He wasn't bad in NHL 12 . I used him vanek and coho on a line and owned.
- Smittyx36

He is slower than the Special Olympics Spelling Bee....


lord that was bad... i apologize.. please be with the starving pigmys down in New Guinea.

Your okay with Darcy? He overpaid a lot for Stafford, Leino, Myers, and even Gerbe.
- Smittyx36

Pick a team that doesn't have bad contracts on it
Im ok w him bc of the moves he's made in the Draft mostly
And I really don't think this team is that far away from being solid...
IMO, we NEED (in order)...
1- physical, stay at home defenseman that can play 20+min (Giordano)
2- physical, stay at home defenseman that can play 20+min (Smid)
3- 4th line center with some grit that can WIN FACEOFFS and chip in a bit offensively (Helm)
4- 3rd line RW w some scoring ability to play w Grigorenko (Armia)

If we can take care of our defense, and start winning some faceoffs, I think the "secondary scoring" we're lacking will come around

Vanek-Hodgson-Pominville.... Just awesome
Ott-Ennis-Stafford.... Ott wins faceoffs, they can attack offensively instead of chasing the puck around their whole shift
Foligno-Grigorenko-ARMIA.... Get the future started now, I think they all can contribute
Leino-HELM-Kaleta /Hecht.... Now that's a checking line

Ehrhoff-SMID.... Sulzer is "ok" but we need an upgrade
GIORDANO-Myers.... Get someone consistent defensively to help Myers "settle" down
MCNABB-Weber.... McNabb needs to be up here, this pair would be tough to play against & only expected to go about 15min or so, they can handle that
-Sulzer as extra
-if we can't trade Regehr, I guess I'm ok w him on 3rd pair, but I still wanna figure out how to get McNabb in our line-up sooner than later

None of those changes I've suggested are unreasonable,
And collectively would make us much tougher to play against

I think Ruff did "ruin" Vanek to an extent over the past few years. Vanek finally got some things off his chest at the end of last season and is a better for it. I think that took a big weight off his shoulders

I could be wrong but it's what I think
- RayHatesDomi

Well Vanek was definitely in Ruffs dog house more often then guys like Hecht, Ellis, Gaustad, Mair, etc. Which was a joke.

All I can say is this Vanek is the best Vanek I have ever seen play. I really hope he keeps it up for this short season! Only bright side of being a Sabres fan ATM.

A cup is a cup. And I have been for firing ruff since the 1st round loss to the flyers a couple years back. His time is up and a new fresh face is needed. I'm sick of watching this crap on the ice. At least with a new coach we can see if it was the coaches fault or if its actually that the players we have aren't good enough.
- Smittyx36

This

Pick a team that doesn't have bad contracts on it
Im ok w him bc of the moves he's made in the Draft mostly
And I really don't think this team is that far away from being solid...
IMO, we NEED (in order)...
1- physical, stay at home defenseman that can play 20+min (Giordano)
2- physical, stay at home defenseman that can play 20+min (Smid)
3- 4th line center with some grit that can WIN FACEOFFS and chip in a bit offensively (Helm)
4- 3rd line RW w some scoring ability to play w Grigorenko (Armia)

If we can take care of our defense, and start winning some faceoffs, I think the "secondary scoring" we're lacking will come around

Vanek-Hodgson-Pominville.... Just awesome
Ott-Ennis-Stafford.... Ott wins faceoffs, they can attack offensively instead of chasing the puck around their whole shift
Foligno-Grigorenko-ARMIA.... Get the future started now, I think they all can contribute
Leino-HELM-Kaleta /Hecht.... Now that's a checking line

Ehrhoff-SMID.... Sulzer is "ok" but we need an upgrade
GIORDANO-Myers.... Get someone consistent defensively to help Myers "settle" down
MCNABB-Weber.... McNabb needs to be up here, this pair would be tough to play against & only expected to go about 15min or so, they can handle that
-Sulzer as extra
-if we can't trade Regehr, I guess I'm ok w him on 3rd pair, but I still wanna figure out how to get McNabb in our line-up sooner than later

None of those changes I've suggested are unreasonable,
And collectively would make us much tougher to play against
- jdfitz77

Don't get me wrong I like how this team is setup for the future for the most part. But I'm not a fan of the moves Darcy has made since pegula came in. Yes he has drafted great "although we will have to wait and see for that". But leino, myers, stafford piss me off. Myers was worth maybe 4m at most after two seasons of just being okay.

