NHLopinion Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 A doghouse for a coach, who selectively puts players there: If there was a hypothetical doghouse for coaches Ruff would be on his way to Portland to brush up on the basics. Q:With 3 minutes remaining and down by one goal following a commercial break and a time out in hand who does ole Lindy send out onto the ice? A:Pat Kaleta and Paulie 'the gooser' Guastad Q: And who would have guessed? A: Any casual fan of the Buffalo Sabres Ruff has taken this love affair with his overpaid 4th line center too far putting the Sabres' chances of tying the score late in games behind his desire to make his pet player out to be the hero. No coach in the NHL that I'm aware of consistently demonstrates this level of belligerency towards his skilled forwards. Both these players regardless of what gaffs they make backchecking are always at the top of the list when it comes to handing out accolades during his post game comments. Those post game 'interviews' are about as staged as a presidential press conference, same goes for the color commentary. They've become a propaganda tool for Ruff to sell his pet players and his myths about the changing NHL. Any casual fan would have had the wherewithal to ask what the hell Gaustad and Kaleta were doing out there to begin with. But not Paul Hamilton, he was busy helping Ruff making sure no one blamed Kaleta for the penalty, while Ruff was busy criticizing MacArthur, the player who pulled them within one. Q:Did Lindy Ruff actually expect one of his prized grinders to beat Thomas Vokoun, one of the NHL's elite goalies for a late game tying goal? A: Yeah believe it or not he did! Q: Is it any shock that the team tanked in the final two minutes surrendering 3 goals? A: No, they were probably trying to send that head case Ruff a strong message. In a perfect world he'd be on the bus to Portland for some conditioning in the minors, mental conditioning that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbossy Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Step away from the bong. Slowly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Straitjacket.. check Padded cell.. check Patient.. damn, did he get away?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 It's always fun ripping on the intelligence of all other fans, yet not actually knowing the name of the city where the minor league team is located. Ok, there's a slight chance that the misspelling is a pun, but if that's the case, my god is it a weak one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Paulie 'the gooser' Guastad This alone should tell you how seriously this hack needs to be taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASabreFan Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Good post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpandean Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 An excerpt from what I posted over at LGS in Vanek thread: Mair and Ellis were stapled to the bench after 5:19 until after they were down by 3 or 4 (18:41 for Mair and 19:00 for Ellis.) Lindy swapped Goose in for Kennedy on the third line (with Kaleta and Hecht) for some shifts, probably when they had a big faceoff. Basically, Lindy was rolling three lines for most of the third period: Vanek-Connolly-Stafford MacArthur-Roy-Pominville Hecht-Kennedy/Gaustad-Kaleta After they scored to make it a one-goal game (14:17), the shifts were basically: Third line: 45 sec (Kennedy at center; Hecht got caught out for a little longer) First line: 56 sec (Vanek was delayed getting on by Hecht, so got 42 seconds; Stafford was last off, so got 1:02) Second line: 51 sec (Roy changed last, so got 57 sec) Third line: 46 sec (Goose at center; ended by penalty on Kaleta) Presumably, had there not been a penalty, Lindy would have sent Connolly's line (and thus Vanek) out next, then Roy's. Two quick goals after the penalty pretty much ended the game, so looking at ice times after that doesn't mean much. So, unless you are advocating that Lindy play just two lines for the last five minutes in a one-goal game, I not sure what the problem is. If it weren't for a late penalty at the end of the shift by Kaleta, we would have likely seen the top two lines finish up the game, as you would expect. BTW, this is the infamous theWhale, so we can pretty much just ignore him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHLopinion Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 An excerpt from what I posted over at LGS in Vanek thread: So, unless you are advocating that Lindy play just two lines for the last five minutes in a one-goal game, I not sure what the problem is. If it weren't for a late penalty at the end of the shift by Kaleta, we would have likely seen the top two lines finish up the game, as you would expect. BTW, this is the infamous theWhale, so we can pretty much just ignore him. You might have missed the fact that they had a commercial break with 3 minutes left and a time out remaining. You need to smarten up a little bit. If you've never heard of coaches double shifting with the clock running out you're not really qualified to comment, although judging by these posts of yours there are no standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 An excerpt from what I posted over at LGS in Vanek thread: So, unless you are advocating that Lindy play just two lines for the last five minutes in a one-goal game, I not sure what the problem is. If it weren't for a late penalty at the end of the shift by Kaleta, we would have likely seen the top two lines finish up the game, as you would expect. BTW, this is the infamous theWhale, so we can pretty much just ignore him. Lindy did this a lot in 06-07. Most coaches do. Not so much before the Allstar break, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHLopinion Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Ruff's