Kevin Allen on Ruff's 1000s game

[Two or less]

Maybe it's fitting that Lindy Ruff would coach his 1,000th NHL game at a time when the Buffalo Sabres are struggling, because he has always been known as a purveyor of patience.

"While generally coaches are always focused on today's win, he always has an eye on the long term as well," Buffalo general manager Darcy Regier said. "He's not just about what the player is, but rather what the player can become."

 

When Ruff stood behind the bench Wednesday against New Jersey, he became the 18th person to coach in 1,000 NHL games. However, he's only the third person to coach in 1,000 NHL games with the same team.

 

Al Arbour coached 1,500 games with the New York Islanders, and the late Billy Reay coached 1,012 with the Chicago Blackhawks.

 

It's as if coaches are entering combat when they go behind the bench in the NHL. Survival rates are low. Every job comes with an expiration date, generally within three or four seasons. More than one-third of NHL coaches don't have two full seasons with their club. The only active NHL coach in reach of Ruff is Barry Trotz, with 915 games coached with Nashville. No other NHL coach is within six seasons of matching their numbers.

 

Ruff has survived 13 seasons in Buffalo because he simply hasn't provided a single reason to be fired.

 

Link- http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/columnist/allen/2010-11-10-lindy-ruff-buffalo-sabres_N.htm