Buffalo Sabres Fire Lindy Ruff, NHL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coach
The Buffalo Sabres fired Lindy Ruff, the National Hockey League’s longest-tenured coach.
Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier announced the move today on the team’s website. Ruff, 53, was 562-452-84, along with 78 ties, in his 15 seasons with the team.
The Sabres (6-10-1) have lost four of their last five games and are tied with the New York Islanders and Winnipeg Jets for the third-fewest points in the Eastern Conference. The team was booed by spectators during its most recent home game, a 2-1 loss to the Jets last night.
“Totally understand it,” Ruff told reporters after the game. “I’m embarrassed.”
Ruff led the Sabres to eight playoff appearances, most recently in 2011, and under his coaching Buffalo eclipsed the 100-point mark three times. The Sabres lost to the Dallas Stars in the 1999 Stanley Cup finals.
Ruff’s replacement was not named in the statement.
-- Editor: Michael Sillup
To contact the reporter on this story: Eben Novy-Williams in New York at enovywilliam@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net
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