Lindy Ruff
Encyclopedia
Lindy Cameron Ruff is the head coach
of the Buffalo Sabres
of the National Hockey League
. Ruff played in the NHL for the Sabres and New York Rangers
as a left winger
/defenceman. Currently, he is the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL.
. He played for the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers
. Ruff gained a reputation as a player for his toughness, character and hard work on the ice. An illustration of this came in a May 10, 1980 playoff game against the New York Islanders
where opposing goaltender Billy Smith struck Ruff with his stick as he passed in front of his net. Ruff got up, skated back to the goaltender and tackled him.
Ruff played most of his NHL career for the Sabres, serving as captain of the team for nearly three years, but he was traded to the Rangers at the 1989 NHL trade deadline in exchange for a draft pick. The Sabres would use that pick to select Richard Smehlik
, who would later play for several years under Ruff.
Ruff played in 691 NHL games, scoring 105 goals and adding 195 assists for an even total of 300 points. He also recorded 1,264 penalty minutes. In 52 playoff games, Ruff recorded 11 goals and 13 assists while accumulating 193 penalty minutes.
for the 1993–94 NHL season until the 1996–97 NHL season. His most success as an assistant coach was with the 1996 Florida Panthers that made it to the Stanley Cup final
, but lost to the Colorado Avalanche
.
Ruff was named the 15th head coach of the Buffalo Sabres on July 21, 1997. He joined a long list of former Sabres players who eventually became Sabres head coaches; Floyd Smith
, Bill Inglis
, Craig Ramsay
, Jim Schoenfeld
, and Rick Dudley
were among the others. He had immediate success in Buffalo, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 1997–98 NHL season. In Ruff's second season as coach, the Sabres reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals
before finally losing to the Dallas Stars
in six games. The following two seasons saw Ruff's Sabres lose in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers and the second round to the Pittsburgh Penguins respectively. Buffalo missed the playoffs in the three seasons preceding the NHL lockout amidst the teams bankruptcy and financial problems caused by the Adelphia Communications corporate scandal. After the lockout, Ruff lead the Sabres to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances only to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes
in 2006 and the Ottawa Senators
in 2007. Ruff is currently the longest-tenured coach in the NHL
and was rewarded with a three-year contract extension that has an option for a fourth season.
Ruff is known for being blunt with the media. A well-known example of his bluntness were his comments regarding Toronto Maple Leafs
player Darcy Tucker
. In his post-game interview following a questionable hit on Jochen Hecht
that knocked the Sabres center out of the lineup for two weeks with a sprained ACL in the 2005–06 season, Ruff said, "I want him [Tucker] suspended." He also said, "I have not called the NHL office all year and I will call them ten times tomorrow." He called Tucker's hit "a definition of a joke."
On April 5, 2006, Ruff became the 31st coach in NHL history to win 300 games, and just the 16th to do it with only one team. Ruff led the Sabres to their most successful regular season ever in 2006–2007, with a 53–22–7 record for a total of 113 points.
Ruff was the winner of the 2005–06 Jack Adams Award
for coach of the year in the National Hockey League
. Tom Renney
of the New York Rangers
and Peter Laviolette
of the Carolina Hurricanes were also nominated.
Ruff was again nominated for the Jack Adams Award
in 2006–07. His nomination was the second time he has been a finalist for coach of the year. Michel Therrien of the Pittsburgh Penguins was also a finalist while Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks won the honor. Ruff placed 2nd in the voting with 126 points to Vigneault's 134.
In February 2007 Ruff was fined US$10,000 by the NHL after a brawl with the Ottawa Senators (Which Buffalo Sabres fans started funding for the fine, But Lindy Ruff declined that offer). The league said that Ruff precipitated the brawl following a questionable hit on then co-captain Chris Drury
by the Senators' Chris Neil
. Because the hit to Drury did not result in a penalty, Ruff sent out Andrew Peters
, Patrick Kaleta
, and Adam Mair
, the team's "enforcers". What followed was one of the '06–'07 season's most memorable hockey brawls. Adam Mair began the brawl, punching Ottawa's Jason Spezza
as soon as the puck was dropped. Andrew Peters tried to start a fight with Dany Heatley
, who was reluctant to respond, at one point even hiding behind a linesman. Even the goaltenders got into the fight, with Martin Biron
challenging Ray Emery
.
