This team looks exactly like a Ted Nolan team: one that can win only when the goaltending is at an elite level, as evidenced last night. Enroth wasn't bad last night. He was simply ordinary.

Everything else was the same. They got manhandled in the puck possession category. The defense has been ordinary, and offensively, outside of a couple of players, they're no real threat to score unless they get the right bounce, which has been the case all year, through the losing streaks and the winning streaks.
- buffalofan19

Christ, and they call me negative.

I have been giving credit where it's due. The goaltending has been spectacular.
- buffalofan19

Here's what's sort of annoying about the hate for Nolan. And it's not you, it's the media.

Mike Schopp admits that Zadorov has been sheltered, and put in the right position to play well so far.

Yet, says he thinks Nolan has nothing to do with him playing well.

So is it not Nolan putting Zadorov in a position to succeed?

Here's what's sort of annoying about the hate for Nolan. And it's not you, it's the media.

Mike Schopp admits that Zadorov has been sheltered, and put in the right position to play well so far.

Yet, says he thinks Nolan has nothing to do with him playing well.

So is it not Nolan putting Zadorov in a position to succeed?
- sbroads24

I think the argument, there, is trying to combat the idea that Nolan is the only coach in hockey to think to do that. Sheltering a young defenseman is not a novel idea. Granted, it's not something everyone would do (see Ron-Ron).

EDIT: I haven't listened to Schopp in quite a while.

Nevertheless, when the goaltending cools down, and it will (it may already have, but this could simply be a case of a team getting throttled from top to bottom), we will start to see that Zadorov is a young player with a long way to go.

I think the argument, there, is trying to combat the idea that Nolan is the only coach in hockey to think to do that. Sheltering a young defenseman is not a novel idea. Granted, it's not something everyone would do (see Ron-Ron).

EDIT: I haven't listened to Schopp in quite a while.

Nevertheless, when the goaltending cools down, and it will (it may already have, but this could simply be a case of a team getting throttled from top to bottom), we will start to see that Zadorov is a young player with a long way to go.
- buffalofan19

Is there anyone who thinks Nolan is a premier NHL head coach though?

I think he's ok, he's good at getting guys to come together as a team, something the young players will absolutely benefit from.

Looking at where the Stars are in the standings with Seguin, Spezza and Benn, I'd say it's possible we have the best coach we have had in two decades

Is there anyone who thinks Nolan is a premier NHL head coach though?

I think he's ok, he's good at getting guys to come together as a team, something the young players will absolutely benefit from.

Looking at where the Stars are in the standings with Seguin, Spezza and Benn, I'd say it's possible we have the best coach we have had in two decades
- sbroads24

They're only a quarter of a way through the season. Good teams take a while to heat up, and with the exception of a few surprises, such as the 2013 Maple Leafs and Islanders, teams usually end up where they are expected to, top and bottom. I think the Stars will end up just fine in April. And while we're talking about coaching, Lindy Ruff teams always seem to get hot after January 1st for whatever reason.

They're only a quarter of a way through the season. Good teams take a while to heat up, and with the exception of a few surprises, such as the 2013 Maple Leafs and Islanders, teams usually end up where they are expected to, top and bottom. I think the Stars will end up just fine in April. And while we're talking about coaching, Lindy Ruff teams always seem to get hot after January 1st for whatever reason.
- buffalofan19

Id argue Lindy Ruff relies on goaltending just as much as Nolan, and it's showing in Dallas without Miller

They're only a quarter of a way through the season. Good teams take a while to heat up, and with the exception of a few surprises, such as the 2013 Maple Leafs and Islanders, teams usually end up where they are expected to, top and bottom. I think the Stars will end up just fine in April. And while we're talking about coaching, Lindy Ruff teams always seem to get hot after January 1st for whatever reason.
- buffalofan19

Starting as slow as Ruff teams do is another another reason why he's one of the more over rated coaches in the league.

Putting your team behind the 8 ball every year isn't exactly a great strategy

Id argue Lindy Ruff relies on goaltending just as much as Nolan, and it's showing in Dallas without Miller
- sbroads24

Look, I'm not anointing Ruff as the greatest coach ever. I'm just saying that there's a pattern there, and the timing to see whether it comes to fruition or not hasn't arrived yet.

Is there anyone who thinks Nolan is a premier NHL head coach though?

I think he's ok, he's good at getting guys to come together as a team, something the young players will absolutely benefit from.

Looking at where the Stars are in the standings with Seguin, Spezza and Benn, I'd say it's possible we have the best coach we have had in two decades
- sbroads24

I disagree, Lindy Ruff did some good coaching jobs. In '99 he took the team to the finals, and in 2005-6, and 06-7 he took them to the conference finals, against the Hurricanes they lost with 4 Dmen out.

Look, I'm not anointing Ruff as the greatest coach ever. I'm just saying that there's a pattern there, and the timing to see whether it comes to fruition or not hasn't arrived yet.
- buffalofan19

It couldn't be argued Ruff is great let alone the greatest ever.

Ruff's system is to have active defensemen that take chances. His teams will always give up lots of odd man rushes and good scoring chances. He's a coach that needs adequate goaltending to be competitive

Starting as slow as Ruff teams do is another another reason why he's one of the more over rated coaches in the league.

Putting your team behind the 8 ball every year isn't exactly a great strategy
- sbroads24

Trust me, I agree. The argument for keeping Ruff in the seasons post 2007 was "that he was a great coach in the playoffs". Now, assuming for the sake of argument that is the undisputed truth, the million dollar question became "what good is a coach that is great in the playoffs if he doesn't get you there more often than not?", which turned out to be the case.

It couldn't be argued Ruff is great let alone the greatest ever.

