Lindy

[thesportsbuff]

The defensive shell that people complain about worked perfectly in both of the 1-0 victories. I'm not all that happy with it either sometimes but if you're going to criticize it you also need to acknowledge when it works. And all three games we went into a defensive shell we won.

 

I agree you have to acknowledge when it works. I don't consider it "working" in Game 5. We blew a 3-0 goal lead with it and then won the game when we started playing offense again.

[Kelly the Dog]

I agree you have to acknowledge when it works. I don't consider it "working" in Game 5. We blew a 3-0 goal lead with it and then won the game when we started playing offense again.

True, but I also don't really think that Lindy chose to put the team into a defensive shell once we took the 3-0 lead. The three penalties in the second period were the reason for the momentum shift, not the style of play. I doubt very much we would have done that early in the second period without the parade of penalties.

[deluca67]

Really?

There are three active coaches(Ron Wilson 601, Jacques Martin 583 and Joel Quenneville 561) with more victories than Ruff and that's not including Brian Murray and his 620 coaching victories. I wouldn't think any of those four are HOF bound.

[Simon]

I don't like the defensive shell as a philosophy at all; I want to see them playing the same game that put them up 3-0.

That being said, the philosophy isn't the biggest problem in this case. The problem is that if you're going to emphasize defense you still have to move your feet and play with focus and intensity. When the Sabres back off they're not doing that; it's like they think that since they don;t need goals, then they don;t need to skate either.

If you're going to focus on your own end, the key word is still focus.

[IKnowPhysics]

I think that if we're embattled about whether or not Lindy Ruff will be admitted into the HHOF, then we should probably keep him around the club for a while.

[X. Benedict]

There are three active coaches(Ron Wilson 601, Jacques Martin 583 and Joel Quenneville 561) with more victories than Ruff and that's not including Brian Murray and his 620 coaching victories. I wouldn't think any of those four are HOF bound.

 

 

You may be right...but only because the Hockey Hall of Fame doesn't have a coaches category specifically...only builders.

 

It's always been dominated by owners and general managers.

[dEnnis the Menace]

I wont lie. My perception of Lindy has changed, and it has little to do with recent performance and more of me actually thinking about the alternatives. Originally this season I was saying I'd like him to stay, but wouldn't be real upset to see him go. Now I would be relatively upset.

 

I agree with you man. I was feeling the same way when it looked like we would be the same old same old. Then the turn around, 7th seed, and taking the 3rd best scoring team in the NHL to a game 7 with not 1 but 2 shutouts?!

 

The man's got my vote of confidence for at least another year or two.

[Derrico]

I agree with you man. I was feeling the same way when it looked like we would be the same old same old. Then the turn around, 7th seed, and taking the 3rd best scoring team in the NHL to a game 7 with not 1 but 2 shutouts?!

 

The man's got my vote of confidence for at least another year or two.

 

+1 me too. I'd kick Darcy to the curb way before I would Lindy.

[Foligno's Nose]

NYR gave Torts a 3 yr extension for backing into the playoffs and a 1st round bounce.

I know they had big injuries, just suprising how fast they locked him up.

[X. Benedict]

NYR gave Torts a 3 yr extension for backing into the playoffs and a 1st round bounce.

I know they had big injuries, just suprising how fast they locked him up.

 

And I think he just gave Glen Sather cover for getting rid of Chris Drury today.

(Not that he needed much with the NY fans.)

[Marvelo]

I'm sick of Ruff. I don't care about other teams snapping him up. I want another coach next year...Dineen.

[apuszczalowski]

I'm sick of Ruff. I don't care about other teams snapping him up. I want another coach next year...Dineen.

And you would probably run out to re-sign the great Darcy Regier to an extension

[SwampD]

And you would probably run out to re-sign the great Darcy Regier to an extension

Both are on a pretty short leash.

[nfreeman]

Ah, didn't see that they were announced. Guess we can write this off as "another huge hit to my credibility" /nfreeman

Not a huge one. This one wasn't in the same class as the Hecht hallucination.

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Ruff's now won 5 playoff series in the past 11 years.

 

Philly has won 4 in 1 calander year.

 

HOF???

[PromoTheRobot]

Ruff's now won 5 playoff series in the past 11 years.

 

Philly has won 4 in 1 calander year.

 

HOF???

