Sabres could benefit from mimicking recent Bills' moves

The Sabres are playing disappointing hockey this season, and the need for a head coaching change is evident.

Lindy Ruff's coaching style has grown stale, and his team doesn't respond to him anymore. The Sabres seem to lack focus and could be the worst defensive team in the NHL, as they have allowed the most goals in the league this season.

Because of this, they sit in the basement of the Northeast Division. The numbers don't lie, and Ruff is behind in everything that's blue and gold.
 

Ruff has been behind the bench for Buffalo since 1997, which makes him the longest tenured coach in the NHL. This era of sports sees coaches lose their jobs regularly when certain standards are not met. If Ruff was coaching in a larger market, he likely would have been fired years ago.
 

NHL coaches have an especially short shelf life. There have been 170 coaching changes in the league since Ruff took over in 1997.
 

Good coaches lose their jobs all the time, and Ruff has been a good coach during his 15 years behind the Buffalo bench; however, it's hard to stand behind Ruff when the Sabres have not won a playoff series since 2007. But this is Buffalo, so Ruff survives.
 

The Sabres need to take a page out of the Bills' book and move on from the past, like their football counterparts did by firing Chan Gailey this offseason.

Ruff's situation is very similar to that of NFL coach Andy Reid. Reid was in Philadelphia for 14 seasons, making him the NFL's longest tenured coach, but his team continued to disappoint and grow apart from Reid's coaching philosophy.

The Eagles' brass knew a change was needed, so they fired Reid after this past season.
 

Time to follow suit. Are you listening, Mr. Pegula?
 

Ruff has mishandled his backup goalie situation for years and overplayed goalie Ryan Miller. The power play lacks imagination and is easily defended by other teams.
 

Ruff has also mismanaged his young, skilled offensive players over the years. Drew Stafford, Maxim Afinogenov, Tyler Ennis, Luke Adam, Derek Roy and Clarke MacArthur are examples that come to mind of players who have failed to live up to their offensive potential. One can only wonder what will happen with the career of young Mikhail Grigorenko if Ruff remains the head coach.
 

And now, Ruff is not getting enough out of Tyler Myers, a prized organizational asset. Myers has been a healthy scratch for two games this season. Who would ever have thought that Myers would be benched in favor of Mike Weber?
 

There is also Thomas Vanek, who is playing like an MVP, yet Ruff has given him less ice-time than 42 other NHL forwards.
 

The Sabres need to fire Ruff to bring in some fresh energy. A new coach will make the changes and adjustments that this team has longed for.
 

Buffalo has missed the playoffs three of the last five years. That makes it unfortunate that owner Terry Pegula will defend Ruff or General Manager Darcy Regier if the Sabres continue to disappoint this season.

Regier tried to help Ruff this past offseason by trading Derek Roy to Dallas, who turned on Ruff's coaching style last season. When players start complaining about the coaching style, the front office needs to take notice of the situation and act on it.
 

Ruff has become too comfortable in Buffalo, and the Sabres are showing it on the ice. Most great coaches thrive on winning in different locations and it's time to see Ruff go to another city.
 

Ruff has passed his expiration date with the Sabres. Firing him now seems like the most logical decision and will keep his legacy intact.
           Bill Schutt can be reached by email at Schutt.record@live.com.