Lindy Ruff
Lindy Ruff | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 17, 1960 Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey coach, former professional player |
| Known for | Head coach of Buffalo Sabres, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils; Jack Adams Award winner (2006) |
Lindy Cameron Ruff (born February 17, 1960) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional player, currently serving as the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League (NHL). Ruff previously held the Sabres' head coaching position from 1997 until 2013, during which he earned the Jack Adams Award in 2006. His coaching career also includes stints with the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils. With over 600 victories as Sabres head coach, he ranks second in NHL history for most wins with a single franchise. As a player, Ruff represented both the Sabres and the New York Rangers, captaining Buffalo during his tenure.
On the international stage, Ruff contributed as an assistant coach for the Canadian national team at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014, helping secure gold medals on both occasions.
Playing career
Selected 32nd overall in the second round of the 1979 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Ruff spent the majority of his playing career with Buffalo before joining the New York Rangers. Renowned for his grit and leadership qualities, he is remembered for an incident during a 1980 playoff game where, after being struck by goaltender Billy Smith, he retaliated by tackling him.
Ruff captained the Sabres for close to three years prior to being traded to the Rangers at the 1989 NHL trade deadline. The trade involved a draft pick that was later used to select future player Richard Šmehlík. Throughout his NHL career, Ruff played in 691 games, tallying 105 goals and 195 assists for a total of 300 points, alongside accumulating 1,264 penalty minutes. In postseason play, he appeared in 52 games, contributing 11 goals, 13 assists, and 193 penalty minutes.
Assistant coach
Ruff began his coaching journey as an assistant with the Florida Panthers from the 1993–94 season through to the 1996–97 season. A highlight of this period was assisting the Panthers in reaching the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, where they were swept by the eventual champions, the Colorado Avalanche.
Buffalo Sabres (first tenure)
On July 21, 1997, Ruff was named the 15th head coach in Buffalo Sabres history, joining a select group of former players who transitioned to coaching roles with the franchise. In his inaugural season (1997–98), he guided Buffalo to the Eastern Conference Finals.
In his sophomore coaching year, Ruff led the Sabres to the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, ultimately falling to the Dallas Stars in six games. The following seasons were marked by early playoff eliminations and three consecutive seasons without postseason appearances amid financial difficulties stemming from the Adelphia Communications scandal. After the NHL lockout, Ruff steered Buffalo back to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2006 and 2007. His extended tenure made him the longest-serving NHL coach with one team at that time and earned him a multi-year contract extension.
Known for his straightforward communication with media, Ruff notably called for suspensions following a contentious hit on Jochen Hecht during the 2005–06 season. On April 5, 2006, he achieved a milestone as only the 31st NHL coach to reach 300 wins with a single franchise. The subsequent season (2006–07) saw Buffalo set a franchise record with a 53–22–7 record and accumulate 113 points.
Ruff received the prestigious Jack Adams Award for NHL coach of the year in 2005–06 by a narrow margin and was again nominated in 2006–07, finishing as runner-up. In February 2007, he was fined US$10,000 after provoking an altercation following a questionable hit on co-captain Chris Drury; fans raised money to cover his fine, which Ruff donated to charity.
Following an April 2007 playoff defeat, Ruff was fined once more due to public criticism of officiating. By this stage of his career, he had led Buffalo to back-to-back seasons with over 50 wins and maintained one of the highest points percentages among NHL coaches since 1979.
On October 15, 2008, Ruff reached another landmark by securing his 400th win with one team, becoming just the seventh coach in NHL history to do so. He also served as associate coach for Canada's gold medal-winning squad at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Ruff notched his 500th NHL victory on January 6, 2011, making him only the second coach to achieve this feat with a single organization. Two days later, he surpassed Toe Blake’s record to become the winningest coach with one team in league history. Alongside Al Arbour, Billy Reay, and Barry Trotz, Ruff is among four coaches who have overseen more than 1,000 games with one franchise.
The Sabres extended Ruff's contract in April of that year; however, on February 20, 2013, he was dismissed from his role. This ended his run as both the longest-tenured active NHL head coach with one team and second longest among major North American sports coaches after Gregg Popovich. Following Ruff’s departure, Ron Rolston was appointed interim head coach.
Dallas Stars
On June 20, 2013, the Dallas Stars revealed the hiring of Lindy Ruff as their head coach, with official confirmation following the next day. Under Ruff's guidance in 2014, the Stars reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008, although they were eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks. Additionally, Ruff served as the coach for the Central Division team during the 2015–16 NHL All-Star Game. On April 9, 2017, the organization announced that Ruff would not continue as head coach for the 2017–18 season.
