Lindy Ruff hired as coach

[DetoxTent]

Lindy fired on March 4th. Devils went 8-13 after that. (Lindy not the problem).

Gallant gave the Rangers their first ever 2 back-to-back 100 point seasons (110 - 107), then Laviolette gives them 114 points this season.

Amazing that 100 point x 2 coach was fired.

[TheConsigliere]

I would have no problem bringing in Peca as an assistant, but right now these young players need a proven winner to teach them NHL hockey.

The talent is there, minus a little blue line toughness.

Let's see what he can do with this bunch.

I'm excited.

I am just pumped myself!!!

[OpIv37]

Was hoping they'd give somebody like Peca a chance instead of re-treading Lindy.

I don’t know. They gave Housley his first shot at being HC. They gave Granato his first shot in the bigs. Neither worked out.

I don’t think there’s an obvious correct choice when it comes to “experienced retread vs up-and-comer.”

[ckg927]

Was hoping they'd give somebody like Peca a chance instead of re-treading Lindy.

I would not be surprised to see Peca join as an assistant. MAYBE in this scenario, Peca might move into the HC position if Lindy decides to become, say, President of Hockey Ops at some point in the future.

[DetoxTent]

I would not be surprised to see Peca join as an assistant. MAYBE in this scenario, Peca might move into the HC position if Lindy decides to become, say, President of Hockey Ops at some point in the future.

You're a dreamer

[TheConsigliere]

I would not be surprised to see Peca join as an assistant. MAYBE in this scenario, Peca might move into the HC position if Lindy decides to become, say, President of Hockey Ops at some point in the future.

Punch Imlach should also be considered.

[JATMtheJATM]

I would not be surprised to see Peca join as an assistant. MAYBE in this scenario, Peca might move into the HC position if Lindy decides to become, say, President of Hockey Ops at some point in the future.

I think they got theie guy in Appert.

[OpIv37]

Punch Imlach should also be considered.

Only if he can bring on Taro Tsujimoto as S/T coach

[DetoxTent]

I think they got theie guy in Appert.

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).

[DetoxTent]

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).

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).

We heard very good things about Ron Rolston as Rochester Americans coach, which led to a head coaching gig for the Sabres that ended badly in 2013. So forgive me if I am skeptical about Seth Appert. But, perhaps, if they brought him up to the pros as an assistant to learn how to handle pros from a guy like Ruff may be a better tact than how they just put Rolston in with no prior experience. The two men (Rolston & Appert) were both said to be very good with young players, but Rolston failed at handling highly paid NHL players. (Again, part of his issue was the talent the GM was providing at the time - Regier).

[DetoxTent]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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).