After a second round playoff match against the New York Rangers
on April 27, 2007, Ruff would be fined again by the league after harshly criticizing officials for an alleged missed too-many-men call against the Rangers, which might have given New York a chance to tie the match in the closing minute.
In the 2006–07 season he became the first Sabres coach to lead the team to back-to-back 50 win seasons, boasting the 5th best points percentage in the league since 1979.
On October 15, 2008, Ruff became the 23rd coach in NHL history to win 400 games, and just the 7th to win 400 games for one team.
Ruff was named as an associate coach for Team Canada, which won the gold medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
On January 6, 2011, Ruff became only the 16th coach in NHL history to win 500 games, and just the 2nd to win 500 games while only having coached one team.
On January 8, 2011, Ruff became the winningest coach who only coached for one team in NHL History when the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 2–1 in OT. His 501st win behind the bench with the Sabres put him one ahead of Toe Blake
who coached to 500 wins with the Montreal Canadiens
. Al Arbour
won more games for the New York Islanders
, but he also coached the St. Louis Blues
early in his career.
On April 29, 2011, the Buffalo Sabres announced that Ruff had agreed to a multiple year contract extension.
while playing for the Swift Current Broncos
in 1986.
Another younger brother, Marty Ruff, was a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, but never appeared in an NHL game.
An older brother, Randy Ruff, played and coached in junior hockey.
Lindy and his wife Gaye have four children, Brett, Eryn and twins Madeline and Bryan.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Ruff played in the NHL for the Sabres and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
as a left winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
/defenceman. Currently, he is the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL.
Playing career
Ruff was chosen in the second round, 32nd overall of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft1979 NHL Entry Draft
The 1979 NHL Entry Draft took place on August 9, 1979, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 126 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1978–79 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those...
. He played for the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
. Ruff gained a reputation as a player for his toughness, character and hard work on the ice. An illustration of this came in a May 10, 1980 playoff game against the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
where opposing goaltender Billy Smith struck Ruff with his stick as he passed in front of his net. Ruff got up, skated back to the goaltender and tackled him.
Ruff played most of his NHL career for the Sabres, serving as captain of the team for nearly three years, but he was traded to the Rangers at the 1989 NHL trade deadline in exchange for a draft pick. The Sabres would use that pick to select Richard Smehlik
Richard Smehlik
Richard Šmehlík is a Czech former National Hockey League defenceman. He was drafted in the fifth round, 97th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft....
, who would later play for several years under Ruff.
Ruff played in 691 NHL games, scoring 105 goals and adding 195 assists for an even total of 300 points. He also recorded 1,264 penalty minutes. In 52 playoff games, Ruff recorded 11 goals and 13 assists while accumulating 193 penalty minutes.
Coaching career
He became assistant coach of the Florida PanthersFlorida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
for the 1993–94 NHL season until the 1996–97 NHL season. His most success as an assistant coach was with the 1996 Florida Panthers that made it to the Stanley Cup final
1996 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1996 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by two teams that had not existed three seasons before, the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers. The Avalanche won the Cup in a four game sweep to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup, in their first season in Denver since...
, but lost to the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
.
Ruff was named the 15th head coach of the Buffalo Sabres on July 21, 1997. He joined a long list of former Sabres players who eventually became Sabres head coaches; Floyd Smith
Floyd Smith
Ronald Floyd Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres and who coached for 4 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres...
, Bill Inglis
Bill Inglis
William John "Billy" Inglis is a former professional ice hockey centre. He played 36 games in the National Hockey League: 22 with the Los Angeles Kings and 14 with the Buffalo Sabres...
