All Activity

we are not at all... in fact, pretty much we are in total agreement... @dudacek also made a good point... does the fact they have size not necessarily physicality, matter... longer reach, more difficult to move, etc... I was focusing on physicality

this is fair... longer poke check reach, harder to move... Tage's span is an asset for sure... fair very fair point, I was looking more at physicality.. I got you.

Whether he wanted the assistants he has to work with or merely accepted them, considering he's seen their results 1st hand and didn't punt any of them makes him part of the problem. Credible rumors he wanted to replace Wilford. But at the end of the day, he didn't. And that is unacceptable. At an absolute minimum he, Appert, and Ellis should've been handed their walking papers.

Not arguing that snarl doesn't matter: it does. But doesn't size have other benefits that have nothing to do with snarl? Strength is strength that usually comes along with size, and that can be an advantage, regardless of snarl. But more importantly, length is length: bigger guys make bigger obstacles in terms of getting sticks on pucks and diverting attackers wide.

My point is simply that when you draft or acquire a more finesse oriented player, then that is what you get. We're not disagreeing here.

As you describe Ruff's authority, or lack of it, is a demonstration why this Pegula hockey organization is a failed organization that is structured in an unusual way. If Ruff doesn't have the authority to hire his staff at this point, then this organization deviates from how a normal franchise operates. It's ridiculous.

Yes thats fine but I was responding to the question of does the size of this unit matter... and in my opinion, the size is nice but if you are looking for this unit to be physical they are going to need to change their modus operandi... aka spots... and we all know how often a leopard changes those... lastly that size in itself doesnt mean you are that type of temprament.. citing smaller players that were hellions to play against... so I dont disagree with what you are saying, but I was responding to the does size matter question... so while it may or may not be a respectable unit, I am not anticipating hard nosed physical play out of this unit.. they will just be able to see over a lot of players looking up ice LOL...

Yes, but under no circumstances do I operate under the assumption that Ruff has any say in the coaching staff. Ruff taking the position was a way for him to make some money, help out his hometown team, and let Pegula clear the books a bit before the next phase in coaching took over. So, knowing that, the administration of the Buffalo Sabres kept Wilford, who, in my opinion is the problem here. It doesn't matter to me if someone above is responsible for keeping him, Wilford is accountable for coaching the defensive scheme. Let's go RACI charts! Yes.. but we know the Sabres don't have one of those. The GM won't allow it and I'm still not sure Pegula wants it.

Why would anyone who is famous have a social media account open to the public? Gambling or not that seems like an invitation for social parasites to attack.

Players have different skill sets and style of play. Power and Samuelsson are not thumpers and rugged players. That's not their game and never has been. I would also say the same thing about Byram from a stylistic standpoint. The choice is you either get different players or adapt your defensive approach to their assets and not their liabilities. I, like you, am not familiar with Kesserling's play. What I do know is that when he filled in as a second-pairing defenseman as an injury replacement, he played well. If he ends up as the partner for Power, then Samuelsson most likely will move down to the third-pair. The makeup of the unit could end up being Byrum/Dahlin, Power/Kesserling and Samuelsson/Timmons. I consider that a respectable unit.

I am going way back... Stan Johnathan, Danny Gare, Wendall Clark, even Marchant, Brad May, Barnaby, Ray, etc... not sure any of these guys were over 6 feet, but they brought the nasty... So I love the size, but will they use it... or do we have Mike Wilson, Tyler Myers, Richard Smell Ick, Ken Sutton, etc ... I am not seeing anyone on that list that has anywhere near the nasty of a Samulesson (Ulfy) , Pronger, Chara, Stevens, Robinson, Kasparitis, Hatcher, Zadorov, etc... (just randomly naming nasty players, not even fighting, just nasty) Kesslring I honestly have not seen him play... maybe he is one... but if we are going to get that level of physicality to me a bunch of those guys need to change their spots...

I agree that a first round pick would be too much for Mitts. However, if it was a second round pick, I would do it. I just think that our GM could have been more aggressive in adding a second line forward to the mix to create more flexibility to the lines.

Again, I’m not disputing any of this. My only contention is that whatever trends are happening in the draft process, it not yet impacted the league’s mean height and weight for skaters. Maybe that changes in the coming years.

I know it's the dog days of hockey because Bills fans on twitter are going crazy over preseason losses. Preseason.

It's not hard to understand. With the way the league has gone you want D men with long reach. That doesn't mean you can't build a good team with shorter guys (and shorter guys often have other skills) but that longer reach is useful and advantageous around the net. Florida proves it's about strength, not size, as I said. Speed and strength that's what you want. That's how you win.

A first rate coach would have fired all the assistants and brought in better ones.

whatever

That’s usually when I’m able to tune in during the day and I hate it

What are you talking about? Profiling? Odd thing to say.

I won't accept your profiling me. I never said that, you have inferred such. Nice job on the last word as usual. go Sabres

This is Ruff’s staff. If the owner is not allowing him to hire the staff he wants, then he took the job under conditions that most HCs wouldn’t accept. When he first took-over he inherited the staff. This is a new year. This is his staff. If there are problems within the staff, then it is his responsibility to address. If you believe that the Sabres are a well coached team, I’m confident that it is a minority view.

You consistently seem very insistent with your opinions on all topics. I wasn't there at the beginning of last season in the strategy room, were you? Maybe our illustrious owner required that the assistants be retained. Can you disprove this? You seem to have inside information which form your conclusions.

The coaching staff is Ruff’s staff. He inherited them when he first took over but kept them on the following season. Again, this is his staff!