Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - When Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams met with the media last week to discuss the firing of head coach Don Granato, he outlined what traits he was looking for in the next man to hold the job.
Adams might as well have held up a picture of Lindy Ruff at the time.
Adams said in his mind, he knew exactly what he wanted, and intended to move quickly through the process.
In one of the quicker searches you'll ever see, Adams opted for the man he once worked for behind the Sabres' bench.
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I'll be honest with you, I had mixed emotions when I saw the news that Ruff would be back for a second stint as head coach of the Sabres. It has nothing to do with Ruff. I like him both as a hockey coach and from a personal standpoint.
I've seen the Sabres and the Buffalo Bills take the easy way out over the years when it came to hiring a head coach or a general manager. The organization would choose someone they knew and were comfortable with, rather than go find the best person for the job.
I was worried that is exactly what Adams had done when deciding to hire Ruff. In my mind, Adams had this checklist for his search:
1.) Find someone he knew rather than risk bringing in an outsider
Once Granato was shown the door, the pressure on Adams increased considerably. If the Sabres' playoff drought continues, the next person out the door would likely be Adams.
2.) Find someone who will make the fan base happy and help with ticket sales
Ruff is certainly loved by Sabres fans, and deservedly so after the success he had behind their bench previously. Retaining Season Ticket holders and trying to increase crowds at the arena next season was going to be challenging after this season's step back in the standings.
Did Adams do a deep dive, or just go with the man he had his heart set on the whole time?
I liked the idea of going away from anyone with ties to the organization and finding a coach that had what Adams was looking for along with a proven track record. I thought Craig Berube would have checked all the necessary boxes.
Adams did tell the media that the number of candidates he spoke to about the job was in the double digits, but I'm not sure how deep the dive could have been when it took just one week.
Having said all of that, I do believe Ruff is a good coach. I also believe he will make the Sabres a better team next season, and I think they will finally end the playoff drought.
Ruff will raise the standards as to how things are done. He will be able to create structure and greater accountability in the locker room, and will have no problem challenging the players.
Adams wanted an experienced coach who can take the team to the next level, and I'm confident Ruff will be able to do that.
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There was one concern I did have about Ruff himself. He can be really hard on players, and some players don't flourish under such a coach. Being in his dog house was not a good place to be.
However, during his introductory press conference, Ruff admitted you can't just stand around and yell and scream at players all the time anymore. Ruff said he felt he would be better at communicating with players than he was at the end of his previous run behind the bench in Buffalo.
Now begins the other critical job Adams has this offseason: Make the roster Ruff will coach next season better.
Make it good enough for Ruff to be the first coach to get the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since, well, Ruff in 2011.
