Lindy Ruff's Triumphant Return Brings Buffalo Sabres Back to Playoffs

Veteran coach leads Sabres to first postseason berth in 15 years after multiple stops around the NHL.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:09pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a Sabres hockey game, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team's colors of blue, gold, and white.Lindy Ruff's return to the Sabres bench has sparked a resurgence in Buffalo, leading the team back to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.Buffalo Today

Lindy Ruff, the winningest coach in Buffalo Sabres history, has returned to the team and guided them back to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Ruff's coaching career has taken him on a winding journey, including stints with the Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and New Jersey Devils, before he came back to Buffalo in 2024 to finish what he started.

Why it matters

Ruff's return to the Sabres has reignited hope in the long-suffering Buffalo fanbase, who haven't seen their team in the postseason in over a decade and a half. His experience and success in previous tenures with the organization have positioned him to lead the Sabres back to relevance in the NHL.

The details

Ruff first joined the Sabres as an assistant coach in the 1990s, then took over as head coach in 1997, a role he held for 16 seasons. During that time, he led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999 and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 and 2007. After being fired in 2013, Ruff went on to coach the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils before returning to Buffalo in 2024. In his second stint with the Sabres, Ruff has now guided the team to its first playoff berth since 2011.

  • Ruff was first hired as Sabres head coach in 1997.
  • The Sabres last made the playoffs in 2011.
  • Ruff returned as Sabres head coach in April 2024.
  • The Sabres clinched a playoff spot in the 2025-26 season.

The players

Lindy Ruff

A former Sabres player who became the winningest coach in franchise history, Ruff has returned to lead the team back to the playoffs after a 15-year drought.

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What they’re saying

“Lindy Ruff has always been a part of the fabric of this city and this team. It's fitting that he's the one to bring us back to the playoffs after all these years.”

— Sabres fan

What’s next

The Sabres will face the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference in the first round of the playoffs, with Ruff looking to guide the team to its first postseason series win since 2007.

The takeaway

Lindy Ruff's return to the Buffalo Sabres has been a feel-good story, as the veteran coach has led the long-suffering franchise back to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Ruff's experience and connection to the city have been crucial in reigniting hope among Sabres fans.