BU: Don't you dare

[boots electric]

Getting whipped in Toronto on Thursday, and then losing at home on Saturday to the Isles?

Brad Boyes scores the go-ahead goal for the Isles with a minute to go in the 3rd. As he skates passed the Buffalo bench, he says "Hey Lindy, how's your day?"

 

[Montag DP]

So anyone have an idea why our defense is such crap this year, when in previous years it was at least serviceable? I mean, the obvious answer is crappy coaching, but is there anything else?

 

[Rhett4]

Our broadcast team...Razor is terrible...constantly slurring words together.

At one point he called the Sabres the Bruins. That...was not good. Of course, when he called Kaleta "Patrick Kane" I got momentarily excited.

 

[Beerz]

Yep. Sticks up for that wuss Sulzer, gets fired up, takes a few runs at guys that get the crowd a little enlivened and promptly gets stapled to the bench. That guy. Him.

Do we know if he was benched or was he hurt? ..

I saw him take another slapshot to the body on a PP and didn't look like it felt too good.

 

[BCS]

At one point he called the Sabres the Bruins. That...was not good. Of course, when he called Kaleta "Patrick Kane" I got momentarily excited.

"Very good period."

 

[TheMistyStranger]

At one point he called the Sabres the Bruins. That...was not good. Of course, when he called Kaleta "Patrick Kane" I got momentarily excited.

Highlight of the night right there

 

[Jame]

So anyone have an idea why our defense is such crap this year, when in previous years it was at least serviceable? I mean, the obvious answer is crappy coaching, but is there anything else?

lack of a defensive minded center
lack of defensive talent at forward in general
dumb passive system

 

[Beerz]

Something I put together during the third period.

Finally something funny when it comes to ripping Ruff. Well done.

 

[Rhett4]

So anyone have an idea why our defense is such crap this year, when in previous years it was at least serviceable? I mean, the obvious answer is crappy coaching, but is there anything else?

It's almost inexplicable. Having young centers that can't play defense hasn't helped matters, but the fact that a number of players turned to **** this year (many of whom were fine in previous years) points to a systemic problem. If that's not at least half Ruff, I don't know what it is.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

Finally something funny when it comes to ripping Ruff. Well done.

Thank you.

 

[Endless Ike]

So anyone have an idea why our defense is such crap this year, when in previous years it was at least serviceable? I mean, the obvious answer is crappy coaching, but is there anything else?

Everyone hates playing for Ruff? It sure LOOKS like a team that's just going through the motions...

 

[sabresfan129103]

At one point he called the Sabres the Bruins. That...was not good. Of course, when he called Kaleta "Patrick Kane" I got momentarily excited.

I would love to see Brain Duff in the booth with Rick. The one time he was up there he gave great analysis. This team will never do it though. It makes too much sense to put him up there, so they won't.

 

[Montag DP]

lack of a defensive minded center
lack of defensive talent at forward in general
dumb passive system

But what changed? Was Roy a defensive minded center, or defensively talented in general? Boyes? Am I forgetting someone?

 

[Chainshot]

So anyone have an idea why our defense is such crap this year, when in previous years it was at least serviceable? I mean, the obvious answer is crappy coaching, but is there anything else?

The biggest thing looks like effort. The forwards sell out early, leaving before the d have the puck or a lane to make a pass. They come back late, without much effort, and that leads to uncovered men getting shots in prime scoring areas. Yes, some of the defensemen make poor puck decisions, but we've seen that for years. The difference now is how hard they are going on the attack without being just as hard or harder defending. That lack of effort, to me, looks like a bunch of players who, just like last year, have quit on the coach.

Do we know if he was benched or was he hurt? ..

I saw him take another slapshot to the body on a PP and didn't look like it felt too good.

Could be. One shot hit him square on the chin prior to him getting rapped by Kane's stick in their little melee. But he did have some shifts and was fairly rambunctious on them after. Similarly, Scott took the body with some authority out there. Both stayed stapled to the bench in the third.

 

[Fire Lindy]

Miller said something needs to change..

Only so many players can be demoted, benched, etc

hint hint

 

[Beerz]

lack of a defensive minded center
lack of defensive talent at forward in general
dumb passive system

I would agree with this....as bad as our D-Corp as been....I think our forwards defensive abilities are absolutely atrocious... I tink its the biggest issue.

Time to get the twin midgets out of here....both Ennis and Gerbe....

Ennis package for RoR and Gerbe package for a less skilled bruiser forward who can defend.

Slater comes to mind.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Welp...this is exactly what we wanted. They'll either use this as inspiration, winning more rather than less, and going on a deep playoff run .

Or they'll continue pointing fingers at each other while Ruff remains embarrassed forcing Regier to realize Ruff has completely lost the lockerroom and firing him. We shall see.

 

[Rhett4]

But what changed? Was Roy a defensive minded center, or defensively talented in general? Boyes? Am I forgetting someone?

Roy was sound defensively, and Gaustad winning draws and occasionally pulling shutdown duty against toplines didn't hurt in past years. Having two, young, inexperienced centers is certainly about 10% of the problem...and that one is on Regier. The other 90% can be divvied up among a whole host of other things.

 

[Rhett4]

Miller said something needs to change..

Only so many players can be demoted, benched, etc

hint hint

And Miller gets traded tomorrow for Slava Kozlov.

 

[Jame]

But what changed? Was Roy a defensive minded center, or defensively talented in general? Boyes? Am I forgetting someone?

Gaustad

and roy was not defensively minded... but he could win a faceoff

 

[Montag DP]

The biggest thing looks like effort. The forwards sell out early, leaving before the d have the puck or a lane to make a pass. They come back late, without much effort, and that leads to uncovered men getting shots in prime scoring areas. Yes, some of the defensemen make poor puck decisions, but we've seen that for years. The difference now is how hard they are going on the attack without being just as hard or harder defending. That lack of effort, to me, looks like a bunch of players who, just like last year, have quit on the coach.

That's what it seems like to me too, which is why I asked the question.

If they change the coach and the team still sucks for a couple years but plays hard, I'd greatly prefer that to what we have now. And actually, the lack of effort has been a problem pretty consistently since '06/'07, despite vast changes in players. That, to me, points to a coaching problem.

 

[Chainshot]

Gaustad

and roy was not defensively minded... but he could win a faceoff

Look at Paul's non-offensive zone starts to offensive zone finishes for the Preds this year. It's most impressive.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Yep. Sticks up for that wuss Sulzer, gets fired up, takes a few runs at guys that get the crowd a little enlivened and promptly gets stapled to the bench. That guy. Him.

Does anyone know why he was benched? It just seems so strange.

 

[Chainshot]

That's what it seems like to me too, which is why I asked the question.

If they change the coach and the team still sucks for a couple years but plays hard, I'd greatly prefer that to what we have now. And actually, the lack of effort has been a problem pretty consistently since '06/'07, despite vast changes in players. That, to me, points to a coaching problem.

The easiest way to get some extra churn out of the same old legs is with a new voice behind the bench. Most of these guys have a two or three year shelf-life. They don't need a monarch, they need a coach who can inspire some of these guys again.

 

[jBuds]

Does anyone know why he was benched? It just seems so strange.

Because he's a liability In a one goal game. Other comaints