Rob Ray usually provides color analysis from ice level. ©2025, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres legend Rob Ray developed into much more than fighter

BUFFALO – Forget about all of those fights. In his prime, legendary Sabres tough guy Rob Ray often impacted games with more than his fists.

Ray, who was inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame in an emotional ceremony prior to Friday’s 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators, played a fearless and heavy style as a winger. He could be relentless and wear opponents out.

“Robby was a really good skater,” said John Van Boxmeer, Ray’s coach with the Rochester Americans. “He had really good speed. At 220 pounds, he could hit you. There’s a lot of players that are fighters that all they can do is if somebody cheap shots a player on their team, they can go out and fight.”

But Ray would agitate the opposition – “He’d run over you all night long and guys would go after him,” Van Boxmeer said – and create ice time for the Sabres’ skill players.

“So here’s a guy that can play a regular shift that’s punishing the other team’s defense,” Van Boxmeer said.

Ray said he developed into an “antagonist.”

“I drew … a ton of penalties because guys would come at me and they’re going nuts and I would just bury my head and turtle pretty much,” said Ray, who’s now a popular broadcaster for the Sabres.

Former Sabres winger Dave Hannan said Ray “was the most team-oriented guy that I’ve ever played with.”

“He wanted to win and he knew his role, and I give him a lot of credit that he worked on things, because I played with him at certain times on the lines in the bottom six,” he said. “He worked hard to understand puck management, where to put pucks when we got to the red line.”

He added: “We could affect a change in a game in one shift where we didn’t fight or anything. We went in and forechecked.”

Ray’s skating ability, a highly underrated asset, made him a terrific forechecker.

“He could skate, and I knew one thing going into any hockey game we were playing, the other team’s defense was hoping that he wouldn’t play,” said Rick Dudley, Ray’s first coach with the Sabres.

The opponent’s defense knew Ray would barrel in – “He hit the same way he fought, and that was all in,” Dudley said – during puck retrievals.

“If you were a defenseman retrieving the puck and you knew Robby Ray was on the ice, there’s a pretty good chance you’re getting rid of that puck before you know where it’s going,” Dudley said.

Dudley said he tried to reward Ray and give him carrots, occasionally playing him on a scoring line alongside stars Dave Andreychuk or Pierre Turgeon.

Ray recorded 41 goals, including one power-play score, and 3,207 penalty minutes in 900 career regular-season games over 15 seasons.

“I got one power-play goal,” Ray said. “I’m still like, ‘How the hell and why was I out there?’”

Well, John Muckler, his second coach with the Sabres, would occasionally put Ray in front of the net on the man advantage because he knew he’d go there. He scored his only power-play goal in 1992-93.

“You know what?” Dudley said. “There’s not a defenseman in league who were going to try to move him from the front of the net.”

Ray scored the game-winning goal from that area in Game 4 of the 1999 Eastern Conference final against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The excitement on Ray’s face following that goal is an indelible image for Lindy Ruff, who was in his first stint as Sabres coach.

“It’s one of those moments you’ll never forget,” he prior to Friday’s game against the Nashville Predators. “I always find that those guys that don’t get that moment a lot when they get there, it’s something you got to enjoy.”

Ray gave a heartfelt induction speech on the KeyBank Center ice, breaking down as he spoke about his parents, who sat behind him. He also sprinkled in some profanity.

“I’m not going to change,” he said following the ceremony.

Notes: Captain Rasmus Dahlin’s two assists in the first period moved him past Mike Ramsey for the second-most assists by a defenseman in franchise history (258). … Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula watched the game from a suite. … The Sabres wore special patches on their jerseys to commemorate Ray’s induction. … The Sabres also scratched defenseman Dennis Gilbert and forward Sam Lafferty (both healthy).

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