Pimlach

Hmmmmmm. Ruff is not going win that much more than Granato did if they roll back the same roster. Maybe enough to make a wild card, sure. Ruff talked about the little things, winning key face offs, protecting leads, winning puck battles, having leaders call out players, goaltending, building from the defense and out. All great stuff. They still need more players that have done that and will show the way.

Sure. But that is not what Adams says. He said it again today - He was on it immediately after the Press Conference, he made it seem like he was just getting on it. Maybe that was to protect Granato a bit. What I really think is that Adams was on the Lindy track for months, and maybe not so much for the other vet coaches. I am fine with Lindy, he is certainly qualified, he is a life long learner, he is accomplished, and he deserves respect.

The article is wrong then. Bowman never left, GM to coach to GM to Coach was not the criteria. Back in the 6 team era lots of Coaches were GMs too.

I should have never gone back to Toronto and that dam Harold Ballard.

No way did he do formal interviews of double digit guys in 6 days. How long were the interviews? Any follow up? He admitted he spent time on numerous calls with Lindy. If Lindy took multiple calls then why wouldn't some of the other candidates? If just 4 of the double digit choices are compelling choices then you are going into the next week. Here is a scenario: KA: "Hello Mr Gallant, this is Kevyn Adams GM for the Buffalo Sabres, your not interested in coaching the Sabres, are you?" KA: "Oh, MAYBE?" "Thanks, I am just checking on it. Good Bye for now" Hangs up, calls Terry. "Hey Terry, I just talked to Gallant and he said maybe." Terry: "Maybe? What else did he say? Nothing? Will if he doesn't want it move on, I heard he is a pain anyway." click Ok, I jest. But I do not consider Adams to be credible anymore. Not until there is more follow through on roster improvements.

It is uncommon. Definitely. This is the root cause. The bottom 6 is important. The Sabres lack diversity of skill and diversity of age. We cannot fill the 3rd and 4th lines with 20 year old prospects and have a balanced team. We cannot have Tuch fighting Tkachuk, and Cozens fighting Hathaway, and Dahlin fighting Wilson, or whatever. We need good solid experienced role players. We need to stop being the developmental day camp for the rest of the league.

Here are the two term with same team coaches. https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1043798 It has happened five times, and now will be 6 with Lindy's return. None won a Cup the second time or even reached similar past heights. Punch Imlach and Jacques Lemaire are the only Cup winners that went back to their Cup teams.

You give the Pegula run Sabres way too much credit. This hire is another Pegula pivot and jump. It is just as much about selling tickets than about winning games. I mean, I really hope that the Sabres did start looking at and talking too coaches during the regular season. The issue with the players and the fans would be reason enough for me. I sure hope that they talked to Berube and Gallant and found out if they were interested and a good match. I would not be surprised if they was not interested in working for Terry and Adams. The Sabres having a succession plan in place for replacing Granato is the folly. They just extended him the last off season. They extended him for almost making the playoffs, like teams would be beating down his door after this season. The Pegula's also gave Boterill a public vote of confidence and then fired him just weeks later. They asked Adams to gut the front office and lean everything down and start another rebuild while publicly stating the Sabres cannot adversely impact the "family lifestyle". Adams was on nobody's radar as a viable NHL GM at that time. I like Lindy, and wish him well, but if didn't have strong Buffalo connections he would not be coaching here again either. Something tells me the other vet coaches are not interested. If Lindy succeeds it is because he is a good coach, and he is extremely dedicated to the fading honorable past of this hockey club.

Everybody that plays the PK should be taking away passing and shooting lanes, and blocking shots. Thompson did what he should have done. Injuries happen.

Uh, Quinn is already a better 2way player and was already on a higher line, playing top 6 minutes.

They really should move on from Ellis and Wilford. Flush that era and move on.

It works. You first download the app. Then you run the app and use “search” for WGR or Buffalo Sabres and it takes you there. It is easy.

My second favorite Lindy Ruff moment. Here he is a 20 year old rookie.

There is only one Skinner. Lindy will tolerate very little.

His contract is not available. Yes, he stands behind the bench during games. He works directly for Laviolette, the HC. He coaches forwards. He wears nice suits too.

Maybe he can get us into and competitive in the playoffs, PLUS put his bright young successor on his staff to finish the job if/when he gets stale. Then he can go up to an executive level job after that and simply make sure no more stupid stuff happens ever again.

Gallant has been .600+ 4 times in his past 7 years as head coach, 7 straight playoff years. I just want to know that Adam’s reached out to him and a few others and had serious talks with them. I like Ruff, always have, I hope he gets us there again.

Could be that Gallant/Berube and others did not want it, or didn’t want to talk, or they like Lindy better based on interviews. I hope it’s the later.

There may be a place that he fits. He was a 7th rounder that could score some goals. He had 20 three times, one in only 56 games. Not a two way player but this year he tightened up his game to match the “defensively responsible “ system that Granato said he put in, that Adams emphatically said “never changed”.

Ruff it is. Not surprising.

The Sabres need an experienced coach for many reasons. They also need the results McD got. All your caveats on McDermotts accomplishments are immaterial.

Gallant is known as a hard ass and as a players coach.