Sorry, but down 2 with 2 minutes left, and you put Hecht and Kaleta out there because it is a penalty kill??? Come on.

And why move Vanek away from Hodgson and Pommer? The line was working, and now, because the other lines are not, you break it up and put line killing Stafford with 19/29 and Vanek with two puck carriers 63/82??? Come on.

Lindy has clearly lost any ability to manipulate his lineup, let alone motivate his players.

So, there really are a limited set of options.

1. Fire Lindy Ruff.
2. Start the fire sale and get rid of these players that no longer respond, or never have responded, to their coach.

Personally, I like option 2 more than option 1.

Let's take Tyler Myers as an example. Is his recent struggle a coaching issue, or a player issue? Lindy was his coach during his Calder Trophy season, so has his coaching really caused the problem? What really is the difference between Tyler Myers then and Tyler Myers now? You may want to ask Tyler Myers.

How about Drew Stafford? His best season was a contract year (go figure), and other than that he has never eclipsed 20 goals. Is it the coach's responsibility to have him perform his best outside a contract year when he has never shown the ability to take that responsibility on his own?
- GoinFiveHole

If you listen to the Sabres apologists on WGR, Myers got injured during the lockout affecting his conditioning. So apparently he isn't up to 100% yet. I feel like Myers doesn't come to camp ready to play. This is three years in a row he has been awful at the beginning of the season. The problem this year is that by the time he gets to top form it will be too late for the team to make up ground in a 48 game season.

Sorry, but down 2 with 2 minutes left, and you put Hecht and Kaleta out there because it is a penalty kill??? Come on.

And why move Vanek away from Hodgson and Pommer? The line was working, and now, because the other lines are not, you break it up and put line killing Stafford with 19/29 and Vanek with two puck carriers 63/82??? Come on.

Lindy has clearly lost any ability to manipulate his lineup, let alone motivate his players.

So, there really are a limited set of options.

1. Fire Lindy Ruff.
2. Start the fire sale and get rid of these players that no longer respond, or never have responded, to their coach.

Personally, I like option 2 more than option 1.

Let's take Tyler Myers as an example. Is his recent struggle a coaching issue, or a player issue? Lindy was his coach during his Calder Trophy season, so has his coaching really caused the problem? What really is the difference between Tyler Myers then and Tyler Myers now? You may want to ask Tyler Myers.

How about Drew Stafford? His best season was a contract year (go figure), and other than that he has never eclipsed 20 goals. Is it the coach's responsibility to have him perform his best outside a contract year when he has never shown the ability to take that responsibility on his own?
- GoinFiveHole

Not to mention that, during his best season, when he had the 31 goals, he had something like 5 hat tricks.

Take away the 5 hat tricks (because that's just not a good base to judge how prolific a scorer someone is), and it's the same old 16-goal per year Drew Stafford we've all come to hate.

The guy may be blessed with some great hands, but he's too streaky and does not have the desire to be anything other than one in a long line of mediocre hockey players that have blessed us Sabre fans with their presence.

Just another first round bust.

not to stir the pot but why no couture on the list ?
- hubie

i agree he's up there too, i was just looking at the list of teams at the top of the page, and putting down names off the top of my head. when you see sharks, immediately think of thornton, and then just moved on cuz i already had 20. could also put krecji, ribiero, skinner, duchesne, weiss, henrique, lecavalier, JVR, etc, etc.

Not to mention that, during his best season, when he had the 31 goals, he had something like 5 hat tricks.

Take away the 5 hat tricks (because that's just not a good base to judge how prolific a scorer someone is), and it's the same old 16-goal per year Drew Stafford we've all come to hate.

The guy may be blessed with some great hands, but he's too streaky and does not have the desire to be anything other than one in a long line of mediocre hockey players that have blessed us Sabre fans with their presence.

Just another first round bust.
- Powerslave

Call me insane but id rather have a player score 30 goals over 82 games scoring 1 or 2 here and there then his production that he scores say 25 of 30 goals in a 15 game span.

i agree he's up there too, i was just looking at the list of teams at the top of the page, and putting down names off the top of my head. when you see sharks, immediately think of thornton, and then just moved on cuz i already had 20. could also put krecji, ribiero, skinner, duchesne, weiss, henrique, lecavalier, JVR, etc, etc.
- sensarmy_11

I hear you just curious

This message board is brutal. Talk about homers, its always something huh?

Last year everyone is happy Darcy is actually active on July 1 and picks up a few players. Darcy also drafts well, but we don't talk about that. The majority of his trades he has won. Anyone want Roy or kassian on this team? If you do you are out of your mind.

Oh no, we aren't skilled enough this year? Last year everyone was complaining how soft we were. See Milan lucic. We are horrible at face offs this year? Wasn't everyone chirping Darcy to send gastad packing? We can't have it both ways people. Try to be a bit more objective if your arguments.

What if Myers is playing like his rookie season right now? What if stafford returned to his 30 goal self? All the sudden we're a good team. All the sudden we aren't chasing Darcy and lindy around with pitchforks. Believe it or not, one or two player not performing to kill a team. It can also make a team. See the 2012 la kings. What if leino played like he did in the playoffs against us?

