It looks like Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff got a new contract for life, or at least until the Sabres win the Cup, whichever comes first. Almost immediately after getting eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers, the club rewarded their long time coach with a new multi-year deal. (The exact terms and length of the contract were not disclosed.)
The rest of the league can continue to look forward to being called, "whiners" and "divers" for several more years to come.
Speaking of "divers", in case you missed it back in March, Washington coach Bruce Boudreau ripped a page out of the Lindy Ruff book of good sportsmanship and went after Steven Stamkos. The following quote is from TBO.com:
"With Steve Downie, if I were a referee I would never give a call when he's out on the ice," Boudreau said. "Stamkos, he dives every two seconds. Downie, he dives every two seconds, so you see that and you start to get a little hatred on."
Bruce Boudreau has to resort to pointing fingers at the other team instead of taking care of his own? I wonder if the Lightning might be a bit extra fired up for this series? Admittedly, Steve Downie is a character, you don't know what he's going to do out there, but to insult Stamkos, who has scored 96 goals in the past two years?
Although, I'm sure that Stamkos has forgotten all about that quote. Players don't mind being called divers. (Just by coincidence, Downie had a goal and an assist while Stamkos got the game-winner as Tampa Bay took game one by a 4-2 score last night.)
Our confident friends over at Japers' Rink apparently don't believe in bad karma or jinxes. Yesterday, they put up a post from a guest blogger mocking Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson, which had 100 comments afterward joining in the fray.
Things Probably Older Than Dwayne Roloson
Is it funny? Sure it is, and some folk probably think it's hilarious. But it would be even more funny if the "old man" stoned them all series.
Getting back to coaches, the Jack Adams finalists were announced this week. Dan Bylsma, Barry Trotz, and Alain Vigneault were the NHL coaches selected "who contributed the most to his team's success" this year.
My choice? A new coach who took a team that had 80 points last season to 103 this season, Guy Boucher.
But since Boucher is not on the list, I'd have to go with Trotz, who seems to get a lot out of a little in Nashville every year.