"Derek Roy insists his relationship with Lindy Ruff is fine. And the Buffalo Sabres' leading scorer said he's looking forward to playing for his coach again when Team Canada heads to the World Championships in Switzerland.

Roy led the Sabres in scoring this year with 70 points but took plenty of heat from Ruff late in the season in games and in practices as both he and Thomas Vanek went into scoring slumps.

"We definitely get along OK. He just wants some of his top players to do well and he's hard on them so it can reverberate throughout the team," Roy said Monday. "The younger guys can take notice of that and try to work harder.

"He's pushing us to be better players and individuals. He does care about us. He's been around a long time and he knows what he's talking about."

Roy said it will be interesting to see a different side of his coach as Ruff tries to quickly mold a team for April 24 opener in Zurich.

"To see a lighter side of Lindy will be great," Roy said. "It's definitely a different style of game. I'm sure he'll talk to some past coaches. It's more laid back and the players are all great."

••• Goaltender Ryan Miller said he has declined an invitation to play for Team USA because of the high ankle sprain that dogged him since late February.

"It wasn't comfortable to play," Miller admitted. "It just wouldn't have been right to go."

Miller said he needed a full offseason to rest the ankle and be ready for training camp in September—especially since next season is an Olympic year and he wants to be available for the Vancouver Games.

"That would be a great honor, something I've been working toward that since I was in college," he said. "I want to make sure my relationship with USA Hockey is strong. . . . but it's a long year, it will be a long training camp and there will be a three-week break [in February]. I don't want to jeopardize our chances of winning a Stanley Cup in an Olympic year."

Meanwhile, Jason Pominville revealed he finished the season with an undisclosed injury and needs to have further examination before he decides if he can play for Team USA.

"I don't feel too comfortable talking about it but I might need something done," Pominville said.

Tim Connolly said he didn't take faceoffs the last few games because of a minor wrist sprain. His status for Team USA is uncertain.

Among other Sabres, Drew Stafford expects to play for the U. S., Andrej Sekera will play for Slovakia and Jochen Hecht will play for Germany. "