. With Dallas leading the series three games to two, the Sabres lost game six at home on a goal that's still being debated more than two decades later. "We don't talk much about it," Leeson said. However, the team's fortunes changed rapidly, and by the end of October they were embarking on a lengthy winning streak that would carry them into first place in the Metropolitan Division. "It always will be a bond," Sakic said before the break. On January 8, 2011, Ruff became the winningest coach who only coached for one team in NHL history when the Sabres defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 21 in overtime. On April 9, 2017, the Stars announced Ruff would not return as head coach for the 201718 season. Ruffs coaching resume ranks him sixth on the NHLs all-time wins list and seventh in games coached. Hes been around for so long and has such a track record, but I really didnt know him personally before this.. Another younger brother, Marty Ruff, was a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, but never appeared in an NHL game. I must confess that despite being one of Lindy's largest detractors this season, it was kind of odd not seeing him behind the bench in such an important game. He is the present head coach of the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. by To be hanging with the veterans like that, you know, he had that personality and the players just loved you.". Stan Fischler Ruff has even more work to do in his second month with the Devils, including assembling his coaching staff. You don't meet too many people in hockey you stay friends with because you always go from city to city. As coach of the Buffalo Sabres since 1997, Ruff was the longest-tenured . Lindy didn't get any satisfaction from the league until after the season when he was presented with the Adams Award as the NHL's best coach. Of the Ruffs four children, two have spent much of this summer in Whitefish. When hes not fishing, Ruff likes to mountain bike on one of the many trails in the area or go white-water rafting. Craven is his neighbor and Foleys place is at the end of the lake., Geoff Sanderson, whose son (Jake) is going to be a pretty high pick in the draft, is about 15 or 20 good casts from my house, Ruff said. Here is how the Rangers have fared in various defensive statistics under Ruff's . "From Day One we really hit it off," said Egeland, head coach of the Rocky Mountain Rage of the Central Hockey League. Then, he also worked with the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers. "Maybe even tougher was seeing my parents. Doug Houda, who coaches with the Red Wings and coached with Boston, is another one. Lindy played for the WHL team in Lethbridge and also started joining Gayes family during vacations in Montana. At 62 years old, Lindy Ruff height After the lockout, Ruff led 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. Once he was introduced as the coach, those faces would have already been familiar. Sadly, the coach lost his dad on January 28, 2022, at 88, . The average age of the Devils roster when this season opened was 26.5 years old the ninth youngest in the league and the team counts among its stars the N.H.L.s youngest player, Jack Hughes, 19, whom it drafted No. Lindy was the light of his eye, and at the end of the day I hope Lindy really knows that. If not for a telephone interview with a Medicine Hat reporter, Lindy said the milestone might not have dawned on even him. Sakic is a future Hall of Famer, a Stanley Cup owner, a Conn Smythe Trophy recipient, a Hart Trophy winner, a 600-goal scorer. Now I just have to prove that I can be that same defenseman that played really well for him over there, that trustworthy guy on both ends of the puck.. Usually there is an opportunity to be around some of the players, and even to be around your own personnel that work for the team, Ruff said. All of them have grown up and must be doing well. "Smitty's stick caught Lindy in the eye," Action Sports Hockey publisher Bob Stampleman remembered, "and he went down to the ice in pain. "I felt like I didn't really know him that well," Lindy said. Weve been coming here a long time, Ruff said. Wake surfing is also a very popular activity in the Ruff household. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Lindy Ruff, the Devils new head coach, has 736 career wins over 19 seasons but he still concedes that what worked for him in the past may not apply in todays N.H.L. You won't believe what happened next Tags: feature anniversary Sabres TV Sabres Memories: Lindy Ruff's. Travis Zajac played for Ruff at the 2009 world championships. Peters tried to start a fight with Dany Heatley, who was reluctant to respond, at one point even hiding behind a linesman. Lindy Ruffs children are Brett Ruff, Eryn Ruff,Madeleine Ruff, and Brian Ruff. He was easy to talk to. GM Tom Fitzgerald confirmed the news Thursday at his end-of-season media availability, saying Ruff was brought in to . Madeleine underwent brain surgery after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2006. He was one of four Swift Current players to die when their team bus skidded off an icy Alberta highway on Dec. 30, 1986. Lindy Cameron Ruffs fatherran a farm and worked multiple jobs to support the family. Rick Stewart. Despite some setbacks over the years, Ruff never softened his work ethic nor his toughness of character. Once were in the zone, can we do a few things that would add to the possession numbers? Ruff is a very emotional person as seen on the Jordin Tootoo incident, and the Sabres now need someone to fill that void on the ice. Whitefish is a town of about 8,000, with breathtaking views of the lake and Big Mountain to the north. He is from Canadian. A well-known example of his bluntness were his comments regarding Toronto Maple Leafs player Darcy Tucker. It can be debated until the cows come home whether the goal was legal or not; the point is nobody in command over-ruled it and the