Top line shake up

           Lindy Ruff lost Jhonas Enroth somewhere along the line, and Ron Rolston appears to have found him. The Sabres back up net minder has stopped over 90 shots in his last 3 outings, averaging a SV% of .950 over the course of them. This is the Enroth that nearly scrapped together a playoff run when Ryan Miller went down 2 seasons ago.  Steve Ott's promotion to the top line, was rewarded not once but twice, including the game winner in OT. It's taken 30 games but breaking up the top line and spreading out some of the high talent players is something fans have been vocal about all year under Ruff. Pairing Pominville, Hodgson, Ott and Vanek, Ennis, Leino gives the Sabres a slightly different look, and forces the competition to play them a little differently. During the second period Thomas Vanek was hit by a shot and left the game. The energy Ott brings to the table is second to none, especially on this team. Something that spreads to guys like Pat Kaleta or youngsters Marcus Foligno and Brian Flynn, setting an example for the rest of the team that hard work pays off. So when a player of Vanek's caliber goes down, the next man up mentality has to kick in.

        With Thomas Vanek out tonight in Toronto due to a hip injury, the Sabre's are going to need that energy again. It wasn't lock down defense or smart possession play that won the game against Montreal, in fact between the end of the first period and 8 mins left in the game Buffalo registered only 3 shots on goal. For once it was winning puck battles in the gritty areas down deep, and out working the other team that put them on top. If they want to continue winning, with no Vanek, they will need the same type of effort, from everyone on the roster, lines 1-4. Miller back between the pipes and big John Scott is expected to fill Vanek's roster spot, leaving Nathan Gerbe a healthy scratch for the second game.

Guess who?

            There is a very good chance the Buffalo Sabres will go from having the same coach for 16 years to having 3 coaches in less than 12 months. Although its possible Mr. Rolston will turn the team around force Terry to keep him behind the bench for a while, I wanted to take a look at him and the other possible and somewhat probable candidates. I've also included links to their HockeyDB pages so you can check out their résumé's.

Ron Rolston

Let's start with the guy currently behind the bench, He got the call just 2 days ago, having less than 12 hours to prepare himself for his first NHL coaching appearance. The team hasn't helped him much, but Coach Rolston has held it together nicely, handling the media train fairly well for a coach in his position. He's spent 2 years behind the bench in Rochester coaching many of the same players he will in Buffalo, including Ryan Miller. Prior to that he spent 7 years working with US national team development program, getting teams ready for international tournaments, coaching his teams to 3 gold medals in the IIHF U-18's. He's also coached for Boston College. Ron Rolston brings to the table the seemingly limitless ability to progress and excel a young players career, which he has done countless times preparing players for the blue and gold. His hockey sense and simplistic approach may make it a little easier on the transition. If ownership decides to keep him in Buffalo they need to be sure of his ability to deal with superstar and professional talent. Ego's and attitudes are magnified especially in physical sports. Whether or not Rolston will handle them fluently, only time will tell. Although superstars weren't always far away, he is the older brother of Stanley cup winning Brian Rolston.

Phil Housley

Housley is an ex sabre captain, and NHL veteran. A Sabres first round draft pick in '82 who played with the team for 8 years, and spent 20 years in the league. Most recently he coached the U.S. juniors team a gold medal at the 2013 world juniors in Russia. Housley played with Ruff his entire time in Buffalo. His relationship with the team and his coaching career seemingly just beginning its hard not to connect the theoretical dots. Limited experience behind the bench leaves the possibility of assistant or associate at first. Maybe the core veterans on this team could use someone else who's been through it. 

Randy Cunneyworth

The first man on this list with previous Head Coaching experience is ex- Sabre and former Canadians interim head coach Randy Cunneyworth. Should the Sabres look at him, he would bring a gritty hardworking style behind the bench. Upon his retirement, he went straight to work on the Sabres' AHL coaching staff, where he was a head coach for nearly a decade, missing the playoffs just twice in 8 years. He then went to the Canadians AHL counterpart for 1 season leading them deep into the playoffs, and next season was promoted to assistant coach under Jacques Martin. When the Habs sputtered out of the gate, Cunneyworth got the call. He only coached 51 games and went 18-23, but was never truly given a fair shake. Not speaking french or being Canadian made him easily unlikable to a rabid fan base who's team was in disarray. A fact GM Pierre Gauthier solidified when upon the coaches promotion, apologized to the Canadians fans for Cunneyworth being American/speaking English. Cunneyworth's close ties to Buffalo and AHL coaching career should make the list.



Franchise ties aside, I'd like to take a look at some outside possibilities. Bringing in someone completely new wouldn't be a terrible thing. Assessing candidates on their outside accomplishments without the blinders of them being an ex-player might be just what the doctor ordered.  Also these are all re-treads, I personally would prefer someone with some NHL coaching in their background, however I think the Sabres will go with new blood.

First up Scott Gordon, the current Toronto Maple Leafs asst coach and ex NY Islanders head coach was a stud in the AHL. Consistently taking the Providence Bruins to winning records and playoff appearances. However his start in the NHL was shaky at best coaching the teams that GM Garth Snow and owner Charles Wang scraped together. But I wont fault Gordon for that, the leafs wasted no time scooping him up the next season.

Paul Maruice, I know there is no chance in hell this is going to happen. The ex Hurricanes coach is happy behind the bench of KHL's Metallurg Magnitogorsk. However he's stated he would return to the NHL in the right situation with the right offer. If it happens I'd imagine he wouldn't be in a head coaching position anyway.

Patrick Roy, that's right. The man himself. Currently head coach of the Quebec Remparts in the QMJHL. When Lindy was fired Roy's agent commented on how he would like to explore options in the NHL. I don't know what to think about this but you never know, and its definitely worth mentioning.