Lindy Ruff Player Quotations

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.