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| Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff. (Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) |
Terry Pegula is going to do everything he possibly can to help this man. I was so relieved when I heard that he signed a contract extension and would be with the Buffalo Sabres for more years to come. If you look in the four major professional sports leagues in our country, there are only two other coaches who have been tenured longer than Lindy Ruff (hired 7.21.1997). Those are Tony LaRussa (hired 10.23.1995) of the St. Louis Cardinals and Gregg Popovich (hired 12.11.1996) of the San Antonio Spurs. Both are great coaching role models.
There is a reason why Lindy has been tenured so long, and it’s not because of his bald head or how many times he says “Ummm” or “Dahhh” while he’s thinking between sentences during a press conference or radio call. This man has so many strong coaching qualities. He is motivated and dedicated, he has one vision with a strong desire to succeed, he is an honest, good teacher with a great sense of humor and he has a positive attitude. He is almost always calm and collective but when he needs to get angry, he can. He is overflowing with intelligence and experience that the head coaching position for any sport requires. That experience includes over 1,000 regular season and over 100 postseason games, all with the Buffalo Sabres. He knows the franchise inside and out and is willing to earn respect, not demand it. Save a few on the roster, the players respect him. Even the alumni respect him because he played ten seasons for the Sabres after he was drafted in the second round of the 1979 draft.
I just think there are so many great things that Lindy Ruff brings to the table. Any young and aspiring coach can look up to this guy and be inspired to take care of their sports teams just as he does. He is a positive role model for young children that may not have even been alive as long as he has been behind the Sabres’ bench. It kills me when I hear people saying that he needs to go. Sure he hasn’t won us that extremely elusive trophy as I mentioned before, but I do not think that putting another man behind our bench will increase our chances whatsoever.
I hope Lindy stays with the Buffalo Sabres after he finally wins the Stanley Cup and for many years to come. I would hate to see him leave after a successful season. Actually, I would hate to see him leave at all.
sorry David...he is a loser.
ReplyDeleteGood role model? this isnt Boys Town,pal.
Ken Hitchcock,Larry Robinson,Pat Burns,Bob Hartley, John Tortorella and Peter Laviolette...all six are coaches who,AFTER Lindy was hired, were hired, won Stanley Cups, and were FIRED when their teams' fortunes failed. Yet Lindy sails on immune to reality...." I think that putting another man behind our bench will not increase our chances whatsoever," you say.
Any empiricalevidence here Dave, or just emotionalism in contrast to my facts as above?
Hey Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI don't really need to supply you with any empirical evidence when stating my opinion, which is what my blog is. Those coaches may have each won a Stanley Cup in a shorter time than Lindy, but look at their rosters they were coaching. Lindy has put this Sabres team in a very good position considering the up-and-down mediocre roster at times. He's been far in the playoff's and had the run crushed by a bad call. He's led a team of youngsters to a President's Trophy. Although his resume may not have the elusive Stanley Cup, this man has accomplished a lot. I really don't think firing him would put the team in a better position to win. The team needs more talent on the ice. With Terry Pegula taking over and Lindy having no real "financial constraints" for years to come, things are looking positive. Maybe if we have this conversation again in five years and Lindy leads the team to missing the post-season in three of those five years, then and only then will I side with you on this topic.
Thank you for the comment!