Texans had the Cup. The Devils, who had a 28-29-12 record when play was suspended in March, have qualified for the postseason just once in the last eight seasons, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in 2018. Ruffs youngest daughter earned her doctorate from Belmont University in Nashville this year but didnt have a graduation ceremony, so she invited a few friends from grad school to come celebrate in Montana. Ruff, a former head coach of the Buffalo Sabres and the Dallas Stars who spent the last three years as an assistant coach for the Rangers, was hired as the Devils simultaneously made Tom Fitzgerald their permanent general manager after six months in an interim role. Kids? Lindy Ruff has been behind the bench in Buffalo for the last 14 season. Click to reveal You have permission to edit this article. The opening scene of Valiant, a documentary about the incredible first season of the Vegas Golden Knights, includes sweeping views of the Montana landscape and the clubs owner, Bill Foley, surveying the scene from his helicopter. 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. He played for the Sabres and New York Rangers. "I can remember everything like it was yesterday," Sakic said. Martin Brodeur, the Hall of Fame goaltender who is now an executive vice president and an adviser with the Devils, compared Ruff with former Devils coaches Jacques Lemaire and Claude Julien, who were considered teachers. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 17 February. That's what hurts. He also recorded 1,264 penalty minutes. Those very qualities enabled Lindy to make a successful leap from Junior to The Show. for a day of fishing with Mackenzie Blackwood. So today I attempt to decipher what the Devils may want to do with . Fitzgerald ran the coaching search that landed Ruff, after having assumed the interim role when Shero was fired. Ok, the Bruins' game was meant to be cathartic because of Miller's concussion, Gaustad's reaction and how he would engage players like Milan Lucic's and Patrick Kaleta's role in this game, and many other factorsbut no one could've imagined that the Sabres would've played like they did. Brent Ruff, the youngest of four boys, was born on his big brother's birthday and dreamed of following in his skate tracks. Stan Fischler Surveys the Hockey World, The History of Devils Coaches, From Stan Fischler, Stan Fischler Gets Thoughts from Scott Bowman, Chico Resch and Others on the Hire, Three Things on Lindy Ruff, presented by Wawa, Fitzgerald Reaches Post Playing Days Dream with GM Title, Blitzer Discusses Devils GM and Coach Hirings. The 2021-22 New Jersey Devils are bad and are on pace for being the worst team in franchise history during the salary cap era. A few weeks later, the normally eloquent coach struggled to explain their encounter. If you find any mistakes or errors, help us to correct them, Use of this web site constitute acceptance of the Terms of Use and Mike Foligno once hit Lindy Ruff in the eye with his stick while celebrating a goal. The Dallas Stars fired Ruff after they failed to make the playoffs in the 2016-17 season, but Alain Vigneault, the Rangers former head coach, added him to his staff to focus on the teams young defensive corps. 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". Martin Brodeur, the Hall of Fame goaltender. If experience is the best teacher, the Devils did well naming Lindy Ruff as their new head coach. Well, the Sabres faced the Bruins and they won. The driveway became a ramp. Actually, Ruff is one of only four NHL coaches to coach 1,000 games for a single team. On July 10, 2017, it was announced Ruff was named as assistant coach of the New York Rangers. Maybe he would've played alongside his big brother -- maybe for him. Kresse and Scott Kruger, Brent's linemates, were thrown from the bus and died. If I would have lost one of my children . I told them all Id be calling again in mid-to-late August, and that would probably be a Zoom call to put faces to names and we can talk a little more about hockey then. 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. Just as we thought that the Sabres were going to begin a mighty playoff push by winning two last week, they went on to lose against the Tampa Bay Lightning. "It happened so quick," Egeland said, "and we're walking out of the bus, thinking 'We're not playing tonight.' After Lindy's four years of basic coach-training in the Sunshine State, he was ready to move north. [3], Ruff is known for being blunt with the media. Also Read: Learn More About Selen Vigil-Wilks Biography. The operation was successful, and she is living a healthy life. His nomination was the second time he has been a finalist for coach of the year. Video: RAW | Press Conference with Ruff and Fitzgerald, With 20-20 hindsight two decades later, Ruff said that the play was "still vivid" in his mind. 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. I was just sad.". Privacy Policy Talking about the Devils coachs love life, relationship, and girlfriend, he has been happily married to Gaye Ruff. The Buffalo Sabres and Sabres.com are trademarks of The Hockey Western New York, LLC. Ruff gained a reputation as a player for his toughness, character and hard work on the ice. Ruff served as the head coach of the Central Division squad in the 201516 All-Star Game. He peeled back some debris to find Brent Ruff underneath the bus. As a sibling it's hard, but as a parent . Look at the amount of shots per 60 produced by Devils defenders in the analytics era. Instead, Ruff spent the first few days after he was named head coach of the Devils on a steady stream of phone calls. The type of surgery you have will affect the selection of a prosthetic eye. The bus fishtailed, dipped into a ditch and slammed into an elevated farm access road. You cant do it alone, but you can do it as a five-man group, Ruff said. All four were playing cards in the back of the bus, an inner sanctum for the older kids, but