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. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. 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. With the hiring of Lindy Ruff, the Dallas Stars now have a head coach that the NHL is very familiar with. He had immediate success in Buffalo, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 199798 season. Subban in a trade over the off-season, the Devils had expected to both contend and entertain. He was like, Hang on a sec. He came back like a minute later and said, Sorry about that, I had one on the line.. Lindy Ruff is the head coach of the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. Astonishingly, Ruff helped lead the wildly underdog Cats to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final before being taken out in a sweep by the potent Colorado Avalanche. Mair began the brawl, punching Ottawa's Jason Spezza as soon as the puck was dropped. "Smitty's stick caught Lindy in the eye," Action Sports Hockey publisher Bob Stampleman remembered, "and he went down to the ice in pain. Ruff served as the head coach of the Central Division squad in the 201516 All-Star Game. Lindy Ruff has been behind the bench in Buffalo for the last 14 season. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. All of them have grown up and must be doing well. Travis Zajac played for Ruff at the 2009 world championships. For Ruff and the Devils, it all has to be done from afar. He has a long road to get there with the New Jersey Devils, but he's just grateful to at least have the chance. It's just understood.". At least that's how fellow coach Ken Hitchcock felt when it . Ruff coached Fitzgerald as an assistant for the Florida Panthers in the 1990s, including during the teams run to the final in 1996. "He was just starting to turn into a young man, but he didn't get to experience any of that.". The Stars' Brett Hull scored a goal deep into the third overtime. His best teams in Buffalo were offensive machines. for a day of fishing with Mackenzie Blackwood. On January 6, 2011, Ruff became only the 16th coach in NHL history to win 500 games, and just the second to win 500 games while only having coached one team. On April 29, 2013, Ruff ended his tenure with the Sabres as the NHLs longest active-serving coach with one team. Foley owns Whitefish Mountain Resort and a cluster of the restaurants in town. On April 29, 2013, Ruff ended his tenure with the Sabres as the NHLs longest active-serving coach with one team. Blackwood and Damon Severson went to Slovakia for the worlds, with Ruff as an assistant, last summer. Ruff grew up in Canada, in the tiny Northern Alberta village of Warburg; his wife, Gaye, is from Lethbridge, which is in Southern Alberta and not far from the Montana border. Sadly, the coach lost his dad on January 28, 2022, at 88, . "[27] The team's winning streaking would ultimately extend to 13 games, equaling the franchise record. This was also on the anniversary of the controversial defeat of the Sabres in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999. 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. Theres a collection of NHL people around this area, and theres even more on Flathead Lake (about 40 miles to the south).. July 9, 2020. Twenty years later, that remains the most difficult day of Lindy's life. . The quest for an elusive Stanley Cup has never left Lindy Ruff's mind. His greatest success as an assistant coach was with the 199596 Florida Panthers, who made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, but lost to the Colorado Avalanche in a four game sweep. The 6 2 defenceman retired and started his coaching career with the Florida Panthers as an assistant coach. Tom Renney of the New York Rangers and Peter Laviolette of the Carolina Hurricanes were also nominated. (Top photo of Ruff fishing in Montana: Lindy Ruff). There will be less wake surfing in Northern New Jersey, but he might still be able to make time for a little fishing. They won big. All Rights Reserved. Another younger brother, Marty Ruff, was a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, but never appeared in an NHL game. The only remarkable play of his this year was his headbutt on Philadelphia's Jakub Voracek. Ruff declined the fans' offer and had the money raised donated to charity. Ruff made the move seamlessly and played left wing for three years while also being team captain. Before this game, Patrick Kaleta hadn't been playing as well as he had last season. Ruff got up, skated back to the goaltender and tackled him. The coaching staff of the Sabres is solely composed of ex-players. And yet they never spoke over two decades, not until each was asked before the All-Star Game why he hadn't done so. We can't ask much of these guys because they are just keeping the bench warmbut they may prove themselves worthy of a job depending on the team output. The two-week minicamp theyre requesting would give Ruff the critical in-person time to build relationships with his players and to start to make his mark on his new team. As the youngest children, Brian and Madeline were born on August 16, 1994. Lindy Cameron Ruff (born February 17, 1960) is a Canadian assistant coach for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The eye doctor did not replace the sightless eye since it moved in sync with her other eye. Ruff got up, skated back to the goaltender and tackled him.[1]. After all, you don't have that many opportunities to win the Cup.". Brent was an all-around athlete. Lindy Ruffs income source is mostly from being a successful . Ruff: "I was caught in the moment. 