Lindy Ruff's name is trending. He's a highly sought after man these days.
On Monday morning, the Buffalo Sabres granted permission for Rangers GM Glen Sather to formally interview Ruff for their vacant head coaching job. The Sabres are still paying Ruff, therefore, the Rangers required the approval of the Sabres in order to speak with Ruff.
On Monday night, the former Sabres bench boss was named the first annual "Sportsman of the Year" by the Clarence, NY Chamber of Commerce.
The Clarence Chamber held its 2013 Clarence Chamber Golf Classic on a soggy afternoon. Ruff attended a dinner at local country club.
Ruff said reaffirmed what he always has said about Western New York. He's not selling his house and leaving anytime soon. He may "relocate", however, he and his family will never leave. Ruff already knows that Jet Blue and Continental fly non-stop out of Buffalo to Laguardia and JFK. Ruff can leave Manhattan and arrive home less than an hour later.
Ruff is a modern day Scotty Bowman in that respect. Both men and their families are passionate Western New York supporters.
"I think Clarence is a great place to live, I don't have any plans of moving. I might have to relocate short term for a while but my home will always be Clarence. I have no regrets on my playing career and I have no regrets on my coaching career but there is one thing I want to see Buffalo have and that's a Stanley Cup."
"My whole life has been Buffalo. I owe a lot to the city of Buffalo, the community of Clarence. My kids all grew up and were raised here and went through school. There's not many NHL coaches that can say that their kids went through one school."
Thanks, WGRZ.com
I've always compared Buffalo to the "Hotel California".
You can check out any time, but you can NEVER leave.
Last year when the LA Kings won Lord Stanley's Cup, they did it by annihilating their competition is Quick fashion. They laid waste to their oppoenents in such decisive, swift fashion that there was no time for the key members of their squad to be injured.
Last year, the Kings dished out all of the punishment and pain. This time around, they were the pinata that was constantly mashed and pounded by the like of the Sharks, Blues, and Blackhawks.
On Monday, former Sabres and Flames D Robyn Regehr joined the LA M*A*S*H unit.
Regehr was scheduled to undergo surgery on his elbow on Monday. This news courtesy of the LA Kings.
"He played with a bad arm the whole playoffs," Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said.
"We're getting multiple guys looked at and he's first on the list."
Regehr’s elbow required immediate repair after the Blackhawks showed the Kings the exit from the WCF in five ultra-physical games.
In other Kings walking wounded news, captain Dustin Brown, who tore the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his knee during the San Jose series, said Monday he won’t need surgery. Drew Doughty (ankle) and right wing Justin Williams (separated shoulder) fessed up after the Kings were eliminated from the playoffs that they had been hobbled by their injuries. Mike Richards and Jarret Stoll suffered concussions.
Last year, the Kings were the bullies. This time around, the bully's nose was bloodied.
Here's the latest on the Lindy Ruff to the New York Rangers.
Rangers GM Glen Sather, is meeting this week in La Quinta, California with all of his lieutenants. Former Buffalo Sabres turned Rangers AGM Jim Schoenfeld and the other AGM Jeff Gorton, will pour all of the Rangers drama and disappointments on the board room table, and systematically dig through the rubble of a truly disappointing regular season and playoffs. The Rangers were knocked out of the Eastern Conference Finals last spring. This year, they were bounced in the second round by the Boston Bruins.
John Tortarella was fired immediately following the disappointing end to the season.
Here are all of the conundrums that Sather and his right hand men have to find solutions for:
* Ryane Clowe. UFA. Keep him or let him test the market.
* Henrik Lundqvist. Like Ryan Miller, has one year remaining on his current contract extension. Before Tortarella was fired, Hank wasn't thrilled at the prospect of signing a long term contract to stay on Broadway.
RFA Probs. Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Zuccarello are all RFAs. Will Sather qualify all of them? Are trade winds blowing?
The NHL Entry Draft. Who will the Rangers select?
Who will be the next head coach of the Rangers be? Lindy Ruff, Alain Vigneault, or Mark Messier?
Big decisions will be made in the coming weeks.
Speaking of Ruff, he was finally granted permission by the Sabres to speak with the Rangers about their vacant head coaching job.
The Buffalo Sabres Monday announced the team will host an NHL Draft Party on Sunday, June 30 at First Niagara Center, beginning at 2 p.m. Fans will be able to watch live coverage of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft while enjoying a day of family-friendly entertainment at the arena.
Coverage of the draft will be shown on the high-definition video board beginning at 3 p.m.
In addition to the draft coverage, the night will feature player appearances, floor hockey events on the arena floor, Sabres locker room tours and other activities for the whole family. Fans are reminded that children 12 years of age and younger will be required to wear a helmet if they want to participate in the floor hockey events.
Additionally, concessions will be available throughout the night at family-friendly prices.
Admission to the draft party is free and the team is also offering complimentary parking in the arena ramp.
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