New York Rangers
Ruff joined the New York Rangers coaching staff as an assistant coach on July 10, 2017.
New Jersey Devils
On July 9, 2020, Ruff took over as head coach of the New Jersey Devils amid their rebuilding efforts aimed at returning to playoff contention. He marked his 1,500th NHL game coached on January 28, 2021. Despite acquiring new players and developing young prospects, the Devils faced challenges during Ruff’s initial two seasons, finishing near the bottom of the league standings and setting a franchise record by deploying seven different goaltenders in the 2021–22 season due to injuries.
Heading into the 2022–23 campaign, Ruff’s position was uncertain amid rumors that assistant coach Andrew Brunette might succeed him. Early losses led to fans chanting "Fire Lindy!" at Prudential Center. Nevertheless, a significant turnaround saw the Devils tie a franchise record with a 13-game winning streak and ascend to first place in the Metropolitan Division. On November 26, 2022, Ruff became only the fifth NHL coach to reach 800 wins following a victory over the Washington Capitals. The Devils concluded the season third overall in the NHL and second in their division with a record of 52–22–8. Ruff was shortlisted for the Jack Adams Award and retained his role after his contract expired in May 2023.
Ruff secured a multi-year contract extension with New Jersey on October 11, 2023. He achieved his 850th NHL regular-season win on December 16, surpassing Ken Hitchcock to claim fourth place all-time in NHL regular-season victories. However, on March 4, 2024, Ruff was relieved of his duties as head coach by the Devils, who appointed Travis Green as interim head coach.
Return to Buffalo
On April 22, 2024, Ruff was reinstated as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, taking over from Don Granato.
By April 17, 2025, Ruff had reached his 900th coaching victory, becoming only the fifth NHL head coach to attain this milestone.
Personal life
Lindy Ruff’s younger brother Brent was tragically among four teammates who lost their lives in a bus accident involving the Swift Current Broncos in 1986. Another sibling, Marty Ruff, was selected in the first round of the NHL draft by the St. Louis Blues but never played at that level. Their older brother Randy Ruff has experience both playing and coaching junior hockey.
Ruff and his wife Gaye have four children: Brett, Eryn, and twins Madeline and Brian. Their primary residence is in Clarence, New York.
Regular season and playoffs
1991–92 | Rochester Americans | AHL |62 |10 |24 |34 |110 |13 |0 |4 |4 |16 |- 1992–93 | San Diego Gulls | IHL |81 |10 |32 |42 |100 |14 |1 |6 |7 |26| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1976–77 | Taber Golden Suns | AJHL | 60 | 13 | 33 | 46 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976–77 | Lethbridge Broncos | WCHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Lethbridge Broncos | WCHL | 66 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 219 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 1978–79 | Lethbridge Broncos | WHL | 24 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 108 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1979–80 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 63 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 38 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 | ||
| 1980–81 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 65 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 121 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 23 | ||
| 1981–82 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 79 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 194 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | ||
| 1982–83 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 60 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 130 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 47 | ||
| 1983–84 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 58 | 14 | 31 | 45 | 101 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | ||
| 1984–85 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 39 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 47 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 19 | ||
| 1985–86 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 54 | 20 | 12 | 32 | 158 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1986–87 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 50 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 74 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1987–88 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 77 | 2 | 23 | 25 | 179 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 | ||
| 1988–89 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 63 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 86 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1988–89 | New York Rangers | NHL | 13 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | ||
