In order to make a push towards winning the Stanley Cup next season, the New York Rangers decided to make some coaching changes in addition to player and roster moves. On Monday afternoon, the team formally announced the hiring of Lindy Ruff as an assistant coach to Alain Vigneault, replacing Jeff Beukeboom, who was dismissed from his duties a few months ago.
Jeff Beukeboom was hired as one of the New York Rangers’ assistant coaches on July 1st, 2016 and he was hired for that role in hopes of improving the team’s defense. His job in that position lasted until the end of this past season. Beukeboom was let go from his job in June, but the team said he would still remain with the club in a different role.
Meanwhile, Ruff has made his namely widely known in the National Hockey League. He played a total of 691 career games with the Buffalo Sabres and his new team in the New York Rangers, tallying 105 goals and 195 assists for 300 points. Â His coaching career began in Florida with the Panthers in 1993 until the end of the 1996-97 season. He then became the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres from 1997 to February 2013, winning the Jack Adams trophy for best NHL coach in 2006.
More recently, Lindy Ruff was the head coach of the Dallas Stars up until he was fired on April 9th, 2017. With the acquisition of defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and the hiring of Lindy Ruff to help the defense, the New York Rangers may be the team to watch out for this season.