Brent was granted entry because guys simply wanted to be around him. In Ruff's second season as coach, the Sabres reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Dallas Stars in six games. During his playing career, Ruff played in . The Ruffs left Montana this past weekend and returned to their home in Clarence, N.Y., a town just outside of Buffalo. After a final season (1992-93) with the San Diego Gulls, he smoothly segued behind the bench as an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers for the 1993-94 season. They are younger than the other NHL head coaches, except for maybe Guy Boucher of the Lightning and Randy Cunneyworth of the Habsbut they might be what this organization needs in the years ahead. Those were probably the first four seconds. Eryn Ruff, Brett Ruff, Brian Ruff, Madeleine Ruff. The two brothers probably were too oblivious of life's uncertainty to acknowledge their feelings for each other. Sakic, born seven months before Brent Ruff, still is playing at an All-Star level. [14] Ron Rolston, head coach of the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans, was named as his replacement. [11], On February 20, 2013, the Sabres announced Ruff had been relieved of his coaching duties,[12][13] 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. He also said, "I have not called the NHL office all year and I will call them ten times tomorrow." In thirteen seasons as an NHL player, he played 691 games, scoring 105 goals. . On October 15, 2008, Ruff became the 23rd coach in NHL history to win 400 games, and just the seventh to win 400 games for one team. They are firing away relentlessly. "Ruff fumes as Hecht expected to miss two weeks", "Sabres fans launch fundraisers to pay coach Ruff's fine", "Sabres coach, Clarence resident Lindy Ruff highlights Greater Buffalo 2010 Class", "Sabres sign Ruff to contract extension AP", "Buffalo Sabres relieve Lindy Ruff of coaching duties", "Sabres Fire Ruff; Rolston is the Interim Coach - ABC News", "Sabres fire head coach Ruff, name Rolston interim coach", "Dallas Stars hire Lindy Ruff as 22nd Head Coach in franchise history", "Head Coach Lindy Ruff, Captain Jamie Benn and Forward Tyler Seguin to Represent the Dallas Stars at the 2016 All-Star Game", "Stars announce Lindy Ruff won't return as head coach", "NHL Black Monday Roundup: L.A. Kings clean house", "Rangers Name Lindy Ruff Assistant Coach", "RELEASE: Devils Name Lindy Ruff Head Coach", "Lindy Ruff named Devils' coach, Tom Fitzgerald stays GM", "Hart makes 33 saves, Raffl breaks tie as Flyers beat Devils", "Devils have another rough season under Lindy Ruff", "Devils coach Lindy Ruff on 'Sorry Lindy' chants, his future, texting players, more", "Devils fans sing 'sorry Lindy' as New Jersey extends win streak to nine", "Devils see 3 goals waved off, 13-game winning streak end vs. Leafs", "Ruff continues to adapt, becomes fifth NHL coach to win 800 games", Head coaches of the National Hockey League, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lindy_Ruff&oldid=1141866253, Canada men's national ice hockey team coaches, Articles with dead external links from November 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 06:52. We saw the Sabres play like they haven't played during this season. Ruff's Devils are not choosy at all. There would be plenty of time for that somewhere down the road, wouldn't there? Mair began the brawl, punching Ottawa's Jason Spezza as soon as the puck was dropped. The 202122 season had begun with some hopes based on offseason acquisitions and the maturation of young star players, but the team was plagued by injuries, using a franchise record seven different goaltenders over its 82 games. Tom Renney of the New York Rangers and Peter Laviolette of the Carolina Hurricanes were also nominated. I just start to feel sad that he wasn't able to carry on.". . Like Lindy, he was vocal in the dressing room and a jokester off the ice. Lindy Ruffs income source is mostly from being a successful . [6] 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". that's what hurts you the most. "The first few minutes it's just unfolding in front of you in slow motion," said Costello, now an editor with The Hockey News. He got the crowd going by fighting Milan Lucic and caused a melee, while getting tangled with Adam McQuaid. The next thing you hear are people screaming at the back of the bus.". They were in the seventh frame when Lindy was summoned to the phone. Brent Ruff is forever 16 in his brother's head, where mental movies play in an endless loop of scenes and story lines that will never be. "He wanted to be a lot like Lindy. Nobody knew too much of Joe at that time, and he turned out to be a hell of a player.". Theres a collection of NHL people around this area, and theres even more on Flathead Lake (about 40 miles to the south).. Along with Arbour, Billy Reay and current New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz, Ruff is one of just four coaches to coach 1,000 NHL games with a single team. Lindy Cameron Ruff (born February 17, 1960) is a Canadian assistant coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Ruff joked during his introductory press conference as Devils coach on July 10 that he was the first coach in league history to be unveiled over Zoom. [citation needed]. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Lindy Ruff's net worth 02:01. The average . Lindy Cameron Ruff (born February 17, 1960) is a Canadian assistant coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). During his playing career, Ruff played in the NHL for the Sabres and Rangers, the former of which he captained. Ruff was the longest-tenured coach in the NHL and was rewarded with a three-year contract extension that had an option for a fourth season. Scoring six goals against the Stanley Cup Champions shows what this team can do, but it also shows that this team needs motivation. 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