has apparently succeeded at selling this approach as being excepted practice among NHL coaches. It's not, it isn't even close, but try to tell that to the fan base that populates the various Buffalo Sabres forums. I get the sense that the fans who comment in these forums consider themselves among the most knowledgable, from my experience they're way more towards the other end of the spectrum. Outside of forums I can say that I have never talked to a single fan who agrees that Gaustad should be out there with Kaleta trying to score a game tying goal with 2 or 3 minutes left. This a very common complaint voiced by the the more level headed fans. What I see on these forums aren't hockey purist so much as fans of particular players. For them to agree that the most favored son Paul Guastad has no business being out there is sacrilege. Even though this player has never come close to scoring 10 even strength goals in a regular season, it still makes perfect sense to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom webster Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Ruff's has apparently succeeded at selling this approach as being excepted practice among NHL coaches. It's not, it isn't even close, but try to tell that to the fan base that populates the various Buffalo Sabres forums. I get the sense that the fans who comment in these forums consider themselves among the most knowledgable, from my experience they're way more towards the other end of the spectrum. Outside of forums I can say that I have never talked to a single fan who agrees that Gaustad should be out there with Kaleta trying to score a game tying goal with 2 or 3 minutes left. This a very common complaint voiced by the the more level headed fans. What I see on these forums aren't hockey purist so much as fans of particular players. For them to agree that the most favored son Paul Guastad has no business being out there is sacrilege. Even though this player has never come close to scoring 10 even strength goals in a regular season, it still makes perfect sense to them. You may want to point out to your friends that a) Gaustad is far and away the best center at winning face offs the Sabres have and was the only center yesterday at 50% winning percentage. I would assume you know why winning the face offs are important. b) With 4 goals and 1 game winner, you could make the case that Gaustad has been the most potent offensive force amongst Sabres centers this year and especially in the last stretch of games. c) Kaletta, while not being an offensive force, was as effective as any Sabre forward yesterday at creating chances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Can someone please tell me the point of mentioning how messageboard posters are some of the dumber fans out there when you, in fact, are posting on several messageboards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHLopinion Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 You may want to point out to your friends that a) Gaustad is far and away the best center at winning face offs the Sabres have and was the only center yesterday at 50% winning percentage. I would assume you know why winning the face offs are important. b) With 4 goals and 1 game winner, you could make the case that Gaustad has been the most potent offensive force amongst Sabres centers this year and especially in the last stretch of games. c) Kaletta, while not being an offensive force, was as effective as any Sabre forward yesterday at creating chances. You may want to smarten up to realize that his faceoffs DO NOT offset his lack of scoring talent. The proof for that is his stats, he doesn't score. If you think that Gaustad is a potent offense force you wouldn't pass hockey kindergarten if there was such a thing. This is exactly what I mean by fans populating these forums, a perfect example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Ruff's has apparently succeeded at selling this approach as being excepted practice among NHL coaches. It's not, it isn't even close, but try to tell that to the fan base that populates the various Buffalo Sabres forums. I get the sense that the fans who comment in these forums consider themselves among the most knowledgable, from my experience they're way more towards the other end of the spectrum. Outside of forums I can say that I have never talked to a single fan who agrees that Gaustad should be out there with Kaleta trying to score a game tying goal with 2 or 3 minutes left. This a very common complaint voiced by the the more level headed fans. What I see on these forums aren't hockey purist so much as fans of particular players. For them to agree that the most favored son Paul Guastad has no business being out there is sacrilege. Even though this player has never come close to scoring 10 even strength goals in a regular season, it still makes perfect sense to them. Excuse me for interupting, Mr. theWhale, but you seem to have an error in your post (not that someone of your considerable intelect is capable of errors). You have named yourself NHLopinion when clearly you should have called yourself NHLfact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHLopinion Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Can someone please tell me the point of mentioning how messageboard posters are some of the dumber fans out there when you, in fact, are posting on several messageboards? I'm their antgonist pointing out how ridiculous their opinions are, I'm not here upholding these group opinions that they share like they're in a club and I'm looking to joining it. I read this slop they write and it makes me cringe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbossy Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 You may want to smarten up to realize that his faceoffs DO NOT offset his lack of scoring talent. The proof for that is his stats, he doesn't score. If you think that Gaustad is a potent offense force you wouldn't pass hockey kindergarten if there was such a thing. This is exactly what I mean by fans populating these forums, a perfect example. He does score. On pace for 20 actually. And Kaleta and Goose have the highest plus/minus' on the team. I never passed kindergarden, but I can read a stat. You'll need something else to support your argument. What would you have suggested? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHLopinion Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Excuse me for interupting, Mr. theWhale, but you seem to have an error in your post (not that someone of your considerable intelect is capable of errors). You have named yourself NHLopinion when clearly you should have called yourself NHLfact. Good point, but I don't strictly focus on the here and now. I regularly make a habit of forecasting, technically before the results are in that is opinion. Even though, when I do, you take it to the bank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 You know what I haven't had in a while? A good plate of nachos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHLopinion Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 He does score. On pace for 20 actually. And Kaleta and Goose have the highest plus/minus' on the team. I never passed kindergarden, but I can read a stat. You'll need something else to support your argument. What would you have suggested? Don't take up handicapping as a hobby, or quit your day job for anything that relies on hockey knowledge. You believing that Goose will score 20 at any point in his career is another perfect example of the comment I made regarding forum fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpandean Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 What I see on these forums aren't hockey purist so much as fans of particular players. For them to agree that the most favored son Paul Guastad has no business being out there is sacrilege. Even though this player has never come close to scoring 10 even strength goals in a regular season, it still makes perfect sense to them. In a one-goal game, I have no problem with dropping to three lines for the last 15 minutes or so, and waiting until the last couple of minutes before going all out with your best forwards. Would I have put Goose out there at that time? No, probably not; I actually would have used Kennedy or even double-shifted one of the two top centers to give that group a little more offensive punch. But there's a difference between not denouncing it and actually advocating for it. Even with the commercial break, it is questionable as to whether it is more effective to have your top lines (especially wingers) each out for a one minute all-out shift (with the other minute filled by your third-line) or to have those two lines covering all three. There's no guarantee of a stoppage in play to use that time-out and you will already have one or two additional forwards out in the last minute or so when you pull the goalie. Those last two minutes will take enough from your top two lines even without having one of them taking that first (three minute mark) shift. It will depend a lot on the conditioning of those forwards (something Lindy probably has a better feel for.) In a two-goal game, there's more urgency to make that shift earlier (and the goalie will likely come out sooner), but in a one-goal game, I just don't see it as that bad of a call; certainly not one worth calling out the coach for. SwampD: I'd have to go back an look at the games in '06-07 to see what Lindy was doing in the final minutes of one-goal games. Certainly, at the end of games he had things mixed up, as usually Drury was out there with Briere's line, but I can't comment on the mix of shifts between Briere's, Drury's and Roy's lines in the final 5 minutes of (again) one-goal games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampD Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Good point, but I don't strictly focus on the here and now. I regularly make a habit of forecasting, technically before the results are in that is opinion. Even though, when I do, you take it to the bank. Wow! Hey guys. He spoke to me,.. directly to me,.. one on one! ...I'm never washing this mouse again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NHLopinion Posted November 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 He does score. On pace for 20 actually. And Kaleta and Goose have the highest plus/minus' on the team. I never passed kindergarden, but I can read a stat. You'll need something else to support your argument. What would you have suggested? You can read a stat? With these comments of yours I'm wondering if you can read the instructions on a can of soup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfreeman Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Ever notice something about people who talk about how smart they are, or how much money they have, or how successful with women they are, or...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbossy Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 Don't take up handicapping as a hobby, or quit your day job for anything that relies on hockey knowledge. You believing that Goose will score 20 at any point in his career is another perfect example of the comment I made regarding forum fans. I wrote "on pace". But that's just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbossy Posted November 19, 2009 Report Share Posted November 19, 2009 You can read a stat? With these comments of yours I'm wondering if you can read the instructions on a can of soup. Depends on the can. Progresso not bad, but Campbells not so much. Damn Lucid Casual fonts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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