Post-Game Talk (GBU): Sigh.

[joshjull]

Boy are you in for a rough next half decade

the ugly


its already started

 

[joshjull]

As far as the lines are concerned, they need to break up FES first and foremost.

If lines are changed enough that others get rolling it will take the heat off them. Maybe they will relax at that point and start producing.


A big reason for our late offensive surge last year was breaking up Vanek/Pommer. With them on separate lines and also having FES we had 3 legit scoring lines. I'm somewhat surprised Lindy didn't start off that way this year, particularly with Grigs here.

 

[thefifagod]

I've been trying to think of how to switch the lines besides V-H-P. Maybe Ott-Grigs-Stafford and Foligno-Ennis-Gerbe?

On the Grigs front, as we talked about in the chat, there was no reason for him to be stapled to the bench. I understand wanting that matchup against Staal but that doesn't mean he shouldn't play a shift the second half of the game especially when he didn't make any glaring gaffes. I think it's actually reason to believe he is staying up because that's not indicative of a tryout. I'm hoping he'll get 15 minutes or so on Sunday but perhaps that's wishful thinking.

 

[Royisgone]

I'm not a fan of doing it either but something needs to be done. Beyond those two there really isn't enough proven NHL talent to form the nucleus of a scoring line.

You can re-arrange the deck chairs all you want. The Titanic is still gonna sink.

 

[sba]

Its pretty daft and not a reason to fire Ruff.

I'll take a properly developed franchise #1 center over the Andy Reid of the NHL any day.

 

[Royisgone]

I'll take a properly developed franchise #1 center over the Andy Reid of the NHL any day.

Oh come on now, you're being unkind to Andy Reid.

 

[joshjull]

I'll take a properly developed franchise #1 center over the Andy Reid of the NHL any day.

Since you obviously know how that can be done.

Enlighten us as to what should have been done with Grigs the last 4 games.

 

[sba]

Since you obviously know how that can be done.

Enlighten us as to what should have been done with Grigs the last 4 games.

He's doing everything asked of him...skating him with John Scott is a complete and total waste. I'm ok with most of it so far, but this is what a bunch of people said was going to happen...Hecht would jump over him as soon as Lindy could possibly justify it. Will it get better??? Maybe, maybe it will. But with Ruff's history, I wouldn't count on it. He's going to get the 05-06 Vanek treatment if he's lucky.

 

[joshjull]

He's doing everything asked of him...skating him with John Scott is a complete and total waste. I'm ok with most of it so far, but this is what a bunch of people said was going to happen...Hecht would jump over him as soon as Lindy could possibly justify it. Will it get better??? Maybe, maybe it will. But with Ruff's history, I wouldn't count on it. He's going to get the 05-06 Vanek treatment if he's lucky.

Take a deep breath


Hecht was not elevated over him, Kaleta was. Hecht then moved to center on a defensive line. Are you now going to suggest Grigs should be centering a defensive line?

 

[joshjull]

I know you hate it sba but tonight was about protecting Grigs and nothing more.


http://wgr550.com/pages/15372180.php?contentType=4&contentId=12270387

The head coach explained why the rookie's minutes just weren't there down the stretch.

"[Vanek] was missing for a little while we dropped to three lines. I just felt once he hadn't played for a long period of time it wasn't really fair to stick him in the fire," Ruff said. "Called him once in the third and recalled because I don't think it's fair to put him in that spot."

 

[zenthusiast]

Since you obviously know how that can be done.

Enlighten us as to what should have been done with Grigs the last 4 games.

Pardy-Grigorenko-Pratt

 

[zenthusiast]

Anyway, if Ruff was to bench a center it should have been Ennis.

 

[joshjull]

Pardy-Grigorenko-Pratt

Now that is a scoring line

 

[thefifagod]

0-2 without the viking warrior Matt Ellis.

 

[Paxon]

0-2 without the viking warrior Matt Ellis.

IIRC it is pretty funny to look at our record with/without him over the past couple years (not sure if it still holds up or not)

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

Gonna be an ugly year. We're missing something. Centers. Defense. And apparently Viking warrior Matt Ellis.

 

[Ted Black]

I have scored a goal on Dan Ellis. Me. 3 year beer leaguer.

 

[1TuchAnd1NoTuch]

No joke we shouldve played matt ellis, john scott was useless these last two games

 

[Ted Black]

No joke we shouldve played matt ellis, john scott was useless these last two games

This. I thought this guy was only going to play certain games, you know, against teams like Boston, Philly, etc. He's terrible at hockey. Let him sit against teams like Carolina.


This team needs a fire under its butt.

I'm back on the fire Lindy train. I love the guy, but how many years now? This team needs a new vibe and other than transplanting 90% of the roster, the only way you can do it is to get rid of Ruff.

Any good coaches available??

