In the year 1997, Lindy Ruff began his coaching career in hockey. After capping off a successful 12-year playing career in 1991, Ruff became the bench boss of the team he spent ten of his twelve playing seasons with. That team was the Buffalo Sabres of the Eastern Conference.
In his first season as coach, Ruff led the Sabres to the Eastern Conference Finals before being knocked out in a six-game series.
1998-99 would prove to be Lindy Ruff’s crowning moment as head coach. In just his second season as a professional hockey coach, he led Buffalo to an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals against who else but the Dallas Stars.