Perhaps Bad Decision

Is Ruff is ruining the Sabres playoff chances?

Here along the Lake It is truly remarkable that the coach has sent our best (imho) goaltender Devon Levi, who was allowed only two preseason periods of play (both shutouts) down to Rochester.

Incredible as it may seem the coach also has a lifetime AHLer goon Geertsen on the roster, this player has only played 25 NHL in his entire career, and ironically, they were under this coach when he was with New Jersey.

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Author: Buffalo Winter

Jesus, Family, Hockey, then everything else.

3 thoughts on “Perhaps Bad Decision”

  1. I’m sorry that about the coach and hope his decisions work out and benefit the team. There’s nothing more frustrating as a fan than seeing decisions being made that don’t make sense.

    I wondered on what basis ruff makes decisions regarding his goalies and looked up the contracts of the goalies to check out AAV, term, etc.

    Well, that was interesting. FWIW, what jumps out to me is that most of the goalies have short term contracts. Goalies Levi and Lyon each have 2-year contracts while Georgiev’s is only one-year. Luukonen is the exception with four years left on his 5- year contract (his has the highest AAV).

    Maybe the saving grace is that the composition of the rosters can change at the start of the regular season and throughout?

    While looking up the team, I came across information about the coach that I was not aware of. You probably mentioned this in an earlier Buffalo Winter article.

    What I didn’t realize is that Lindy Ruff was Sabres HC from 1997 to 2013. Go figure.

    Back then, how did you, Buffalo Winter, and other Sabres fans, feel about him as a head coach? Was he better or just as bad?

    Thanks very much.

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    1. Yes, ruff has been a coach for Buffalo for way too long, his first and looooongest tenure began when he took over from Jack Adams Trophy winner, Ted Nolan who had built the hardest working team in the NHL backed by arguably the greatest goaltender on the planet at the time, (G) Hasek.

      After taking over ruff got the Sabres to the semifinals where they lost to Washington, then the following season was the “no goal” debacle, so ruff was basically handed a built very good team and really could not get them over the top.

      Then Daniel Briere and Chris Drury propelled the Sabres into the semifinals for two consecutive seasons, alas no Cup finals for those two ruff led teams.

      Then ruff decided the Sabres were not taking responsibility for themselves, so he embarrassed them by selecting a new team Captain every month, for approximately 18 months, then towards the end it was just please leave.

      When ruff was a player for the Sabres some of his teammates had a nick name for him, Lindy on the road, Ruff at home.

      He also was the soft coach whose team did nothing when our (G) Miller was bowled over by Boston’s goon Lucic, which was also embarrassing.

      Now after New Jersey kicked him to the curb before their season ended a couple of years ago, he is back here?

      And I cannot believe he sent our best goaltender to Rochester, I am not the only voice either, I have read where others think this is ruff’s last kick at the can.

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      1. Thank you for the backstory.

        Surely there must have been other HC options around the time when Ruff was being considered for the position a second time?

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