| 1989–90 | New York Rangers | NHL | 56 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 80 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 1990–91 | New York Rangers | NHL | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 27 | — | — | — | — | |||
| NHL totals !691 | 105 | 195 | 300 | 1264 !52 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 193 | ||||||
Head coaching record
| Team | Season | Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Standing | W | L | Win % | Outcome | ||||||||
| BUF | 1997–98 | 82 | 36 | 29 | 17 | — | 89 | 3rd place, Northeast | 10 | 5 | Template:Winning percentage | Eliminated in conference finals (WSH) | ||||||
| BUF | 1998–99 | 82 | 37 | 28 | 17 | — | 91 | Finished 4th in Northeast | 14 | 7 | Template:Winning percentage | Defeated in Stanley Cup Finals (DAL) | ||||||
| BUF | 1999–00 | 82 | 35 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 85 | Ranked 3rd in Northeast | 1 | 4 | Template:Winning percentage | Knocked out in conference quarterfinals (PHI) | ||||||
| BUF | 2000–01 | 82 | 46 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 98 | Secured 2nd place in Northeast | 7 | 6 | Template:Winning percentage | Exited in conference semifinals (PIT) | ||||||
| BUF | 2001–02 | 82 | 35 | 35 | 11 | 1 | 82 | Placed 5th in Northeast division | — | — | — | Did not qualify for playoffs | ||||||
| BUF | 2002–03 | 82 | 27 | 37 | 10 | 8 | 72 | Finished last (5th) in Northeast | — | — | — | Missed postseason | ||||||
| BUF | 2003–04 | 82 | 37 | 34 | 7 | 4 | 85 | Ended at 5th in Northeast division | — | — | — | Failed to reach playoffs | ||||||
| BUF | 2005–06 | 82 | 52 | 24 | — | 6 | 110 | Took 2nd place in Northeast | 11 | 7 | Template:Winning percentage | Lost in conference finals (CAR) | ||||||
| BUF | 2006–07 | 82 | 53 | 22 | — | 7 | 113 | Led the Northeast division (1st) | 9 | 7 | Template:Winning percentage | Defeated in conference finals (OTT) | ||||||
| BUF | 2007–08 | 82 | 39 | 31 | — | 12 | 90 | Finished fourth in Northeast division | — | — | — | Did not advance to playoffs | ||||||
| BUF | 2008–09 | 82 | 41 | 32 | — | 9 | 91 | Ranked third in Northeast division | — | — | — | No playoff appearance | ||||||
| BUF | 2009–10 | 82 | 45 | 27 | — | 10 | 100 | First place in Northeast division | 2 | 4 | Template:Winning percentage | Eliminated in conference quarterfinals (BOS) | ||||||
| BUF | 2010–11 | 82 | 43 | 29 | — | 10 | 96 | Secured third place in Northeast division | 3 | 4 | Template:Winning percentage | Knocked out in conference quarterfinals (PHI) | ||||||
| BUF | 2011–12 | 82 | 39 | 32 | — | 11 | 89 | Finished third in Northeast division | — | — | — | Did not qualify for postseason | ||||||
| BUF | 2012–13 | 17 | 6 | 10 | — | 1 | 13 | (terminated) | — | — | — | |||||||
| DAL | 2013–14 | 82 | 40 | 31 | — | 11 | 91 | Placed fifth in Central division | 2 | 4 | Template:Winning percentage | Exited first round (ANA) | ||||||
| DAL | 2014-15 | 41 |31 |— |10 |92 |Ranked sixth in Central division |— |— |— |Did not reach playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
| DAL | 2015-16 | 50 |23 |— |9 |109 |Led Central division (1st) |7 |6 |Template:Winning percentage |Eliminated in second round (STL) | ||||||||||||||||
| DAL | 2016-17 | 34 |37 |— |11 |79 |Placed sixth in Central division |— |— |— |Failed to qualify for playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
| NJD | 2020-21 | 19 |30 |— |7 |45 |Seventh place, East Division (NHL)(East) Division | — | — | — | No playoff berth | ||||||||||||
| NJD | 2021-22 NHL season | 27 |46 |— |9 |63 |Finished seventh, Metropolitan Division | — | — | — | Missed postseason | ||||||||||||
| NJD | 2022-23 NHL season | 52 |22 | 8 | 112 | Second place Metropolitan | 5 | 7 | Template:Winning percentage 5 7 | Defeated in second round (CAR) | |||||||||
| NJD | 2023-24 NHL season | 61 | 30 | 27 | 4 | 64 | (terminated) | — | — | |||||||||
| BUF | 2024-25 NHL season | 82 | 36 | 39 | 7 | 79 | Seventh place Atlantic Division | — | — | — | ||||||||
See also
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1960 births
- Living people
- Buffalo Sabres captains
- Buffalo Sabres coaches
- Buffalo Sabres draft picks
- Buffalo Sabres players
- Canada men's national ice hockey team coaches
- Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
- Canadian ice hockey coaches
- Canadian ice hockey forwards
- Canadian people of Ukrainian descent
- Dallas Stars coaches
- Florida Panthers coaches
- Ice hockey people from Alberta
- Jack Adams Award winners
- Lethbridge Broncos players
- National Hockey League assistant coaches
- New Jersey Devils coaches
- New York Rangers coaches
- New York Rangers players
- Rochester Americans players
- San Diego Gulls (IHL) players
- Taber Golden Suns players
- 20th-century Canadian sportsmen