, Craig Ramsay
Craig Ramsay
Craig Ramsay is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL from 1971 to 1985 and the final head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers.-Playing career:...
, Jim Schoenfeld
Jim Schoenfeld
James Grant Schoenfeld is a retired professional ice hockey player. He is currently the assistant general manager with the New York Rangers, as well as an interim assistant coach...
, and Rick Dudley
Rick Dudley
Richard Clarence Dudley is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. Dudley was previously the general manager of several hockey teams. Dudley played in the World Hockey Association and in the National Hockey League. Dudley has also served as a head coach in the National...
were among the others. He had immediate success in Buffalo, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 1997–98 NHL season. In Ruff's second season as coach, the Sabres reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals
1999 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1999 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Eastern Conference champion Buffalo Sabres and the Western Conference champion Dallas Stars. It was the 106th year of the Stanley Cup. The Sabres were led by captain Michael Peca, coach Lindy Ruff and goalie Dominik Hasek. The...
before finally losing to the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
in six games. The following two seasons saw Ruff's Sabres lose in the first round to the Philadelphia Flyers and the second round to the Pittsburgh Penguins respectively. Buffalo missed the playoffs in the three seasons preceding the NHL lockout amidst the teams bankruptcy and financial problems caused by the Adelphia Communications corporate scandal. After the lockout, Ruff lead the Sabres to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances only to lose to the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
in 2006 and the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 2007. Ruff is currently the longest-tenured coach in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and was rewarded with a three-year contract extension that has an option for a fourth season.
Ruff is known for being blunt with the media. A well-known example of his bluntness were his comments regarding Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
player Darcy Tucker
Darcy Tucker
Darcy Tucker is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played most of his National Hockey League career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. A sixth round draft choice, Tucker began his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens...
. In his post-game interview following a questionable hit on Jochen Hecht
Jochen Hecht
Jochen Hecht is a German professional ice hockey player for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
that knocked the Sabres center out of the lineup for two weeks with a sprained ACL in the 2005–06 season, Ruff said, "I want him [Tucker] suspended." He also said, "I have not called the NHL office all year and I will call them ten times tomorrow." He called Tucker's hit "a definition of a joke."
On April 5, 2006, Ruff became the 31st coach in NHL history to win 300 games, and just the 16th to do it with only one team. Ruff led the Sabres to their most successful regular season ever in 2006–2007, with a 53–22–7 record for a total of 113 points.
Ruff was the winner of the 2005–06 Jack Adams Award
Jack Adams Award
The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." It has been awarded 37 times to 32 different coaches. The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association at the end of the...
for coach of the year in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Tom Renney
Tom Renney
Thomas Renney is a Canadian ice hockey Head Coach for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League . He has previously coached the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks....
of the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
and Peter Laviolette
Peter Laviolette
Peter Laviolette Jr. is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman and is the current head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League...
of the Carolina Hurricanes were also nominated.
Ruff was again nominated for the Jack Adams Award
Jack Adams Award
The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." It has been awarded 37 times to 32 different coaches. The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association at the end of the...
in 2006–07. His nomination was the second time he has been a finalist for coach of the year. Michel Therrien of the Pittsburgh Penguins was also a finalist while Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks won the honor. Ruff placed 2nd in the voting with 126 points to Vigneault's 134.
In February 2007 Ruff was fined US$10,000 by the NHL after a brawl with the Ottawa Senators (Which Buffalo Sabres fans started funding for the fine, But Lindy Ruff declined that offer). The league said that Ruff precipitated the brawl following a questionable hit on then co-captain Chris Drury
Chris Drury
Christopher Drury is an American retired professional ice hockey player. Drury is a Hobey Baker Award-winner with Boston University, a Calder Trophy winner with the Colorado Avalanche, a Stanley Cup champion with the Avalanche, a two-time Olympic silver medalist with the United States, and a...
by the Senators' Chris Neil
Chris Neil
Chris Neil is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Neil currently plays right wing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League .-Early years:Neil started out playing minor hockey in the town of Flesherton, Ontario...
