Matt Ress
Don't sleep on me
Well maybe they forced Ruff to sign and demanded that he keep some assistants of their choice all because they like nice guys. Sure yeah that's just logic.
The Roster Thread, Summer 2024
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If you do not want to have a serious discussion on the topic, please just do not engage. I like most of your posts and I do not really want this discussion to devolve into the trading of snarky replies.
I honestly believe that there is zero chance Ruff keeps Wilford and Ellis on if the decision on assistants is completely his.
Adams has attachments to people, and we do know that Ellis was on Granato's staff at Adam's request. It is hard for me to believe that Ellis is not still a coach in this organization strictly due to Adams' discretion.
I also feel strongly that neither Wilford or Ellis are great at being assistants at the NHL level. That is my opinion, and you are absolutely entitled to disagree, and I think we can discuss their competency and accomplishments civilly if you would like to continue the discussion. I do not think I am introducing far fetched conspiracy theories here though.
And Ellis was someone Ruff held in high regard when he was in his first stint behind the Buffalo bench and was part of the team both years Adams was one of Ruff's assistants. Ellis was someone Ruff trusted then, seems like Adams trusted him enough to put him into the develop director job and then on Granato's staff. It's not some random guy, Ellis has very strong working ties with Ruff already.
I know he played a couple of hundred games for Ruff, but if we are being honest, his on the job performance review looks really bad. I think Ruff's familiarity with Ellis and that fact that Ellis is apparently a really nice guy is why he agreed to keep him, I do not believe Ellis' job performance is in any way shape or form the reason he is still coaching here, and I think anyone making that argument is going to have a tough time defending it given how the seasons unfolded in the areas Ellis was in charge of on the ice.
I was thinking it was how they always praised Ellis preparation and work ethic off the ice as part of why he was around as a player. That's part of what they were trying to teach some of the younger players too.
As for his recent *ahem* abilities, I would have re-assigned him last summer and for sure banned him from the rink by December.
Matt Ress
Don't sleep on me
My bad for being a dick but I think we're just going to disagree on this one
It might be much simpler:
These assistants all got extensions in 2023. Ruff is, essentially, getting paid by NJ. So while we are still paying Granato, NJ is still paying Ruff. Maybe the Pegulas provide Adams an all in budget for the team and coaching staff and Adams would rather spend it on players than new assistants.
I have no idea whether or not that is accurate or not, but given the budgetary restrictions the last few years, wouldn't be shocked.
I literally can't think of another reason why Ellis is still here.
Jacob582
Registered User
- Oct 16, 2012
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Well I listened to a podcast and they said Matt Ellis is an insanely good development coach.
Well I listened to a podcast and they said Matt Ellis is an insanely good development coach.
Matt Ellis made me develop a headache everytime we get a power play, so I guess from a certain point of view...
I’m in the middle on this. That we had a bad PP last year does not mean Ellis is a bad coach. Perhaps he was miscast in that role. I don’t believe that a bad single season outcome should automatically lead to dismissal. Ellis may well be an excellent assistant coach at the NHL level who was not given the opportunity to coach to his strengths. However, I also think that one of the attractions of hiring Ruff was that he was willing, even eager, to accept conditions and/or recommendations that other qualified coaches would not have accepted. A condition: 2 yr contract maximum. No other qualified and experienced coach was taking that. A Recommendation: Ellis and Wilford stay on as assistants and Alpert joins from the Amerks. Some head coaches might have considered this but Ruff was more than fine with it.
In short, I don’t like the optics or what it means about how the Sabres operate, but, I also think it is quite possible it will work out fine.
Isn’t there a coaching thread or an assistant coaching thread for people to post pure speculation in and let me not have to read it?
Back to the roster. I agree with a strong preference not to rely on the youngsters (or relying on krebs for anything but a 4th line role. With two exceptions. I think it’s fine and probably a good idea to bring up one of the top forward prospects. And I also think it’s fine for Levi to be the 1B to UPL, he seems ready. Would a top vet backup be a better option? Maybe. But I’m good with Levi
Back to the roster. I agree with a strong preference not to rely on the youngsters (or relying on krebs for anything but a 4th line role. With two exceptions. I think it’s fine and probably a good idea to bring up one of the top forward prospects. And I also think it’s fine for Levi to be the 1B to UPL, he seems ready. Would a top vet backup be a better option? Maybe. But I’m good with Levi
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Mattilaus
Registered User
I am mixed on this, I would like to see one of the youngsters get a shot but I also don't want the team to save a spot for them. I am just fearful of leaving holes in the roster again and then having to shove in someone not ready simply because we didn't fill the spot in the off season. I lean towards trying to win now and I think the best move for that is to completely fill out the roster with good vets that fill areas of need for us. I don't like the idea of leaving a hole in the roster and hoping one of the young guys is ready to fill it. They can get time when inevitable injuries happen. I do agree with Levi as a 1B however, I feel he has shown enough.
Dreakon13
Registered User
Unless it's a kid like Benson who just has a tremendous individual effort in his game, which I don't think we have in the pipeline really (at least not that I could see from Rochester), I don't see anyone coming up and making a noticeable impact. The Sabres need to figure out what kind of game they need to play to be successful, start to execute that game, then give these younger players an actual role and actual coaching for it surrounded by guys who know what they're doing.
