‘This past spring there was a lot of talk from the Sabres as they went their separate ways that Ruff was too harsh at times. Derek Roy was on the front line of the criticism and perhaps for his trouble, was traded to Dallas in July. One veteran player who has played for at least one other team in his NHL career told our Paul Hamilton that Ruff was the harshest coach he had ever experienced. So the signs were there. Rather than act on them over the summer, the Sabres engaged in meetings with certain players in an effort to improve communication and perhaps not have players who have been with Ruff for so many years be so fatigued by his methods.’