Have not seen a lot of fire Ruff and the entire coaching staff comments really since the Calgary game in early December...for obvious reasons.
I think the team is playing a style that many expected/hoped under Ruff and while most of the credit needs to guys like Quinn and Samuelsson for their improved play I think the staff plays some part in that growth. The staff has also done well navigating the personal issues with Dahlin that rightfully so are impacting is play and the injuries to Zucker and Kesselring. The Sabres have a +6 in goal diff while being a respectable 18th in goals for and goals against. They currently have the 2nd best PK in the entire NHL at 85.5% but the PP sits at 22nd at 18.1%.
There have been a couple of posts on tuning the roster with trades and I'm wondering if a coaching change should be something to consider. I know this is super rare in the NHL and there isn't anyone on the market currently but Scott Arniel is on the hot seat in Winnipeg and while they have a similar PP% to Buffalo this season, they led the league last season at a whopping 28.9%. The PP coach for the Jets is Davis Payne, who has a history in Buffalo as an assistant under Housley. The Jets hired Payne specifically for the PP and I'm not sure it's a crazy idea to give his agent a call if they sack the staff in Winnipeg.
No matter what I just can’t buy in to Seth Appert. They are firing on 5v5 but the PP where he has a lot of control they just look abysmal.
He's literally just a great head of hair. I wonder how much of Rochester's performance under him was just him continuing Donny's system.
Lindy obviously has done enough this year to remain head coach til the end of his contract. I think it’ll be interesting to see where the team lands and if Ruff is interested in coming back. It’s still weird that he wasn’t able to bring in his own assistants , and it feels crazy that a team with dahlin, Thompson etc. still has a crappy and inconsistent power play.
Whenever I see Appert on the bench I still think that it's Sir Keir Starmer. I can only hope that if we get rid of him we find someone who looks like a different head of state. Maybe Macron this time.
I hear there’s a head of state in NYC who is looking for work.
Power play is a feel-good stat. Some of the best teams, like Colorado, way underperform and are still running away with the league.
I think Colorado is an exception and not the rule. Appert was brought in to improve the offence and said that the PP was going to improve, and made a thing about it in the preseason.
I dunno, I think Kekäläinen coming in and saying everyone is expendable seems to have done the trick for a lot of these guys. Sure, they've had off nights here and there but collectively, the effort and willingness to respond to setbacks has been much, much better.
I think if we hadn't had the streak, then there's a good chance some trades/changes would've been made. Kekäläinen's got a tough balancing act right now - the team's playing well and winning games, so how much do you want to rock the boat by moving players or coaches on? The only obvious coaching change I can see (and my knowledge isn't vast) would be switching up Appert for someone; our powerplay continues to be pretty mediocre and is currently on track to be worse than last season. To contrast that, Wilford's done wonders with the PK this year, so surely he's gotta stay.
One thing we constantly criticsed KA for was either not reacting or reacting too late when things were trending downwards. So far, I can see why Kekäläinen hasn't made any major changes, but I reckon he's far more likely to make some big calls if things like the powerplay don't improve or production from talented guys keeps being patchy.
I think the players are finally buying into Lindy’s philosophy. Obviously the penalty killing is one of the best in the league and a strength of the team. The power play continues to look rough. Not sure if it’s a coaching issue or the players just can’t fingers it out. Two months ago I would have said Lindy was dead man walking, now he deserves to be in the Jack Adams conversation.
Rayzor credits this big time with the recent performance. He says the kids are finally hearing Lindy and starting to see that doing it his way is working.
Ya, I'm not sure either if it's the Xs and Os or the Jimmys and Joes that is causing the issues on the PP, but I lean towards it not being the players when you have Thompson and Dahlin to work with.
I do wonder how much of the job security for Appert was based on his connection to Adams and if Jarmo/Ruff have had conversations there. The one thing I didn't mention is for the Sabres to have an assistant consider the Sabres they either would need to extend Ruff or have a clear plan for him that Ruff approved before you see a coach take a serious look at the opportunity. That includes clarity on Michael Leone and Seth Appert, who both have had rumors of being groomed for the HC job.
Still not happy with the PP by any stretch of the imagination.
Lindy is going know-where any time soon. If he is not behind the bench next season it’s his choice and he will have a management job with the Sabres. He is closing in on 1900 games coached 4 th overall and played 691 games in the NHL. 105 goals ,195 assists and 1264 penalty minutes. Playoffs 52 games , 11 goals ,13 assist and 193 penalty minutes . The penalty minutes will give you an idea of what kind of player he was ! I never remembered Ruff taking bad penalties. No surprise he played Jr. in the WHL !
Appert sucks balls
You're asking about a coaching change like in season like in the near future ?
Yes, in season. Wasn't suggesting it but was wondering about it. Similar to a trade, a change on a single coach could bring a positive impact but there is also risks to that.
I thought thats what u were saying but wasn't sure.
I couldn't see it not after this stretch they're having.it just doesn't make sense to me. Its working better than it has in a really long time. You ride it out with Ruff. Honestly its probably way more having a new GM impacting play than the coach but if uts not broke don't fix it. Hes also on the last year of his deal. They ride it out.
I was speaking more about an assistant, not Ruff. More specific, the coach responsible for the power play.
Ahhhh,id still say the same thing. I wouldn't change anything right now
Very fair.
When you win 13 of your last 14, you don't have a choice but to say, "The coaching staff's fine."