Confirmed with Link: Lindy Ruff named Head Coach, Press Conference at 1:00 PM EDT

[Deep Blue Metallic]

I find the numbers interesting because whether I lump the numbers together or separate Granato's seasons individually, there is a clear decline in the team's numbers across the board.

As for why that might have happened, I was here for the last two seasons, so I know about the circumstances around them. But you didn't mention any reasons that the numbers should be going up, improvements that should come naturally with young players getting older, more experience, and playing together longer:

• Understanding the requirements of the NHL schedule and travel demands
• Better strength and endurance
• Improved board play and ability to physically compete in battles
• Improved understanding systematic concepts (this is not just defensive positioning, it applied to neutral zone concepts, forechecking concepts, special teams and empty net scenarios, etc)
• Improved play speed due to instincts taking over and not having to think as much
• Better chemistry with teammates
• Better stability in personal life (lots of these guys have settled down and started families)

For me these points far outnumber any reasons for their decline. And I don't buy the pressure, arguments, most of us have played the sport, we feel pressure whether there are expectations or not. A one goal game feels the same whether the playoffs are in reach or not. This has been Paul Hamilton's level of analysis for the past 20 years, dating back to the last time Ruff was here. Preparing the players for high pressure game situations falls on the coach. It's not the same, but I'm reminded of another similar narrative about Ovie; "that guy isn't a winner, he's never going to win it all", then Trotz came in and they won.

We have dealt with the players vs coach pendulum for the past decade+, and I'm done putting the blame on the players. Honestly, it's the way everyone else in the league operates, no one trades away their core players, they ax the coach and find someone else that get the most out of them. Ruff is an average coach (at best) with below average assistants. The stats show that he is NOT getting the most out of this group. His former team is flourishing without him, and none of our previous coaches has done anything since leaving here. Meanwhile, almost all of our former players are having positive impacts around the league; Eichel, Reinhart, ROR, Montour. Hell, even Risto and McCabe look good:

View attachment 960676

I can't wait until we trade away Samuelsson and his impacts start looking like this somewhere else

Bottom line, I've long been a supporter of refining the roster construction, I desperately wanted the Ekholm trade that the Oilers pulled off. I was a big advocate of trading for Meier when he became available. But this stupid nostalgic hire of Ruff is not going to move my opinion on these young promising players, players that we've seen perform in the past.

Great post, Fezz.

1. Improve the roster with 2-3 capable vet leaders in key positions.
2. Get a coach who can extract maximum value from that improved roster.

That's it. Playoffs guaranteed. *

* - might not be possible with current GM

 

[joshjull]

I find the numbers interesting because whether I lump the numbers together or separate Granato's seasons individually, there is a clear decline in the team's numbers across the board.

As for why that might have happened, I was here for the last two seasons, so I know about the circumstances around them. But you didn't mention any reasons that the numbers should be going up, improvements that should come naturally with young players getting older, more experience, and playing together longer:

• Understanding the requirements of the NHL schedule and travel demands
• Better strength and endurance
• Improved board play and ability to physically compete in battles
• Improved understanding systematic concepts (this is not just defensive positioning, it applied to neutral zone concepts, forechecking concepts, special teams and empty net scenarios, etc)
• Improved play speed due to instincts taking over and not having to think as much
• Better chemistry with teammates
• Better stability in personal life (lots of these guys have settled down and started families)

For me these points far outnumber any reasons for their decline.

I’m kind of amazed that we’re two posts in and you still have no idea why they’re struggling. But you’re damn sure it’s Lindy Ruff’s fault.

The issue is fairly obvious. This is the first season they’ve been put in a structured system where there’s accountability. Thats a bit of an oversimplification, but that’s the general basics of it. It’s pretty normal to have players, especially young ones, struggle to adapt when they get this type of change. So I don’t really blame the players for struggling. I do blame the GM for a poorly built a roster. One with too many players needing to make this adjustment at the same time. Unfortunately many of them are our top players.

You claim to remember but I assert you’ve forgotten what went on under Granato. Their development/rebuild approach was to hand spots to a lot of young players and make sure no one blocked their path. They were going to develop confidence by playing an offensive game and telling them not to worry about making mistakes. It’s an environment of minimal accountability and unearned opportunities. I don’t say that as a criticism because I supported that approach. But I knew at some point they’d have to change and it would be a difficult transition.

The struggles we’re seeing this season should’ve happened last year. It started out that way but Granato gave up about six weeks into the season. He switched back to the old approach of the previous seasons. Once that happened, he should’ve been fired and another coach brought in. A new coach should have been brought in to double down and reinforce that the season was about learning the proper way to play and being held accountable when you didn’t. They could’ve ended the season with 50% maybe even 75% of the roster where they needed to be to take the next step. Instead we wasted the rest of that season and reinforced bad habits. So when Ruff took over, he started at 0 just like Granato did the year before.

The Granato numbers are meaningless. There isn’t one full season where he tried to do what Ruff is trying. He started to last year but gave up 6 weeks in. If there was a full season, then you’d actually have something to compare with Ruff this year. I seriously hope you’re not suggesting we go back to how Granato coached during the development years. An approach that will never lead to sustainable success at this level.

And I don't buy the pressure, arguments, most of us have played the sport, we feel pressure whether there are expectations or not. A one goal game feels the same whether the playoffs are in reach or not. This has been Paul Hamilton's level of analysis for the past 20 years, dating back to the last time Ruff was here. Preparing the players for high pressure game situations falls on the coach. It's not the same, but I'm reminded of another similar narrative about Ovie; "that guy isn't a winner, he's never going to win it all", then Trotz came in and they won.

