“He’s Such a Perfect Fit” | Nathan Paetsch On Lindy Ruff Returning As Sabres Head Coach
what did you see from Nova his first year in North America the progress um obviously started to really play a big role for you guys in Rochester yeah he came along he started good too I remember the development Camp the rookie tournament he was excellent he’s just he’s very confident and his confidence carries over on the ice uh he’s a big kid and he’s still developing he’s he’s young and he’s got a lot to do with his body still but he’s got a lot of physical upside and the confidence he brings he just has this Swagger that things get done when he’s on the ice and he he wants to win if the game’s on the line there’s nobody more competitive and that’s that’s my favorite thing about him also if he’s not on the ice say he misses a shift he’s the first guy fist bumping his teammates he’s that guy on the bench and the guy’s gravitated toward him and I’m excited for him this year with Ryan Johnson played a lot in the NHL this past season he comes back to you what do you want from him to to to grow to build on what he learned at the NHL and to continue theel well at the AHL level I I think he needs to dominate with his feet he’s an excellent skater and he’s got to end plays and move pucks fast he should be the best Rush defender in the American hawk league if that’s where he ends up he he has ability to do that and he’s taken steps uh towards that we talked about that in the summer working on his ending plays early with his feet because they’re Elite and that’s how I see him he should dominate games and never actually have to defend because nobody gets through the neutral zone against him what did you learn as a assistant coach under Seth a what is the interaction that like so far what I learned under Seth uh everything I mean he’s what an amazing Mentor I’m so lucky to have had him for one year we’re best friends now for life and I I I feel like I had an Ivy League education in hockey from Ms for one year uh he just and his people skills and the way he handled himself in the room and what his relationships with the players how much he cared but not just players the staff the way he treats them uh he’s just a special person and uh you know he belongs in the NHL but I’m going to miss him I’ll say that um but I cherish the time I had with him and then Leo we’ve been talking almost every day since he got the job he’s awesome I just said he’s I think to Warren he’s like a hockey Rolodex you know he knows the drills players system like he’s he’s just got that it Factor when it comes to a hockey mind and I’m really looking forward to learning from him and and working with them this year was your reaction the news came out that they were rehiring Lindy I was excited I mean Lindy’s the best not not only the coach but the person and I think he’s such a great fit I obviously you guys saw how many times I was in up in the stands watching games when I was here and I I I told him like I felt like I’d watch a game and we were out coaching the other team that’s the way I felt the year we won the president trophy I just felt like night in Night Out Lindy was out coaching the other the other team and he’s he’s just he’s done it for a long time he he just has this composure and knowledge CU he’s seen it he’s done it and I think I’m so excited for him to work with this group I think there’s big things coming what do you think of putting him and together on the same staff I think it’s a perfect fit you know a younger guy coming up Lindy has all that head coaching NHL experience obvious this is apps’s first time in the NHL but he’s had a group a core group of those players already and he has special relationship ship with them like Samy Quinter JJ all those young guys so apps can help lindia in that regard where he has that relationship built up with those players already and you know they they they’re both great hockey minds but a little different styles and I think it’s just a perfect fit who knows what happens in training camp but what’s your reaction to the potential mix on defense that you’ll have in Rochester with some of the veterans they sign in obviously some some more young guys joins you what yeah I’m very excited we I think we got a great group kof’s I had him a player develop him and man I’m excited for him and wait till I meet this kid I mean he’s just he’s such a plight happy kid and and his progression the last two years I mean I don’t know if anybody could have saw that coming but I always knew he was special but coming over from Russia it’s always difficult your first year so we got a steal in the fifth round like let’s be honest it was but whenever somebody comes over for North America we say in the American Hockey League it takes some time for them to adjust and man when when he adjusted he he took off and I I’m hoping for big things for him and and then like we have such a good blend of young and old and then we got pry coming back who is I call him my safety blanket as a rookie coach because he’s such an amazing teammate amazing guy I we even had him on the bench when apps got called up here I don’t know if you guys know that but I asked for pry to come on the bench with us that’s just how much he means to our group just his presence being around the guys so he’s going to be a great man to the young guys and we brought in a lot of great players as well so looking forward to it what as far as Max goes what allowed him to acclimate College hockey so quickly as a freshman I guess it’d be tough for me so that would be more of a development uh staff question because I don’t get to see him very often I I can see him here and he’s obviously very competitive young man and and he’s physically like Advanced so I’d assume that’s why but it’d be tough for me to tell because I never watched any live games of them this season okay mention that U you kind of always knew Rob was was special what were some of the hints early on I wouldn’t say special human I didn’t know he’d be this special player I mean I don’t have a crystal ball like I like to think I can see hockey talent but that’s Kevin dine he’s and our scouting staff they did an excellent job uh Jerry all those guys drafting him uh where we got him I mean it’s and then you just the the person you knew he was going to maximize whatever Talent ability he had and he just keeps getting better and better but that’s that’s the character I saw the character right away that was special and that translated obviously on the ice what type of stuff did you see early on that that you know gave you a clue to that character he’s just very receptive uh and well great kid first of all like his billets would Rave about him he’d play with his Billet kids like he was just he was that type of guy and anything you kind of taught him or talk to him about he just he picks up stuff really fast except for a kid coming over second language now it’s English is excellent uh and he just has for me he’s kind of got that it Factor thanks guys
Rochester Americans assistant coach Nathan Paetsch speaks to the media after day three of Sabres development camp. He discusses how excited he is to have Lindy Ruff back with the Sabres as head coach and how great of a fit he thinks it is. Paetsch also talks about the development of many prospects including Ryan Johnson and what he has learned from Seth Appert.
Subscribe to the Buffalo Sabres YT Channel: https://bit.ly/2G1G8eT
For More Sabres Action: https://bufsabres.co/2XAYg5m
#BuffaloSabres #Sabres #NHL
For more Sabres action: Sabres.com
Follow us on X: twitter.com/BuffaloSabres
Follow us on TikTok: https://bufsabres.co/TikTok
Follow us on Instagram: Instagram.com/buffalosabres
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/buffalosabres
