Pro Sports
Related Photos
-
Lindy Ruff and Darcy Regier will be retained, the team announced Friday. David Duprey
Tools
SABRES: Ruff, Regier get reprieve
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier are staying put.
Managing partner Larry Quinn said Friday that both will be back next season, calling it “absolutely the best move for our franchise” despite the Sabres missing the playoffs for a second straight year.
Quinn told The Associated Press that the decision to retain both came after management met with Ruff and Regier this past week after the Sabres completed the regular season on Saturday. Buffalo (41-32-9) was eliminated from playoff contention in the final week of the season and finished 10th in the Eastern Conference standings for a second straight year.
“We wanted to have a chance to digest the season and gauge their desire and their — how would I say it? — willingness to approach this freshly and with some innovation,” Quinn said. “And we’ve taken our process forward enough to know that these are the two guys we want to lead our hockey department next year.”
Quinn then noted that management’s job is far from over. Without going into detail, he said, “We’ve got obviously a lot more work ahead of us than just this.”
Questions about Ruff and Regier’s future were raised last weekend, when Quinn declined to say whether either would be retained.
The Sabres first announced they’re keeping Ruff and Regier in a two-sentence statement posted on their Web site, which in part read: “Ownership is very excited to have these two individuals return to help lead the organization back to the playoffs next season.”
With 438 victories in 11 seasons, Ruff is the team’s winningest coach and is signed through next year. Regier, who completed his 12th season as Sabres GM, is signed through 2011. Together, they are currently the longest-serving coach-general manager tandem in the NHL.
Ruff is preparing to travel to Switzerland, where he will coach Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships, which open next week.
- Pro Sports
-
-
Sabres jolt Lightning, 6-2
The population of Pominville went up a lot Thursday as Jason Pominville scored a hat trick in the Buffalo Sabres' 6-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
-
BILLS: Gailey not ready to choose starting QB
Don’t expect Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey to choose a starting quarterback anytime soon. Having evaluated the three quarterbacks on his roster, Gailey said Tuesday he anticipates holding an open competition to determine who will win the job.
-
BILLS: Free agent LB Davis signs 2-year deal
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 250 pounds, Andra Davis is an eight-year NFL veteran who was credited with 90 tackles in each of his last two seasons. He also had a career-best 3 1/2 sacks last year.
- SABRES: Harding shines for Wild in 3-2 win Josh Harding didn’t have to wait long for a second chance. A day after giving up five goals in a loss at Detroit, Harding made 43 saves to give the Minnesota Wild a rare road victory, 3-2 over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.
-
LACROSSE: Grand opportunity for Kilgour, Bandits
The Buffalo Bandits begin what could be a make or break weekend tonight when they visit first-place rival Toronto Rock at the Air Canada Centre.
-
SABRES: Myers’ 4-point game leads Buffalo over Stars
Rookie defenseman Tyler Myers had a goal and three assists and the Buffalo Sabres reclaimed the top spot in the Northeast Division with a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.
-
BILLS: Schobel still undecided on retirement
Aaron Schobel is in no rush to collect his $2 million roster bonus because the Buffalo Bills defensive end still hasn’t decided on whether he’ll come back for a 10th NFL season.
-
NFL: Bills sign veteran tackle Cornell Green
An expensive steak dinner he couldn't finish and an offer he couldn't refuse were enough to convince veteran offensive tackle Cornell Green to sign with the Buffalo Bills.
-
NHL: Unlikely hero lifts Sabres over Rangers
Patrick Kaleta banked in a rebound off goalie Henrik Lundqvist 2:22 into overtime and the Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Rangers 2-1 on Sunday night to snap an eight-game losing streak on the road.
- SABRES: Connolly scores in OT to end losing streak
- More Pro Sports Headlines
-
