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DullAss No More

June 21, 2013, 10:47 AM ET [186 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Lindy Ruff met the Dallas press on Friday afternoon.


Thanks to Stars TV.


















In typical Lindy Ruff fashion, he wowed the crowd with a zinger for the Dallas Stars and their fans when he quipped:

"I said to (Nill) when I agreed to meet with him, 'we can meet, but we can't meet in the crease'", Ruff joking about Brett Hull's " No Goal" that ended Game 6 in triple OT in the infamous 1999 Stanley Cup Finals.


Classic Lindy!

Here are a couple of his out takes.















Thanks, WGRZ.com











What happens when two Albertans get together at the hockey rink?

Lindy Ruff becomes the head coach of Jim Nill's Dallas Stars.

Friends for years, Ruff and Nill will now focus their attention on building a winning team in The Big D.

Nill said in a statement:

"One of the trademarks of successful organizations is their ability to have continuity and stability for an extended period of time. We have found the right person to provide that stability and lead this club to the next level."


Ruff said in a statement:


"I am honored to be joining the Dallas Stars organization, it was clear that all the right pieces are coming together to return this club to the upper-echelon of the NHL.

"I look forward to leading its resurgence".


Look for Ruff confidante James Patrick to join the staff in Dallas. Who will coach Ruff's forwards? Wait and see.

Ruff, 53, is the 12th-winningest head coach in NHL history, one of only 17 to ever reach the 500-victory plateau, and has the third-most wins of any active coach. Now entering his second stint as an NHL head coach, last season he departed the Buffalo Sabres as their all-time franchise leader in wins with a 571-432-162 record. During Ruff's tenure in Buffalo, the team made eight postseason appearances, including four trips to the Eastern Conference Final as well as an appearance in the 1999 Stanley Cup Final.

In 2006, he was awarded the Jack Adams Award as the League's top coach for guiding his team to the Conference Final. Ruff was nominated again for the accolade in 2007 for posting consecutive 50-win campaigns and for leading his club to the Presidents' Trophy, which is earned annually by the top team in the regular season.

In Ruff's eight postseason appearances, he has earned a 57-44 record, which is tied for the 15th-most playoff victories in NHL history. He is also one of only 21 all-time head coaches to guide his team through at least 100 postseason contests.


Ruff is a winner and good on Nill for hiring Ruff. The Stars haven't made the playoffs for the past five seasons. Mark my words: they will finish in the top 8 in the West this season. Also, watch and see the dramatic positive growth in the play of Stars studs Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson, and Cody Eakin. Ruff will dispell the myth that he cannot develop youn players. Thats a garbage, media-generated cliche that will soon be put in the dumpster.

Ruff will play a puck-control. wide open system, meaning, will will allow Benn, Eriksson, Eakin and the Stars to create flow and to agitate opponents. Nill has said that he is committed to getting the pieces, be it by the draft, free agency or hockey trades, to make the Stars a contending team, sooner rather than later. I happen to believe Nill. He just hired himself the best captain for his ship that was available.

Nill has $13.5 million in available cap space for this season. Upgrading the goaltending position will be an area of urgent care for the Stars. Kari Lehtonen is the starter, and will make $5.9 million for the next 5 seasons. His backup tender Richard Bachman in RFA. Might Nill and Ruff be interested in trying to lure Ryan Miller to Dallas? In a soft goalie market this Summer, two things make Lehtonen an attractive option for clubs looking for an upgrade in their net: 1). Term left on deal, and, 2). $ Affordable cap hit.


Sabres GM, Darcy Regier, told Kevin Sylvester on Sabres Hockey Hotline, that three NHL teams called the Sabres to ask for permission to interview Ruff. The three teams: NYR Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Dallas Stars.


Buffalo is the only home that Ruff's kids have ever known. Now, they have to move to Dallas and begin a new chapter in their loves.

Lindy's son Brian tweeted his love of Buffalo after the new broke about his Dad's new job in Big D:






His daughter tweeted:











Sabres GM Darcy Regier reiterated on Friday that which he said at his press conference on Thursday:

The likelihood of jumping up into the top three picks in the draft will be difficults. However, jumping into slots 4-7 may not be as daunting a task for the Sabres. Whats wrong with trading out of 8 to get Barov, Nichuskin, Lindholm, Monahan, Horvat Nurse?

Absolutely nothing.


Lets be clear, the Sabres may not be in the running to land MacKinnon, Drouin or Jones in this draft, however, suffice to say, that will be selecting a top 6 forward or a top 4 D at #8.

Regier said today that he sees a trend developing at the top of the draft: other GMs are coveting the forwards, especially the centers. This draft is rich with talented pivots and Regier sees many teams lining up to get their guy.

Regier spoke more about the draft and the many different scenarios and options that are available to the Sabres when he sat down to speak with Kevin Sylvester on Sabres Hockey Hotline with on Friday morning.





























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