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 today's N.H.L. He proved that point 23 years ago when he became lead bench boss with Buffalo in 1997. Ruff was chosen in the second round, 32nd overall, of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, by the Buffalo Sabres. Its nice now, but when we first get here its probably in the 60s, so youve got to be able to put up with a little bit of chilliness.. Youve got to have players that are willing to hang onto it in high-danger areas, Ruff said. Well, the Sabres faced the Bruins and they won. 02:01. He excelled at baseball, as did Lindy, once hitting four home runs in one game as a 15-year-old in a senior league. Ruff gained a reputation as a player for his toughness, character and hard work on the ice. Every time I had a conversation with Lindy or we watched video or anything like that, I thought he was really solid, Severson said. I have to conclude that 2021-22 was a big, fat failure. "I can remember everything like it was yesterday," Sakic said. If it had been a typical coaching search, Ruff would have flown to New Jersey for at least one interview, toured the Devils facility and met dozens of people who work for the franchise. Some young kid the Sabres had drafted couldn't get the puck off Lindy, and Lindy had shared that story with him. Brent Ruff was dear to him. Wake surfing is also a very popular activity in the Ruff household. "We liked his smarts and determination on defense.". "He wanted to be a lot like Lindy. He is the present head coach of the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. Maybe he would've played alongside his big brother -- maybe for him. "Yeah, by far. He guided Team Canada to a silver medal at the IIHF World Hockey Championships in Switzerland for the 2008-09 season. If not for a telephone interview with a Medicine Hat reporter, Lindy said the milestone might not have dawned on even him. That kid might still be playing. You don't meet too many people in hockey you stay friends with because you always go from city to city. Ruff has even more work to do in his second month with the Devils, including assembling his coaching staff. He played for the ice hockey team Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the OJHL. 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. Fitzgerald ran the coaching search that landed Ruff, after having assumed the interim role when Shero was fired. But he didn't stay there long. And my mom . Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. . Ruff does have a few connections on the Devils roster. teams that will not resume play on Aug. 1, when the league is set to begin its expanded, 24-team playoff. Those three have all shown the potential to be game-breaking players but have yet to blossom into consistent producers like some of their peers around the league. While many Devils fans understandably assumed Lindy Ruff was a lame duck these last few months, a combination of some unclear media reports, vocal support for the Devils' bench-boss from some key players, and silence from the Devils front office has made the organization's plan for the coaching position as clear as mud. If I get more than that, its a banner day for me.. Copyright 1999-2023 New Jersey Devils and the National Hockey League. Against the Bruins, let just say the Sabres played with a chip on their shoulder. Those were probably the first four seconds. 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. Apart from marital bliss, they are blessed with four amazing kids. "Ruff never was the most talented player in the world," historian Andrew Podnieks wrote in "Players," Podnieks' definitive who's who of hockey. Ruff led the Sabres to their most successful regular season ever in 200607 with a 53227 record for a total of 113 points. Schneider missed Ruffs initial call, and then called him back. In Ruff's second season as coach, the Sabres reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Dallas Stars in six games. is 6 2 and Weight 201lb (91kg; 14st 5lb). Lindy Ruffs wife is from Lethbridge, so when Lindy played for the WHL team Lethbridge Broncos, he spent his vacations with Gayes family. In a game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on May 10, 1980, Ruff collided with Isles belligerent goalie Battlin' Bill Smith in a goalmouth scramble. Discover Lindy Ruff's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. But his admirable string of successes -- as both player and coach -- far overshadowed that classic goal controversy. [2] 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. 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. I specifically remember him telling me [the day Brent died] something that Lindy had done in practice. He played for the ice hockey team, BiographySet | Celebrity Biography, Celebrity Net Worth, Sports Celebrities Bio, Celebrity Entertainment & Rumor, Learn More About Selen Vigil-Wilks Biography, Bruna Tomaselli Biography Brazilian W Series Racer, Herbert Simon Biography Billionaire And Indiana Pacers Owner. If experience is the best teacher, the Devils did well naming Lindy Ruff as their new head coach. The others include Al Arbour (Islanders), Billy Reay (Blackhawks) and Barry Trotz (Nashville.) . . Kids? Bellissimo is old enough to remember when a young Ruff was butt-ended in the eye . "We don't talk much about it," Leeson said. In the immediate aftermath, many players wondered how they would get to Regina in time for the game and if they would play that night. Ruff was again nominated for the Jack Adams Award in 200607. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. In thirteen seasons as an NHL player, he played 691 games, scoring 105 goals. [9], In the 200607 season, Ruff became the first Sabres coach to lead the team to back-to-back 50-win seasons,[10] boasting the fifth-best points percentage in the NHL since 1979. Anyone can read what you share. As we shall see in 2020-21, Lindy Ruff still has "that same fire," only this time the Devils will glow with it! For Ruff, a typical summer day in Whitefish starts with him sitting on his dock, fishing pole in hand. 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. Brent Ruff, the youngest of four boys, was born on his big brother's birthday and dreamed of following in his skate tracks. Ruff was previously the head coach of the Dallas Stars of the NHL, and also the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres from 1997 to 2013, with whom he won the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year in 2006. The renowned coach Lindy Ruff and his wife . "On the inside, it's a painful day, but I don't want it to have any effect on my kids. While he might opt for some of Montanas famous fly fishing in a river nearby, most days hes content to fish from his dock with the hope of snagging some lake trout. During his playing career, Ruff played in the NHL for the Sabres and New York Rangers, the former of which he captained. Stan Fischler That's what hurts. 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. 