Editor’s note: Lindy Ruff was hired to coach the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. This story was originally published on April 20, 2023, when Ruff was coaching the New Jersey Devils.
A quarter century ago, Lindy Ruff made a seamless transition from popular teammate to successful head coach, applying pranks and principles, blending light-heartedness with square-jawed strategies to remain a charismatic leader for generations of players.
Ruff entered the postseason with 900 wins, making him the most successful NHL coach never to have won a Stanley Cup. The hockey world — unless facing his New Jersey Devils — is rooting for Ruff to have his name etched in silver.
The Athletic interviewed 19 of Ruff’s former teammates, coaches, players and assistants to share their favorite stories that illustrate what has made him a legend at the rink or with a needle and thread for 44 years.
Jim Schoenfeld, Sabres teammate: People throw these words around all the time: dedication, courage, competitiveness, perseverance. To Lindy, those weren’t just words. They were a call to action. That’s the way he played and the way he lives.
Bill Watters, Ruff’s player agent: He built a fine career from an underage kid who had broken his leg right before the draft and through the loss of his brother, and what he’s done since he stopped playing is more substantive yet.
Scotty Bowman, Sabres GM and coach: He did a lot of spadework for our team.
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Sabres name Lindy Ruff as head coach
Larry Playfair, Sabres teammate: At the end of his first season (in Buffalo) my nose was a mess. I had to go to the hospital to get that fixed, and he went into Buffalo General to get this 18-inch rod pulled out of his leg. I didn’t know that until the end of the season; he played the whole freaking year with this rod and didn’t say anything to anybody.
Schoenfeld: You saw the scar. You knew he had a surgery, but the way he approached the game was, “I don’t need anybody feeling sorry for me. I don’t need anybody giving me quarter. You don’t need to know what I’ve been through. I’m just going to play my ass off against you or with you.”
Playfair: I can’t tell you a guy that was more injured than Lindy that played through pain. Nobody that I played with, at least.
George Babcock, Sabres equipment manager: He was tough. He would run on the treadmill, and you would swear his heart was the size of a loaf of Wonder Bread.
James Patrick, Rangers teammate, Sabres defenseman, Sabres and Stars…
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