GAME DISCUSSION THREAD

[Patty16]

As an assistant coach, and only managed a silvermedal with the best team he's ever going to coach at the world championships, and why? Because Team Canada didn't show up for the final against Russia. Sound familiar?

 

Who ever gives a flying ###### if he won coach of the year? That was a lifetime ago in hockey terms.

 

No argument on the "talent" he has available to him, but at this point the solution to this teams troubles include kicking out both Ruff and Regier first, then purging the roster of dead weight.

 

People who are considered to "have a lot more hockey smarts" than I, BUILT this sorry excuse for a roster.

 

Right as an assistant. You are somehow trivializing that regardless of the fact that there are hundreds of coaches wanting that spot.

 

 

 

You can blame Ruff all you want and he's certainly part of the problem but you are in fantasyland if you think a new coach is going to turn the team around with the roster they have.

[SwampD]

Right as an assistant. You are somehow trivializing that regardless of the fact that there are hundreds of coaches wanting that spot.

 

 

 

You can blame Ruff all you want and he's certainly part of the problem but you are in fantasyland if you think a new coach is going to turn the team around with the roster they have.

We'll never know. Really. We will never ever know. At the end of the world, all that will be left is Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier in the middle of the desert giving a tearful press conference to all the cockroaches.

[Derrico]

I think there is quite a bit of overreaction going on here.

 

If the Sabres had converted on that bang-bang play in OT or one of their many chances in the last 2 periods, the tune would be quite different.

 

They were playing a very good team tonight that was desperate for a win. They were outplayed in the first but Miller kept them in it until they got their act together. At that point it was still 0-0 and the Sabres carried the play for the better part of the last 2 periods.

 

There were other positives in tonight's game, including the return of elite play from Miller, strong defensive play and decision-making from Myers and, for the last 2 periods, good team defense.

 

For the record, on the GWG, Roy committed the initial turnover on a half-assed play in the neutral zone. Sekera very shortly thereafter lost a battle, but he didn't turn it over as he never had possession.

 

I do agree though that TC and Vanek continue to stink. The Sabres' chief problem continues to be ineffective play by the so-called top 6.

 

If Morrisonn is out, I predict we'll see Butler before Weber, although I'd rather see Weber.

 

I 100% agree with absolutely everything stated in this post. I'm trying to stay optimistic but the most concerning thing so far is the disapearing act by Vanek. I know he's streaky, always has been, but we CANNOT have him MIA for long stretches.

[nobody]

For the record, on the GWG, Roy committed the initial turnover on a half-assed play in the neutral zone. Sekera very shortly thereafter lost a battle, but he didn't turn it over as he never had possession.

 

And it was Roy who didn't cover Kovalchuk.

[NNYSABRESMAN]

I 100% agree with absolutely everything stated in this post. I'm trying to stay optimistic but the most concerning thing so far is the disapearing act by Vanek. I know he's streaky, always has been, but we CANNOT have him MIA for long stretches.

Did any one else notice the pethetic effort of Vanek in overtime at back checking. What was he on the ice for a whole minute and looked like he could not get off the ice quick enough. Throw in TC and these guys are our big money goal scorers and set up men. somethings wrong from the bench also, Lindy just does'nt seem to have any significance to the players. They just skate around and do what they want to do and in most cases what they should'nt, which falls directly back on the coach.

[Eleven]

Does anyone know why Rivet signalled for a change 30 seconds into his second shift (first period, while he was holding the puck behind the Sabres' net) and then didn't return to the ice for nearly the remainder of the period?

 

More importantly, does anyone know why he eventually returned at all? I've been a defender of this guy in the past, but he looked horrible last night.

 

Then again, so did almost everyone else. I know that a team can't play 60 minutes like the Sabres played the last 5 minutes of regulation, but it would be nice to see more than 5 minutes of that.

[Kristian]

Right as an assistant. You are somehow trivializing that regardless of the fact that there are hundreds of coaches wanting that spot.

