Episode 76 - Another Ruff Start - With Mike Harrington from the Buffalo News

14 years ago, the Buffalo Sabres qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Lindy Ruff behind their bench. Fourteen years and six head coaches later, Ruff was tabbed again last year to try to recapture some post-season magic in Buffalo. Unfortunately, it hasn't gone exactly to plan.

Another slow start punctuated by lack of offense has quickly tested the patience of the fans in Western New York. Buffalo News columnist Mike Harrington joins Neil and Vic to get the pulse in the winning starved city.

We'll also return with Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To starting with an historic dry spell in the Big Apple along with other items of note from around the NHL.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:28] - Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To opens the show with the New York Rangers firing blanks at home and a player that they'd like wish they still had.

[09:26] - Mike Harrington joins the show and delivers the mood in the Buffalo area with the Sabres struggling, the Bills hitting a bump in the road and the Blue Jays having their hands full in the ALCS.

[10:49] - Starting the breakdown of where it continues to go wrong and why the Sabres can't seem to have the Bills relative success.

[13:29] - Moving from ownership to the front office where the club simply doesn't appear to have a true identity and fan patience is thin before the leaves have started to fall.

[15:49] - Though most people are not pointing the finger at the head coach, Vic presses Mike on his position on Lindy Ruff.

[18:25] - While the team has been affected by injuries early on, Neil is flabbergasted at some of the moves that have been made. Harrington adds his perspective.

[21:49] - The Jack Eichel saga leading to his departure from Buffalo to Vegas.

[23:41] - The big picture, as Mike sees it, in how the Sabres get their early woes turned around.

[25:06] - While the goaltending and defense are respectable, some difference of opinion on the forward group in relation to the balance of the NHL.

[29:10] - Adding to the frustration in Buffalo is the number of players that have won Stanley Cups elsewhere since departing the team.

[31:33] - In the immediate, the baby steps needed to gain traction - as if the first week of the season never happened.

[35:39] - Wrapping up the discussion with Mike Harrington

[37:04] - Other items from around the NHL including a salute to the latest member of the 1500 games played club.

[46:28] - A Human Side of the Story bit on how general managers - such as Kevyn Adams - deal with a high level of negativity when their franchise loses its way.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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