TFR VOLUME XVIII NUMBER 29

COACHES CORNER: HOW DOES ever, when you get in the locker room, hes willing to talk to people. He explains the LINDY RUFF DO IT?: system well and he tries to get guys to understand it. PAUL GAUSTAD: * LINDYS KEY TO SUCCES: Hes always gotten better. Our system adapts every year to what the league is doing and he tries to be a step ahead. Hes consistent and honest. Lindy Ruff is the NHLs longest running coach. * LINDYS MESSAGE:

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Its about working hard and playing together for a common goal. Thats Hes been behind the Sabres bench what helps us win. When its the right messince the 1997-98 season. sage, its something the guys will buy into. After a few years hearing the same HENRIK TALLINDER: old, many players tune out their coach. * LINDYS EVOLUTION: So whats different about Ruff? When the game changes, he Our Josh Friedman and Margaret De- changes with the game. Hes trying to be Jesus, spoke to some Sabres about the ahead of the game. He was on top of evebench boss: rything right after the Lockout, which was amazing. We were one of the best teams RYAN MILLER: that year. A lot of teams looked up to us and how we were playing. His ability to * LINDYS KEY TO SUCCES: change with the game is his strongest atHe pays attention to detail and tribute. has the ability to adapt. When he started coaching, the system was very different. DREW STAFFORD: Hes always embraced moving forward and developing a team and a system thats * STRONGEST ATTRIBUTE: going to be right on the edge. Thats why He does a great job, when things weve always had a fair amount of success arent going well; of switching things up. If in Buffalo since hes been here. Thats why things start not going well, hes very quick we can be a strong contender this year, to make the improvements that are because we have a good system and when needed. The guys adapt to that and respect we play it, we give ourselves the best what he has to say. Theres a reason why chance to win games. hes been in the league for so long. * RELATIONSHIP WITH PLAYERS: Hes had us for a while so theres always a possibility that it gets a little bit stale but a lot of us have grown up here and understand his role. We talk to him. Hes not an intimidating coach but he does have that look on his face when hes behind the bench thats really intense. HowMORE GOSSIP: If its not going to be Paul Kelly still our first choice wed like to see Jeff Jackson as next executive director of the NHL Players Association. As a former

player and assistant g.m., Jackson has as good an understanding of Collective Bargaining as any candidate. (FOR MORE ON JACKSON SEE PAGE 3) Dan Boyle sums up what its like to put a puck in his own net during overtime of a playoff game: Its the worst thing that can happen to a player. Pierre McGuire tells a funny story about the legendary Canadiens coach Dick Irvin. Dick believed that his team should be relaxed before every game if they enjoyed a good laugh, recalls McGuire. So, either Dick or one of his players would tell a joke to the boys before each game! The fact that Scott Niedermayer is doing guest commentary for ESPN SportsCenter does not mean that hes considering retirement. My main focus is on playing hockey, Scott insists. But this (tv) opportunity came up. As Ive gotten older Ive looked at trying things that I wouldnt normally do or normally jump at just for the experience. Its a neat thing to be asked to do television analysis. After Scott finished his tv debut, fellow Ducks flooded their captain with text messages. They said I looked younger because I shaved! Brilliant Coach Observation Dept. This from Mike Babcock: When you turn pucks over, you look like you have no energy. For those wondering whats up with the Islanders Lighthouse Project, it appears that the Town of Hempstead still has to come up with a modified plan, then to be reviewed by the Uniondale high command. Or to put it in a more realistic way, its virtually impossible to predict the ultimate outcome! After ripping the refs in Game Two of the Vancouver-L.A. series, Alain Vigneault had the perfect squelch: I told the truth, says the Canucks coach. You cant get criticized for telling the truth. The legend of Kate Smith continues. The Flyers good luck charm will now be appearing on U.S. Postage stamps.