Thanks, Lindy Ruff

[Lindy Puff]

Guess you'll have to find a new user name to go with those 16 posts.

Ruff gave it his best shot, but things didn't work out. It was probably time for him to move on, but I hope it works out well for him in the long run.

Exactly but he was hired to win a Stanley Cup and he did not do that he may have got far into the playoffs and a good person BUT HE DID NOT DO WHAT HE WAS HIRED TO DO we only gave him 15 years to do it with it not happening but anyhow you all no whats up and will praise him now and just be that person that says o i new they SHOULD have kept ruff just so you can think your right.

 

[sabresandkane]

Thank you Lindy.

 

[Mit Yarrum]

What a bittersweet day.

He needed to go of course, but he won a lot of games, won a lot of playoff games, won awards, and generally was a good coach with a winning overall record both in the playoffs and the regular season.

It's a shame they couldn't win it all with him, but it's time they moved on.

Regular Season:

571-432-78-84

Playoff Record:

57-44

Misc Stats/Records:

• Tied for 15th overall playoff wins in NHL history
• 12th overall in winning games coached in NHL history
• 12th overall in games coached in NHL history
• 16th coach in NHL history to win 500 games, 2nd to do it with one team
• Winning-est coach to ever coach just one team
• One of four coaches in NHL history with 1000 games for one team
• Only Sabres coach with back-to-back 50 game win seasons
• 2nd in active regular season games coached
• 3rd in active regular season games coached wins
• 5th in active playoff season games coached wins
  

 

[jamers]

As I heard someone else say on the radio, I'm glad he's done so I can resume liking him. He's a great guy and it is sad, but necessary.

 

[couture23]

As a 19 year old, I've only grown to known Lindy as a head coach. This feels too weird but it has be done, best of luck Lindy.

 

[Flamer12]

Wow. Classy Sabres fans. Even though it had to be done and you all wanted it done, so many kind words and so much appreciation for what he has done. Not a negative thing said about him on this thread. That says it all about Lindy. I bet if any other struggling team fired its coach, half the posts about him would be negative.

 

[Fan-of-#9]

Thank you Lindy. Class act all the way.




You will be missed, but this was the right thing for the team.

 

[SwordsgoneWild]

I could not believe the news when I heard it. I have watched this guy since his first season in 97-98 ffs. We definately needed to move on.

With that said Thank You for all the memories Lindy. A part of me will always remember your time here and the good that you have done.

 

[Paxon]

Wow. Classy Sabres fans. Even though it had to be done and you all wanted it done, so many kind words and so much appreciation for what he has done. Not a negative thing said about him on this thread. That says it all about Lindy. I bet if any other struggling team fired its coach, half the posts about him would be negative.

In fairness this thread is specifically for thanking him. There's a general thread about it where some posters have said dumb things. The truth is, though, that most of us here who wanted him gone look at him as a true Sabre through and through, the time was just up (for some of us it's been up for a good while, others more recently). He's spent an incredible amount of years in this organization as a player and coach, almost all of his lengthy career in both respects. He's had some fantastic stretches. He's a great guy in the community.

My mom's friend was a realtor and on the side she had a business cleaning houses that are going on sale or were just sold. Sometimes my mom helped her out. They did Lindy's new house years ago. My mom asked if I wanted to help her and I turned it down. Turns out Lindy was there the whole day, doing the work right alongside them. Wish I didn't turn that down, mom said he was great.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

To show that I am not a complete jerk..

Lindy:

Thanks for your play as a Sabre Fwd/D back in the 70's/80's.

And taking the "C" over from Bert.

Thanks for the win over the Russians in the 80's.

Thanks for backfilling after Quinn, Muckler, Nolan and Hasek almost blew it all up

Thanks for the 99 Cup run... that should have been our Cup

Thanks for holding the team dressed and ready to go in the locker room while the NHL futz'ed it all up

Thanks for no-goal and the rally.... that was pure Buffalo/WNY

Thanks for giving us some stability during the Regis debacle

Thanks for the 2004 lockout experimentation...

And the great team that came out of that...... 2005-06/07

Not your fault we lost our D in the Cane's series... that should have been our Cup too. I know you wanted to put the pads back on and go out there.

But you should have left before the wave had crested....

Best fortune in the future.

 

[Mit Yarrum]

Lindy:

Thanks for your play as a Sabre Fwd/D back in the 70's/80's.

And taking the "C" over from Bert.

Thanks for the win over the Russians in the 80's.

Thanks for backfilling after Quinn, Muckler, Nolan and Hasek almost blew it all up

Thanks for the 99 Cup run... that should have been our Cup

Thanks for holding the team dressed and ready to go in the locker room while the NHL futz'ed it all up

Thanks for no-goal and the rally.... that was pure Buffalo/WNY

Thanks for giving us some stability during the Regis debacle

Thanks for the 2004 lockout experimentation...

