PG 13
June 14th, 2007, 10:20:30 AM
http://www.wgr550.com/sabres/fullstory.php?id=2452
Interesting comments here:
BUFFALO, NY (WGR 550) - After weeks of silence from the Buffalo Sabres, Larry Quinn announced the signings of general manager Darcy Regier and head coach Lindy Ruff to multi-year deals, which Quinn said were signed for under market value.
"There wasn't a question of leaving at all," said Ruff, who signed for three years with an option. "We've put a lot of work into getting it where it's at, and we know there's a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. We feel we have some really good talent, and some really good talent coming."
Regier, saying the Sabres experience is "exciting and incomplete," signed for two years. The general manager said he's not concerned with the team's budget.
"I think when you start off in this job, you're happy to get the job. You don't care what the payroll is," Regier said. "We've come to realize that this business can be very cyclical, and you have to deal with the hand your dealt, and you have to be grateful for the opportunity, and maximize whatever resources you have."
Quinn said there was an agreement before the playoffs that Ruff and Regier would return to the Sabres, and that money shouldn't be a big issue.
"The budget we're going to spend this year will be greater than the one we had last year," Ruff said. "All the doom and gloom... is nothing to worry about."
Both Ruff and Regier got into what needs fixing with the team, and what went wrong for the President's Trophy winners.
Regier said the team was able to overcome deficits in the regular season by outscoring teams, but that changed in the post-season.
"I don't think it works that well in the playoffs," Regier said. "It's very difficult to score your way out. If we were to look at one area, it would be let's figure out a way to prevent goals. It's more about preventing than it is about scoring."
Ruff said his whole staff is coming back, but wouldn't rule out an additional coach. He spoke to the team's special teams ills.
"Special teams we pretty handled the same way throughout my coaching tenure here, where we have coaching meetings (and) a common philosophy on special teams," said Ruff, who's posted a 358-271 record with 78 ties and 31 overtime losses in nine seasons with the club. "Obviously this year was disappointing. Typically in the past our penalty killing has always been a strong point. I think last year was an exception to the rule. Being one of the worst PK teams at home was a shock."
The focus was on the off-season, and while Regier said both unrestricted free agents Chris Drury and Daniel Briere are open to remaining Buffalo Sabres, he also said the team needed to evaluate where they stood before opening up potential contracts talks.
"Mostly because of our own evaluations," Regier said. "We did meet right after the season. As a hockey staff, you get the initial reaction as to what just took place. We really let things settle out. The other side is the players what time as well... to evaluate their own positions."
All three know money is an issue.
"We have to be responsible, and that doesn't mean cheapen it or lower the player budget," Quinn said. "If the guy is looking for the last dollar, as good as he might be, you probably don't want him."
Regier said he's spoken with Briere and Drury.
"With one of the player's representatives, I've had very preliminary conversations and they will continue in the next week," Regier said, while refusing to specify whom. "With the other, we've exchange phone calls and will continue in the same timeline."
The team will - at least initially - not negotiate with restricted free agent winger Thomas Vanek.
"I'm not a believer in operating out of fear," Regier said. "I've seen it take place where you pay for it because of some rumor. He's a very good player, a very important player, and there's a market value and you have to stay the course. We'll be fine with Thomas at the end of the day."
Ruff talked about the possibility of being without Drury and/or Briere.
"You deal with that when and if it happens," Ruff said. "We have a tremendous group of players and they're a big part of it. There's always gonna be changes, I think it's part of today's game."
Regier said it's "probably fair" to say that players would understand negotiating with the co-captains during the season. Quinn said they don't negotiate contracts during the year because giving a player a big new deal makes the other players worry if they will be the cap casualty after the year.
"If you talk team first, you gotta act it," Quinn said, adding that the organization realizes the price could escalate by waiting.
Ruff told WGR's Paul Hamilton that the Sabres aren't necessarily looking outside the organization, specifically on defense.
"There's areas inside that can improve without going outside," Ruff said. "Henrik Tallinder went through almost a year and a half without upper body training. I think Toni is maybe our most physical guy on the back end. You always can look and think, 'Boy, if we can get that one guy.' It's easy to talk about, not easy to find."
On the topic of resigning Teppo Numminen or giving Nathan Paetsch more ice time, Ruff started with a thought on the younger defenseman.
"He got some real great experience," Ruff said. "I also think a guy like Teppo had a very good year, a very good playoff. I don't think you can ignore that. He knows how to play the game. He understands the game. You go to a guy like Nathan... in training camp... he'll make the decision for us."
Drury, Briere, Mair, Zubrus, Numminen and Conklin could all be out the door after the start of free agency on July 1, and Ruff said it isn't an easy time of year to be a coach.
"As a coach, we've put together a pretty special group of players," he said. "We've lost five real good people going into the season. Part of that is business of trying to fit things in. I'm sitting here thinking you really don't want to lose anybody. You don't get to where you're going unless you have players who want to play. The loss leaves a scar."
Tough calls lie ahead in terms of resigning players, adding new parts and how much to spend, but Ruff said coming back was an easy decision.
"I have one goal, and that's the win a Cup, and that best chance is here," he said.
Widely regarded as a top playoff coach, Ruff has won nearly 60 percent of the post-season games he's coached, registering a 52-36 mark in leading the team to four Eastern Conference Finals and one Stanley Cup Final. The Sabres have won 10 of the 16 series he's coached.
