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Ruff didn't wax poetic about this return. This is a business trip for the man now leading the Devils in his first year with the New Jersey franchise.
"As far as going back and standing by behind the bench, I'm the Devils coach now," Ruff said. "And I don't really feel anything about being the former Sabres coach I've been to Dallas in interim and then New York and now here."
But you can't help but think Ruff would like to reign victorious in what he calls his hometown. He played in Buffalo beginning in 1979 and ending as captain of the franchise during the 1988-89 season. He took over as head coach of the franchise in 1997-98, taking the club to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999. He led that franchise all the way until 2012-13, winning so many games en route to where he is now as the League's sixth-most winningest coach in history.
With Buffalo media on Ruff's Friday avail, he spent a few minutes on the topic of Buffalo. He was not willing to disclose his favorite Buffalo eateries, opting to choose home as his go-to dinner spot. But he did open up on his love of the local football team.
"I definitely do [love the Bills]," he said. "Living there that long, and I became friends in my playing days with several of the Bills. I've always been a fan, you know, a Canadian kid that was a CFL fan. Buffalo was the first team that I really cheered for in the NFL. They had some really great years there in the late 80s while I was playing."
Ruff showed off that a piece of his heart remains in Buffalo when he wore a Bills facemask to practice ahead of their first playoff game.
"I told the players at one of our skates, if you're not a Bills fan, you have to go up and back," Ruff joked. "I think some guys lied to tell you the truth, but we had some fun with the Bills. I took some ribbing though after they lost. And that was hurtful."
Ruff has since replaced that Buffalo mask with a Devils one. And on Friday he reflected on his journey to New Jersey and how after a long run with the Sabres and Dallas he took a step back as an assistant coach in New York. The potential was there that he may not have gotten another shot as the head guy. But he's happy he gets a chance to continue his successful coaching career with the Devils.
"I thought it was a reality that I may never be a head coach again," he said. "That definitely was on my mind. I'd spent three years with the Rangers, really enjoyed it, really enjoyed those three years. I went through a long process. I'm humbled by the opportunity. I feel lucky at times that I've been given this opportunity and I am working extremely hard to try to make this work and develop this young team into a winning team."
Ruff has plenty of experience developing young players into winners, a lot of which happened in Buffalo. And that's where he returns this weekend in the hopes of stopping his new team's two-game skid in a competitive East Division.
