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

[joshjull]

It's more than "a few guys made a mistake", Lance. Nothing got addressed. At all. Like, there was plenty of time left in the game to address the hit. No one did.....heck, from what I saw no one even ATTEMPTED.

The team is labelled "soft" due to a LONG history of crap like this. There is ZERO fight in this bunch....mentally or physically.

I could be wrong but I think the “few guys” comment is referring to the guys on the ice.

I’ve thought this team was soft for some time. So you’ll get no argument from me on that front.

 

[Chainshot]

This group having zero spine/balls/etc has nothing to do with Lindy and his past teams. They had no chutzpah under Ralphie. Or Dandy Dan. Or Phil.

I have a lengthy screed about Pegula that is more gut than evidence based. The short version is I don't think Pegs likes the physical part of the game - be it the criticism of his early ownership with the Scott and Ott acquisitions or the cornball antics of the Konopka/Nolan team but it turned him off to it. They have actively shed players who played that sort of game, rarely draft players who play that sort of game and until this year haven't made much of a concerted effort to find some. Add in 3 years of not having to pay any sort of physical price as the normal expectation from behind the bench... little has arisen that isn't already there.

 

[Ygo88]

It's more than "a few guys made a mistake", Lance. Nothing got addressed. At all. Like, there was plenty of time left in the game to address the hit. No one did.....heck, from what I saw no one even ATTEMPTED.

The team is labelled "soft" due to a LONG history of crap like this. There is ZERO fight in this bunch....mentally or physically.

This is the response to the Noesen late hit on Zucker after the goal... Quinn skated in and got pushed out of the way lol. Then Zucker gets up and has a few words. I know it is not in everyone's nature, but...

Tage, definitely did not see it (peeling off behind the net)... Quinn, JJP and Ras responded poorly. You just scored a goal, so maybe you take your win on that one.

Zucker | Goal vs. NJD | Buffalo Sabres

Jason Zucker scores a goal against the New Jersey Devils on February 2, 2025 at KeyBank Center.

www.nhl.com

The Tage hit however... That is Sammy and Kulich watching. Byram on the way off the ice and Power on, so might have missed it. Zucker was right there, but does seem to be looking away. How do you not step in and cross check or wrestle or something. And the team missed it... The coach has to help them send a message (like he said after the game, pick someone else). 5 minutes to dump the puck in and go in with the extra skater and deliver punishment with a two goal lead.

 

[jc17]

In the continued defense of zucker, not only did he not see the hit, he then saw 3 guys not doing anything. Which on any other team probably would be a sign that something fluky happened

 

[oldgoalie]

In the continued defense of zucker, not only did he not see the hit, he then saw 3 guys not doing anything. Which on any other team probably would be a sign that something fluky happened

But we aren't any other team; we are the Buffalo Creampuffs. Softer than a roll of Charmin.