The Buffalo Sabers have hired Lindy Ruff as their next head coach, according to Elliott Friedman of Sportsnet (Twitter link). Ruff previously played on the bench for the New Jersey Devils, but was released by the team on March 4. Now, he returned to the Buffalo organization and got his first career head coaching opportunity in 1997. Ruff spent 16 years off Buffalo's bench, making him the longest-tenured active coach in the NHL and then the second-longest active coach in the entire NHL. Before being fired by the Sabers in February 2013, he was second only to Gregg Popovich in the Big Four sports league.
Ruff led the Sabers to the postseason eight times during his tenure, including twice in his final three years. But that success wasn't enough, and just 17 games into the 2013 lockout season, the team decided to go in a different direction. Buffalo has not qualified for the postseason since then, extending the longest playoff drought in NHL history to 13 years. season of the year. Buffalo's worst days seem to be behind them, but this is a dismal record.They parted ways with their long-serving general manager. Jason Botterill He was appointed in 2019-20 and has brought in several key players since then. kevin adams to add bowen byram, Devon Levi, jack quinnand John Jason Peterka.He also built the team's observation room and conducted the draft zach benson, Jiri Critchand Matthew Savoie Only in the last two years.
Adams had plenty of time to set the Sabers on a new path, even if it cost him a few races in the playoffs.But now, coming off their two highest-scoring seasons since Ruff left, the Sabers are ready to make a run at the postseason.
Adams has spent plenty of time charting a new path for the Sabers, and the results are clear: The last two years have been Buffalo's two highest-scoring seasons since Ruff left. However, their struggles seem to be more about performance than talent right now, and there's no question that the right system could inspire talent throughout the Sabers lineup. They seem ready to lean on that talent with this move – preparing to pursue the playoffs the only way they know how: with Lindy Ruff behind the bench.
