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Sabres Extend Coach Lindy Ruff After First Division Title

5/21/2026

Summary

Ruff Secures Extension

Buffalo Sabres gave coach Lindy Ruff a two-year extension through 2027-28 on May 20, 2026.
Ruff led the 2025-26 Sabres to a 50-23-9 record and their first Atlantic Division title since 2009-10.
The Sabres ended a playoff drought, beating Boston in six games before losing to Montreal in Game 7.
Jarmo Kekalainen called the extension a ‘no-brainer’ and said Buffalo will try to re-sign Bowen Byram and handle Alex Tuch’s free-agency.

Summary

Sabres Surge

Following Kevyn Adams’s dismissal as GM on Dec. 15, Jarmo Kekalainen took over and reshaped the roster.
The Sabres posted an NHL-best 39-9-5 run from Dec. 9 to the end, ranking third in goals per game (3.72).
Captain Rasmus Dahlin missed two months while his fiancée recovered from a heart-transplant surgery, Ruff’s goaltending shuffle between Alex Lyon and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen leaving the team without a clear No. 1 netminder and a struggling power-play unit.

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Ruff Secures Extension

Buffalo Sabres gave coach Lindy Ruff a two-year extension through 2027-28 on May 20, 2026.
Ruff led the 2025-26 Sabres to a 50-23-9 record and their first Atlantic Division title since 2009-10.
The Sabres ended a playoff drought, beating Boston in six games before losing to Montreal in Game 7.
Jarmo Kekalainen called the extension a ‘no-brainer’ and said Buffalo will try to re-sign Bowen Byram and handle Alex Tuch’s free-agency.

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