Ruff's system is to have active defensemen that take chances. His teams will always give up lots of odd man rushes and good scoring chances. He's a coach that needs adequate goaltending to be competitive
- sbroads24

Going back to the original argument, I would agree that Ruff needs adequate goaltending. Every team needs its goaltending to be at least adequate. Nolan's "system", if you even want to call it that, can't survive on merely adequate goaltending. It needs to be great.

I disagree, Lindy Ruff did some good coaching jobs. In '99 he took the team to the finals, and in 2005-6, and 06-7 he took them to the conference finals, against the Hurricanes they lost with 4 Dmen out.
- GilPerreault11

My main problem with Ruff is that in all his years here, we rarely overachieved

In 99 we came up short (Dom lead is there)

From the second half of 05-07 we were the best team in hockey, and didn't get to the finals let alone win a cup. We started slow, made pushes for 7th or 8th.

Even last year in Dallas, they went up on Anahein 2-1, and like most Lindy teams, faltered instead of taking control

I disagree, Lindy Ruff did some good coaching jobs. In '99 he took the team to the finals, and in 2005-6, and 06-7 he took them to the conference finals, against the Hurricanes they lost with 4 Dmen out.
- GilPerreault11

To be fair, they had most of those D-men in the lineup up until the Carolina series, which is when they started dropping like flies. They lost Kalinin, who had been in and out of the lineup anyway, in the Ottawa series. They were winning when the game when they lost Tallinder, and then proceeded to lose two in a row after that. Numminen had been in and out of the lineup. And they only lost McKee in the final game. People act like they entered the playoffs without those four, which obviously wasn't the case.

Christ, and they call me negative.
- SABRES 89

You ? Negative ? Who would say that ?

You are misunderstood !

Going back to the original argument, I would agree that Ruff needs adequate goaltending. Every team needs its goaltending to be at least adequate. Nolan's "system", if you even want to call it that, can't survive on merely adequate goaltending. It needs to be great.
- buffalofan19

Nolan doesn't really have a "system" in place.

His "formula" is to motivate his players into winning the individual battles and let the players play their own game.

Honestly this year, that's fine with me

My main problem with Ruff is that in all his years here, we rarely overachieved

In 99 we came up short (Dom lead is there)

From the second half of 05-07 we were the best team in hockey, and didn't get to the finals let alone win a cup. We started slow, made pushes for 7th or 8th.

Even last year in Dallas, they went up on Anahein 2-1, and like most Lindy teams, faltered instead of taking control
- sbroads24

I'm not a huge Lindy fan but I think he's a stronger, smarter technical coach than Nolan. Also, I think you have to look at the Sabres roster too. 05-07 had the best chance to win a Cup, and may have won one if not for the 4 D injuries in 05-06 and Darcy not feeling the need to trade for any D depth at the deadline that year. When Drury and Briere left there was little chance for those rosters to go very far in the playoffs.

Nolan doesn't really have a "system" in place.

His "formula" is to motivate his players into winning the individual battles and let the players play their own game.

Honestly this year, that's fine with me
- sbroads24

Here Here ! The negative nellies will never accept it though . This is down right comical . I think deep down 19 really loves Teddy.

Nolan doesn't really have a "system" in place.

His "formula" is to motivate his players into winning the individual battles and let the players play their own game.

Honestly this year, that's fine with me
- sbroads24

Ultimately, as long as they end up with one of McDavid and Eichel, and I still think they will, it's fine with me as well. It still doesn't mean I think Nolan is a good coach, which stemmed from an argument a year ago about how certain people implied he was blameless for what went down in 1997, which was the furthest thing from the case, and I'm not talking about Hasek's wife either.

I'm not a huge Lindy fan but I think he's a stronger, smarter technical coach than Nolan. Also, I think you have to look at the Sabres roster too. 05-07 had the best chance to win a Cup, and may have won one if not for the 4 D injuries in 05-06 and Darcy not feeling the need to trade for any D depth at the deadline that year. When Drury and Briere left there was little chance for those rosters to go very far in the playoffs.
- GilPerreault11

Is probably agree he's better than Nolan, but I wouldn't say by much.

There's nothing really on either guys résumé that sticks out as great.

Ken Hitchcock goes to a team and you know they will be a great defensive team.

Lavy goes somewhere and you know they will score more

Ruff does..... I'm not really sure

Ultimately, as long as they end up with one of McDavid and Eichel, and I still think they will, it's fine with me as well. It still doesn't mean I think Nolan is a good coach, which stemmed from an argument a year ago about how certain people implied he was blameless for what went down in 1997, which was the furthest thing from the case, and I'm not talking about Hasek's wife either.
- buffalofan19

Testify Brother . Tell us how you really feel ! Don't sugar coat it . Let the hate flow !! Lighten up Francais . Life is too damn short .

Here Here ! The negative nellies will never accept it though . This is down right comical . I think deep down 19 really loves Teddy.



- Maximum Signal

He is free to offer his well thought out and well written opinions without being badgered even though you do not agree with them.

Is probably agree he's better than Nolan, but I wouldn't say by much.

There's nothing really on either guys résumé that sticks out as great.

Ken Hitchcock goes to a team and you know they will be a great defensive team.

Lavy goes somewhere and you know they will score more

Ruff does..... I'm not really sure
- sbroads24

Ruff actually has a very similar style that Nolan does in that he's a motivator first and foremost (or at least tries to be). He's just more technically sound as well.

Testify Brother . Tell us how you really feel ! Don't sugar coat it . Let the hate flow !! Lighten up Francais . Life is too damn short .


- Maximum Signal

You're right. It is, which is why I want to see championship caliber coach on this team as soon as possible.

He is free to offer his well thought out and well written opinions without being badgered even though you do not agree with them.
- GilPerreault11

To be fair, he's free to let his ad-hominems fly as well.

And Hatty.