 

 

 

You can blame Ruff all you want and he's certainly part of the problem but you are in fantasyland if you think a new coach is going to turn the team around with the roster they have.

 

Who cares?

 

He's a head coach with Buffalo, that's all I care about.

 

I don't recall saying canning Ruff would magically turn this team around, I merely stated certain areas in which he is beyond clueless, hence I don't see him as a "great coach".

 

I do however recall saying that kicking both him and Regier to curb is where you start, then you purge the roster of dead weight, and if you'd read my initial post instead of just bits of it, you would've known that too.

[bunomatic]

Right now aside from Roy,its essentially the 'core' and terrible defence in front of miller that has been the problem. The architect of that is none other than Darcy Regier. The blame falls at his feet. He spent another offseason making little or no moves to improve this team. For Regier its always addition by subtraction and waiting for the core to mature and develop.Waiting...waiting...

[nfreeman]

Desperate for a win, yes, but New Jersey is a very good team? I could have sworn I saw Adam Mair skating for them last night.

The Devils got off to a slow start, but they haven't forgotten how to play hockey, including outstanding team defense. They were #2 in the conference last year and now have the benefit of more time to integrate Kovy, an elite scorer, into their team. They also have a HOF'er in goal and a top line with 3 forwards who are better than any forward on the Sabres (and a 2nd line that also might have 3 forwards who are better than any forward on the Sabres). Do you not expect them to be an elite EC team this year?

 

I 100% agree with absolutely everything stated in this post. I'm trying to stay optimistic but the most concerning thing so far is the disapearing act by Vanek. I know he's streaky, always has been, but we CANNOT have him MIA for long stretches.

If it hadn't been for his strong 1.5 games in the playoffs last year, I'd be at the point of writing Vanek off as another Miro. 0 pts and a minus-4 in 4 games, including 3 home games? Are you kidding me? And TC has been almost as bad.

 

At this point, I wouldn't mind seeing Ennis-Gerbe-Vanek together, and maybe TC-Niedermayer-Kaleta on the 3rd line and Gaustad-Grier-McCormick on the 4th.

 

Speaking of McCormick, he's a definite upgrade over Mair.

 

In any case, I'm not throwing in the towel yet. That was a razor sharp performance by Miller and a pretty good game by Myers. Those 2 are the most important players on this team.

 

Go Sabres.

[Sabre Dance]

You people are insane, Lindy has won coach of the year and was chosen to coach team canada for the olympics. People with a lot more hockey smarts than you have looked at lindy and what he does with this team and think hes great.

 

You really think a new coach is going to come in and turn around a team with such superstars as derek roy and tim connolly???? nuts. look at the teams that win the stanley cup and see how much more talent they hae on their rosters, come back and tell me its all because they are tuning Lindy out.

 

No doubt there are players on this team that suck, or at least their effort sucks. Lindy won coach of the year a long time ago - he was picked to HELP coach Canada. But, if you look at his won-loss record, he hovers right around .500. Besides, lots of good coaches get fired. Ken Hitchcock coached the Stars to a Cup and got kicked to the curb a few seasons later.

I don't know if a new coach can turn the team around with the current players, but you won't know until you try. So, if we leave Lindy alone, the Sabres can A) Try to unload crap-a$$ players like Connolly and Stafford and in return get....well, no one is going to give you a good player for these guys. (and remember, with Darcy at the helm, deals are as rare as hen's teeth) B) Call up some players from the farm and see if they can help or C) They can continue to suck until they are 20 or so points out of a playoff spot and play in front of a disgruntled home crowd that boos them incessantly (think Blackhawks circa 2004).

[Sabre Dance]

 

In any case, I'm not throwing in the towel yet. That was a razor sharp performance by Miller and a pretty good game by Myers. Those 2 are the most important players on this team.

 

Go Sabres.

 

Right...... and they will carry the rest of the team. Um....no. It's not so much that the team is losing, they just look horrible in doing so. If they lost all of their home games, but played an exciting, up-tempo game with lots of hitting and goal-scoring, I'd still be sad that they lost. But I'd be entertained. Right now, I'm just sad.

