It wasn't that long ago when Ken Hitchcock was angrily informing opposing coach Lindy Ruff to mind his own business in a memorable profanity-laced outburst following a first-round NHL playoff game.
Oh, what happy times, the two veteran coaches recalled with a laugh during a telephone conference call Tuesday in which they ribbed each other and handicapped the NHL playoffs.
Two years later, Hitchcock and Ruff have not only patched things up, but found themselves sharing the same opinion now that their teams won't be part of the postseason, which opens Wednesday.
"It's a real empty feeling right now. For both of us, it's been a while since we've had to go through this," said Hitchcock, of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
"I think I would echo that, too," said Ruff, the Buffalo Sabres coach. "As Ken has mentioned, you kind of have a sick feeling."
The two, who have 205 playoff games coached between them, were able to share their perspective on this year's contenders, but declined to hazard a guess as to which teams might emerge to compete in the Stanley Cup finals in June,
"I would say, Buffalo and Columbus," Hitchcock said, with a laugh. "No, I'm not going there."
"I'm right there with Hitch," Ruff added. "If somebody could pick them, they better head straight to Vegas and pick them."
Both, though, were impressed by the momentum the Alex Ovechkin-led Washington Capitals are carrying, following their late-season push that clinched them the Southeast Division title with a victory in their season finale on Saturday. And the two noted how difficult it might be for Anaheim to defend its title, considering Detroit, in 1997 and '98, is the last team to repeat as champion.
Hitchcock thought Northwest Division champ, Minnesota, had the experience and chemistry to make a deep run. He wondered whether Pacific Division champ, San Jose, might have lost a step after losing its final two games of the season.
Ruff wondered whether the Ottawa Senators are too banged up, minus captain Daniel Alfredsson and fellow forward Mike Fisher, and noted they're struggling in net. Ruff also praised the solid play of Montreal Canadiens' rookie goaltender Carey Price.
Tuesday's call allowed Hitchcock and Ruff to relate their own playoff experiences, which have overlapped several times. Hitchcock won his only Stanley Cup, coaching the Dallas Stars in 1999, when they defeated Ruff's Sabres in a six-game finals series.
Then there was the 2006 opening-round series, during which the Sabres eliminated Hitchcock's Philadelphia Flyers in six games. That included Buffalo's 8-2 blowout win in fight-filled Game 2, after which Ruff accused the Flyers of playing like "idiots."
Hitchcock was offended by Ruff's comments and responded by cursing out the Sabres coach and telling him he should mind his own business.
There were no hard feelings on Tuesday.
"I think a lot of that's heat of the battle," Ruff said. "I don't really feel there's anything to patch up."
Hitchcock agreed, while noting both hail from Alberta.
"In the heat of the battle, those things get said, and they become anecdotes of the series," Hitchcock said. "But we both are from the right province in Canada, so we remain good friends."
And they're good coaches, despite what happened to their teams this year when the Sabres finished 10th in the East and the Blue Jackets finished 13th in the West during Hitchcock's first full season in Columbus.
The toughest part for them might be watching the playoffs.
"There's a good chance I might just turn them off and walk out of the house because I've had enough of it," Ruff said.
"Yeah, it's not enjoyable," Hitchcock said. "It's painful to watch."
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Originally Posted by Acoustic-Fury
