Rangers Hire Lindy Ruff As Assistant Coach

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The New York Rangers have hired longtime NHL head coach Lindy Ruff as an assistant to Alain Vigneault.

The Rangers announced the hire Monday. The 57-year-old Ruff was a head coach for almost 19 seasons, compiling a record of 736-554-78-125.

He ranks fourth among head coaches in regular-season games coached, trailing Scotty Bowman, Al Arbour and Joel Quenneville.

Ruff coached the Buffalo Sabres for parts of 15 seasons (1997-98 to 2012-13). He led the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Final in 1998-99 and won the Jack Adams Award in 2005-06.

Ruff also coached the Dallas Stars for four seasons (2013-14 to 2016-17). His contract was not renewed after the Stars went 34-37 last season.

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He played in 691 NHL games over parts of 12 seasons in the league (1979-80 to 1990-91), with 105 goals and 195 assists, along with 1,264 penalty minutes. He played parts of three seasons with the Rangers (1988-89 to 1990-91) and had 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 83 games.

Ruff was a candidate for the Rangers' head-coaching job in 2013, when they hired Vigneault.

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