[nfreeman]

Right...... and they will carry the rest of the team. Um....no. It's not so much that the team is losing, they just look horrible in doing so. If they lost all of their home games, but played an exciting, up-tempo game with lots of hitting and goal-scoring, I'd still be sad that they lost. But I'd be entertained. Right now, I'm just sad.

 

I thought last night's game was a pretty good, entertaining game. After the first period, I was entertained by the Sabres. There were scoring chances, great saves, a fight, plenty of hitting, etc.

 

I agree that the Sabres looked pretty bad in the first period.

[Derrico]

Right...... and they will carry the rest of the team. Um....no. It's not so much that the team is losing, they just look horrible in doing so. If they lost all of their home games, but played an exciting, up-tempo game with lots of hitting and goal-scoring, I'd still be sad that they lost. But I'd be entertained. Right now, I'm just sad.

 

I don't think they've looked horrible doing so. Ok, I had miss the Rangers game and could only listen on 550 but the Chicago and Jersey games weren't that bad. We lost by a combined two goals with one comming in OT. That's against the defending cup champs and a very good Devils squad who will be challenging for the top three spots in the conference this year.

[Patty16]

Who cares?

 

He's a head coach with Buffalo, that's all I care about.

 

I don't recall saying canning Ruff would magically turn this team around, I merely stated certain areas in which he is beyond clueless, hence I don't see him as a "great coach".

 

I do however recall saying that kicking both him and Regier to curb is where you start, then you purge the roster of dead weight, and if you'd read my initial post instead of just bits of it, you would've known that too.

 

My reading comprehension is great, thanks. Ruff isnt beyond clueless cmon now thats just ignorance on your part for saying that. Is he getting the most out of his players ?? im not sure and you cant be either. Its not like we have great players who are arent producing. We have above average talent that is playing average with pretty good goaltending so far.

 

Your aim should be directed at Regier for not adding any firepower to this offense.

 

No doubt there are players on this team that suck, or at least their effort sucks. Lindy won coach of the year a long time ago - he was picked to HELP coach Canada. But, if you look at his won-loss record, he hovers right around .500. Besides, lots of good coaches get fired. Ken Hitchcock coached the Stars to a Cup and got kicked to the curb a few seasons later.

I don't know if a new coach can turn the team around with the current players, but you won't know until you try. So, if we leave Lindy alone, the Sabres can A) Try to unload crap-a$$ players like Connolly and Stafford and in return get....well, no one is going to give you a good player for these guys. (and remember, with Darcy at the helm, deals are as rare as hen's teeth) B) Call up some players from the farm and see if they can help or C) They can continue to suck until they are 20 or so points out of a playoff spot and play in front of a disgruntled home crowd that boos them incessantly (think Blackhawks circa 2004).

 

I think they need a roster shakeup, i would certianly prefer to try that before firing a coach that is universally respected outside of this message board.

 

Who are you going to replace Ruff with? some retread? that will really get connolly and vanek going.

[Eleven]

 

 

 

 

I think they need a roster shakeup, i would certianly prefer to try that before firing a coach that is universally respected outside of this message board.

 

Who are you going to replace Ruff with? some retread? that will really get connolly and vanek going.

 

That's always the question that no one can answer.

[Sabre Dance]

My reading comprehension is great, thanks. Ruff isnt beyond clueless cmon now thats just ignorance on your part for saying that. Is he getting the most out of his players ?? im not sure and you cant be either. Its not like we have great players who are arent producing. We have above average talent that is playing average with pretty good goaltending so far.

 

Your aim should be directed at Regier for not adding any firepower to this offense.

 

 

 

I think they need a roster shakeup, i would certianly prefer to try that before firing a coach that is universally respected outside of this message board.

 

Who are you going to replace Ruff with? some retread? that will really get connolly and vanek going.

 

Heck, they made a number of roster moves in the off season and the team is playing worse. Hey, it's not like I have no respect for Ruff. He has had success in the past. But, is there another NHL team in the recent past that has held on to a coach-GM combo for over a decade? I wonder why?