Pressure to be something or deal with something for the first time is a real thing. We can certainly debate how much of an impact it’s having. But it’s pretty silly to pretend it’s not a thing.

The core group at the top of the lineup is struggling with their roles/responsibilities. There can be many factors contributing to that, one being the pressure to be what they’re being asked to be. Maybe they’re not capable of it, who knows.

The Ovie parallel doesn’t really work. That was one player being blamed for an entire team’s lack of success.

We have dealt with the players vs coach pendulum for the past decade+, and I'm done putting the blame on the players. Honestly, it's the way everyone else in the league operates, no one trades away their core players, they ax the coach and find someone else that get the most out of them. Ruff is an average coach (at best) with below average assistants. The stats show that he is NOT getting the most out of this group. His former team is flourishing without him, and none of our previous coaches has done anything since leaving here. Meanwhile, almost all of our former players are having positive impacts around the league; Eichel, Reinhart, ROR, Montour. Hell, even Risto and McCabe look good:

I can't wait until we trade away Samuelsson and his impacts start looking like this somewhere else

I don’t know where this is coming from because I’m not blaming the players or the coach. I’m blaming the GM for assembling a poorly constructed roster. But you seem hell bent on making it all about Ruff and grinding that ax really hard.

Bottom line, I've long been a supporter of refining the roster construction, I desperately wanted the Ekholm trade that the Oilers pulled off. I was a big advocate of trading for Meier when he became available.

No disagreement here.

But this stupid nostalgic hire of Ruff is not going to move my opinion on these young promising players, players that we've seen perform in the past.

When did I advocate giving up on anyone?

I don’t know if Ruff’s the answer but Boy do you have a hard on for him.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Appert with some "interesting" comments yesterday.
Defensive system ? Sounds like the same shit they tried to make Donnie implement

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/sabres/listen-appert-sabres-looking-to-refine-defensive-mindset

 

[TageGod]

Appert with some "interesting" comments yesterday.
Defensive system ? Sounds like the same shit they tried to make Donnie implement

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/sabres/listen-appert-sabres-looking-to-refine-defensive-mindset

Sugar coating that they are teaching the team to play defense on the fly in a lost season. So maybe they wont suck at it next year.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Seeing were making the Lindy thread the general coaching thread

 

[ValJamesDuex]

per Sneaky Joe on wgr: (I think I heard this correct below ?....)
The Sabres have gone from 11th most chances generated last season to 27th this season
They have gone from 13th most chances given up to 11th this season

 

[Fjordy]

per Sneaky Joe on wgr: (I think I heard this correct below ?....)
The Sabres have gone from 11th most chances generated last season to 27th this season
They have gone from 13th most chances given up to 11th this season

I recently read that all of Ruff's teams in recent years have had problems scoring goals or creating chances, something like that, I can't remember exactly.

 

[Archie Lee]

I find the numbers interesting because whether I lump the numbers together or separate Granato's seasons individually, there is a clear decline in the team's numbers across the board.

As for why that might have happened, I was here for the last two seasons, so I know about the circumstances around them. But you didn't mention any reasons that the numbers should be going up, improvements that should come naturally with young players getting older, more experience, and playing together longer:

• Understanding the requirements of the NHL schedule and travel demands
• Better strength and endurance
• Improved board play and ability to physically compete in battles
• Improved understanding systematic concepts (this is not just defensive positioning, it applied to neutral zone concepts, forechecking concepts, special teams and empty net scenarios, etc)
• Improved play speed due to instincts taking over and not having to think as much
• Better chemistry with teammates
• Better stability in personal life (lots of these guys have settled down and started families)

For me these points far outnumber any reasons for their decline. And I don't buy the pressure, arguments, most of us have played the sport, we feel pressure whether there are expectations or not. A one goal game feels the same whether the playoffs are in reach or not. This has been Paul Hamilton's level of analysis for the past 20 years, dating back to the last time Ruff was here. Preparing the players for high pressure game situations falls on the coach. It's not the same, but I'm reminded of another similar narrative about Ovie; "that guy isn't a winner, he's never going to win it all", then Trotz came in and they won.

We have dealt with the players vs coach pendulum for the past decade+, and I'm done putting the blame on the players. Honestly, it's the way everyone else in the league operates, no one trades away their core players, they ax the coach and find someone else that get the most out of them. Ruff is an average coach (at best) with below average assistants. The stats show that he is NOT getting the most out of this group. His former team is flourishing without him, and none of our previous coaches has done anything since leaving here. Meanwhile, almost all of our former players are having positive impacts around the league; Eichel, Reinhart, ROR, Montour. Hell, even Risto and McCabe look good:

View attachment 960676

I can't wait until we trade away Samuelsson and his impacts start looking like this somewhere else

Bottom line, I've long been a supporter of refining the roster construction, I desperately wanted the Ekholm trade that the Oilers pulled off. I was a big advocate of trading for Meier when he became available. But this stupid nostalgic hire of Ruff is not going to move my opinion on these young promising players, players that we've seen perform in the past.

Awesome post! Better than anything you would pay to read on the Sabres and hockey in general.

 

[Fjordy]

Perhaps Ruff really isn't a good fit for this team. Or the roster needs to be changed drastically, which Adams won't do.

 

[slip]

Pegula went down the hallway to hire Adams.

Adams went down the street to hire Ruff.

At least this organization is expanding its search radius when it comes to hiring. Progress?

 

[sabremike]

Again: If you fire a head coach and keep virtually his entire staff you essentially didn't replace the coach.