottlecap]

Unfortunatley you have a GM who acquires the more affordable soft skilled players and a coach that wants a bunch of hard-a**es. Other teams have learned that all you have to do is run the Sabres defense and if you're weak, you're weak...

[FearTheReaper]

Regier and Co.'s intention with this team was to build it from within. Thats why they've locked up what players they consider to be "core" to long term deals. That was Regier and managements end of the deal. What were seeing now is part two of this "rebuilding phase". In which the management side steps down and lets the coaching devise an effective system for the players to base their game on. I didn't think we lack alot of tools to play a "defense first" style. I just think what were seeing is the frustration of players trying to adjust to the new system. When we came out the gate,we were eager to do better than last years start. And we succeeded,by playing the new system. But somewhere along the line the players stopped buying into that style. Ruff is trying hard to finish this second phase. But its going to take some time. A team doesn't go from a Run n' Gun to Defense first style overnight. It might take until janurary for Ruff to ingrain it into the players heads and have them take it to the next level. Once it has,then its up to the players to finish the "rebuilding" and play the new system consistently.

[DR HOLLIDAY]

Ruff is not the problem............ :beer:

[Goodfella25]

The thing I don't get is if Lindy and Darcy are such good pals and get along so well both personally and from a hockey standpoint, then why the hell hasn't anything changed with regard to this roster? Does Lindy just not want to give up on players, or is it Darcy, or are they in disagreement?

 

I would think that if they are as good of friends as it seems, Lindy would go to Darcy and say look you have to move X player(s) off this team. He has to be getting fed up with these guys...right? I know Lindy likes a challenge, but not players that are mentally challenged in their own zone...

[BamBam]

The thing I don't get is if Lindy and Darcy are such good pals and get along so well both personally and from a hockey standpoint, then why the hell hasn't anything changed with regard to this roster? Does Lindy just not want to give up on players, or is it Darcy, or are they in disagreement?

 

That is the question...Why?

"It's a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma."

[Fighting Chicken]

If they're good enough to be one of the last teams in the league to lose a game this season, they're good enough to pull their heads out of their butts and start playing for 60 minutes.

 

There's no problem with Ruff, it seems to be all players.

 

Maybe Connolly and his chronically bruised is upsetting the balance in the room?

[Grinder42]

We're from Buffalo so when the chips are down and were playing bad Hockey we all want the coach and everyone gone. This team is broken right now and Lindy has to fix it and he will. I just want people to look at when the style of pay went really bad this season......Clue.... It coincided with Conolly and Hecth return to the lineup! I don't understand it but it does look at the facts they got on board and the poor play was born.

 

Miller and Lailme must be frightened to get the nod right now. He has no Defense in front of him. Rivet the Captain? Isn't he the same fella that played on those under achiving Montreal Teams only to be traded to SJ like Soupy to look good. I actually not having Campbell has totally altered this team.Brian was not physical but skilled enough where he was a threat to make a huge hit and a threat to take the puck up ice! He was not the big hulk to win battles in the corner but he often did. So, the front office I would rather have Campbell than Rivet (BUM) at $5 million and no Max! I like Max but his Salary is way to much. Mancari would be in his spot!

 

 

Lydman, Tallinder, Numminen,Sekera, and Spacek all need to tighten up and start playing things up the board instead of deeper in their own zone. Teams are on to how to pressure the Transition gods of the Sabres it is called a High slot breakout and or cheating....Return to the standard breakout and clean up the poor play in your zone and things will improve. Were getting 4 goals and losing by 3-4.....ummm not good!

 

Lastly, how much ground is acceptable for our D to give up before they put on the breaks and try to disrupt the attacking forwards play! Retreat retreat retreat....SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS! Hit someone you babies! Perhaps the problem is James Patrick he was soft up ice defense. Perhaps we need to bring in a true blue liner not a pansy like James...Ow yeah he was an old man we brought in here to jump start a power play! He sucked as a player and he sucks as a coach! Scott Arneil and Mike Foligno could have been here! Who wouldn't have loved Fligno behind the bench! I bet he be better coaching the Defense than James!

 

My thoughts not worth a crap....but I am disapointed every time I watch the games.....that I have more heart and none of the talent than these bums! If your going to the game tonight get on them if they play like #%^$#!! The love affair is over!