Is Ruff going to let Sabres return to "Harlem Globetrotter" version under Granato?

[Big Guava]

The last 6 games, Sabres are averaging 5 goals per and have looked a lot like the team that almost made the playoffs under Granato where they were just making teams look silly on defense often times...

Wondering if this has been a concerted effort from Ruff to get them playing like that again?

 

[Sabres Fan in NS]

Ruff does not coach that way.  Never has.  So, I don't think so.  I think it's just happening.  Perhaps the other teams are taking the Sabres too lightly in recent games?

 

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, Big Guava said:

The last 6 games, Sabres are averaging 5 goals per and have looked a lot like the team that almost made the playoffs under Granato where they were just making teams look silly on defense often times...

Wondering if this has been a concerted effort from Ruff to get them playing like that again?

 

 

No. Sabres are still focused on defending in their end. You did actually watch the game, right? Shesterkin was a sieve.

Edited Monday at 03:20 AM by PromoTheRobot

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Sabres Fan in NS said:

Ruff does not coach that way.  Never has.  So, I don't think so.  I think it's just happening.  Perhaps the other teams are taking the Sabres too lightly in recent games?

 

The Sabres are losing because of the way they play and correspondingly winning because of the way they play. I'm critical just like everyone else when defensively they don't cover well and lose. But on the other hand, when they play consistently hard and responsibly and win, then they should be given credit. In general, their play has recently improved. I'm not making excuses because your record is your record and can't run away from it. However, if you take away that ugly 13 non-winning interlude, this team would be ranked where many of us expected them to be. 

[PerreaultForever]

This team does this every year. Don't be fooled. 

[JoeSchmoe]

2 hours ago, Sabres Fan in NS said:

Ruff does not coach that way.  Never has.  So, I don't think so.  I think it's just happening.  Perhaps the other teams are taking the Sabres too lightly in recent games?

 

He coached that way in 05 to 07. His mantra was you coach to the strength of team you're given. At the time he knew he could outskate and outscore the opposition across all 4 lines so he turned them loose. This was a noted departure from the late 90s defense first teams.

[dudacek]

I dont think you guys are paying enough attention.

Since the end of 13 games that crushed their season, the Sabres have been the highest-powered offence in the league.

Over the last 2 months - 21 games - they lead the league with 3.86 goals per game. Only 8 teams are averaging even 3.10. Caps are 2nd at 3.6 and the Jets 3rd at 3.5.

Over that same span they are 24th in goals against

 

https://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?reportType=game&dateFrom=2024-12-22&dateTo=2025-02-23&gameType=2&sort=goalsForPerGame&page=0&pageSize=50

[dudacek]

And before anyone jumps on me, I’m not drawing any conclusions other than the Sabres are indeed playing firewagon hockey and for a longer period and a higher degree than the OP suggests

[GASabresIUFAN]

...and they are still at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and 4th worst team in the NHL.  At least it's more entertaining.  

 

[Weave]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

This team does this every year. Don't be fooled. 

Wins in garbage time.

[Big Guava]

7 hours ago, dudacek said:

I dont think you guys are paying enough attention.

Since the end of 13 games that crushed their season, the Sabres have been the highest-powered offence in the league.

Over the last 2 months - 21 games - they lead the league with 3.86 goals per game. Only 8 teams are averaging even 3.10. Caps are 2nd at 3.6 and the Jets 3rd at 3.5.

Over that same span they are 24th in goals against

 

https://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?reportType=game&dateFrom=2024-12-22&dateTo=2025-02-23&gameType=2&sort=goalsForPerGame&page=0&pageSize=50

This is why I kinda asked this question... noticable increase in scoring while their defense and goaltending has been very questionable at times 

[Archie Lee]

2 hours ago, Weave said:

Wins in garbage time.

I think we have seen enough evidence over the years that confirms momentum does not carry-over from year to year. Momentum doesn’t always carry-over, in-season, from game to game, so of course it won’t move with a team across an off-season.

Where I disagree slightly on these being meaningless garbage time wins, is I do think there is a point in a team’s development where they do learn how to win. And, I think it is the case that such learning can happen in the 2nd half of a “lost” season. I think the 03-04 to 05-06 Sabres are some evidence of that.

What I don’t trust is that Adams will get us a Grier at the deadline and a Numminen and Lydman in the off-season. Adams’s history is to rely largely on internal development to bridge the cap. His philosophy has rendered two disappointing seasons in a row, this one being disastrous. 

