For the most part, coaches play the safest players the most and lean on them.

Ralph employed a very safe, defensive, often boring style of play.

Until I see him actually change that style of play and not lean on similar, vanilla, boring players, I have a difficult time believing the team will end up where it needs to be, and to get there, they need talented players that are not vanilla and safe in terms of how they play.
- kingcong39

Coaches change their styles based on personnel. I wonder if Ralph does the same with different players.

Coaches change their styles based on personnel. I wonder if Ralph does the same with different players.
- TheSabresTaco

I don’t think Ralph should change anything other then the PK.

Give him a 2C and a goalie and I bet the opinions flip on a dime like they did for Jared Bednar in Colorado

The bold above scares me a bit.
- kingcong39

Hopefully his input on the roster is "Get me some verdammt centers"

don't understand your disdain for ralph
- Michael Pachla

I dont understand why so many people think he is special


there is a reason he lasted 1 season in edmonton and was out of the nhl for 6 years


team got off to a great start, and behind his leadership and coaching, folded like a cheap suit

I don’t think Ralph should change anything other then the PK.

Give him a 2C and a goalie and I bet the opinions flip on a dime like they did for Jared Bednar in Colorado
- Pegullaville

It's fun watching a fun team.
It's really fun watching a fun team that's good.

Ralph has work to do to be Jared Bednar.

It can, and I think it's fair, but he also assisted in building up a trash soccer team. In a sport he had no experience in. I think you employ the same values and ideals that made you a successful manager there and use them here. Not saying he's some super scout, but installing a system and group of guys who CAN pick those players is as much or more important.

Who's to say he doesn't have a hand in building their front office now? I'd bet my junk that he has a ton of say in the structure of this office. For better or worse.
- TheSabresTaco

Does that mean more safe picks with low upside like Mattias Samuelssen and Ryan Johnson, or will they understand the need to try and pick players with much more upside early in drafts like Arthur Kaliyev or Bobby Brink?

It's fun watching a fun team.
It's really fun watching a fun team that's good.

Ralph has work to do to be Jared Bednar.
- TheSabresTaco

That team is also loaded with talent as well.

It also doesn't seem like Bednar told Makar to stop carrying the puck into the offensive zone either.

That team is also loaded with talent as well.

It also doesn't seem like Bednar told Makar to stop carrying the puck into the offensive zone either.
- kingcong39

yet dahlin gets handcuffed big time under ralph

I dont understand why so many people think he is special


there is a reason he lasted 1 season in edmonton and was out of the nhl for 6 years


team got off to a great start, and behind his leadership and coaching, folded like a cheap suit
- homiedclown

While I don't see him as this super special guy, the reason is that MacTavish wanted Eakins and the players didn't even understand why he wasn't given more time.

And he was out of the NHL because he took an opportunity to do something new.

Come on now.

For me, unless Ralph shows he can coach a winning team on the ice, I look at him with the same skepticism that I do the rest of the organization.

His constant speeches only matter if they produce on ice results, meaning a winning team. Otherwise, it's bluster.
- kingcong39

i think those two roles differ and are generally incompatible when it comes to structural responsibility...

on-ice, one has a direct responsibility for getting the most out of players and coaches both schematically and motivationally while the other is responsible for overall philosophy amongst other broader, upper-level management duties throughout the organization...

being mediocre at best in a more focused, on-ice role does not mean he would be mediocre at best in a broader organizational role...it might simply mean specific attributes are more compatible with one role over the other...

imo

I dont understand why so many people think he is special


there is a reason he lasted 1 season in edmonton and was out of the nhl for 6 years


team got off to a great start, and behind his leadership and coaching, folded like a cheap suit
- homiedclown

Thats what happens when you get black balled

And he was out of the NHL because he took an opportunity to do something new.

Come on now.
- TheSabresTaco

yeah he made a move 12 months later when no nhl team wanted him


again, what makes him special?


the sabres was one of the worst teams in the entire nhl after those first 12 games


literally a bottom 3 team


if the team got better the second half of the year, optimism would be in the air but that just wasn't the case

Coaches change their styles based on personnel. I wonder if Ralph does the same with different players.
- TheSabresTaco

am of the opinion that he tried to instill structure and responsibility amongst a group of players that didn't show that under the previous head coach

Does that mean more safe picks with low upside like Mattias Samuelssen and Ryan Johnson, or will they understand the need to try and pick players with much more upside early in drafts like Arthur Kaliyev or Bobby Brink?
- kingcong39

Simply based on what we know now, I think there's a much higher probability of the latter. You've got a GM, coach, head and assistant head scout that are all about not only analytics, but bringing in guys that all facets of the organization agree with.

