So here we are again. One-third of the way through the
abbreviated season, the Sabres sit in 12th place. They’re four
points out of eighth but two points away from last; forever toiling in
mediocrity. There are a few new faces this year but the pattern remains mostly
the same. They win big games in impressive fashion (usually against Boston),
leading the fan base to believe they’ve turned a corner. Then they blow a lead
late or no show a big-time home game and we’re reminded what kind of team it is
we cheer for.
Friday,
Drew Stafford scored his first goal in the 15th game of the season.
This comes two years removed from a 30-goal season which earned him a four
year, $16 million contract. As if on cue, his productivity immediately dropped.
It’s always seemed as though at least one of the “top” forwards has to be on
some sort of slump at all times in the post-Briere/Drury era. This is not a huge
area of concern right now as most of the other top forwards are exceeding
expectation. It’s been the defense that’s been the major issue; and would it
really be a Sabres season without a major issue?
Yet
again it seems the Sabres are without a real identity. Unless that identity is
the oober-sloppy, high-scoring team that has one punch-happy monster to
embarrass whoever the toughest guy on the opposing team is. In other words, the
poor man’s Flyers with a better goalie. The defense has been no help to Ryan
Miller thus far, Myers looks lost, Leopold somehow looks even worse, they’re
not very much tougher even with Ott and Scott, they’re inconsistent on offense
and beyond Tyler Ennis, they lack secondary scoring.
If the
Sabres were to keep up this pace, they’d miss the playoffs for the second year
in a row and the fourth time in six seasons. They’ve won only five playoff
series since 1999 and have missed the playoffs six times in 10 years. So how
does Owner Terry Pegula justify not firing 15th-year coach Lindy
Ruff? The NHL may be the toughest league to keep a job in and definitely sees
the quickest turnarounds when it comes to coaching changes. Four teams made the
second round of the playoffs last year after making a coaching change
in-season. One of those teams, the Los Angeles Kings, brought home the Stanley
Cup.
There
have been 170 coaching changes since Lindy Ruff was hired in 1997 yet he has
not won a Stanley Cup. In his only championship appearance, the Sabres were
defeated by Ken Hitchcock’s Dallas Stars. Hitchcock was later fired by the
Stars, Flyers and Blue Jackets whom he all led to the playoffs. Last year he
was brought in mid-season to St. Louis, turned the Blues around, helped them
grab the second seed a year after missing the playoffs and earned the Jack
Adams award for top coach. He wasn’t fired from all those jobs because he’s a
bad coach; sometimes it’s just necessary. Whether it be a change of scenery, a
fresh voice or a kick in the ass to the team; firing the coach is just a
necessary evil to remain competitive in the NHL.
Ruff
should be fired before it’s too late and another season is lost. The Sabres are
too talented and play in too passionate of a hockey market to accept
mediocrity. Yes, Ruff has been a part of the development of Vanek, Miller and
Pomminville. But he’s also been a part of the development of Myers, Enroth,
Kotalik, Sekera, Gragnani and Stafford. There’s far too much young talent in
the Sabres right now to trust Ruff with. It’s time for Pegula to part with Ruff
and move in a different direction. That is, if the sole reason for existence is
actually to win the Stanley Cup.
Stay Hungry, My Friends
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