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, Weave said:

Wins in garbage time.

More like blown leads. Again, do people watch the games?

54 minutes ago, Big Guava said:

This is why I kinda asked this question... noticable increase in scoring while their defense and goaltending has been very questionable at times 

Play in our defensive end has killed us. It's better lately but it's how we've blown so many leads.

[CallawaySabres]

I love the “other than the 13 game losing streak” comments that keep coming up. 
 

That streak happened and this team is still dead last in the entire conference. It will happen next year too, and people will still be fooled 😆

[mjd1001]

1 hour ago, CallawaySabres said:

I love the “other than the 13 game losing streak” comments that keep coming up. 
 

That streak happened and this team is still dead last in the entire conference. It will happen next year too, and people will still be fooled 😆

There is a middle ground, which I admit many fans don't take.  Instead of saying "if that losing streak didn't happen"   or saying "It did happen and it will happen again" how about....."how do we make the team better/good enough so it doesn't happen again in the future"?

[Stoner]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

There is a middle ground, which I admit many fans don't take.  Instead of saying "if that losing streak didn't happen"   or saying "It did happen and it will happen again" how about....."how do we make the team better/good enough so it doesn't happen again in the future"?

How do we do that? The fans? I'm sure you're just throwing the fans in with the real people who are in charge, but it's still odd to put it that way.

[JP51]

2 hours ago, CallawaySabres said:

I love the “other than the 13 game losing streak” comments that keep coming up. 
 

That streak happened and this team is still dead last in the entire conference. It will happen next year too, and people will still be fooled 😆

LOL... "other than that Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play".... 

[mjd1001]

52 minutes ago, Stoner said:

How do we do that? The fans? I'm sure you're just throwing the fans in with the real people who are in charge, but it's still odd to put it that way.

I'm not talking about the fans doing something. I'm talking bout the tone of the discussion. A lot of people will post things and say "We should trade for this player" or "We need to get tougher". I'm using "We" in the same way. I try to stay truthful, but everything I post is not 100% literal that way.

[Slack_in_MA]

2 hours ago, mjd1001 said:

There is a middle ground, which I admit many fans don't take.  Instead of saying "if that losing streak didn't happen"   or saying "It did happen and it will happen again" how about....."how do we make the team better/good enough so it doesn't happen again in the future"?

https://www.hockey-psychology.com/how-to-be-positive-during-a-losing-streak/

For consideration. So important to draft players with a tough mental makeup, and have coaches and on-ice leaders who lead by example and with confidence when faced with adversity.

[bob_sauve28]

12 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

This team does this every year. Don't be fooled. 

Best February and March team in history! 🙃

[CallawaySabres]

Hopefully the winning continues and any player that has been mentioned in trade deadline discussions is sold at a higher return. That is about as positive as I can get about this team, this year. 

[Stoner]

1 hour ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm not talking about the fans doing something. I'm talking bout the tone of the discussion. A lot of people will post things and say "We should trade for this player" or "We need to get tougher". I'm using "We" in the same way. I try to stay truthful, but everything I post is not 100% literal that way.

I may be crazy @Sabres Fan in NS, but I think there are fans who work really hard at feeling like they are fixing the Sabres. That they are actually doing something when the real GM isn't. That rabbit hole is another thing the drought has sown, @dudacek.

[mjd1001]

1 hour ago, CallawaySabres said:

Hopefully the winning continues and any player that has been mentioned in trade deadline discussions is sold at a higher return. That is about as positive as I can get about this team, this year. 

Zucker, Greenway, McLeod, Quinn, Peterka, Byrum, Jokiharju, and Reimer just some among guys who are on the last year of their deal.  Of course the unrestricted guys are a bit more likely to be dealt.  But, between the Trade deadline and the offseason, some pretty big decisions to be made.

[matter2003]

7 hours ago, CallawaySabres said:

I love the “other than the 13 game losing streak” comments that keep coming up. 
 

That streak happened and this team is still dead last in the entire conference. It will happen next year too, and people will still be fooled 😆

If anyone ever questions who this team's MVP is and doesn't say Dahlin, they should be slapped. 

[That Aud Smell]

51 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

If anyone ever questions who this team's MVP is and doesn't say Dahlin, they should be slapped.