Buffalo Sabres: Keep Darcy Regier, Fire Lindy Ruff

With the Sabres in last place right now, many believe that the dream team of Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier will be broken up after this season. They have had a remarkable run for over a decade at the forefront of the Sabres organization.

I personally do not buy the argument that Darcy Regier has much to do with the struggles that the Sabres have had this season.

Regier knows how to operate under a budget and has helped the Sabres by bringing in quality talent.

He might just have to make due with the new policy that owner Terry Pegula has brought to the city of Buffalo—bringing in outside talent (besides an A-list superstar). But that alone will not lead the Sabres into good position at the end of this season.

So we look at the current problem, which is that an uninspired team that plays terribly on the road has not been able to come close to expectations. I do not see what that has to do with Darcy Regier, I think that the blame for that falls squarely on the shoulders of Lindy Ruff.

I wrote an article at the beginning of this season about how the Sabres were a legitimate Stanley Cup contender after adding Ehrhoff and Regehr. Now I look like I have no idea what I was talking about as I am watching them jostle for points with the Canadiens just to get out of the basement in the Northeast Division.

I know that Lindy Ruff has been an excellent coach for a long time, but many other teams would have fired their coaches in a similar crisis. On paper, this team should be in the top six in the Eastern Conference. Go ask Bruce Boudreau what happens if expectations are not met, and the Caps are certainly closer to getting a playoff spot than the Sabres are.