All signs point to this being Lindy Ruff’s final season with New York Rangers

Updated:

Back on June 10th, 2017 Elliotte Friedman reported that the Rangers had contacted Lindy Ruff to join the staff. The move as he wrote, “was with the idea of making the group stronger, not forcing Vigneault to look over his shoulder.” Flash forward past his hiring, and subsequently surviving the firing of Alain Vigneault to remain as David Quinn’s assistant, we could be looking at Ruff’s last season with the Rangers.

Lindy Ruff Wants to Coach Again

Lindy Ruff is beloved and still considered the best head coach the Buffalo Sabres have had. So much so that the Rangers granted him permission to speak with the Sabres this past summer for their vacant coaching position. Although he didn’t get the job he told a Buffalo news station that “the fire still burns” and he wants to be a head coach again.

After this television interview I spoke with a team source to see if Ruff was leaving the organization. At the time it was relayed to me that Ruff was still with the organization And would remain Quinn’s assistant for at least one more season.

Ruff a strong candidate for the NJ Devils job

This should be Lindy Ruff’s final season in NY (Getty Images)

Now we know that not only did Ruff interview for the NJ job, he is very much in the running. That’s with some stiff competition as both Peter Laviolette and Gerard Gallant are up for the coaching position.

I think Lindy Ruff has a legit shot at the New Jersey coaching job. I had heard that external GM candidates asked the Devils to allow them some input, but a few people told me Ruff is very much in this picture no matter what.

31 Thoughts

Knowing what has transpired over the last two summers, it is fair to say that this should be Lindy Ruff’s last season in New York.

By Anthony Scultore

Anthony Scultore has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL since 2014. His work also appears at... More about Anthony Scultore

Mentioned in this article:

More About: