Bruce Boudreau was fired by the Washington Capitals last season on Nov. 28, 2011. He was hired by the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 1 -- less than three days later.
That's the time for Lindy Ruff to beat. Ruff was fired on Wednesday afternoon by the Buffalo Sabres and, if he wants, won't have to wait long to start working again.
With such an experienced and respected coach on the market, it's possible that his availability could expedite a coaching change elsewhere.
"He'll get an opportunity if he wants to very quickly," said an emotional Darcy Regier during Wednesday's press conference. "He'll have lots of opportunities."
His firing in Buffalo is proof that nobody is untouchable and a slow start comes with consequences. So where should the head coach be nervous with Ruff now available?
Here are five options:
1. New York Islanders
When the GM has to make creative trades just to make sure the team remains above the salary floor, it's hard to pin a lack of success on head coach Jack Capuano. But the Islanders have been plagued by inconsistency this year, looking great one game and like a lottery team the next. A veteran hand like Ruff might steady a young team, if they're not too cheap to hire him.
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- Senior NHL writer for ESPN The Magazine
- Wrote for Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Wrote for The Sporting News
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Craig Custance
Craig Custance joined ESPN in September 2011 as an NHL reporter for ESPN the Magazine, ESPN Insider and ESPN.com. A graduate of Michigan State University, he lived for nearly a decade in Georgia working for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he spent time covering the late Atlanta Thrashers. He was the only Thrashers beat writer to get the team to the playoffs.
From 2008-11 he was the national hockey writer for the Sporting News, writing regularly in print and online. A member of the PHWA, he's a proud voter for the major NHL awards and can occasionally defend his selections.
Like hockey, he left Atlanta to return north where he currently lives in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, with his wife Cassie and their three kids.
Follow Craig on Twitter: @CraigCustance
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