Sabres fire Lindy Ruff, NHL’s longest-active head coach

The Buffalo Sabres fired long-time coach Lindy Ruff Wednesday, general manager Darcy Regier announced via the team’s Twitter account.

Ruff’s 16-year term with the Sabres made him the NHL’s longest-active head coach. The Nashville Predators’ Barry Trotz now holds that distinction.

Regier offered no word on an immediate replacement.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie tweeted word that Ron Rolston, the coach of the Sabres’ AHL Rochester team was “a possible and perhaps likely replacement.”

Earlier Wednesday, Ruff admitted that it was time to consider changing his lineup.

“If we’re going to be like this. It isn’t working the way we’re going.  The indication today is we’re going to have to try some things,” Ruff told WGRZ-TV.

Ruff coached the Sabres to the Stanley Cup finals in 1999 and to two other Eastern Conference finals, but the team had not advanced in the playoffs since 2007.

The Sabres’ slow 6-10-1 start likely led the Sabres to make a change. The team called a players-only meeting after Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Darcy Regier announced this afternoon that Lindy Ruff has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. More to follow.—
Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 20, 2013

No confirmations yet but hearing Ron Rolston (coaching Rochester in AHL) as possible and perhaps likely replacement in BUF.—
Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 20, 2013