Lindy Ruff hired as coach

[DetoxTent]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

After it was announced Monday that Ruff was returning to Buffalo as head coach, Ruff says he heard from a number of former player, including Ryan Miller, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek.

"They all said, 'You’re the guy that can get them there,'" he recalled. "I think if you remember, I was pretty hard on Thomas Vanek, and we’ve had lots of great conversations. This team is so similar to where we were at back then, deep with talent, but we needed to play the game the right way.

"We were deep, like three lines deep, and then I had useful tools you could lean on people with. From Rob Ray to Andrew Peters and Adam Mair."

LINK

[DetoxTent]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

And for the Ruff-hiring critics....

"I actually laugh at some of my coaching style when I left here, because a lot of things have changed," he said.

[JATMtheJATM]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

That is a much more reasonable idea than Peca, who is reported to be very much doing this exact thing already behind Peter Laviolette for a much better team (LINK).

Don't get me wrong, I want Peca. What he did with some of the youngsters in Roch and Buffalo was impressive and much of the ,22-23 seasons success was attributed to him.

But unless they hired him to be the HC now, he wasn't coming back. And if they hire him as the HC and he isn't quite ready yet, and they miss again, it could mean another rebuild.

So this route is fine if Appert is the long term plan

[JoeMama]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

Sabs coming in hot with the nostalgia.

Lindy had good stints in Dallas and New Jersey.

Love the move. Can't wait to see what he does with the young guns on this roster.

[JATMtheJATM]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

Sabs coming in hot with the nostalgia.

Lindy had good stints in Dallas and New Jersey.

Love the move. Can't wait to see what he does with the young guns on this roster.

I was a little critical at first. There is this idea that Lindy is the same coach today he was in 1997. Or 2012 when Pegula came in and bought high priced free agents and they missed.

Lindy says he himself has changed as a coach in terms of Xs and Os.

I could be very wrong, but I think the Sabres just made the playoffs with this hire. The issue is I don't know if it gets them any further. And ultimately, I know making the playoffs is A goal, but not THE goal.

Still, I'm fine with it, and the end of his tenure is ancient history.

[OpIv37]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

I was a little critical at first. There is this idea that Lindy is the same coach today he was in 1997. Or 2012 when Pegula came in and bought high priced free agents and they missed.

Lindy says he himself has changed as a coach in terms of Xs and Os.

I could be very wrong, but I think the Sabres just made the playoffs with this hire. The issue is I don't know if it gets them any further. And ultimately, I know making the playoffs is A goal, but not THE goal.

Still, I'm fine with it, and the end of his tenure is ancient history.

In 22-23, they missed the playoffs by 1 point.
In 23-24, they missed by 7 points.

I think Lindy can find 4 wins. They're not close to being Cup contenders but they are not far from being a playoff team.

[JATMtheJATM]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

In 22-23, they missed the playoffs by 1 point.
In 23-24, they missed by 7 points.

I think Lindy can find 4 wins. They're not close to being Cup contenders but they are not far from being a playoff team.

Depending on roster moves this offseason, you could very well see the Sabres compete to be top 3 in the division. Florida and Boston are going to fall off at some point, and Toronto, if they go down in the first round again, at some point, you have to realize it's the players.

But again, that depends on Adams either opening Pegulas check book or making moves that require some depletion of their prospect pool

[ckg927]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

I know I mentioned Peca earlier on in this thread. How about, instead of him, hire Jay McKee as an assistant? He's more than proven himself as an HC in the OHL(he's worked with Erie(as an assistant), Kitchener(associate, then head coach)and Hamilton(now Brantford)(as HC).

[Historian]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

CUP BOUND!!!!

[JATMtheJATM]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

Appert as a assistant. He's definitely being groomed for the HC role

[ckg927]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

Appert as a assistant. He's definitely being groomed for the HC role

Appert will coach the forwards and handle the PP unit. Mike Bales is also part of the behind the bench staff.

Matt Ellis, who was raked over the coals over his stewardship of the PP unit last season, IS on staff-but he's more of the team's "eye in the sky" up in the press box.

[Woodman]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

We will make the playoffs .... take it to the bank.

[DetoxTent]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

The Sabres coaching staff is now complete. Like the addition of Appert. Will be watching closely to see who they put into Rochester to continue to grow the culture there.



Sabres promote Appert to assistant coach, Gulati to video coordinator

[DetoxTent]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

Ruff will not go so light with them during practices. He will have them playing harder in the first periods in early November. He also will not be afriad to hollar at them when they are slacking.

[DetoxTent]

Re: Lindy Ruff hired as coach

Seth Appert said there were 4 reasons why he chose to join the Sabres' coaching staff:

1) Opportunity to work/learn from Lindy Ruff.
2) Belief in GM Kevyn Adams' vision.
3) Trust in ownership's commitment.
4) Coaching players he knows and helping them take the next step.

— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) May 14, 2024