Was it the revenge factor, better linemates, or another example of how Ruff squashes rookie talent?

Eh, probably just tried a little extra hard to try and prove something to us. We'll see how long that lasts. One game doesn't make a player.

agreed

Same with Grags. When have we ever seen him play that physical here? But he was trying to shove everyone around tonight.

A lot can happen when you have a different coach and line-mates. That is probably more or less what was happening tonight.

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

Pominville, Vanek, Miller, Sekera, Ennis, Gerbe, Campbell, Tropp, Enroth, Myers, Weber, Gaustad, Kaleta, Biron, McKee, Afinogenov...

I don't like when people say Ruff squashes rookie talent, because I just don't think it's true. Typically, if a guy isn't performing, people like to blame Ruff.

Kassian skated hard tonight. Didn't do it in Buffalo except for his first couple of games here. He's a good player when he works hard, but his work ethic and commitment have been his biggest question marks. Lets see if he ends up doing it on a consistent basis. I personally kind of doubt it.

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Wheelhouse

I can list the rookies (or young and inexperienced players) that have struggled and not had success under Ruff, but let's stick to your list. Vanek was put in Lindy's doghouse early, missing the '06 playoffs and still gets hounded. I'd argue his current success is in spite of Ruff. Sekera's taken awhile to be steady and consistent, but still isn't the pt producer he was supposed to be. Ennis and Gerbe have yet to truly flourish so that's up in the air, but they at least appear to be playing the right way each night. Campbell took a decade to develop, Myers and Weber have struggled for two years, and other names either haven't had success or only spots of it. Pominville and Miller are the only examples of players with TALENT that have done well from the start and improved under Ruff.

I don't expect Ruff to make magic out of marginal players, but there are definitely some examples of rookies that have leveled off or dropped off under him. I think Ruff overcoaches, with so much emphasis on the details of his system that it mentally paralyzes young players with fear of making mistakes, instead of playing to their natural talents.

This wasn't meant to be an anti-Ruff topic, just a question. But option three is a legit choice.

What rookies have floundered under Ruff and went on to have great careers?

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Wheelhouse

Kassian has a long history of turning it on and off depending on the situation. That's part of the reason I liked the idea of trading him.

For him to have a good game against his old team after being traded isn't exactly an indicator of anything, and it certainly isn't proof that Ruff 'squashes rookie talent'.

Kassian with his better line mates and increased ice time still lost the effin game.

I'll take it.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

I have to say Kassian had a good game because look at who he's playing with. Am I still mad at the Kassian trade. Yeah I'm not happy about it and yes Hodgson has been a solid pickup for us. I have to say Ennis is playing great right now and he is making shit happen almost every shift. Plus it seems like Stafford is moving much better now and is playing better hockey right now. I'm still in shock over the last 3 games because I thought this would be the week where they dropped right out of the playoff picture and instead they have climbed up in the standing and have proven me wrong. I still think even if this team makes it in they don't have enough toughness to last that long. That's the reason why I didn't like the Kassian trade when it happened.

It's only been the last several years that I've noticed it, so there's hasn't been enough time for rookies to leave Buffalo and have "great careers". How about, "What rookies have come to Buffalo with solid junior/AHL production, NHL potential, and leveled off or regressed under Ruff?".

Adam (hot, struggled after demotion, off the roster)
Kassian (somewhat disappointing over a short span, traded)
Myers (hot, struggled, leveled off...worth 5.5 mil anymore???)
Sekera (not the player he was supposed to be)
Campbell (took a decade to develop)
Paille (very good 3rd liner for Bos now)
Weber (inexplicably benched for Gragnani)
Butler (somehow doing well in full-time role for Cal)

Notice I'm being as fair as possible, not including players like, Kalinin, Max, Mancari, Kennedy, MacArthur, or Gragnani because they were duds anyway. As I said, this isn't supposed to be a Ruff bashing thread. If it was I would've titled it something unfair and tried to say one game is proof that Kassian struggled here because of Ruff. It's not proof, and I'm really happy with Hodgson over Kassian anyway (as I made very clear in the trade threads).

Don't get hung up like the last option is supposed to mean something really important. Even if Kassian has a great career, there really wasn't enough time for him in Buffalo to say that Ruff would've somehow prevented it anyway. But...to say that young players have struggled or disappointed under Ruff is a legit observation. Whether it means anything deeper is a legit debate too. I don't know the answer but there's been enough examples to wonder whether Ruff could be part of the problem. That's all, but that issue wasn't even my intent with this topic.

I honestly think Zak is upset at being traded and was super motivated to "show" the Sabres how much of a mistake they made. It was situational and I would be surprised if he didn't slip back to his normal play when the emotions calm down a bit. That being said....we beat him and he can eat man grapes.

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*Kassian scores two points in 4 games he's played*

OMG GILLIS IS A GENIUS! PUT HIM WITH KESLER AND BURROWS NO WAI

Canucks fans are so stupid.

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"Counting all the assholes in the room, I'm definitely not alone!" ~ Michael Poulsen, Volbeat, Still Standing.

Lindy is a rookie ruiner. He ruins rookies' lives.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Because Vigneault isn't afraid to give a guy ice time, or a bump him up when he's trying. Can any of the Lindy lovers in this thread explain Lindy's dispersion of ice time theory? I've never seen any rhyme or reason to it myself.

I'd love for Kassian to suck ass so we look like the smart ones, but it's funny how people are nose diving off the bandwagon. He's already a capable player, and will be a good NHL'er. This he'll be a 30 point guy shit is total nonsense, and the reality that he may not have flourished under Ruff is in the backs of all our minds. It's funny how a few wins changes everyone's perspective.

Million dollar question: what is wrong with Stafford and Vanek(or Roy, or Boyes or Leino)? Did they get the Leroy mystery bug, and forget where the net was, or are they being improperly used? Miller is the only reason this team has any chance in hell. LR has done just about zippo to get us where we are. It'd be a lot easier to say he's the reason were shit. If we didn't have Miller, he'd be shit canned by now no question.

Idle curiosity... so you think that all teams have Boards like this, where the coach is systematically dissected, put under the microscope & criticized? I wonder how bad other team's coaches are perceived to be by elements of their fan base?

People find what they are looking for.

Other teams boards are discussing their new coaches, because their GM's are capable of believing that their current losing coach isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Not just boards of teams with new coaches. I mean all teams, all coaches. Are the Bruins coach, the Dallas coach, the Senators coach all being dissed by an active portion of their fans.

Why would you dis:

Boston: won you a cup
Dallas: lose Brad Richards, yet still in playoff position
Senators: Also over-achieving in a playoff spot
Sabres: highest payroll, and hoping a worn out star goalie carries them in with a shit load of help.