Lindy Ruff

Lindy Ruff

Lindy Ruff seen at the 2006 NHL Awards Ceremony.
Born (1960-02-17) February 17, 1960
Warburg, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Defence/Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
New York Rangers
NHL Draft 32nd overall, 1979
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 1979–1993
Lindy Ruff
Current team Dallas Stars
Previous team(s) Buffalo Sabres
Years as an NHL coach 1993–present

Lindy Cameron Ruff (born February 17, 1960) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. Ruff is the current head coach for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). During his playing career, Ruff played in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. Ruff was previously the head coach of the Sabres from 1997 to 2013 and won the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year in 2006.

He was an assistant coach for the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team.

Playing career

Ruff was chosen in the second round, 32nd overall of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. Ruff gained a reputation as a player for his toughness, character and hard work on the ice. An illustration of this came in a May 10, 1980 playoff game against the New York Islanders where opposing goaltender Billy Smith struck Ruff with his stick as he passed in front of his net. Ruff got up, skated back to the goaltender and tackled him.

Ruff played most of his NHL career for the Sabres, serving as captain of the team for nearly three years, but he was traded to the Rangers at the 1989 NHL trade deadline in exchange for a draft pick. The Sabres would use that pick to select Richard Smehlik, who would later play for several years under Ruff.

Ruff played in 691 NHL games, scoring 105 goals and adding 195 assists for an even total of 300 points. He also recorded 1,264 penalty minutes. In 52 playoff games, Ruff recorded 11 goals and 13 assists while accumulating 193 penalty minutes.

Coaching career

Assistant coach

He became assistant coach of the Florida Panthers for the 1993–94 NHL season until the 1996–97 NHL season. His most success as an assistant coach was with the 1996 Florida Panthers that made it to the Stanley Cup final, but lost to the Colorado Avalanche.

Buffalo Sabres

Ruff was named the 15th head coach of the Buffalo Sabres on July 21, 1997.[1] He joined a long list of former Sabres players who eventually became Sabres head coaches; Floyd Smith, Bill Inglis, Craig Ramsay, Jim Schoenfeld, and Rick Dudley were among the others. He had immediate success in Buffalo, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 1997–98 NHL season. In Ruff's second season as coach, the Sabres reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals before finally losing to the Dallas Stars in six games. The Stars' Brett Hull scored a goal deep into the third overtime. There was a dispute that Hull's skate was in the goalie's crease before he had control of the puck, which was (under then 1999 rules) a clear violation, giving Dallas the Stanley Cup championship. The following two seasons saw Ruff's Sabres lose in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers and the second round to the Pittsburgh Penguins respectively. Buffalo missed the playoffs in the three seasons preceding the NHL lockout amidst the team's bankruptcy and financial problems caused by the Adelphia Communications corporate scandal. After the lockout, Ruff lead the Sabres to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances only to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and the Ottawa Senators in 2007. Ruff was the longest-tenured coach in the NHL and was rewarded with a three-year contract extension that has an option for a fourth season.[2]

Ruff is known for being blunt with the media. A well-known example of his bluntness were his comments regarding Toronto Maple Leafs player Darcy Tucker. In his post-game interview following a questionable hit on Jochen Hecht that knocked the Sabres center out of the lineup for two weeks with a sprained ACL in the 2005–06 season, Ruff said, "I want him [Tucker] suspended." He also said, "I have not called the NHL office all year and I will call them ten times tomorrow." He called Tucker's hit "a definition of a joke."[3]

On April 5, 2006, Ruff became the 31st coach in NHL history to win 300 games, and just the 16th to do it with only one team. Ruff led the Sabres to their most successful regular season ever in 2006–2007, with a 53–22–7 record for a total of 113 points.

Ruff was the winner of the 2005–06 Jack Adams Award for coach of the year in the National Hockey League. Tom Renney of the New York Rangers and Peter Laviolette of the Carolina Hurricanes were also nominated.

Ruff was again nominated for the Jack Adams Award in 2006–07. His nomination was the second time he has been a finalist for coach of the year. Michel Therrien of the Pittsburgh Penguins was also a finalist while Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks won the honor. Ruff placed 2nd in the voting with 126 points to Vigneault's 134.[4]

In February 2007 Ruff was fined US$10,000 by the NHL after a brawl with the Ottawa Senators (Which Buffalo Sabres fans started funding for the fine, But Lindy Ruff declined that offer). The league said that Ruff precipitated the brawl following a questionable hit on then co-captain Chris Drury by the Senators' Chris Neil.[5] Because the hit to Drury did not result in a penalty, Ruff sent out Andrew Peters, Patrick Kaleta, and Adam Mair, the team's "enforcers". What followed was one of the '06–'07 season's most memorable hockey brawls. Adam Mair began the brawl, punching Ottawa's Jason Spezza as soon as the puck was dropped. Andrew Peters tried to start a fight with Dany Heatley, who was reluctant to respond, at one point even hiding behind a linesman. The goaltenders got into the fight, with Martin Biron challenging Ray Emery, and Ruff himself engaged in a prolonged shouting match with Senators coach Bryan Murray.[6]

After a second round playoff match against the New York Rangers on April 27, 2007, Ruff would be fined again by the league after harshly criticizing officials for an alleged missed too-many-men call against the Rangers, which might have given Buffalo a chance to tie the match in the closing minute.[7]

In the 2006–07 season he became the first Sabres coach to lead the team to back-to-back 50 win seasons, boasting the 5th best points percentage in the league since 1979.

On October 15, 2008, Ruff became the 23rd coach in NHL history to win 400 games, and just the 7th to win 400 games for one team.

Ruff was named as an associate coach for Team Canada, which won the gold medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

On January 6, 2011, Ruff became only the 16th coach in NHL history to win 500 games, and just the 2nd to win 500 games while only having coached one team.

On January 8, 2011, Ruff became the winningest coach who only coached for one team in NHL history when the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 2–1 in overtime. His 501st win behind the bench with the Sabres put him one ahead of Toe Blake who coached to 500 wins with the Montreal Canadiens. Al Arbour won more games for the New York Islanders, but he also coached the St. Louis Blues early in his career. Along with Arbour, Billy Reay, and current Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz, Ruff is one of just four coaches to coach 1,000 NHL games with a single team.

On April 29, 2011, the Sabres announced that Ruff had agreed to a multiple year contract extension.[8]

On February 20, 2013, the Sabres announced that Ruff had been relieved of his coaching duties.,[9][10] ending his tenure as the NHL's longest active-serving coach with one team and second only to Gregg Popovich in the four major sports in North America.[11] Ron Rolston, head coach of the Rochester Americans, was named as his replacement.[12]

Dallas Stars

On June 20, 2013, the Dallas Stars announced that they were in the process of hiring Ruff as head coach. This was also on the anniversary of the controversial defeat of the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999.[13]

On June 21, 2013, the Dallas Stars announced that Ruff would be their new head coach.[14]

He continues to support Buffalo even in his current role against them. Of late he was quoted saying, "I am saddened by the current status of the Buffalo Sabres. I am deeply disappointed in the direction the team has gone since my leaving. I wish them all the best, and hope for winning days ahead, but not tonight." This being said on his first day back to Buffalo, in which the Stars won 4-3.

In 2014 Ruff led the Stars to their first playoff appearance since 2008, but lost in the opening round to the Anaheim Ducks in six games.

Lindy Ruff served as the Head Coach of the Central Division squad in the 2015-16 All-Star Game.[15]

Personal life

Ruff's younger brother, Brent Ruff, was one of four teammates killed in a bus crash while playing for the Swift Current Broncos in 1986.

Another younger brother, Marty Ruff, was a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, but never appeared in an NHL game.

