Major update on Sabres' new deal with head coach Lindy Ruff

Yesterday, the Buffalo Sabres announced that they ha hired Lindy Ruff as their new (well, technically old too) head coach.

Check it out:

Ruff had previously been the team's head coach from 1997 until 2013. He had been the New Jersey Devils' head coach for the past four seasons before being dismissed last month.

What wasn't announced yesterday though was the term on Ruff's new contract. Today though, Sabres insider Lance Lysowski reports that Ruff's contract is a two year deal.

Check it out:

Honestly... this deal makes a ton of sense when you look at how the Sabres have been working with Seth Appert, head coach of the team's AHL affiliate Rochester Americans. The Sabres hired the former NCAA coaching star in 2020 and have seen him coach the Americans to success in the AHL. The Americans open their 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs against the Syracuse Crunch on Friday and went on a deep run last post-season. 

It certainly looks, to me at least, that the plan is for Appert to join Ruff's staff next season and potentially earn himself a promotion in two years when Ruff's contract is up.

More from the Sabres' official press release announcement:

“I am thrilled to welcome Lindy back as the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres,” Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said. “As I went through the hiring process, it quickly became clear Lindy was the person for the job. He has experience, a proven track record, familiarity with young players, and so much more. I want to be clear though that this hire was not made with nostalgia in mind. Lindy is the right person for the job now and any history with our organization and community is simply an added bonus. I believe wholeheartedly that Lindy can help our team reach their goals and am excited to get to work with him.”

"I am thankful to Terry, the Pegula family, and Kevyn Adams for this opportunity,” Ruff said. “This is a team ready to take the next step. I am both humbled and honored to be trusted to help this team win now. It is not a job that I take lightly. It is my goal to ensure that players believe in each other, play for each other and love being a Buffalo Sabre. There is no doubt that we all need to embrace the challenge ahead of us. The work starts today and I could not be more excited."

Ruff is the winningest head coach in Sabres history, having set franchise records in regular-season games coached (1,165), regular-season wins (571), playoff games coached (101), and playoff wins (57) during his first stint with the organization from 1997-98 to 2012-13.

After leaving the Sabres in 2013 Ruff coaches the Dallas Stars for four seasons and then spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers. He was a nominee for the Jack Adams award last season as the NHL's top coach, losing to Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.