Dallas Stars’ Upgraded Roster Puts Ruff In Spotlight

The Dallas Stars are a strong hockey team that seems to keep getting stronger with each passing year. This newly found strength gives the Stars’ coach a perfect opportunity to do something big.

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.

As everyone knows, Brett Hull would eventually crush the Sabres’ chances of grabbing the Cup with a goal in the third overtime of game six (and yes, it was a goal). The Stars would walk away with their first ever Stanley Cup, which proves to be their only one to date.

Meanwhile, the Sabres would sink into a Cup-less depression that continues to this day. Dallas, on the other hand, has not been to a Final since the year 2000 and is still looking for its second Cup.

It’s sad to think about how the Sabres were so close, yet are still so far from winning the Cup. It’s also sad to know that a young Lindy Ruff was on the brink of achieving greatness when he almost reached Lord Stanley in just his second season. But when you think about how the Stars won the Cup that year, all of the clouds disappear.

Fast forward 17 years and look at what you have. Lindy Ruff is the new head coach of the Dallas Stars and doing a fine job. The management is great, the team is growing and improving into a stellar unit, and hockey is back on the map in Texas.

In other words, this is a perfect opportunity for Ruff. It’s been a long, dreadful 17 years since the Cup escaped his sight. It’s also one of those “if you can’t beat them, join them” scenarios (though Ruff still swears it wasn’t a goal).

But the fact of the matter is, the Dallas Stars are an outstanding team on the ice. They are lean, mean, fast, and can do just about anything they need to in order to win. Their offense is unbelievable, their defense is massive and learning quickly, and their goaltending is like a well-oiled machine (at least until playoffs).

So, it’s time for Ruff to get to work. This is the perfect opportunity presenting itself to Ruff on a silver platter that he must go after if he ever wants a chance to lift the Stanley Cup in his career.

He’s done a good job at getting the team where it needs to be and using each of his pieces effectively over the past three years. Two playoff appearances, one Central Division championship, and one of the best captains in hockey can all be partially attributed to Ruff’s efforts behind the bench.

But then again, this team won’t be around forever. Contracts will expire. Players will be traded. And most importantly, players will begin to decrease in production. So the clock is ticking.

must read: Stars Can Expect A Lot From Seguin This Season

Also, Ruff is not necessarily on the hot seat right now, but could be in the near future. Considering the team that has been assembled before him and the talent it possesses, Nill is obviously looking for quick and effective answers. Ruff needs to prove that he is ready to be that answer and lead this team to the top. If he can’t in the near future, Nill may be looking to bring a new face in behind the bench.

But everything will be fine if Lindy Ruff can coach this team to a 16-win playoff slate (translation: Stanley Cup). He proved that he could reach 14 playoff wins in just his second year of coaching, so how much harm is two more? Especially when you have Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Patrick Sharp running the first line. Things are bright for Dallas.

Next: Can Dallas Live Up To Their Preseason Hype?

Will Ruff be able to seize this perfect opportunity and finally grab what he’s been searching for throughout almost two decades? We’ll have to see in the coming season. It’s almost time to saddle up and ride.