Buffalo Sports
RUFF IS NHL COACH OF THE YEAR
By Art Wander
Jun 23, 2006, 12:35

DON’T GET ME STARTED was not surprised that Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff was selected as NHL Coach Of The Year. After all, Ruff did an outstanding job of coaching a Sabres team that most experts predicted would finish near the bottom of the league’s standings.

Many were predicting that the Sabres would be enjoying a very high pick in Saturday’s draft. They will be selecting 24th after compiling a franchise record for wins and points.

It was gratifying to note that the NHL selected Ted Nolan to be on the podium when Ruff’s name was announced. It was also special to see Ruff approach Nolan, extend his hand and offered some comments to Nolan – coming back to the NHL, after a 9 year absence, as coach of the N.Y. Islanders.

The Sabres now have had two coaches who have been named coach-of-the-year in the past 7 years - Ruff and Nolan.

At the poidum Lindy congratulated runner-up Peter Laviolette of the Carolina Hurricanes for winning the Stanley Cup and later said he would trade a voting point for the Cup. Ruff outpointed the Carolina coach by one vote. In shots of Laviolette following the naming of Ruff, one might have seen a very disappointed person who showed no emotion but the eyes told the story.

Lindy Ruff deserved the award. Ruff battled through a ton of injuries during the regular season and came within less than a period of advancing to the Finals against Edmonton. He mentioned his players, his wife, family and the voters besides his congratulations to Laviolette. In short – Ruff did the right thing, was gracious and classy.

Then came Brind’Amour. In reviewing the Raleigh News/Observer web site, the following was noted:

Laviolette should have won, Brind'Amour said, even before the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup.

"I do think the organization gets disrespected," Brind'Amour said. " ... Coach Laviolette, that was kind of his driving force all year, that no one thought much of our hockey team. You have to win to get respect, and now we've done that. I hope our organization gets more respect now because it does feel at times we're not included. ...

Brind’Amour then added, "Nothing against Lindy Ruff and those other coaches, but to take a team that I think no one counted us in and get us to believe we could win the whole thing and we did, I don't know what more a coach can do. ... I just felt he deserved it."

Alright Brind’Amour…….let’s lay it on the line. Laviolette probably might have won coach-of-the-year if he had won his last game of the season. You remember that, don’t you Mr. Brind'Amour? That was against the Buffalo Sabres on your home ice. The Sabres had already clinched its position for the playoffs while the ‘Canes would take over the top seed in the Conference with a victory.

Where was the coaching of Laviolette in that game? Where was Brind’Amour when the chips were down, when everything was on the line. In that one game – the final game of the season – Lindy Ruff outcoached Laviolette, handing him a 4-0 whitewash behind Marty Biron.

That was when Lindy Ruff probably coached his best game of the regular season and put an exclamation point behind the decision to name him coach-of-the-year.

Brind’Amour should know that the final voting takes place before the playoffs. That Brind’Amour preaches Laviolette should have gotten it – he should reflect on that final game…..and Brind’Amour could have helped his coach’s cause if he played up to his Selke winning performance. The bottom line was that in that one game, Lindy Ruff outcoached Laviolette and his Sabres outplayed the Hurricanes. But Lindy had done a great job all season.

Brind’Amour could have congratulated Lindy Ruff (as Lindy did Laviolette) but, instead, chose to whine about the decision.

Lindy Ruff deserved to be named the coach of the year. He never used excuses about those injuries but, instead, regrouped his forces to provide Sabres fans an outstanding season.

Congratulations are definitely in order for Lindy Ruff. To be gracious…..congratulations to Brind’Amour for winning the Selke Trophy and congratulations to the Hurricanes for winning the Stanley Cup.

But forever it will be stated when trivia buffs will be asked, “Who was the 2005-2006 NHL Coach of the Year?” – the name is Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres on Don’t Get Me Started.


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