An older brother, Randy Ruff, played and coached in junior hockey.

Lindy and his wife Gaye have four children: Brett, Eryn and twins Madeline and Bryan. The Ruffs primary residence is in Clarence, NY, while Lindy also has a place of residence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where he lives during the hockey season.

Career statistics

Playing statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1976–77Taber Golden SunsAJHL60133346112—————
1976–77Lethbridge BroncosWCHL20220—————
1977–78Lethbridge BroncosWCHL6692433219828104
1978–79Lethbridge BroncosWHL249182710860110
1979–80Buffalo SabresNHL635141938811219
1980–81Buffalo SabresNHL6581826121631423
1981–82Buffalo SabresNHL79163248194400028
1982–83Buffalo SabresNHL601217291301042647
1983–84Buffalo SabresNHL5814314510131019
1984–85Buffalo SabresNHL3913112445524515
1985–86Buffalo SabresNHL54201232158—————
1986–87Buffalo SabresNHL506142074—————
1987–88Buffalo SabresNHL7722325179602223
1988–89Buffalo SabresNHL636111786—————
1988–89New York RangersNHL1305531200017
1989–90New York RangersNHL5636980803312
1990–91New York RangersNHL1401127—————
1991–92Rochester AmericansAHL621024341101304416
1992–93San Diego GullsIHL811032421001416726
NHL totals 691 105 195 300 1264 52 11 13 24 193

Coaching statistics

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T OTL Pts Finish W L Win % Result
BUF 1997–98 82 36 29 17 — 89 3rd in Northeast 10 5 .667 Lost in Conference Finals
BUF 1998–99 82 37 28 17 — 91 4th in Northeast 14 7 .667 Lost in Stanley Cup Finals
BUF 1999–00 82 35 32 11 4 85 3rd in Northeast 1 4 .200 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals
BUF 2000–01 82 46 30 5 1 98 2nd in Northeast 7 6 .538 Lost in Conference Semifinals
BUF 2001–02 82 35 35 11 1 82 5th in Northeast — — — Missed playoffs
BUF 2002–03 82 27 37 10 8 72 5th in Northeast — — — Missed playoffs
BUF 2003–04 82 37 34 7 4 85 5th in Northeast — — — Missed playoffs
BUF 2005–06 82 52 24 — 6 110 2nd in Northeast 11 7 .611 Lost in Conference Finals
BUF 2006–07 82 53 22 — 7 113 1st in Northeast 9 7 .563 Lost in Conference Finals
BUF 2007–08 82 39 31 — 12 90 4th in Northeast — — — Missed playoffs
BUF2008–09 824132 — 9913rd in Northeast — — — Missed playoffs
BUF 2009–10 82 45 27 — 10 100 1st in Northeast 2 4 .333 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals
BUF 2010–11 82 43 29 — 10 96 3rd in Northeast 3 4 .429 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals
BUF 2011–12 82 39 32 — 11 89 3rd in Northeast — — — Missed playoffs
BUF 2012–13 17 6 10 — 1 13 (fired) — — — —
DAL 2013–14 82 40 31 — 11 91 5th in Central 2 4 .333 Lost in Conference Quarterfinals
DAL 2014–15 82 41 31 — 10 92 6th in Central — — — Missed playoffs
DAL 2015–16 82 50 23 — 9 109 1st in Central 7 6 .538 Lost in Conference Semifinals
Total 1411 702 517 78 114 66 54 .550

See also

References

Preceded by
Glen Gulutzan		 Head coach of the Dallas Stars
2013–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by
Ted Nolan		 Head coach of the Buffalo Sabres
1997–2013 		Succeeded by
Ron Rolston
Preceded by
John Tortorella		 Jack Adams Award winner
2006 		Succeeded by
Alain Vigneault
Preceded by
Gilbert Perreault		 Buffalo Sabres captain
1986–89 		Succeeded by
Mike Foligno
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