Lindy Ruff Player Quotations

He's probably the most all-around gifted player I've been around.

He didn't get the quality ice time of some of our players, but he made the best of the ice time he did get. I thought he was our best player on the ice in the first period.

They've provided energy we've needed. You look at our lineup, I thought we just became little bit stale. They've injected some energy, some enthusiasm, a willingness to do things other players aren't capable of doing, and they're having fun playing.

Maybe another player would have called it a day already, but he worked hard and had no qualms about getting back in there again. Some players, it would be an easy scenario to pull back. He's not that cautious guy.

I don't know if his career was going nowhere. They liked him there, but here he's been a more determined player in all three zones. He fits the way we play here, and when he plays center he's able to play in any situation.

I want him suspended. I want him fined. I'll come to the hearing. I haven't called the league once; I'll call them 10 times tomorrow. If you go knee on knee and take a shot at a guy's head at the same time, you don't deserve to be in the game. We're going to the playoffs and you're going to take out of our best players because you couldn't take a hit? That's a joke, that's an absolute joke.

It will come. He's got what all the real good players have. Something that I can't teach, which is a tremendous talent around the net.

When you take what was your best player out of the lineup for a long time, you start to wonder how it's going to work when he comes back. I think we've seen a good indication what it's done for our team, offensively ... He's small in stature, but big when it comes to the role he plays on the team.

It puts a target on you, but I think I have a great rapport with the players we have here now, ... We as a staff, myself included, we have to silence the critics. That's the way I look at it. If we don't, whatever happens, happens. We have something to prove. If we don't, we should take the blame.

I think you adjust with the players you have. I think we're a talented group that's surprised a lot of people. For myself, I just let those guys play - not worry so much about the little mistakes in the game, more worried about the things that are happening all the time.

That's the creative touch that Danny brings, and we needed that tonight. We needed our big players to step up, and I thought they stepped up in a defensive fashion and an offensive fashion for us.

He's a player now that is a lot more determined to be good in all areas of the ice. He really wants to be part of the big team picture and be counted on in important situations, not just the flashy offense. He wants the nod in the key situations where he thinks now that he can make a difference.

He's going to be a tremendous asset. He's well-respected. He's passionate about the game. From his practice habits to his workout habits to his preparation for the game, both on the ice and off the ice, no player can question his opinion.

As a team, there's nights when you need his enthusiasm, you need that desire to go through anybody. His fearless attitude on the ice is something that keeps other teams on their toes. There's nights you just can't have another player do that. He's full bore, straight ahead, and the first guy there when there's trouble for any of his teammates.

I rank him right up there with the top all-around performers. People build up names. But I think he's having a better year than some players on the team.

He was determined to make players pay the price. He used his size extremely well. We look for that type of leadership from him. ... It's developing into a little bit of a war, which is OK with our team.

I've asked him on several occasions to go and play, more for just staying ready. Instead of practicing here, go play. But that's happened in the past where players have chose not to go. I don't hold that against them. They almost feel that practicing at this level is better than playing at the American League level. I've seen a few American League games and it isn't near what it was last year. So there may be a case in point for that.

The numbers say that the extra goals in the league have come from special teams, so you can look at it. We've got certain players that are key players, and they play the least amount of even-strength time, but they play the most amount of special-teams time. The opportunity to be a plus player in some of those situations isn't there.

Some people may perceive it as he's moved down the ladder, but he's had a good season. He's had his ups and downs. I still think he's progressing as a player. He's the type of player who will help us win games the rest of the way.

This time of the year, players are always wondering what could happen or what might happen, and there's always rumors. There's rumors that come out of left field. Some of the rumors are often found to be true, but a lot of them are not.

We may be developing some players that end up being good players on other teams because we just have too many right now.

A lot of the players believe it hampers their ability to play well. I really think it's one more piece of equipment that can make the player that much safer. If they can get used to it, it would be advantageous for them to wear.

Several of those players had very good camps, but we're limited on room. They're not easy decisions. When usually you go through the first round of cuts you're looking at second-tier guys. Some of these guys will definitely play (in the NHL).

If you go knee on knee and take a shot at the guy's head at the same time, you don't deserve to be in the game. We're going to the playoffs and you take out one of our best players because you couldn't take a hit. That's an absolute joke.

To lose a player like that, because he wants to go low and cut his knees out, that's a joke.

There's plays you're going to have to eliminate and plays you have to make. The players we're counting on are going to have to step up and make those plays.

The one thing that's evident is that when some players got elevated in bigger roles, they've played even better. I still think there's players that have more to offer in a bigger role. They're always looking for a bigger role, and now they get their opportunity.

That energy from having the building full is a tremendous advantage. Players get jacked up. The energy in the building is like a playoff game for the most part. They like the way we're playing.