Is amazing to come on here and read comments from people who are never satisfied. We don't get enough shots? Come on here tonight and read about how we put 35 into Anderson's chest. I get it, everyone wants a big strong mean defenseman like chara and a smooth skating offensive guy like karlsson. Guess what, their few and far between. Darcy should just make a trade for one of them right? Oh wait no way he could, he doesn't have the stones. Burn him!!

I love all you Monday morning quarterbacks. There's a reason you are posting your ideas on a message board and not being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars coaching or assembling a professional hockey team.
- bjm1717

I can't even comment on this. 15 years of horrible hockey. Every organization in sports would of fired him 10 years ago

Call me insane but id rather have a player score 30 goals over 82 games scoring 1 or 2 here and there then his production that he scores say 25 of 30 goals in a 15 game span.
- hubie

Your Insane.

Myers for ROR???

Myers for ROR???


- rustbelt82

Not sure that would get it done but I would happily throw Stafford in the deal......

Kinda hoping the embarrassment continues.
- LamontSanford

sadly i agree. ive seen enough heroic late season runs that mean nothing and give management a false sense of hope. burn baby burn...

better to suck for 48 than 82...

Stafford would be great for a team near the floor

Myers for ROR???


- rustbelt82

despite his struggles i still think myers could get more. there are enough guys around the league who salivate over his size/skill set/potential IMO, and also enough hubris to think they are the one who can develop him...

Not sure that would get it done but I would happily throw Stafford in the deal......
- LamontSanford

You could get Oreilly for Ennis,Leopold and mccabe

Call me insane but id rather have a player score 30 goals over 82 games scoring 1 or 2 here and there then his production that he scores say 25 of 30 goals in a 15 game span.
- hubie

Agreed.

But I also want DESIRE TO WIN, not just consistent goals scoring. Sick of these guys who take 1/2 the game off, then get their goal or their assist, and we think they're great. JP Dumont, Michal Grosek, Chris Gratton, Drew Stafford, and it goes on and on and on. And before you know it, with these guys, we either walk away from an arbitration decision, trade him for another slug, or win the lottery (You lucked out, Regier!) and happen upon a Danny Briere.

Or most likely, in Stafford's case, we will hang onto him until he's virtually untradeable.

Give me a Brad Marchand, a Brandon Dubinsky, a David Backes, a Ryan Kesler, a Joe Pavelski, a Dustin Brown.

You could get Oreilly for Ennis,Leopold and mccabe
- Buffalo1000

Then you trade stafford,mcnabb,armia and a first for perry

Stafford would be great for a team near the floor
- hubie

to isles for Nino...

Then you trade stafford,mcnabb,armia and a first for perry
- Buffalo1000

Wish I could beleive Darcy would trade someone he has drafted but that never happens.

You could get Oreilly for Ennis,Leopold and mccabe
- Buffalo1000

I trade any other defenseman or defensive prospect before McCabe. I think he's going to be our rock back there once he enters the league.

Wish I could beleive Darcy would trade someone he has drafted but that never happens.
- hubie

Now you have
Pominville vanek hodgson
Perry. Foligno Oreilly
Ott grigorenko gerbe
Kaleta porter Hecht or mccormick

despite his struggles i still think myers could get more. there are enough guys around the league who salivate over his size/skill set/potential IMO, and also enough hubris to think they are the one who can develop him...
- battelmt

despite his size and skill set, when you look at myers contract, and his downward spiralling performance, i don't think myers alone would be enough to get ROR.

i think he still has value, but that contract is a killer, especially for a player who has consistently gotten worse every year of his career.

I trade any other defenseman or defensive prospect before McCabe. I think he's going to be our rock back there once he enters the league.
- buffalokb

We say that about all our young prospects. You have to give up to get. It is always about our young talent. It has never won anything. We are years away from cup.

I would do a blockbuster
Miller,stafford,Ennis,McCabe,armia,sekera and a first. For perry,getzlaf and hiller

Yea and.........whats your point.
- SABRES 89

no fun to be had here I guess

despite his size and skill set, when you look at myers contract, and his downward spiralling performance, i don't think myers alone would be enough to get ROR.

i think he still has value, but that contract is a killer, especially for a player who has consistently gotten worse every year of his career.
- sensarmy_11

WHAT???!!! How dare you! You'll get roasted for that kind of talk on a Sabres Blog......

... Am I right sbroads24

Now you have
Pominville vanek hodgson
Perry. Foligno Oreilly
Ott grigorenko gerbe
Kaleta porter Hecht or mccormick
- Buffalo1000

We still have Ruff with that scenario?

Then it might as well be
Pominville Hodgson Vanek
Blah Blah Blah
Blah Hecht Blah
Blah Blah Blah

despite his size and skill set, when you look at myers contract, and his downward spiralling performance, i don't think myers alone would be enough to get ROR.

i think he still has value, but that contract is a killer, especially for a player who has consistently gotten worse every year of his career.
- sensarmy_11

hmm. tough call. i think locally we may over value him now (guilty) because he is/was looked at as a corner stone ala pronger/chara.

some (me -anyway) are willing to be patient based on the other guys learning curves.

i look at his contract as taking lumps now- but a good deal down the road when he is developed and locked up and making less than most other franchise guys based on the market

(i applied for the cbus job but they never called back! weird...).