Lindy Ruff, Sabres Agree to Contract Extension After NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Run

Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is returning for another two years after leading his team to one of the most impressive midseason turnarounds in NHL history.

Ruff and the Sabres have agreed to a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2027-28 season, the team announced Wednesday.

The Sabres, ranked last in the East as of early December, dominated over the back half of the campaign to end the NHL's longest active playoff drought and secure the franchise's first postseason berth since 2011.

The campaign was highlighted by an NHL-best stretch of 39-9-5 from Dec. 9 until the end of the regular season.

The Sabres posted strong metrics over that stretch, averaging 3.72 goals per game (3rd in the NHL) while allowing just 2.58 goals against (2nd in the NHL) to clinch the top seed in a strong Atlantic Division.

That dominance continued into the playoffs as the Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins in six games to record the franchise's first playoff series victory since 2007.

After getting pushed to the brink of elimination by the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of the second round, Ruff led the Sabres to a Game 6 victory to extend the series.

The Sabres launched one last comeback when recovering from a 2-0 deficit to send Game 7 to overtime, but came just short of the Eastern Conference Final when the Canadiens scored in the extra frame.

Ruff finished the season as a Jack Adams Award finalist after leading the team to their first 50-win season since 2007.

A former NHL defenseman, Ruff spent most of his playing career in Buffalo, including a stint as team captain from 1986 to 1989.

He also led the Sabres into the team's most recent playoff appearance during his previous tenure as head coach from 1997 to 2013.

Ruff was eventually fired from his first stint with the team after a 6-10-1 start to his 16th season with the Sabres.

He then spent four years as head coach of the Dallas Stars and four in the same role with the New Jersey Devils before returning to Buffalo ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Several young players including Zach Benson, Bowen Byram, Mattias Samuelsson and Owen Power took a step forward in Ruff's second season. Tage Thompson recorded a second straight 40 goal season, while Rasmus Dahlin led one of the NHL's highest-scoring defenses with a career-high 74 points.

With that core for the most part in place next season, Ruff will look to help his players build on their first taste of playoff experience by going on an even deeper run next season.