Interesting comments here:
BUFFALO, NY (WGR 550) - After weeks of silence from the Buffalo Sabres, Larry Quinn announced the signings of general manager Darcy Regier and head coach Lindy Ruff to multi-year deals, which Quinn said were signed for under market value.
"There wasn't a question of leaving at all," said Ruff, who signed for three years with an option. "We've put a lot of work into getting it where it's at, and we know there's a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. We feel we have some really good talent, and some really good talent coming."
Regier, saying the Sabres experience is "exciting and incomplete," signed for two years. The general manager said he's not concerned with the team's budget.
"I think when you start off in this job, you're happy to get the job. You don't care what the payroll is," Regier said. "We've come to realize that this business can be very cyclical, and you have to deal with the hand your dealt, and you have to be grateful for the opportunity, and maximize whatever resources you have."
Quinn said there was an agreement before the playoffs that Ruff and Regier would return to the Sabres, and that money shouldn't be a big issue.
"The budget we're going to spend this year will be greater than the one we had last year," Ruff said. "All the doom and gloom... is nothing to worry about."
Both Ruff and Regier got into what needs fixing with the team, and what went wrong for the President's Trophy winners.
Regier said the team was able to overcome deficits in the regular season by outscoring teams, but that changed in the post-season.
"I don't think it works that well in the playoffs," Regier said. "It's very difficult to score your way out. If we were to look at one area, it would be let's figure out a way to prevent goals. It's more about preventing than it is about scoring."
Ruff said his whole staff is coming back, but wouldn't rule out an additional coach. He spoke to the team's special teams ills.
"Special teams we pretty handled the same way throughout my coaching tenure here, where we have coaching meetings (and) a common philosophy on special teams," said Ruff, who's posted a 358-271 record with 78 ties and 31 overtime losses in nine seasons with the club. "Obviously this year was disappointing. Typically in the past our penalty killing has always been a strong point. I think last year was an exception to the rule. Being one of the worst PK teams at home was a shock."
The focus was on the off-season, and while Regier said both unrestricted free agents Chris Drury and Daniel Briere are open to remaining Buffalo Sabres, he also said the team needed to evaluate where they stood before opening up potential contracts talks.
"Mostly because of our own evaluations," Regier said. "We did meet right after the season. As a hockey staff, you get the initial reaction as to what just took place. We really let things settle out. The other side is the players what time as well... to evaluate their own positions."
All three know money is an issue.
"We have to be responsible, and that doesn't mean cheapen it or lower the player budget," Quinn said. "If the guy is looking for the last dollar, as good as he might be, you probably don't want him."
Regier said he's spoken with Briere and Drury.
"With one of the player's representatives, I've had very preliminary conversations and they will continue in the next week," Regier said, while refusing to specify whom. "With the other, we've exchange phone calls and will continue in the same timeline."
The team will - at least initially - not negotiate with restricted free agent winger Thomas Vanek.
"I'm not a believer in operating out of fear," Regier said. "I've seen it take place where you pay for it because of some rumor. He's a very good player, a very important player, and there's a market value and you have to stay the course. We'll be fine with Thomas at the end of the day."
Ruff talked about the possibility of being without Drury and/or Briere.
"You deal with that when and if it happens," Ruff said. "We have a tremendous group of players and they're a big part of it. There's always gonna be changes, I think it's part of today's game."
Regier said it's "probably fair" to say that players would understand negotiating with the co-captains during the season. Quinn said they don't negotiate contracts during the year because giving a player a big new deal makes the other players worry if they will be the cap casualty after the year.
"If you talk team first, you gotta act it," Quinn said, adding that the organization realizes the price could escalate by waiting.
Ruff told WGR's Paul Hamilton that the Sabres aren't necessarily looking outside the organization, specifically on defense.
"There's areas inside that can improve without going outside," Ruff said. "Henrik Tallinder went through almost a year and a half without upper body training. I think Toni is maybe our most physical guy on the back end. You always can look and think, 'Boy, if we can get that one guy.' It's easy to talk about, not easy to find."
On the topic of resigning Teppo Numminen or giving Nathan Paetsch more ice time, Ruff started with a thought on the younger defenseman.
"He got some real great experience," Ruff said. "I also think a guy like Teppo had a very good year, a very good playoff. I don't think you can ignore that. He knows how to play the game. He understands the game. You go to a guy like Nathan... in training camp... he'll make the decision for us."
Drury, Briere, Mair, Zubrus, Numminen and Conklin could all be out the door after the start of free agency on July 1, and Ruff said it isn't an easy time of year to be a coach.
"As a coach, we've put together a pretty special group of players," he said. "We've lost five real good people going into the season. Part of that is business of trying to fit things in. I'm sitting here thinking you really don't want to lose anybody. You don't get to where you're going unless you have players who want to play. The loss leaves a scar."
Tough calls lie ahead in terms of resigning players, adding new parts and how much to spend, but Ruff said coming back was an easy decision.
"I have one goal, and that's the win a Cup, and that best chance is here," he said.
Widely regarded as a top playoff coach, Ruff has won nearly 60 percent of the post-season games he's coached, registering a 52-36 mark in leading the team to four Eastern Conference Finals and one Stanley Cup Final. The Sabres have won 10 of the 16 series he's coached.