Is Lindy Ruff Coming Back to the Buffalo Sabres?
The Buffalo Sabres are back in action tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With 20 games remaining and 10 points out of a playoff spot, the Sabres are likely not going to be making the postseason for a 13th straight year. The NHL trading deadline is Friday afternoon as well, so expect general manager Kevyn Adams to make some moves with the roster.
Captain Kyle Okposo may be playing his final game with Buffalo tonight, as well as Zemgus Girgensons, Erik Johnson and Victor Olofsson.
Sabres head coach Don Granato's future is in question, although he has the support of many Sabres players, who were upset when the crowd chanted "fire Granato" in December, when the Sabres lost 9-4 to the worst team in the Eastern Conference (Columbus Blue Jackets).
He might not be returning as head coach, but could the Sabres be bringing back former head coach and player Lindy Ruff in some capacity?
Ruff was fired by the New Jersey Devils on Monday after a disappointing season. He was the head coach in Jersey for four seasons, with four seasons as the Dallas Stars head coach before that.
Ruff coached the Sabres from 1997-2013 and was the most successful and beloved coach in the franchise's history. He's 64 years old but in a recent interview, Ruff talked about how he would love to come back to the Sabres in some capacity at some point.
This was right before he accepted the job in New Jersey.
Buffalo should bring Lindy back. Maybe not as head coach, but somewhere in the front office or as an advisor. Create a position for him. He still lives here in the off-season and would be a full circle moment for his career.
This team needs good PR. They missed the mark by not bringing back Ryan Miller or Danny Briere to the organization in some capacity. This would be a home run move.
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Gallery Credit: Clay Moden