. Because the hit to Drury did not result in a penalty, Ruff sent out Andrew Peters
Andrew Peters
Andrew Peters is a retired Canadian ice hockey left winger- Playing career :Peters was drafted 34th overall by the Sabres in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft...
, Patrick Kaleta
Patrick Kaleta
Patrick Kaleta is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League...
, and Adam Mair
Adam Mair
Adam Mair is a Canadian ice hockey centre who is currently playing for the Springfield Falcons of the AHL.-Playing career:...
, the team's "enforcers". What followed was one of the '06–'07 season's most memorable hockey brawls. Adam Mair began the brawl, punching Ottawa's Jason Spezza
Jason Spezza
Jason Anthony Rocco Spezza is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
as soon as the puck was dropped. Andrew Peters tried to start a fight with Dany Heatley
Dany Heatley
Daniel James Heatley is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger, and alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League . Originally drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers second overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the top NHL rookie in 2002...
, who was reluctant to respond, at one point even hiding behind a linesman. Even the goaltenders got into the fight, with Martin Biron
Martin Biron
Martin Gaston Biron is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He has also played professionally for the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and New York Islanders...
challenging Ray Emery
Ray Emery
Ray Emery , often nicknamed Razor or Sugar Ray, is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, currently with the Chicago Blackhawks. He formerly played for the Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, and the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League and Atlant Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey...
.
After a second round playoff match against the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
on April 27, 2007, Ruff would be fined again by the league after harshly criticizing officials for an alleged missed too-many-men call against the Rangers, which might have given New York a chance to tie the match in the closing minute.
In the 2006–07 season he became the first Sabres coach to lead the team to back-to-back 50 win seasons, boasting the 5th best points percentage in the league since 1979.
On October 15, 2008, Ruff became the 23rd coach in NHL history to win 400 games, and just the 7th to win 400 games for one team.
Ruff was named as an associate coach for Team Canada, which won the gold medal at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
On January 6, 2011, Ruff became only the 16th coach in NHL history to win 500 games, and just the 2nd to win 500 games while only having coached one team.
On January 8, 2011, Ruff became the winningest coach who only coached for one team in NHL History when the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 2–1 in OT. His 501st win behind the bench with the Sabres put him one ahead of Toe Blake
Toe Blake
Hector "Toe" Blake, CM was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League .-Nickname:His nickname came out of his childhood for his younger sister was unable to pronounce his name...
who coached to 500 wins with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. Al Arbour
Al Arbour
Alger Joseph "Radar" Arbour is a retired Canadian ice hockey player and a coach and executive in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
won more games for the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, but he also coached the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
early in his career.
On April 29, 2011, the Buffalo Sabres announced that Ruff had agreed to a multiple year contract extension.
Personal
Ruff's younger brother, Brent Ruff, was one of four teammates killed in a bus crashSwift Current Broncos bus crash
The Swift Current Broncos bus crash occurred in 1986, killing four members of the Swift Current Broncos ice hockey team.On December 30, 1986, the Broncos' bus crashed on the way to a game in Regina. Four players: Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka, and Brent Ruff were killed...
while playing for the Swift Current Broncos
Swift Current Broncos
The Swift Current Broncos are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Founded during 1967 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Broncos played seven seasons before relocating to Lethbridge from 1974 to 1986 as the Lethbridge Broncos...
in 1986.
Another younger brother, Marty Ruff, was a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Blues, but never appeared in an NHL game.
An older brother, Randy Ruff, played and coached in junior hockey.
Lindy and his wife Gaye have four children, Brett, Eryn and twins Madeline and Bryan.
