Taro T

Actually, Granato's answer was the players needed to be more aware. He talked about how when they reviewed the video there were excellent chances that were available but the players made the wrong pass or took the wrong shot. Hearing Granato say that was honestly the most troubling thing he ever said as HC. That PP was beyond abysmal, and except for a 6-7 week stretch was for 2 full seasons. The entry was something that youth hockey coaches would be embarrassed by. When they finally lucked into getting the puck back into the zone, they didn't win battles even though they had the opponent outnumbered, they took horrible shots, they had poor movement (both puck and player), and if Benson wasn't on the ice there was a very good chance that if the puck were on Dahlin's stick at the blue line that there would not be a single Sabre below the dots. Really, the plan is if they can't force the one timer to Thompson then to have a point shot with 3 forwards then crashing the net? Thougth it was just Ellis being totally out of his element having not played on a PP professionally; but hearing his answer showed Don was clueless on that one as well.

Can see it only being worth 1 game. Soucy was all set to give McJesus a pop in the chest just as Zadorov pops him in the back. Without Zadorov's hit that Soucy can't anticipate, it's an absolutely nothing play. Intent has to factor into it, right? (OK, it's the NHL, so all that factors in is the outcome; but intent SHOULD be a factor.)

Yeah, as mentioned above, Frank is NOT having a good day today.

Yes, it says Frank Batres-Landaeta's job is not getting any easier. 😉

Agree with a lot of this, but to the bolded, if it is true that Ellis will no longer be on the bench as we've seemingly been told he won't be, then there is still 1 opening on the staff (or more accurately, there MAY be 1 more opening on the staff) as there needs to be a coach that isn't worried about sending the next D-pair out or line out or trying to keep the entire picture in focus and not losing the forest for the trees. Maybe they're going to fill that role with an assistant to the video guys, but there's more to that "rover" role than just staying in communication with the guys upstairs. That guy needs to be paying attention to when a guy that got dinged up will be ready to get back out on the ice, or if the other team is changing up their lines and coming up with matchups you didn't expect the opponent to be going with, and letting the HC know that the other team's backup goalie is starting to get his gear on. All of this stuff needs to be paid attention to, and a random assistant won't be ready to do all that. On 1st blush, expected that & PP to be Appert's role; but if Ellis finally is off the bench and Christiansen (or wtf his name was) is gone too; there's one more role than needs to be filled. Maybe that role gets filled by Bales? But others have said he won't be on the bench. Something doesn't add up.

There IS room for 1 more, but will take the announcement at face value that the coaching staff is what it is and what it is going to be. Will only change that expectation when they announce another coach joining in. But, that is also part of the frustration. With needing people reviewing every single zone entry and every single shot, they really NEED a 4th person on the bench to be in contact with the people up in the suite that are doing those reviews in real time. That "rover" (as we used to call the 4th coach) plays a really important role. Hoping you are correct, and the announcement was just poorly worded. Because if not, they are intentionally making life tougher on themselves than it needs to be.

When's the last time a coach with Ruff's resume only got a 2 year deal to come to a new team? Haven't seen it stated openly anywhere, but expect the 2 year timeline was Ruff's decision. Ruff works as HC until he's 66 and then either becomes the PoHO or an advisor to the GM/newly promoted PoHO depending upon how well those 2 years worked out.

Maybe, maybe not. Sometimes an outlier is simply an outlier. If that WEREN'T the case, Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens would be making much closer to $9MM/yr IMHO.

So, Bales is moving onto the bench? Interesting.

And though this board nearly unanimously would like to see Ellis punted into the sun, Ruff knows him well and knows exactly what he's getting with him. Can't recall if he has a history with Wilford or not, but doubt that he's been forced on Lindy either. As for Bales, he still has a very solid reputation and it was under him that UPL finally got beyond the mental hurdle of the hips not feeling right when he tried to go cross crease. Personally, was hoping Lindy would take that staff in a different direction, but we're getting to dead horse territory already and it's only a few hours since the entire coaching staff was announced.

