Sabres Fire Head Coach Lindy Ruff; Ron Rolston Named Interim Head Coach

[RayzorEdge]

About f*cking time!

Ruff had just as much to do with the soft state of the Sabres as Regier. He was in no hurry to play what little toughness he had for years. One down, one to go.

[ValJamesRules]

Originally Posted by chilly666

Link

This seems the most likely situation. Patrick as an iterim, then find a long term solution in the offseason.

Thanks Chilly for posting these updates.

[MattBurger]

F*ck Lindy Ruff. Guy was a mediocre coach who wore out his welcome years ago in Buffalo.

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

twas long time coming...

[ValJamesRules]

Per WGR - Ron Rolston is making the drive from Rochester to Buffalo to be named the interim coach. Chadd Cassidy is behind the bench for the Amerks tonight.

The drive up the Thruway from Rochester to Buffalo is a right of passage for many who wear the Blue and Gold.

[shaud19]

FINALLY

I'm very happy with this. Pegula should have done this once he took over. Buffalo will not miss Ruff. I'm interested what Jack Schitt's reaction is to this, overjoyed I assume!

[4thLineGoon]

Originally Posted by chilly666

McKenzie just tweeted that it could be Ron Rolston coming up from Rochester as the replacement

Oh god no. Rolston has no clue as to what a top-six and bottom-six are. Or the role of an enforcer. He's been content with "well if guys like Finley, Turnbull, Tropp, Foligno and Roy step up and scrap, that's fine, if not, no big deal" He's got Tarnasky pulling full-time HW duty as well as getting PP time and taking a regular shift and wondering why his production has dipped while his hands are in the ice buckets. Also his line building makes about as much sense as Torts, spin that wheel and give me the first three names that come up!

[Maggie3and Me]

With the second most goals for, but the worst goals against in their conference, the Sabres had defensive problems, and not just in goal. Lindy did not get them addressed.

The Sabres are only 4 points out of a playoff spot and do have time, not a lot to make up ground.

Is Rolston an offensive or defensive minded coach?

[grits207]

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/stat...55315376345088

Just got off HNIC Radio, no idea what is out there...but Ron Rolston takes over as Sabres coach.

Darcy Regier says Rolston is interim head coach for rest of the season...if things go well, will have opportunity to keep job

[Dave_42]

I can't even remember a coach for the Sabres before Ruff... is there another team that has a coach currently for longer than the 15 years he was at Buffalo?

[ValJamesRules]

Originally Posted by Maggie3and Me

The Sabres are only 4 points out of a playoff spot and do have time, not a lot to make up ground.

Is Rolston an offensive or defensive minded coach?

There is time, I think that is why this move was made.

Rolston is more of a development minded coach. Buffalo is a pretty young team and he is known for making players better. Time will tell.....

[Maggie3and Me]

Originally Posted by ValJamesRules

There is time, I think that is why this move was made.

Rolston is more of a development minded coach. Buffalo is a pretty young team and he is known for making players better. Time will tell.....

Thanks, Val.

I hope he get things straightened out and does utilize the toughness he has in the right way, not to just drop them. Hope he uses Scott when needed.

[ValJamesRules]

Originally Posted by Maggie3and Me

Thanks, Val.

I hope he get things straightened out and does utilize the toughness he has in the right way, not to just drop them. Hope he uses Scott when needed.

Yes! I think that Pegula will let it be known this team can be better with Scott dressed when they face another team with a heavy. Say....tomorrow night against the Leafs. He dressed Tarnasky every game for the Amerks, so he likes some grit on the ice.

[I_am_Belak_2]

Originally Posted by Dave_42

I can't even remember a coach for the Sabres before Ruff... is there another team that has a coach currently for longer than the 15 years he was at Buffalo?

No but Barry Trotz has been with Nashville for as long as the team has been there. Next year will be his 15th I believe.

[JKidd]

This is what happens when the players start tuning you out and the product on the ice suffers, nonetheless in the standings. When you're dead even with the NY Islanders a quarter of the way into the season, something has to be done.