Like they were saying, you've got player development coaches, pro coaches, scouts and analytics all wondering why certain guys got picked and what they're supposed to do with them.

The safe poop is fine every so often. If you can find a safe guy in the fourth round, (frank)ing go for it. But using the first pick of Day 2 or the last pick of Day 1 on low upside is just boring as all (frank). Like, sure, you might get a Girgorenko, but quit being a puss. Go for a guy who might be a gem instead of definitely being a piece of quartz.

Thats what happens when you get black balled
- gerbe75pts

I dont understand why so many people think he is special


there is a reason he lasted 1 season in edmonton and was out of the nhl for 6 years


team got off to a great start, and behind his leadership and coaching, folded like a cheap suit
- homiedclown

The reason was Dallas Eakins.

am of the opinion that he tried to instill structure and responsibility amongst a group of players that didn't show that under the previous head coach
- Michael Pachla

how many coaches out there would reduce dahlin's ice time by 10 percent in year 2?



bet you can count it on one hand and have fingers left over

I dont understand why so many people think he is special


there is a reason he lasted 1 season in edmonton and was out of the nhl for 6 years


team got off to a great start, and behind his leadership and coaching, folded like a cheap suit
- homiedclown

you turned a question about your disdain for him into many people believing he's "special"...

everything you write about him seems to come off as something personal against you...i don't get that...

jack likes him, believes in him, had his best statistical season, best all-around on-ice performance and completely bought into what ralph was selling...how bad can that be?

The reason was Dallas Eakins.
- Powerslave

or he just isn't a good coach

Thats what happens when you get black balled
- gerbe75pts

I had a gut feeling you were going to jump in here soon.

am of the opinion that he tried to instill structure and responsibility amongst a group of players that didn't show that under the previous head coach
- Michael Pachla

He did, and unfortunately it was boring because we have an awful makeup.

For Christ sakes you're jamming MoJo into 2C because you have to, and that's (frank)ing sad.

Like McDermott says. Not being given personnel is like drinking from a dry hose.

Thanks Tim Botterill for your service.

jack likes him, believes in him, had his best statistical season, best all-around on-ice performance and completely bought into what ralph was selling...how bad can that be?
- Michael Pachla

jack liked phil publicly


jack played a complete game this season, his dedication led to the stats


I mean if ralph gets credit for jack playing his best hockey ever same logic should go to his wingers

how many coaches out there would reduce dahlin's ice time by 10 percent in year 2?



bet you can count it on one hand and have fingers left over
- homiedclown

so what?...the question is, what was he under housley and what did he become under ralph?

from a simple stats perspective he was on pace for a higher point total and a better +/-...

and, imo, after a very rough start he became a little better in the defensive zone....

i just don't get the disdain

jack liked phil publicly


jack played a complete game this season, his dedication led to the stats


I mean if ralph gets credit for jack playing his best hockey ever same logic should go to his wingers
- homiedclown

I don't agree that Ralph handled all his players well. Jeff Skinner had an atrocious season, and that's partly/mostly his own fault.

Several reporters claimed he was floating through practices. Ralph isn't performing on the ice for Jeff. Jeff is on the ice performing for Jeff. He needs to be better. Everyone needs to be better.

And with Jack, I definitely give Ralph credit for helping him and Dahlin develop their two way games. I think once Dahlin gets better at his 200' game, he frees him up more to make more offensive plays. Just a hunch.

Simply based on what we know now, I think there's a much higher probability of the latter. You've got a GM, coach, head and assistant head scout that are all about not only analytics, but bringing in guys that all facets of the organization agree with.

Like they were saying, you've got player development coaches, pro coaches, scouts and analytics all wondering why certain guys got picked and what they're supposed to do with them.

The safe poop is fine every so often. If you can find a safe guy in the fourth round, (frank)ing go for it. But using the first pick of Day 2 or the last pick of Day 1 on low upside is just boring as all (frank). Like, sure, you might get a Girgorenko, but quit being a puss. Go for a guy who might be a gem instead of definitely being a piece of quartz.
- TheSabresTaco

Makes for a damn fine kitchen or bathroom countertop though.