And the great team that came out of that...... 2005-06/07

Not your fault we lost our D in the Cane's series... that should have been our Cup too. I know you wanted to put the pads back on and go out there.

But you should have left before the wave had crested....

Best fortune in the future.

Excellent post.

 

[Ace1963]

Gonna assume you've been a fan for 3-4 years

I've been a fan for 42 years.
I saw the greats Punch Imlach and Scotty Bowman sh*tcanned by the Sabres in half the time Ruff got.
Ruff was selfish to hang on so long.

 

[Mit Yarrum]

Ruff was selfish to hang on so long.

What a ridiculous statement. Literally no one on this Earth would have stepped down.

Besides, this is a positive thread. He had faults but that's not on-topic here. Thanks.

 

[Paxon]

I've been a fan for 42 years.
I saw the greats Punch Imlach and Scotty Bowman sh*tcanned by the Sabres in half the time Ruff got.
Ruff was selfish to hang on so long.

Then you should have things to thank Ruff for

 

[vcv]

I'll never forget...

DON'T GO AFTER OUR ****ING CAPTAIN.

Most intense game I've ever been to.

 

[Jacob582]

Thanks Coach.

This move probably should have happened a season or two ago.

Today, I'm sad. Today I realize I like some of the current Sabres players a whole lot less than I do Ruff. I would have liked the Sabres to win it all with him.

 

[zenthusiast]

Lindy:

Thanks for your play as a Sabre Fwd/D back in the 70's/80's.

And taking the "C" over from Bert.

Thanks for the win over the Russians in the 80's.

Thanks for backfilling after Quinn, Muckler, Nolan and Hasek almost blew it all up

Thanks for the 99 Cup run... that should have been our Cup

Thanks for holding the team dressed and ready to go in the locker room while the NHL futz'ed it all up

Thanks for no-goal and the rally.... that was pure Buffalo/WNY

Thanks for giving us some stability during the Regis debacle

Thanks for the 2004 lockout experimentation...

And the great team that came out of that...... 2005-06/07

Not your fault we lost our D in the Cane's series... that should have been our Cup too. I know you wanted to put the pads back on and go out there.

But you should have left before the wave had crested....

Best fortune in the future.

 

[The Real]

I have been calling for his job for a few months now and the moment it happened I almost completely regretted it. Don't get me wrong it was time, heck it was time 2 years ago, still you can't discredit a class act. The man has never been anything but incredibly classy and a great face to the organization. I've met and spoken to the man and I've always been a fan of his.

Sad to watch him go and I wish him all the best.

 

[Hasek]

Despite the "name" i've been calling him, I had nothing against Lindy and I actually still believe he's a solid coach. Just a frustrated fan being a frustrated fan. He just didn't fit in with this team anymore. If he goes somewhere else he will be successful.

Thanks Lindy for everything. Especially the way you handled the "no goal" situation.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

Hasek is right and I think that's what we all felt just upset cause he didn't fit with them anymore..

He did do great things here.

I hope he doesn't resent us. Really...

 

[Zman5778]

Lindy,

The Buffalo Sabres organization has played 3287 regular season games. In one form or another, you have been involved in 53.9% of all Buffalo Sabres regular season games.

You are, at your core, a Buffalo Sabre.

Thank you for everything.


May you finally get that Cup (as a head coach) that you richly deserve.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Hasek is right and I think that's what we all felt just upset cause he didn't fit with them anymore..

He did do great things here.

I hope he doesn't resent us. Really...

Lindy won't resent the Sabres fans. Heck, every year for the past 5 or 6, on every opening home game of the year, Lindy usually received the biggest ovation.

He was appreciated. It was just time to go.

 

[Zman5778]

Lindy usually received the biggest ovation.

He was appreciated.

The first time he comes back as an opposing coach, I fully expect him to get a roaring standing ovation.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

I became a diehard fan right around the time Lindy became head coach, so it'll certainly be weird seeing someone else behind the bench. He had a hell of a run, though, and it is sad to see him go. As one great chapter of Sabres history ends, here's to the beginning of a new one!

 

[NotABadPeriod]

I became a diehard fan right around the time Lindy became head coach, so it'll certainly be weird seeing someone else behind the bench. He had a hell of a run, though, and it is sad to see him go. As one great chapter of Sabres history ends, here's to the beginning of a new one!

Same here (kinda). I was a fan since birth, but my earliest memories of the Sabres coaches (and not just the players) probably starts with Ted Nolan. Ruff's been the guy behind the bench for so long...it's gonna be weird seeing someone else there tomorrow.