I disagree, there is talent on our back end, the defensive breakdowns aren't a result of not being tough, it's a lack of coaching. They are all confused all of the time, everyone was standing around yesterday like they had no clue what to do.
- sbroads24

how is it lack of coaching? You think James Patrick doesnt know defeense? How about putting the blame on the players for once. Not just you btw, anybody that blames the coaches for everything.

They know what to do, they have played hockey their whole lives, they just arent doing it. Like Vanek said, we got up 3-1 and then played stupid. They weren't coached stupid, they played stupid.

I disagree, there is talent on our back end, the defensive breakdowns aren't a result of not being tough, it's a lack of coaching. They are all confused all of the time, everyone was standing around yesterday like they had no clue what to do.
- sbroads24

Because just about all our defensemen are "offensively" oriented...
We need some "defensive" defensemen
I think we are prob gonna have to agree to disagree on this one

This
- sbroads24

That is really the only way to find out if its the players or if its ruffs system.

how is it lack of coaching? You think James Patrick doesnt know defeense? How about putting the blame on the players for once. Not just you btw, anybody that blames the coaches for everything.

They know what to do, they have played hockey their whole lives, they just arent doing it. Like Vanek said, we got up 3-1 and then played stupid. They weren't coached stupid, they played stupid.
- Homer

By your logic, when does the coach ever take responsibility? Yes, the players share in the blame but not all of it

So either the players play good and they win, or they play bad and they lose.

Does coaching even matter at all? If so, how? When is it ever sweetheart Lindy's fault

how is it lack of coaching? You think James Patrick doesnt know defeense? How about putting the blame on the players for once. Not just you btw, anybody that blames the coaches for everything.

They know what to do, they have played hockey their whole lives, they just arent doing it. Like Vanek said, we got up 3-1 and then played stupid. They weren't coached stupid, they played stupid.
- Homer

It just seems to be the sabres mentality for several years now to play not to lose when they have the lead. And you cant just blame the players every time... Eventually the coach needs to be held accountable for losing even if its really not his fault.

how is it lack of coaching? You think James Patrick doesnt know defeense? How about putting the blame on the players for once. Not just you btw, anybody that blames the coaches for everything.

They know what to do, they have played hockey their whole lives, they just arent doing it. Like Vanek said, we got up 3-1 and then played stupid. They weren't coached stupid, they played stupid.
- Homer

I loved Vanek's interview. He really impressed me. When they asked him how it felt to be playing as well as he is, he said something along the lines of, it doesn't matter, we're not winning, I still need to be better along with everyone else.

Hey Homer anything new from good ole Sabreland??? Rumblings of any kind at all? I know that Darcy does not panic but holy hell it does not take a rocket scientist to tell that this is not working.

Or just the same old "keep on course" stuff

Also what do you think that chances are that Vanek decides to test the market after the 13/14 season?

By your logic, when does the coach ever take responsibility? Yes, the players share in the blame but not all of it

So either the players play good and they win, or they play bad and they lose.

Does coaching even matter at all? If so, how? When is it ever sweetheart Lindy's fault
- RayHatesDomi

You took the words out of my mouth!

That is really the only way to find out if its the players or if its ruffs system.
- Smittyx36

do i ever hate this word. i dont give a damn about a coaches system. i am not tired of ruff for his system. i think its fine. what i do question is his personnel decisions and player motivation.

its a shame that coaches need to motivate players because its their damn job but if it needs to be done it needs to be done, and i dont think he can anymore.

let me design some crappy "system" and good motivated players out on the ice with players they belong with at the times they need to be out there and they will figure out when to play defense and when to play offense

Don't get me wrong I like how this team is setup for the future for the most part. But I'm not a fan of the moves Darcy has made since pegula came in. Yes he has drafted great "although we will have to wait and see for that". But leino, myers, stafford piss me off. Myers was worth maybe 4m at most after two seasons of just being okay.
- Smittyx36

Vanek - Hodge - Pommer
Foligno - Grigo - Armia
Ott - ?? - ??
McCormick - Porter - Kaleta

Myers - Ehrhoff
Weber - Sekera
McNabb - Pysyk
Brennan

That is what we have in my book for next year... I want to flip Stafford and Ennis.. and waive Gerbe... but the rest is contract returning...

