GDT: #18 – Sabres at Leafs – Thu Feb 21 – 7:00PM ET – TV: MSG-B – Radio: WGR-AM

[Moskau]

You can't honestly be that thick.

Look at post history.

 

[Royisgone]

Just because people say something on the interwebz doesn't make it true...Alot of people here like to spew what they THINK is going on with this team, but the reality is that the only people who really know are within that organization. Here it's just a bunch of agenda pusing and hyperbole.

You do realize this is an internet chat forum where the entire idea is for people to exchange personal opinions formulated from an outsider's perspective, right?

Are you coming here to learn The Truth as handed down by some omniscient being?

Are you suggesting exchanging subjective opinion is a silly waste of time?

Why are you here?

 

[1point21Gigawatts]

Maybe Im just overreacting because I think the wrong guy got fired yesterday. Darcy Regier should have been the 1st one out the door. If Ruff followed then so be it.

I dont think a team that is mentally weak is the type of team that will get a boost from a coach firing. The fact they are sad and shocked that Ruff was fired tells me they will fold. Thats what I am used to with this group of players. You guys honestly believe that all they needed was a coach being fired to become a good hockey team?

In a word: Yes.


The players aren't robots. They aren't going to shrug and say, "oh well, **** happens. Moving on." They are going to be affected and they are going to be sad and that is NOT a sign of mental weakness.

Furthermore, Ruff needed to be fired. It's sad, but it's a fact. I don't recall anyone suggesting that a coaching change will fix everything, but it's the right step. We'll see how long it takes for Darcy to go.

 

[HockeyH3aven]

We have a Lindy Ruff firing thread for this stuff....

 

[vcv]

We have a Lindy Ruff firing thread for this stuff....

Hey, that's my job.

Seriously, please take this stuff to other threads or I will move if for you.

 

[moltenlava26]

First, i believe firing Ruff was the first logical step but hopefully the players and Darcy now know that they could be next. Ruff has taken the brunt of the fan ire but now he is gone. We can't blame him any more. So who becomes the next face of failure becomes the question. This should have set in with the players last night, so lets see how they respond.

 

[studebaker1*]

What did anyone expect the to say?

"The guy was an *******, screw him, goodbye."???

Yeah, that's ridiculous. I have been adamantly calling for his firing since last season and it still bothered me all night. It's a sad situation, the guy was completely loyal to the organization but it wasn't working and he ended up getting the gate. I think any true, long-term, fan of the Buffalo Sabres feels some sympathy for the guy.

 

[MacOfNiagara]

First, i believe firing Ruff was the first logical step but hopefully the players and Darcy now know that they could be next. Ruff has taken the brunt of the fan ire but now he is gone. We can't blame him any more. So who becomes the next face of failure becomes the question. This should have set in with the players last night, so lets see how they respond.

Seems pretty clear already it will be Darcy; been getting ripped all day and has already inspired numerous 'they fired the wrong guy' rants. IMO the players will continue to escape any real accountability for their own faults and failures.

 

[Paxon]

Wish this game were starting now. Really excited. I have no illusions (or should I say delusions) about this team turning it around and making the playoffs, but it's exciting nonetheless. Fresh start. It'll be interesting to see who steps up their play, though it won't necessarily be because of the coaching change. I don't see the team rising like a phoenix from Ruff's ashes but absolutely expect that some players individually will awaken under different coaching.

I say Myers continues his reasonably strong, confident play of late and is in on several opportunities. Hopefully FES shows something as well.

As he obviously isn't in a position to make line-up changes until he better understands the team, I'm curious about little decisions he will make, likely under the advisement of the bench coaches. Who does he send out for key draws? When FES is out there, will he be having Ennis take all of the draws or have Foligno/Stafford take some as -- or more than -- usual. I'd assume the PK units will be the same but which will have his highest trust out of the gate? Will he be giving instructions to the players to get to basics in certain areas (e.g. tell the PP guys SHOOT, SHOOT, then SHOOT AGAIN)? Instruct them to dump it on zone entries more than usual or carry it in more than usual? Observations on how he will handle these things start tonight and positive performances will get the inside track on gaining his trust as he begins more actively making decisions in the coming games.