Playing statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1976–77 | Taber Golden Suns Taber Golden Suns The Taber Golden Suns were a Junior A ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League based in Taber, Alberta, Canada.-History:The Golden Suns were founded in 1974 as an expansion club, lasting seven seasons before being sold and relocated to Olds, Alberta as the Olds Grizzlys... |
AJHL | 60 | 13 | 33 | 46 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976–77 | Lethbridge Broncos Lethbridge Broncos The Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.-Season-by-season record:... |
WCHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Lethbridge Broncos | WCHL | 66 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 219 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 1978–79 | Lethbridge Broncos | WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
24 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 108 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1979–80 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
63 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 38 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 19 | ||
| 1980–81 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 65 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 121 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 23 | ||
| 1981–82 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 79 | 16 | 32 | 48 | 194 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | ||
| 1982–83 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 60 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 130 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 47 | ||
| 1983–84 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 58 | 14 | 31 | 45 | 101 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | ||
| 1984–85 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 39 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 45 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 15 | ||
| 1985–86 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 54 | 20 | 12 | 32 | 158 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 50 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 77 | 2 | 23 | 25 | 179 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 | ||
| 1988–89 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 63 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 86 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
NHL | 13 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | ||
| 1989–90 | New York Rangers | NHL | 56 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 80 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 1990–91 | New York Rangers | NHL | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 1991–92 AHL season The 1991–92 AHL season was the 56th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns from divisions into three divisions, creating the new Atlantic division. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Fredericton Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season... |
Rochester Americans Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
62 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 110 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 16 | ||
| 1992–93 | San Diego Gulls | IHL | 81 | 10 | 32 | 42 | 100 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 26 | ||
| NHL totals | 691 | 105 | 195 | 300 | 1264 | 52 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 193 | ||||
Coaching statistics
| Team | |Regular season | BUF Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
1997–98 | 82 | 36 | 29 | 17 | – | 89 | 3rd in Northeast Northeast Division (NHL) The NHL's Northeast Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Adams Division... |
10 | 5 | .667 | Conference Finalist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF | 1998–99 | 82 | 37 | 28 | 17 | – | 93 | 4th in Northeast | 14 | 7 | .667 | Stanley Cup Finalist | |||
| BUF | 1999–00 | 82 | 35 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 85 | 3rd in Northeast | 1 | 4 | .200 | Conference Quarter-Finalist | |||
| BUF | 2000–01 | 82 | 46 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 98 | 2nd in Northeast | 7 | 6 | .538 | Conference Semi-Finalist | |||
| BUF | 2001–02 | 82 | 35 | 35 | 11 | 1 | 82 | 5th in Northeast | – | – | – | ||||
| BUF | 2002–03 | 82 | 27 | 37 | 10 | 8 | 72 | 5th in Northeast | – | – | – | ||||
| BUF | 2003–04 | 82 | 37 | 34 | 7 | 4 | 85 | 5th in Northeast | – | – | – | ||||
| BUF | 2005–06 | 82 | 52 | 24 | – | 6 | 110 | 2nd in Northeast | 11 | 7 | .611 | Conference Finalist | |||
| BUF | 2006–07 | 82 | 53 | 22 | – | 7 | 113 | 1st in Northeast | 9 | 7 | .563 | Conference Finalist | |||
| BUF | 2007–08 | 82 | 39 | 31 | – | 12 | 90 | 4th in Northeast | – | – | – | ||||
| BUF | 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
82 | 41 | 32 | – | 9 | 91 | 3rd in Northeast | – | – | – | ||||
| BUF | 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
82 | 45 | 27 | – | 10 | 100 | 1st in Northeast | 2 | 4 | .333 | Conference Quarter-Finalist | |||
| BUF | 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
82 | 43 | 29 | – | 10 | 96 | 3rd in Northeast | 3 | 4 | .429 | Conference Quarter-Finalist | |||
| Total | 1066 | 526 | 390 | 78 | 72 | .564 Points % | 57 | 44 | .564 | ||||||