Archives for 2013

'I don't know if anyone will ever find out the truth but my guess is Regier had to be convinced to make this move. Either Terry Pegula realized the fan base was fed up and his franchise was suffering or perhaps someone persuaded Pegula that it was time to release the man who, when Pegula bought the team two years ago, said "ain't going nowhere."' … [Read more...] about Sabres Ruff had run out of answers

'Regier said the decision was “ultimately my decision,” but it made after talking with team owner Terry Pegula and top Sabres officials Ken Sawyer and Ted Black.' … [Read more...] about Ruff learned his coaching fate at home

'“The hockey world knows how I and the entire Buffalo Sabres organization feel about Lindy Ruff not only as a coach but also as a person,” Pegula said. “His long tenure with the Sabres has ended. His qualities have made this decision very difficult. I personally want Lindy to know that he can consider me a friend always.”' … [Read more...] about Firing brings Ruff era to startling end

'“I watched Lindy’s press conference after the game, and it’s as down as I’ve seen him in a long, long time,” Playfair said Wednesday night in First Niagara Center during a Junior Sabres game. “I don’t typically do it, but this morning I watched it again on Sabres.com. You can just see he’s tried everything he can try and the guys aren’t responding. If he’s out of answers, I … [Read more...] about Sabres’ slide costs Ruff after 26 years with franchise

'It would have been merciful to fire Ruff then, allowing him to find another town in which to prove himself. Instead, Regier waited, as he has done so many times at the trade deadline. Ruff set about “reinventing” himself. He stuck around until the situation had become unbearable, with the home crowd booing throughout Tuesday’s loss to the Jets and Ruff fielding questions … [Read more...] about Firing Ruff is too late, and it’s too little

'Ruff spent 26 years, nearly half of his life, working for the Sabres as a player and a coach. He wanted to win a Cup for himself. Mostly, he wanted to win a championship, in Buffalo, for you. To me, that meant something.' … [Read more...] about Lindy’s time was up – but what a time it was

'Served as captain of the Sabres. In 1989 he was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a draft pick, used to select Richard Smehlik.' … [Read more...] about Time line: The Ruff years

'If Regier really knew that he was making the right choice, if he knew Rolston was ready for the NHL, if he knew his team would respond to the calmer, more cerebral approach of Rolston, then there would be no interim title.' … [Read more...] about Coaching shuffle between Amerks, Sabres

'“Very difficult. Extremely difficult,” Regier told a packed media room at the First Niagara Center about his conversation with Ruff. “But this is professional sports. He understood it. He was extremely professional. It’s a tough thing. It really is.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ regression ultimately doomed Ruff

'The 46-year-old has no NHL coaching or playing experience. The Sabres recruited him from Team USA’s development program in 2011 to lead their top affiliate club. He’s still new to the professional game, having coached only 124 AHL games.' … [Read more...] about Sabres tab Rolston to replace Ruff on interim basis

'Wednesday's change didn't happen because the experiment failed, and Regier said Ruff trying to reinvent himself was a risk he needed to take. Ultimately, it didn't pay off, though, as the team compiled a 6-10-1 record through its first 17 games.' … [Read more...] about Sabres fire longtime coach Lindy Ruff after poor start to 16th season

'“I don’t think they should put the whole blame on (Ruff),” Tonawanda resident Steve Wutz said. “It has a lot to do with the players, and I think he’s taking the fall for everybody.”' … [Read more...] about Ruff fired

'But for a franchise that’s as insular as any in pro sports, there was a staunch belief that there wasn’t a better guy available to turn it around than the one already in the chair. Tuesday’s game in Winnipeg was quite obviously the straw that broke the camel’s back. The utterly uninspired performance from a team loaded with high-priced players had Ruff’s Sabres rightly booed … [Read more...] about Too bad it had to end like this

'”Lindy will go down as the greatest coach in Buffalo history, but it was time to do so (fire him.) Things need be changed,” Weiland said. “As a human being I always thought he was a great guy. He was very personable, very funny and he did a great job directing the team for a lot of years. Over the years, players have changed. His style of coaching was more geared to players of … [Read more...] about Ruff descent

'"But I really think the players stopped playing his system. I hope they don't hire from within the team. They need outside help."' … [Read more...] about Fans react to firing of Lindy Ruff