Enroth is a RFA after this season as well..

Anyone here the interview where they asked Miller to describe Vanek in one word??? Miller said "Decent"!!!!!

WTF? Who says that about a guy playing at an elite level?

Anyone here the interview where they asked Miller to describe Vanek in one word??? Miller said "Decent"!!!!!

WTF? Who says that about a guy playing at an elite level?
- Smittyx36

I think there are a bunch of players on this team that either don't want to be here, don't like the coach or don't like each other

Anyone here the interview where they asked Miller to describe Vanek in one word??? Miller said "Decent"!!!!!

WTF? Who says that about a guy playing at an elite level?
- Smittyx36

I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic. He had a smirk on his face right afterwards.

Vanek - Hodge - Pommer
Foligno - Grigo - Armia
Ott - ?? - ??
McCormick - Porter - Kaleta

Myers - Ehrhoff
Weber - Sekera
McNabb - Pysyk
Brennan

That is what we have in my book for next year... I want to flip Stafford and Ennis.. but the rest is contract returning...

Enroth is a RFA after this season as well..
- JVince11

The second line is two young IMO. It would be two 2nd year guys and a rookie! We need that to be the 3rd line and we need to get a 2nd line with a veteran center that can get 60pts+. But I do like the looks of the young line. We got a big body thats great on the boards with two guys with a lot of upside on offense.

A cup is a cup. And I have been for firing ruff since the 1st round loss to the flyers a couple years back. His time is up and a new fresh face is needed. I'm sick of watching this crap on the ice. At least with a new coach we can see if it was the coaches fault or if its actually that the players we have aren't good enough.
- Smittyx36

Personally, I don't care if Ruff is here or not. Is he a help, is he hinderance? Is he really that bad? Is he any good? I mean it's the same stagnant discussion over and over again.

Is he going to be here next season?

Count on it.

Will we be having these exact same discussion when we hit the same kind of slump next season?

Absolutely.

I'm not trying to piss in another man's cheerio's here, but, seriously? What is it with all the trades and firings and revamps everyone throws up every time this happens?

Like, I get it. I get the frustration, it's obvious, I was imagining what I'd be telling the team in the locker room, but seriously, it's embarressing, the extremes our 'fans' are willing to throw up on here.

It's not gonna change a thing. Ruff is still here. The team is still here.

They'll figure it out.

I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic. He had a smirk on his face right afterwards.
- HonkFortheGoose

Miller is a dbag in just about every interview I have him in! He is a very hard goalie to like even when he is playing amazing.

By your logic, when does the coach ever take responsibility? Yes, the players share in the blame but not all of it

So either the players play good and they win, or they play bad and they lose.

Does coaching even matter at all? If so, how? When is it ever sweetheart Lindy's fault
- RayHatesDomi

The players deserve most of the blame....but the great majority of people on this board just wanna blame Ruff and the "system". The system is fine, maybe they are sick of hearing Ruff's voice, and thats understandable...he should have been canned a while ago.......BUT, this mess is more on the players.

Lindy is the same coach that had a team that won the Presidents trophy and went to back ECF's. Did he all of a sudden get dumb? No, they players arent as good as they were back then. Simple.

Anyone here the interview where they asked Miller to describe Vanek in one word??? Miller said "Decent"!!!!!

WTF? Who says that about a guy playing at an elite level?
- Smittyx36

sarcasm meter broke again?

Miller is a dbag in just about every interview I have him in! He is a very hard goalie to like even when he is playing amazing.
- Smittyx36

I think you just have a disposition to dislike him so instead of realizing he was joking around, you took him seriously. That's not his fault. It's yours. Was he being a jerk as well when he said that the Toronto game was his fault?

Miller is a dbag in just about every interview I have him in! He is a very hard goalie to like even when he is playing amazing.
- Smittyx36

I think he is a head case too, but his interview yesterday was spot on. This team leaves him out out to dry game in and game out.