As if it was not already bad enough for the Buffalo Sabres, what with the contractual squabble between media giants Time Warner and MSG that has resulted in Sabres game telecasts being pulled from the regional cable package. To make matters exponentially more challenging, the Sabres' overall play has been mediocre at best, and completely vexing at their worst.
Take for instance, the January 16 contest against the Red Wings, played in Detroit. The game was essentially over by the end of the first period, with the Wings already up 3-0. Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller, who up until this 2011-12 season was a consistent all-star performer, has looked anything but of late. After Miller's younger brother, Drew, fed a crossing pass to fellow Wing Darren Helm, which put the Wings up 5-0 early in the second, the elder Miller's evening was done.
Although Detroit did not score another goal, the damage had already been done. With the loss, the Sabres have lost nine consecutive road games in regulation, and the game in Detroit was only the second in a string of seven straight road games. Their next game is tomorrow, January 18, in Chicago, which has all the markings of another loss, considering how poorly the Sabres are playing.
Sabres' Injuries Not A Good Enough Excuse
The rash of injuries that have routinely plagued the Sabres notwithstanding, a good team is capable of overcoming adversity. Right now, the Sabres are not a good team and they are in real danger of having this season spiral out of control. Contrary to what Ryan Miller was quoted as saying in Detroit, a variety of coaching and or player personnel changes have to be seriously considered by Pegula.
Pegula has been staunchly defending head coach Lindy Ruff, telling anybody within earshot that Ruff is and will continue to be his head coach. That Pegula has come out so vociferously on this particular matter leads me to believe he is looking to quiet things down while he deliberates his on-ice management options. There are at least a few available persons with NHL head coaching experience, so it's not like Pegula couldn't pull the trigger on Ruff and bring in a fresh face with an alternate coaching perspective.
There is no reason to sugarcoat things at this point. By this time, we fans had expected a lot more out of the likes of Derek Roy, Jason Pominville, Paul Gaustad, Drew Stafford and Brad Boyes. 2011 free agent acquisition Ville Leino has been an enormous disappointment. Tyler Myers' play has noticeably slipped the past couple of years; it just goes to show how tough of a loss it was for the Sabres, specifically Myers, to lose defenseman Henrik Tallinder to the New Jersey Devils before the 2010-11 season.
Ruff, Regier Not Getting Enough Out Of Players
What it really boils down to is this: Is Ruff and his coaching staff extracting the most out each and every player? Did General Manager Darcy Regier, with the blessings of former team owners John Rigas and Tom Golisano as well as Pegula, generally scout, draft and groom a bunch of marginal NHL players and chronic underachievers? Or is it just a case of upper management routinely not assembling an effective blend of talent that will deliver deep playoff runs on a regular basis?
I have always admired the way in which Ruff has run his respective teams. His grinding, take no prisoners approach as a player has served him well during his 14 years behind the Sabres bench. However, it appears he has lost some of that verve. Nevertheless, Ruff is not the only culpable party. Regier, in his 13th season as the Sabres' GM, has clearly swung and missed on many draft, trade and free agent acquisitions. It could eventually come down to at least one of those two figures being relieved of his duties.'
But if the team's slide continues - don't be surprised if both are let go.
Reference
Associated Press (2011). Red Wings shut out Sabres for franchise-best 15th straight home win.
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