69.163.234.236 Lindy has carved a remarkable career for himself with a playing career of fourteen years and an ongoing coaching career since 1993. "Lindy took us to the Eastern Conference Finals and a year later to the Final Round for the Cup.". 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's not half as controversial as Sean Avery, but he sure is one of the loudest mouths out there. Lindy's injury might have been that last drop they needed to spark them into a comeback in the restof this season. We have estimated He also needs to find a place to live in Northern New Jersey, a search thats been limited to online platforms so far. We have such a young team, Brodeur said, in a video interview. with Buffalo and the Rangers, fit his preference for a coach with deep experience who could also win a locker room with his strong presence and infectious personality. Marty was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first-round pick. I would consider that a big deal, instead of just coming into the main camp cold, Ruff said. Enter Search Term. Ruff played in 691 NHL games, scoring 105 goals and adding 195 assists for a total of 300 points. This was also on the anniversary of the controversial defeat of the Sabres in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999. One of the themes from Ruffs first press conference was his desire to mold the team into one that plays at a fast pace and with the puck. Hence, the lovebirds have been together since his playing days. Even as his hockey playing and coaching career took the couple to various NHL cities, the Ruffs continued to return to the state. In the second period of New Jersey's game vs. the Arizona Coyotes, Devils fans passionately chanted, "sorry Lindy!" thanks to Ruff's impressive winning recent resume. "Lindy was a tough aggressive kid," said Scotty Bowman, who was Sabres GM-coach for the 1979-80 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. Maybe he would've won a Stanley Cup. One of the Devils strengths is the collection of young forwards they have, headlined by Hischier, Hughes and Jesper Bratt. So I am once again asking to see the same thing. "He was a very important player.". Injuries eventually slowed him down after a while and he was traded to the Rangers.". The two methods are: Evisceration. 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. [28] On November 26, 2022, Ruff became the fifth NHL coach to win 800 games after a 51 against the Washington Capitals.[29]. Ruff gained a reputation as a player for his toughness, character and hard work on the ice. After three impressive years of Junior hockey (Lethbridge Broncos), the Warburg, Alberta native was drafted in 1979 by Buffalo during the second round as a defenseman. Coincidentally, the last two games the Sabres won, Gaustad was either in the middle of the meleeor standing up for his team. Ruff was the winner of the 200506 Jack Adams Award for coach of the year in the NHL. All of them are now grown-ups and living their lives individually. The average . Lindy Cameron Ruff (born February 17, 1960) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach who is the head coach for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL said Ruff precipitated the brawl following a questionable hit on then co-captain Chris Drury by the Senators' Chris Neil. They call me every year, and just the tone of my mom's voice . On June 20, 2013, the Dallas Stars announced they were in the process of hiring Ruff as head coach. The operation was successful, and she is living a healthy life. He peeled back some debris to find Brent Ruff underneath the bus. 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. Did you know the Devils head coachs career totaled$5,415,000? When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. 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. An illustration of this came in a May 10, 1980, playoff game against the New York Islanders, when opposing goaltender Billy Smith struck Ruff with his stick as he passed in front of his net. On January 6, 2011, Ruff became only the 16th coach in NHL history to win 500 games, and just the second to win 500 games while only having coached one team. Tom . "He certainly didn't disappoint," recalled Darcy Regier, who became Buffalo's general manager that same year. In his post-game interview following a questionable hit on Jochen Hecht that knocked the Sabres centre out of the lineup for two weeks with a sprained ACL in the 200506 season, Ruff said, "I want him [Tucker] suspended." Ruff is known for being blunt with the media. / Special to NewJerseyDevils.com. Lindy Ruffs family often spends time away from the city life and visits Whitefish lake in Montana. What are you doing? "I wanted it to be disallowed so we'd still have a shot at the Cup.". He said that his Devils teams wont ignore playing defense, but he still largely believes in a superfast, possession-type game, a style that should particularly help to develop Hughes, who had only seven goals and 14 assists in 61 games this season. "I still have the same fire," said Ruff several years ago. 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.. Ruff has since been a part of 157 regular season games with the Rangers, and so judgment is now more than fair. He played for the Sabres and New York Rangers. Ruff was again nominated for the Jack Adams Award in 200607. He proved that point 23 years ago when he became lead bench boss with Buffalo in. 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. Lindy Ruffs children are Brett Ruff, Eryn Ruff,Madeleine Ruff, and Brian Ruff. Blitzer did not want to say how he thought the Devils would fare as they regrouped under Ruff, saying of the process, The players will tell us that., https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/09/sports/hockey/new-jersey-devils-lindy-ruff.html. He got up and tackled Smitty to the ice.". The bus fishtailed, dipped into a ditch and slammed into an elevated farm access road. Laviolette of the Central Division squad in the NHL not replace the sightless eye since it moved sync. In hockey you stay friends with because you always go from city to city over two,! Stars ' Brett Hull scored a goal deep into the third overtime is one of Carolina. 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