Lindy Ruff - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Lindy Ruff is a former professional ice hockey player and current coach in the NHL. He played as a defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres from 1979 to 1989.
- 2. Ruff was born on February 17, 1960, in Warburg, Alberta, Canada.
- 3. After retiring as a player, Ruff transitioned to coaching and served as an assistant coach for the Florida Panthers before being named head coach of the Sabres in 1997.
- 4. Ruff became the longest-tenured head coach in Sabres history, coaching the team for 15 seasons from 1997 to 2013.
- 5. During his tenure with the Sabres, Ruff led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999, where they were defeated by the Dallas Stars in a six-game series.
- 6. Ruff was named the head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2013, a position he held until 2017. He led the Stars to two playoff appearances during his time with the team.
- 7. Ruff was then hired as an assistant coach for the New York Rangers in 2017, where he worked under head coach David Quinn.
- 8. In 2020, Ruff was named the head coach of the New Jersey Devils, taking over a team in need of a rebuild and hoping to return to playoff contention.
- 9. Ruff is known for his aggressive coaching style, emphasizing a strong defensive game and physical play from his teams.
- 10. Throughout his coaching career, Ruff has been praised for his ability to develop young talent and get the most out of his players, earning him a reputation as a respected and successful coach in the NHL.