Fansided

Lindy Ruff will not return as Dallas Stars head coach

By Dave Stevenson

Jan 14, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff watches his team during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at the American Airlines Center. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff watches his team during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at the American Airlines Center. The Wild defeated the Stars 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Dallas Stars will not be bringing back Lindy Ruff. 

Let the NHL head coach firings begin. As the end of the season approaches, teams are starting to evaluate their coaching staffs. The Dallas Stars are a step ahead of everyone else, as they’ve officially announced head coach Lindy Ruff will not return next season.

“I want to personally thank Lindy for his commitment and professionalism over the four years that he served as our head coach in Dallas,” said Stars general manager Jim Nill, via NHL.com. “Lindy is not only a highly respected coach, he more importantly is a great person and an outstanding family man whom I have the utmost respect for on and off the ice.”

The Stars are coming off one of their most disappointing seasons in franchise history. After nearly making it to the Western Conference Finals in 2015-16, they only won 34 games during the 2016-17 season. While injuries played a role in their decline, so did Ruff’s coaching decisions. His stubborn ways didn’t help.

Dallas will immediately start looking for a new head coach. They’ll likely be looking for one who can execute a quick turnaround, so a coach without experience is out of the question. Look for the Stars to pursue Gerrard Gallant or one of the coaches who get fired at the end of season. Jack Capuano could be an option as well.

Must Read: NHL Mock Expansion Draft: Golden Knights Get Joe Thornton

With a skilled roster in place, don’t be surprised to see the Stars back in the playoff hunt in 2017-18. They’ll be getting a lot of guys back healthy and they’re led by Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Both rank among the best forwards in the NHL. If they can fix their goalie situation, Dallas could be a dark horse to win the Stanley Cup in 2017-18.

Home/Dallas Stars