Lindy likes what he has
LEWISTON – Folks in Sabreland have been worriedly and angrily wringing their hands the last couple of weeks. They’ve watched teams throughout the NHL make changes to their rosters and can’t figure out why the Buffalo Sabres are sticking with what they have.
Lindy Ruff, however, isn’t worried.
"I like what we have here as a team, and these guys can continue to grow," the coach said today.
Ruff closed the Sabres’ development camp at Niagara University with a steadfast endorsement of his players and the organization. The Sabres, as of now, are sticking with the core of players who failed to make the postseason the past two years, and Ruff has no problem with that.
"I’m OK going in," said Ruff, whose team finished two points out of a playoff spot. "We were pretty close to being where we wanted to be, and a couple disappointing things happened, and we ended up not getting there. The fact that we were able to put on a strong finish [7-2-1 in the final 10 games] was something that I really felt was important for our team."
Unlike a vocal portion of the fan base, Ruff doesn’t see the need for a roster shake-up. He feels the Sabres will return to the postseason if his players merely fulfill their potential and stay healthy.
"I expect more to come from within," he said. "I think that we have more there. We’ve got a [Jason] Pominville that can have a better year. We’ve got a [Drew] Stafford that can continue to grow, and I think with Timmy [Connolly] healthy he can make some players around him better. I think we’ve got some young guys that can step in and make a difference."
---John Vogl