 

[Ted Black]

I thought Myers played great overall in the last game. At least he looked a lot more confident to me. He took quite a few shots too, didn't seem as hesitant, etc.

 

[Paxon]

Sharing this comment from a TSN article on tonight's match-up

jfj4evr
3 mins ago
A real tough task for Buffalo tonight. New coach, + playing against the 1967 defending cup champion in their own building. Should be a battle. I'm a Sabre fan tonight as well.

 

[SabresFan26]

I thought Myers played great overall in the last game. At least he looked a lot more confident to me. He took quite a few shots too, didn't seem as hesitant, etc.

Definitely one of his better games this season although that is not saying much

 

[Royisgone]

Listening to Vanek talk about Ruff's firing on GR-55 now.

I don't expect anyone to make negative comments or throw Lindy under the bus, but man, these guys don't sound like they hated Ruff or that he lost the team. They are mostly blaming themselves.

It's curious.

 

[couture23]

Listening to Vanek talk about Ruff's firing on GR-55 now.

I don't expect anyone to make negative comments or throw Lindy under the bus, but man, these guys don't sound like they hated Ruff or that he lost the team. They are mostly blaming themselves.

It's curious.

Do you think they hated Ruff? I would never think that, even for a second.

I feel like this game might bring out some of the best games these players have played this season though.

3-2 Sabres.

 

[Royisgone]

Do you think they hated Ruff? I would never think that, even for a second.

I feel like this game might bring out some of the best games these players have played this season though.

3-2 Sabres.

Yes, I thought a bunch of them hated Ruff, with Thomas Vanek being on the top of that list.

 

[thekenneth]

I actually didn't hate ref, but he made dumb lines that were last attempt and the team clearly wasn't listening. ruff will get a new job soon likely.

 

[Woodhouse]

Note: OP Additions

Lineups adjusted to warm-up rushes:

26 Thomas Vanek ("A") - 19 Cody Hodgson - 29 Jason Pominville ("C")
82 Marcus Foligno - 63 Tyler Ennis - 21 Drew Stafford ("A")
9 Steve Ott - 12 Kevin Porter - 42 Nathan Gerbe
32 John Scott - 55 Jochen Hecht - 36 Patrick Kaleta

24 Robyn Regehr - 57 Tyler Myers
10 Christian Ehrhoff - 52 Alexander Sulzer
33 TJ Brennan - 6 Mike Weber

30 Ryan Miller
1 Jhonas Enroth

21 James van Riemsdyk - 42 Tyler Bozak - 81 Phil Kessel
41 Nikolai Kulemin - 84 Mikhail Grabovski - 11 Jay McClement ("A")
16 Clarke MacArthur ("A") - 43 Nazem Kadri - 47 Leo Komarov
38 Frazer McLaren - 20 David Steckel - 18 Mike Brown

3 Dion Phaneuf ("C") - 55 Korbinian Holzer
36 Carl Gunnarsson - 53 Mike Kostka
45 Mark Fraser - 4 Cody Franson

30 Ben Scrivens
40 Jussi Rynnas

 

[TehDoak]

My prediction for this game, via a short video:

 

[sba]

Nice spot for Porter to slide into.

 

[ZZamboni]

Nice spot for Porter to slide into.

Yea, we'll see if he can make some noise. I have zero expectations for Porter tonight. (Besides not hurting his line or the team).

So anything good is a bonus.

 

[Daz28]

Looks like Jochen to 4th line. Rolston is trying to win my heart already.

lol

 

[Daz28]

Yea, we'll see if he can make some noise. I have zero expectations for Porter tonight. (Besides not hurting his line or the team).

So anything good is a bonus.

I don't expect much either, but you have to admit he's got a much better chance of making noise here next year than Hecht does??

Hradek just picked the Sabres.


...then he picked the Panthers over Philly. lol

 

[jamers]

So excited for this game. That's about all I can say. I don't even know what my expectations are.

 

[dire wolf]

My prediction for this game, via a short video:

I'll give you an LOL for that one

 

[ZZamboni]

I don't expect much either, but you have to admit he's got a much better chance of making noise here next year than Hecht does??

Well since Hecht won't be signed here next year... Yea, Porter may have a better chance