[nfreeman]

BillHoppe, on 24 October 2009 - 04:30 PM, said:

Right now, almost every guy is showcasing maturity and leadership, hence the fast start. It’s mentioned now to the point it’s almost becoming cliché, but that stuff about “buying into/staying within the system” is a result of that. Guys have refined their game through better practice habits. In a tight contest these first few weeks, they haven’t blinked. Frustration has been limited. Players are sticking to what they’re told to do. It’s a far cry from the last two seasons, when the Sabres imploded late.

Practices have been noticeably different through these first six weeks or so. The sessions are much crisper. They definitely have a sense of business to them. I believe players are taking them more seriously. There’s a lot more on-ice communication. Mike Grier seems to talk a lot. Players seem to be having fun, too.

Last season, the Sabres trudged through some AWFUL practices. I remember on Halloween, the day after a second consecutive shutout loss, most of the team moped through a bag skate. It’s probably the worst practice I’ve ever seen. At one point, Andrew Peters won a four-man sprint between Ales Kotalik, Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek. Lindy was pissed.

It’s early, but you’re not seeing that kind of stuff this season. It’s possible they’ve mostly outgrown that stuff. Time will tell.

Good stuff. Thanks very much Bill.

wjag, on 24 October 2009 - 04:39 PM, said:

Awesome.. It feels different this year. They look different... Hoping were not misreading things.. Amazing the same cast of characters can recast their play...

It really goes to show how much relates to what's between the ears.

[nfreeman]

Bill -- here's another one for ya: what's your sense of how the players feel about Lindy? Does he have credibility/respect in their eyes? Do they believe in him and his system? Do they tune him out? Do they feel he's too critical? Do they think he makes good/bad decisions in terms of awarding ice time?

Thanks.

[Vanek-Man]

nfreeman, on 27 October 2009 - 03:49 PM, said:

Bill -- here's another one for ya: what's your sense of how the players feel about Lindy? Does he have credibility/respect in their eyes? Do they believe in him and his system? Do they tune him out? Do they feel he's too critical? Do they think he makes good/bad decisions in terms of awarding ice time?

Thanks.

Not jumping in for Bill Hoppe, but just thought this may help out a bit. Clarke MacArthur was on live on NHL on the fly Tuesday night, and they asked him that. CMac said Ruff has changed this season. MacArthur said "the mood's a lot lighter...even after our tougher games, he's in a lot lighter of a mood". It seems like Ruff was maybe too demanding in the past of the young and inexperienced Sabres. He also said the team is a year older and matured a lot and they know how desperate they are to get back to the playoffs and adding vets like Montador and Grier really has helped keep their focus. But he did make it sound like Ruff has changed a lot and the team has really followed him.

[PASabreFan]

Vanek-Man, on 28 October 2009 - 09:35 PM, said:

Not jumping in for Bill Hoppe, but just thought this may help out a bit. Clarke MacArthur was on live on NHL on the fly Tuesday night, and they asked him that. CMac said Ruff has changed this season. MacArthur said "the mood's a lot lighter...even after our tougher games, he's in a lot lighter of a mood". It seems like Ruff was maybe too demanding in the past of the young and inexperienced Sabres. He also said the team is a year older and matured a lot and they know how desperate they are to get back to the playoffs and adding vets like Montador and Grier really has helped keep their focus. But he did make it sound like Ruff has changed a lot and the team has really followed him.

I hope Lindy can keep things light and relaxed. Hey, it's working. But he does have a dark side. Even joking around with Bucky and Bill et. al in that video, he made the very sardonic joke, "Let's see if we're laughing in January." There's no reason for the good times to end.

[tom webster]

It should be remenbered that one of Lindy's mentors was Scotty Bowman and players hated Bowman. Some still can't stand him but most respect him.

[Taro T]

tom webster, on 29 October 2009 - 06:38 AM, said:

It should be remenbered that one of Lindy's mentors was Scotty Bowman and players hated Bowman. Some still can't stand him but most respect him.

It should also be remembered (as has been posted elsewhere on this board) that Lindy got to work w/ Mike Babcock this summer and it appears you can teach an old dog new tricks.

[BillHoppe]

My apologies ... I'll try to get to these later today or tomorrow.


If anyone cares, it appears Paul Gaustad is out tonight (flu). Adam Mair will replace him.

[sizzlemeister]

BillHoppe, on 30 October 2009 - 10:59 AM, said:

My apologies ... I'll try to get to these later today or tomorrow.


If anyone cares, it appears Paul Gaustad is out tonight (flu). Adam Mair will replace him.

OH NO! Who is going to win the face-offs?

[cdexchange]

BillHoppe, on 30 October 2009 - 10:59 AM, said:

My apologies ... I'll try to get to these later today or tomorrow.


If anyone cares, it appears Paul Gaustad is out tonight (flu). Adam Mair will replace him.

That's bad news. Aside from the obvious face-off disadvantage, I really hope this does not spread throughout the rest of the team. :angry:

[wjag]

Bill,

Can you tell us your thoughts on why Lindy only gives Vanek 15 minutes a game?

[BillHoppe]

nfreeman, on 27 October 2009 - 03:49 PM, said:

Bill -- here's another one for ya: what's your sense of how the players feel about Lindy? Does he have credibility/respect in their eyes? Do they believe in him and his system? Do they tune him out? Do they feel he's too critical? Do they think he makes good/bad decisions in terms of awarding ice time?

