Los Angeles (AFP) – Lindy Ruff won’t return as head coach of the Dallas Stars, the NHL club announced on Sunday.
Ruff’s four-year contract with the Stars expires at the end of this season and was not renewed.
Dallas, who won the Central Division last year, missed the NHL playoffs with a 34-37-11 record.
“I want to personally thank Lindy for his commitment and professionalism over the four years that he served as our head coach in Dallas,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a statement.
“Lindy is not only a highly respected coach, he more importantly is a great person and an outstanding family man whom I have the utmost respect for on and off the ice.”
The Stars’ 79 points were the second-lowest total in a non-lockout season since the club relocated from Minnesota to Dallas in 1993-94.
In 2015-16, the Stars had the Western Conference’s best record and reached the Western Conference second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, where they lost in seven games to the St. Louis Blues.
Ruff, 57, is fifth in NHL history with 736 wins. He arrived in Dallas after spending 15 seasons as coach of the Buffalo Sabres.
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