(WGR 550) -- Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff found his team in an unlikely spot relative to recent seasons, as an excess of capable grinders made Monday's waiving of long-time Sabre Adam Mair an acceptable proposition.
"I think our team toughness is pretty good," Ruff said. "The right side is loaded up on our hockey club. It makes it tough. In the case of grit, and the way we've played this year, I think our team toughness is good."
If Mair clears waivers (Noon today), he can either be sent to Portland or remain with the club, which has dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.
"In the past, I'd take days off away and we'd practice more," Ruff said of his squad's losses, which came on the heels of a team bout with sickness. "But because of all this flu going around, we took a different approach... I looked around the league to other teams that really struggled when they went through this situation."
Ruff has taken an uncharacteristically-patient approach to his lines and defensive pairings, and admits the spell of consistency with his units has been tough to maintain in a stretch of relatively unsuccessful hockey.
"I'm not big on standing pat when things aren't going well," Ruff said.
The Sabres return to the game ice Wednesday with the Edmonton Oilers in town. Edmonton is 8-8-1 after handing Colorado its first home loss of the season Sunday. The Oilers have a 7:30 Tuesday puck-drop in Ottawa before hitting the late-night road -- or air -- to Buffalo.
Ruff also spoke more about Mair as well as his line combinations, Chris Butler and a wild amount of hits to the head in the National Hockey League. Hear the entire conversation in our Audio Vault.
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