Report: Former Jack Adams Award winner rumored to be joining Rangers staff

The former Ranger could return to the Big Apple

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Report: Former Jack Adams Award winner rumored to be joining Rangers staff
Keystone Press

Things didn’t work out as planned for Lindy Ruff and the Dallas Stars. After nearly two decades as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, Ruff was hired to coach the Stars in 2013. He lead the team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2008 in 2014, but failed to turn the team into a perennial playoff team. Now, in his latest 30 Thoughts article, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman suggests that Ruff may take a step back from the spotlight and join the New York Rangers in an assistant coaching role.

Friedman connects the dots between Ruff and the Rangers organization and admits that rumors are swirling with regards to his hiring in NYC. Current Rangers assistant coach Scott Arniel and assistant general manager Jim Schoenfeld are both former teammates. The team’s AHL general manager, Chris Drury, was captain under Ruff in Buffalo. The ties are strong, but will it be enough for the veteran head coach to land a gig? Secondly, would he even welcome a step back from the spotlight?

Regardless, it’s a compelling landing spot. With head coach Alain Vigneault steering the ship in NY, for now, it could create an interesting dynamic should another top-notch, Jack Adams Award winning coach join the team’s staff. Would it bolster the team or would it create tension? Ruff hasn’t been mentioned among the names for other high profile coaching hires, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him take an assistant job, either in New York or elsewhere, this offseason.