LOS ANGELES -- Lindy Ruff still looks at the game of hockey through a player’s eyes, and maybe that’s one reason he’s been so successful as a coach.
Ruff, 56, is one win shy of 700 for his career. He would become just the fifth NHL coach to pass that milestone, a sign that his coaching career has actually gone better than his playing career. But he still looks back fondly on his days in uniform and he gears his coaching plan with a great deal of thought to how players will respond to his instructions.
“I think I do, yes,” Ruff said when asked if he sees the game as a player.