Honestly, not 100% why the F in the IF was capitalized. Probably was merely stressing, without writing a novella (but then there is THIS post, so much for the lack of writing a novella 😉 ) that it's looking at a particular version of trading him (1/2 salary retained; depending upon what comes back for him, could see it only being 1/3 retained should Adams find a team that would take him AND Skinner would be willing to play for). Or, it might've just been the shift key sticking on a rainy humid day.

Further on that, it's really a shame (but par for the course for how things have gone the last decade) that the team was in the low 90's last year and back in the 80's this year. Had these 2 seasons been reversed, there's the ever so slight chance that Granato would've been removed at the end of last season while Brunette was available. (He still likely would've chosen working for Trotz with Saros as his netminder over working for Adams with Levi/UPL as the crew; but it was at least POSSIBLE he could've come to Buffalo in that circumstance.)

IF they trade him and retain say 1/2 of the salary, they've reduced the length of time that they're losing cap space from 6 years via a buyout down to just 3 years. So, there would be a value in that. Pretty sure he doesn't just have a NTC but actually a NMC, meaning he is NOT seeing the AHL unless he wants to be there. It is not happening. Leaving just 1 & 2 as options to get him off the roster. Neither seems worth it vs just keeping him around for this season. Were his contract less, nobody would care if he were the loose cannon on the 3rd or 4th line. His contract isn't keeping Adams from making any move he'd ACTUALLY make this year, so personally can't see a reason to buy him out. And he holds the cards regarding a trade. Get used to watching him play as a Sabre again.

Yes, he absolutely is.

Ruff's one truly outstanding season as a HC out of his last 5 or so came when Andrew Brunette, the President Trophy winning Panthers HC (who got fired for a 1st round exit) who went on to get Nashville to sneak into the playoffs in a year that they were expected to be in a nearly full rebuild, was one of Ruff's assistants. Am not seeing a really high end assistant on the staff. We need to hope that Appert is the next Jon Cooper, but it's more likely he's the next Randy Cunneyworth.

Well, Appert could be the next PP coach. Pretty sure Adams merely said Ellis wouldn't be running the PP, not that he'd be getting a demotion. (Though we can always hope REALLY REALLY hard.)

That's obvious. But did not want them to be retapping the development well for Lindy's replacement.

It's a joke you hoser.

Adams is definitely going all-in on his belief that he's got the right kids in house, they just need a little better guidance and a couple of other pieces. (3C, 2W, identity 4th liners) It COULD work.

Not seeing Lindy's new Brunette anywhere in that list.

And $8MM in space should be enough to add a 2nd line W and a 3C. Though there are other spots that could stand improving, those are the only 2 (besides giving the 4th line an identity whatever he means by that) that Adams has said he will fill. Past history shows that unless Adams has talked about needing to add in an area, he doesn't bring somebody in from outside. IF something falls into his lap, can see Adams buying out Skinner. Just would be quite surprised were it to happen this off-season. Not completely sold on the idea that he'll be bought out next year for the reasons already stated above, but can see that being more of a 40-60 proposition. Don't see him on the roster for that 8th year unless something really unexpected happens.

Not shocking. But had kind of hoped they wouldn't make that move. They've still got at least 1 other "development" coach pencilled in on Ruff's staff. Any word on who they might be looking for to take Seth's old job?

How in the world does a team playing in Moose Jaw end up the Warriors and not the Molars? It's so friggin' obvious what they should've been called.

Nah, he gets called McJesus pretty much everywhere. McClavicle is the one that doesn't seem to get much traction anymore.

Would be shocked if they don't bring in a veteran C via either trade or FA. Also expect a top 6 W to be brought it. Adams has literally been talking about adding them for 2 months now. Maybe a change from Girgensons and Robinson as well, as Adams has talked about making that 4th line an identity line (or something to that effect) but wouldn't want to have a car payment riding on those other 2 happening. Could very realistically see those the only NHL moves Adams makes as per people's reports on what Adams was saying to Seravalli (haven't had a chance to watch it yet personally) he's still gushing about how he likes the D and the G. Would like to see a bolstering to both of those units as well even if it were to simply add competition for those 10 jobs, but not expecting it unless Ruff pushes really hard for those moves.