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NHL Coaching Hot Seat: Can Buffalo Sabres’ Lindy Ruff Deliver Consistency, Depth?

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NHL Coaching Hot Seat: Can Buffalo Sabres’ Lindy Ruff Deliver Consistency, Depth?

Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson attempted to settle a grudge he had with New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen. The two engaged in an NHL fight that lasted about 30 seconds.

The postseason-starved Sabres attempted to show some fight Friday night.

It didn’t work out that way as Devils goalie Jake Allen turned aside all 42 shots he faced during the 5-0 victory at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., but at least the Sabres displayed some grit.

They are just not showcasing enough first-half consistency to appear they will make a serious run at snapping the franchise’s 14-year postseason slump.

Will additional on-ice mettle help keep coach Lindy Ruff off the NHL coaching hot seat?

Buffalo Sabres Need To Show More Fight

Ruff walked off the bench Friday night and lowered his head.

The stance has become all too familiar.

At 9-11-4, the Sabres, losers of two straight, rank last in the Eastern Conference.

All too often, the Sabres’ brass has pleaded with the patient fan base to believe in the franchise’s rebuild … after rebuild … after rebuild …

The Sabres have drafted among the top 14 picks in each of the past 12 years, including picking first overall in 2021 (Owen Power) and 2018 (Rasmus Dahlin) and second in 2015 (Jack Eichel) and 2014 (Sam Reinhart).

Still, the lineup lacks consistency and depth.

Ruff, in his third season during his second stint with the franchise, has yet to deliver the results as he did during his first tenure (1997-2013). He led the Sabres to an Eastern Conference championship in 1999 and division titles in 2006-07 and 2009-10.

To save his job, Ruff will need the Sabres to show more fight early in games, and unlike Friday, sustain the effort.

Thompson wanted to get back at Noesen after being elbowed in the head last February.

“I think whatever energy or whatever momentum we did kind of have early in the game kind of got snuffed out by their goalie, who was playing a hell of a game,” Thompson said, as reported by NHL.com. “It’s frustrating when you’re getting chances and looks and they’re not going in, especially when you feel like they should.”

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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