R-E-S-U-L-T-S.

 

OK, I surrender. Keep Lindy. But how many roster changes do you make? Who do you trade for (if you can find any teams to trade with AND if Darcy can pull off a deal)? How long do you wait? Unless you trade Connolly and/or Vanek, what does Lindy do to get them going that he isn't already trying?

 

Tomorrow night's 40th Anniversary "celebration" should be interesting to watch. If the Sabres can't get juiced for that game, they can join the Bills in the 2010 Buffalo Sports Hall of Shame.

[Patty16]

Heck, they made a number of roster moves in the off season and the team is playing worse. Hey, it's not like I have no respect for Ruff. He has had success in the past. But, is there another NHL team in the recent past that has held on to a coach-GM combo for over a decade? I wonder why?

R-E-S-U-L-T-S.

 

OK, I surrender. Keep Lindy. But how many roster changes do you make? Who do you trade for (if you can find any teams to trade with AND if Darcy can pull off a deal)? How long do you wait? Unless you trade Connolly and/or Vanek, what does Lindy do to get them going that he isn't already trying?

 

Tomorrow night's 40th Anniversary "celebration" should be interesting to watch. If the Sabres can't get juiced for that game, they can join the Bills in the 2010 Buffalo Sports Hall of Shame.

 

They made no roster changes to upgrade. They replaced tallinder and lydman with comparable players, i consider it a wash. They replaced matt ellis and adam mair.......... with two rookies one of which has made no impact.

[spndnchz]

Well, after reading all that....

 

We do, still, have 78 games to go people.

 

Keep the faith. :thumbsup:

[SwampD]

Well, after reading all that....

 

We do, still, have 78 games to go people.

 

Keep the faith. :thumbsup:

It's kept. I still think a lot of these problems will fix themselves in time, and it doesn't mean they aren't real now.

 

Personaly, I would rather the team gets better and better as the season goes on than start out hot only to cool down in Feb.

[spndnchz]

Bill Hoppe says it looks like Leopold with Myers. They are practicing together.

 

Ruff says all defensive pairs will change.

[Two or less]

That's always the question that no one can answer.

 

I think the real logical choices are Bob Boughner or Kevin Dineen.

 

It's not "Lindy" that i am mad at, but, it's his system. He runs some very good tactics as a coach and will continue to have success after he leaves here, but, on this roster, is not build for his system. The "core" obviously can't buy into it since the core has been playing like this for three years now but the players they brought in, such as Morrisson, Rivet, Leopold, are just not good players for what Ruff wants. Leopold, as offensive minded as he is, doesn't bring the puck up the ice that often. Passing wise, setting up, shooting, ect, he's great, moving the puck up, no.

 

How can we seriously say things are ok when the team has serious trouble getting the puck past the red line. I'm not even talking about their troubles in the offensive zone.

 

We don't have the players for the system Ruff wants to run. Either he changes it and adjusts to his roster needs, or, he will have to go. It's as simple as that.

[inkman]

Well, after reading all that....

 

We do, still, have 78 games to go people.

 

Keep the faith. :thumbsup:

I didn't think we had so many chicken littles around here.

[inkman]

They made no roster changes to upgrade. They replaced tallinder and lydman with comparable players, i consider it a wash. They replaced matt ellis and adam mair.......... with two rookies one of which has made no impact.

Technically speaking, Neidermeyer and McCormick really replaced Ellis and mair. Ennis and Gerbe have filled Kennedy's role.

[SwampD]

Technically speaking, Neidermeyer and McCormick really replaced Ellis and mair. Ennis and Gerbe have filled Kennedy's role.

Whether or not any of these are an upgrade is still in question, though.

[Two or less]

Whether or not any of these are an upgrade is still in question, though.

 

While, i am not as high on Niedermayer, i think he has played below average thus far, but, McCormick has been a pleasant surprise. He hits, gets in peoples faces and fights. He is a definition of a energy guy line.