Nice game you're playing, stopping at 11 years. Why not look at Ruff's entire Sabres tenure? It's only another two years. Oh look, he won 9 series in 13 years. And the Flyers? They won 10 series in the same span. How about that.

 

One more thing: Lindy is 3-2 in playoff series vs the Flyers as Sabres head coach.

 

PTR

[LabattBlue]

Nice game you're playing, stopping at 11 years. Why not look at Ruff's entire Sabres tenure? It's only another two years. Oh look, he won 9 series in 13 years. And the Flyers? They won 10 series in the same span. How about that.

 

One more thing: Lindy is 3-2 in playoff series vs the Flyers as Sabres head coach.

 

PTR

C'mon PTR, when a coach gets fired, it isn't because of what he did behind the bench 10+ years ago, it's his recent track record.

 

Ruff's last 4 years...2 years of missing the playoffs in a league where HALF of the teams get in, and 2 first round losses, but...

 

"He ain't going nowhere"

[SwampD]

Lindy should have pulled Miller in game 2. That's my only coaching complaint for this series.

 

I said it in '06 and I think it still holds true, I believe it is Lindy's system that gets guys injured and is the reason we are undermanned buy the end of the year.

[dEnnis the Menace]

I am hopeful that Lindy changes some of his coaching style for next year (if you look at his track record, he has changed his system numerous times over the last 13yrs).

 

I really don't know if a new coach will be the best thing for us. Who comes in for Lindy if he leaves? Patrick? Dineen? someone outside of the current system?

[LabattBlue]

I am hopeful that Lindy changes some of his coaching style for next year (if you look at his track record, he has changed his system numerous times over the last 13yrs).

Changed his system numerous times over the last 13 years? I'd love to see evidence of this. Do tell?

[apuszczalowski]

it doesn't matter what system the coach has/uses if management doesn't give him quality players to make it work instead of just sticking him with 'Blue Light' special bargin bin pickups and expect him to work his "magic" on

[bills7834]

Lindy should have pulled Miller in game 2. That's my only coaching complaint for this series.

 

I said it in '06 and I think it still holds true, I believe it is Lindy's system that gets guys injured and is the reason we are undermanned buy the end of the year.

I agree that he should have pulled Miller in game 2. I also believe that he failed to have the team even remotely ready for game 7. They came out flat. I do agree that Philly has more talent, but that was one of the most embarrassing games I can remember. They seemed to play with no emotion. They were getting beat in every aspect of the game.

 

I think Lindy is a fine coach, but I think it is time they move on. I believe he has lost this team. There were a couple observations I made during this series.

 

1. Does he really not have anything to say to the team during the one time out per game? Often he just stands there. The timeouts were called at pivotal times for both teams during the game and he doesn't feel the need to coach the players.

 

2. Twice they blew a 3-0 lead. They did come away with the OT win on the Ennis goal. The team changed their style of play with these leads. It was too early for that against a talented Flyer's squad IMO.

 

Having said all that, I don't hate Lindy and I'm not going to rush out and rent a billboard to get him fired. I just think it's time to get a new coach and move forward. This team has a bright future with a new owner that is also a fan. This owner appears to have bought the team to build a winner, not bought them to just make money.

[deluca67]

Nice game you're playing, stopping at 11 years. Why not look at Ruff's entire Sabres tenure? It's only another two years. Oh look, he won 9 series in 13 years. And the Flyers? They won 10 series in the same span. How about that.

 

One more thing: Lindy is 3-2 in playoff series vs the Flyers as Sabres head coach.

 

PTR

One word, HASEK!

[dEnnis the Menace]

Changed his system numerous times over the last 13 years? I'd love to see evidence of this. Do tell?

 

You can't tell me that the mindedness of his system hasn't changed over the last 13yrs, especially the last few years!

 

Coming out of the lock out we were a fast breakout team that blew through the neutral zone. Now that everyone is playing a trap defense, he was forced (albeit) to change his system. We went from run and gun, top scoring team, to Alamo mode!

 

ok, so maybe numerous times is only once or twice that I can think of off the top of my head, but still, it's not ALL doom and gloom like many people make it out to be!

 

All I'm trying to say is that he has somewhat adapted over the years. Better than most other coaches IMO

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

One word, HASEK!

 

The Sabres fired Ted Nolan after winning coach of the year and a playoff series WITHOUT Hasek!

 

Yes....HOF Lindy had Hasek, but once Hasek went to a better team, he got his Cup action.