Thanks.

I’m sorry I didn’t reply until now …

I think most players genuinely like and respect Lindy. He’s about as credible as they come. If the Sabres have a few more elite seasons and win a cup, I think Lindy could (stress: could) receive some hall-of-fame consideration.

There’s a lot there. He’s had success in two different eras, really. In my opinion, he’s very fair. Players probably understand he’s done something right to stick around 12 years.

He also played the game, served as a captain, played two positions, fought for 12 seasons to stick around, etc.

That said, there could be a few guys who secretly dislike him. Hank Tallinder has said he was pissed at Lindy last year. I think they’re fine now. There was probably some real friction, however. Does Danny Paille like Lindy? I don’t know. But I doubt any player dumped like Paille speaks highly of his former coach.

Lindy’s certain had some enemies over the years – Doug Gilmour, Slava Kozlov, Jason Woolley. There could be some in there now. Who knows?

I think they believe in his system now. I know they got rocked Saturday and didn’t perform too strongly Friday, but their start has been pretty remarkable in terms of tightness and relentlessness. It’s been a tough sell, however. They certainly weren’t buying in fully the last couple of seasons.

Remember, many of the Sabres arrived when the game opened up immediately after the lockout. They had success as a freewheeling team. I know the game doesn’t possess the clutching, grabbing and hooking it did before the lockout. But it’s tighter now. The game has to be played differently than it was four years ago. Lindy certainly had difficulty getting them to change. It was an incredibly hard sell. Let’s see if they can keep it up for the last 71.

Do they tune him out or think he’s too critical.

Some have probably tuned him out. It’s possible Paille did. I think some players, especially stubborn youngsters, have probably tuned him out for stretches. But I think players are obviously tuned in this season. Their start speaks for itself. If players had tuned out Lindy completely, he likely wouldn’t be the coach today.

I think some players have thought he’s too critical. Lindy certainly has no problem saying someone isn’t playing well enough. Ryan Miller didn't like getting called out last season. Early last season, he openly wondered if Hank would ever regain his old form. That’s pretty heavy stuff to say about a guy who wasn’t even 30 then. A coach really can’t cut more to the core. Hank scoffed at Lindy. He wasn’t happy.

As far as ice time goes, players are more accepting this season. I think last week Lindy said something about players “not kicking he door” if they don’t get 20 minutes. That goes hand in hand with buying into the system and maturing.

[BillHoppe]

wjag, on 01 November 2009 - 07:19 PM, said:

Bill,

Can you tell us your thoughts on why Lindy only give Vanek 15 minutes a game?

It seems Vanek’s ice time has always lagged behind other big scorers and moneymakers.

He doesn’t kill penalties, so there’s few minutes right there. I know he did at times last season. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe he hasn’t this year. In fact, I think his pk time waned as last season went on.

The big thing right now is the Sabres are truly rolling four lines. When that happens, no one’s going to garner big minutes.

Two years ago, I would’ve told you Vanek’s ice time lagged behind other big goal scorers because he wasn’t a complete enough player. I think this year it has more to do with four lines seeing constant action.

[shrader]

BillHoppe, on 02 November 2009 - 01:39 AM, said:

He doesn’t kill penalties, so there’s few minutes right there. I know he did at times last season. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe he hasn’t this year. In fact, I think his pk time waned as last season went on.

They had a Vanek-Paille pairing at the start of last season that netted a couple early shorthanded goals. Connolly and Guastad were out though, so once they came back, those spots were gone. I want to say another penalty killer was out at the start of the year, but I can't remember the specifics.

[spndnchz]

Bill, I just have to say you had very nice nails in that post game interview with Ryan last night. :thumbsup:

[PASabreFan]

spndnchz, on 05 November 2009 - 07:52 AM, said:

Bill, I just have to say you had very nice nails in that post game interview with Ryan last night. :thumbsup:

Creepy. Bill, just so you know... spndnchz is a dude.

[spndnchz]

PASabreFan, on 05 November 2009 - 09:44 AM, said:

Creepy. Bill, just so you know... spndnchz is a dude.

and PA hasn't quite decided yet...

[PASabreFan]

spndnchz, on 05 November 2009 - 10:01 AM, said:

and PA hasn't quite decided yet...

No, I knew from the start you were pranking us.

Did you wear your hoodie last night? Around your waist?

[Mbossy]

PASabreFan, on 05 November 2009 - 10:28 AM, said:

No, I knew from the start you were pranking us.

Did you wear your hoodie last night? Around your waist?

I feel left out. Did I miss a coming out party?

[BillHoppe]

Thanks, everyone, I had a manicure earlier in the day.

[DeLuca67]

BillHoppe, on 02 November 2009 - 01:39 AM, said:

It seems Vanek’s ice time has always lagged behind other big scorers and moneymakers.

He doesn’t kill penalties, so there’s few minutes right there. I know he did at times last season. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe he hasn’t this year. In fact, I think his pk time waned as last season went on.

The big thing right now is the Sabres are truly rolling four lines. When that happens, no one’s going to garner big minutes.

Two years ago, I would’ve told you Vanek’s ice time lagged behind other big goal scorers because he wasn’t a complete enough player. I think this year it has more to do with four lines seeing constant action.

Vanek's even strength ice time is currently 8th among the Buffalo forwards at exactly 12 minutes a game. Are we looking at a potential problem with Vanek. He gets paid a lot of money and he's on the ice less than Tim Kennedy at even strength.