They got this right

21:28:39 EDT Jun 22, 2006

Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff poses after winning the Jack Adams trophy. (CP PHOTO/Richard Lam)
VANCOUVER (CP) - He knows how to handle players, is an outstanding hockey strategist, and is quick with a quip, all of which makes Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres an ideal choice as coach of the year in the NHL.

After leading the Sabres to a franchise-record 52 wins and 110 points and a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the 46-year-old native of Warburg, Alta., was a worthy recipient of the Jack Adams Award during the league's annual awards gala Thursday night.

"It's a tremendous honour," said Ruff. "It's been 13 years of coaching, some as an assistant, and I think the year we had put me in this position.

"It's a great honour for our team and our fans in Western New York. It's another way of saying we're back. The team we put on the ice gives a hell of an effort night in and night out."

Other finalists in voting by members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association were Peter Laviolette of the Carolina Hurricanes and Tom Renney of the New York Rangers. Ruff edged Laviolette 155-154. Both had 20 first-place votes. Renney got 127 points.

Ruff, hired in July 1997 by the Sabres, has survived with one team longer than any other current NHL head coach. He doesn't burn bridges, and he doesn't burn out players.

Had the Sabres not lost four defencemen to injuries in the conference final, they might have gone all the way. They were a delight to watch.

"We had a reputation of being a goaltender team stuck on defensive hockey and we've really come full circle," said Ruff. "All areas of our game were pretty good this year.

"We were tough to play against."

The Ottawa Senators would agree.

Ruff is the winningest coach in Sabres history, and there are few coaches in the NHL as universally liked as Ruff.

He played defence and left wing during 12 NHL seasons in Buffalo and began coaching with the farm team in Rochester, N.Y., in 1991. He moved up to the NHL as an assistant with the Florida Panthers in 1993.

Marc Crawford, now coaching the Los Angeles Kings, and Ted Nolan, the new coach of the New York Islanders, presented the trophy. It was Ruff who replaced Nolan as coach of the Sabres.

Nolan made a remark alluding to the jinx the Adams Trophy has been for some coaches who have received it. Nolan was the 1997 recipient, and was out of the NHL after being bounced by Buffalo.

"It took you nine years to get back," said Crawford.

Nolan giggled, and handed Ruff the trophy.

thats great

They got the MVP right too (Hart Trophy winner)!!!!!

Joe Thornton from my San Jose Sharks!