Craig Ramsay
Atlanta - Head Coach
The Florida Panthers named Craig Ramsay assistant coach on July 7, 2011.
Years Coached:3 years
Last Season Coached:2010-2011
TeamGPWLTOT(L)PTS
Team
Atlanta 8234361280
Ramsay has nearly 40 years of NHL experience as a player, coach and talent evaluator in seven different NHL organizations including the Atlanta Thrashers, Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins. “Craig is very well-respected in the hockey community and we're excited to add a coach of his caliber to our organization” said Dudley. “He is widely regarded as an excellent teacher and he is the right choice to help further develop our team and lead us to our ultimate goal.” Most recently Ramsay served as a head coach for the Thrashers in the 2010-11 season and as an assistant coach for the Bruins from 2007 to 2010. While in Boston, Ramsay helped the Bruins reach the post-season each year, while capturing the Eastern Conference's best record during the 2008-09 season. The Bruins advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in both 2009 and 2010. Prior to joining the Bruins, Ramsay served as an associate coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2001 to 2007, earning a Southeast Division title and the Stanley Cup during the 2003-04 campaign. Ramsay also served as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 1998 to 2000. He was named interim head coach in February 2000, guiding the team to a 16-8-1-0 mark while claiming the Atlantic Division title with 105 points. Ramsay led the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils in seven games. He remained behind the bench to begin the 2000-01 season before being replaced after 28 games with a 12-12-4-0 record.
Before joining Philadelphia, Ramsay worked as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators (1996 to 1998) and the Florida Panthers (1993 to 1995). He began his coaching career with the Buffalo Sabres organization where he served as an assistant coach during the 1986-87 season and took over as interim head coach late in the year, posting a 25-37-6-0 record. Prior to leaving the Sabres in 1993, Ramsay also served as the team's director of player personnel and assistant general manager. Ramsay's NHL playing career spanned 14 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres from 1971 to 1985, earning 672 points (252 goals, 420 assists) in 1,070 career games. The Weston, Ontario, native twice reached a career high with 71 points and tallied eight straight 20-goal seasons for the Sabres from 1973 to 1981. He also appeared in 89 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Sabres, posting 48 points (17 goals, 31 assists) in those contests. Ramsay, who was selected by Buffalo in the second round (19th overall) of the 1971 NHL Entry Draft, appeared in 776 consecutive games with the Sabres from 1973 to 1983, which ranks as the fourth longest consecutive games streak in NHL history. He was also named the recipient of the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1985, given annually to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. Ramsay began his professional career with the Cincinnati Swords of the American Hockey League during the 1971-72 season where he tallied 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 19 games. During his career, Ramsay played alongside Thrashers General Manager Rick Dudley for a total of seven seasons with Cincinnati (1971-72) and Buffalo (1972-73 to 1974-95 and 1978-79 to 1980-81). Prior to his professional career, Ramsay played four junior seasons for the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1967 to 1971, tallying 232 points (84 goals, 158 assists) in 206 games. Ramsay's best junior season came in 1970-71, when he earned 106 points (30 goals, 76 assists) in 58 games with Peterborough. Ramsay and his wife Susan have four children, sons Travis, Jad and Brendon and daughter Summer.