 

[Corto]

Random facts that people might not like now when its popular to simply dump on these guys:

- our secondary scoring talent is VERY limited, fact. Mght be bottom-5 in the NHL, along with the likes of Washington.
- Foligno might develop into a quality 3rd liner, but not a top-6 scoring forward
- Tyler Ennis might just not have enough hockey sense to make up for his lack of size to develop into a top-6 forward on a good team
- Stafford is a freaking enigma and can not be relied upon to be a top-6 scoring threat all year round
- whether you want to dump on Ruff or not, Grigorenko DOESN'T LOOK READY FOR THE NHL
- having Peters/Scott in the lineup is basically throwing away shifts when they're on the ice... Screw enforcing, make them stand up for themselves, the rest of them
- outside of Myers, I can't say anyone on the D had a bad game
- Kaleta and Ott are glorified pests and should be playing 4th line and PK - on a contending team, not 3rd line and PP time like here
- this team was never going to win anything, NOW. The bar should be set 3-4 years from now, with hopefully the prospects developing properly - Grigs, Girgs, Armia, Pysyk, maybe McNabb, McCabe.... And hopefully Myers. Speaking of which:
- Tyler Myers just might not be the second coming of Pronger/Chara. I don't see "elite" in his play, haven't seen it for 3 years now, just a good top-4 defenseman in a big body.... but not much more. UNLESS he starts to improve again (he basically backtracked after his rookie year).

...

The ONLY thing I'm disappointed in, is that this team is BORING mediocre instead of fack-it! exciting, maybe-run-and-gun mediocre.

God I miss the 05-07 teams. Not only because of how good they were, but because they were exciting and I had the feeling the arena would explode every single home game, it was so loud and electric.

Today? Arena sounds dead. From minute 1 of period one.

 

[Timbo Slice]

Bad/ugly:
- Myers
- FES
- Stafford. Good God.
- Foligno's "mean streak"
- Lindy Ruff
- Any sort of team defense/coverage
- Faceoffs
- THIS TEAM

GOOD:
- Mike Robitaille calling out the effort of Myers, and the team as a whole. THANK YOU MIKE.

 

[jamers]

The sad truth is Carolina has more talent than buffalo, certainly at forward.

This is the crux of the issue. Carolina is looking like a good team. So far they've produced a ton of shots on goal.

On the flip side, we have one line that's producing, and our defense has not been great in these last two games, largely thanks thanks to Myers at the moment.

As far as Grigorenko is concerned, he was certainly not ready for the defensive responsibility against any of Carolina's scoring lines, that's for sure. He's got talent, but he's still very raw. Giving him more playing time will help of course, but it wasn't like the game was a blow out -- it was a tie/1 goal game for most of it. I know we're not cup contenders, but I want to see Ruff and the team play for the win, not to season an 18 year old rookie in situations where he is clearly over his head.

I honestly don't put this loss on Ruff. At least, not in the context of immediacy.

A big reason for our late offensive surge last year was breaking up Vanek/Pommer. With them on separate lines and also having FES we had 3 legit scoring lines. I'm somewhat surprised Lindy didn't start off that way this year, particularly with Grigs here.

I'm guessing because he wanted some early chemistry, which they clearly have. As much as it pains me to possibly miss out on brilliant Vanek/Pommer moments, it might well be best for the team to spread the wealth to different lines. If FES would just contribute a little bit it would help. With Miller playing the way he has been we honestly don't need to roll three good scoring lines a night... two that contribute would probably be enough to win games.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

I know you hate it sba but tonight was about protecting Grigs and nothing more.


http://wgr550.com/pages/15372180.php?contentType=4&contentId=12270387

Lol.Lindy Ruff is the Chan Gailey of the NHL...sounds like a stupid excuse that Chan used when he would explain why CJ Spiller got 9 carries a game.No reason whatsoever that Grigs didn't play the last half of the game.Ruff is terrible.

 

[ZZamboni]

Random facts that people might not like now when its popular to simply dump on these guys:

- our secondary scoring talent is VERY limited, fact. Mght be bottom-5 in the NHL, along with the likes of Washington.
- Foligno might develop into a quality 3rd liner, but not a top-6 scoring forward
- Tyler Ennis might just not have enough hockey sense to make up for his lack of size to develop into a top-6 forward on a good team
- Stafford is a freaking enigma and can not be relied upon to be a top-6 scoring threat all year round
- whether you want to dump on Ruff or not, Grigorenko DOESN'T LOOK READY FOR THE NHL
- having Peters/Scott in the lineup is basically throwing away shifts when they're on the ice... Screw enforcing, make them stand up for themselves, the rest of them
- outside of Myers, I can't say anyone on the D had a bad game
- Kaleta and Ott are glorified pests and should be playing 4th line and PK - on a contending team, not 3rd line and PP time like here
- this team was never going to win anything, NOW. The bar should be set 3-4 years from now, with hopefully the prospects developing properly - Grigs, Girgs, Armia, Pysyk, maybe McNabb, McCabe.... And hopefully Myers. Speaking of which:
- Tyler Myers just might not be the second coming of Pronger/Chara. I don't see "elite" in his play, haven't seen it for 3 years now, just a good top-4 defenseman in a big body.... but not much more. UNLESS he starts to improve again (he basically backtracked after his rookie year).

...

The ONLY thing I'm disappointed in, is that this team is BORING mediocre instead of fack-it! exciting, maybe-run-and-gun mediocre.

God I miss the 05-07 teams. Not only because of how good they were, but because they were exciting and I had the feeling the arena would explode every single home game, it was so loud and electric.

Today? Arena sounds dead. From minute 1 of period one.

These are random opinions, not random facts. You know this.... Right?

 

[start winnin]

The loss isn't really on Lindy, but it certainly feels like we're going to be seeing a lot of games like this year. You have to wonder when management thinks we need a fresh face...