If there's a spot that needs to be filled, I'd rather Adams spend some assets finding established players that can be a part of getting over that initial hump along with Ruff's sage advice to start the year. Keep the kids down and start to mold them into the roles we expect them to fill in this new hypothetical schema.
If there's a spot that needs to be filled, I'd rather Adams spend some assets finding established players that can be a part of getting over that initial hump along with Ruff's sage advice to start the year. Keep the kids down and start to mold them into the roles we expect them to fill in this new hypothetical schema.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
Islanders Must Trade With Sabres to Draft Cole Eiserman - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More
The draft is rich in talent, and the Islanders need to secure a high-upside player with a well-planned development path like Cole Eiserman.
thehockeywriters.com
The Sabres move back and help out the Islanders cap situation.
OK...
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Jim Bob
RIP RJ
Doug Prishpreed
Registered User
Also Pegula says probably says no to retaining any money. And Nashville also says no since they’re too smart to want to pay Skinner $7m.
Ultimately none of the parties involved will want to do this deal.
CaliSabresfan24
Registered User
Idk about that..
Fun city to play in? NSH>BUF
State Taxes? TN>NY
Playoffs appearances NSH>>>>BUF
I wouldn't say with 100% certainty that Skinner would say no to that.
Ace
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2015
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He already did once. The only places he would let Carolina move him were Buffalo and Toronto.
Things can change. Skinner is older and maybe the idea of experiencing the playoffs is more of a priority to him now than then. Toronto isn't really an option considering their salary cap issues and it's been 6 years since he joined the Sabres and arguably we're further away from the playoffs than we were back then.
His priorities may change now that he's much closer to the end of his career. (It's not like we haven't seen this with Sabres veterans in the past).
Fjordsen
Soul Dancing in the Dark
- Jun 20, 2018
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I'm not sure Adams would want to trade Skinner. Only if Lindy has already told him that he won't work with Skinner and doesn't need him on the team, and buying out the contract now is not profitable. And then somehow Jeff needs to be forced to give up NMC.
Islanders Must Trade With Sabres to Draft Cole Eiserman - The Hockey Writers Latest News, Analysis & More
The draft is rich in talent, and the Islanders need to secure a high-upside player with a well-planned development path like Cole Eiserman.
The Sabres move back and help out the Islanders cap situation.
OK...
That actually isn't a bad deal, assuming the 16 team NTC isn't a hill to climb.
Pageau has 2 years left on his deal at 5M per. He checks all the boxes of what we need as a utility center (PK, faceoffs, high dzone starts)
If they are throwing in a 2nd and Wahlstrom, who would be a 12th/13th forward (former 11th OA pick and only 23, so likely some upside left there as well)
if the traded is 11th OA for 20th OA + 54th + Pageau + Wahlstrom, you are basically getting Pageau + Wahlstrom for a early-mid 2nd round pick. in value.
Fjordsen
Soul Dancing in the Dark
- Jun 20, 2018
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Yes, but Pageau doesn't seem to have had a very good season, will we get the old Pageau or will we get a player who is not so good and won't help us much?
Beerz
Registered User
- Jun 28, 2011
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This is a horrible idea. Pageau is cooked.
So, when thinking about 'what will Adams do', I often think 'what is some galaxy brain' logic.
Last year I joked they would sign Erik Johnson because 'Well, who else would know what 1st Overall D-men need help with more than a former first overall defensemen'. Now, who knows if that logic ever entered the in the actual decision making or not, I just thought it was funny that they did that.
So, I now present: Galaxy Brain ideas for this summer
1. Sign Derek Ryan. Why? Because he played with Jeff Skinner the last time Skinner played down the lineup well. So, Skinner is going to be playing down the lineup, you know your owner won't let you buy out Skinner, you know you can't trade him, and you know you can't put him back on the top line. What do you do? Find the guy who worked with him last time he played successfully down the lineup. Sure, he'll be 38 next year and barely sees the offensive side of the puck anymore. He has good faceoff numbers. We need faceoffs. And he can play with Skinner. 40 goals from the 4th line, easy peasy.
I'm going to do some more, but I have to step into my galaxy brain chamber a bit and let things marinate.
Last year I joked they would sign Erik Johnson because 'Well, who else would know what 1st Overall D-men need help with more than a former first overall defensemen'. Now, who knows if that logic ever entered the in the actual decision making or not, I just thought it was funny that they did that.
So, I now present: Galaxy Brain ideas for this summer
1. Sign Derek Ryan. Why? Because he played with Jeff Skinner the last time Skinner played down the lineup well. So, Skinner is going to be playing down the lineup, you know your owner won't let you buy out Skinner, you know you can't trade him, and you know you can't put him back on the top line. What do you do? Find the guy who worked with him last time he played successfully down the lineup. Sure, he'll be 38 next year and barely sees the offensive side of the puck anymore. He has good faceoff numbers. We need faceoffs. And he can play with Skinner. 40 goals from the 4th line, easy peasy.
I'm going to do some more, but I have to step into my galaxy brain chamber a bit and let things marinate.
sabremike
THE RED BULL
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