Lindy Ruff’s first season back with the Buffalo Sabres has been challenging, with the team managing just 64 points through 70 games in the 2024-25 NHL regular season. However, they finally got a reason to celebrate. In addition to securing a 3-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators at KeyBank Center, the Sabres saw Ruff reach a historic milestone.
“600 Sabres regular-season wins for Coach Lindy Ruff,” the team posted on X following the game.
Ruff earned the majority of his 893 career NHL coaching wins during his first tenure with Buffalo, which lasted from the 1997-98 season through 2012-13. He led the team to 571 wins before being dismissed in 2013. He then took coaching roles with the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, and New Jersey Devils. After parting ways with the Devils in 2024, Buffalo brought him back for another stint, leading to this latest milestone in his coaching career.
“I really wasn’t aware of it,” said 65-year-old Lindy Ruff regarding his latest coaching milestone, per ESPN. “But obviously, it feels good. Just to get the win tonight, it felt good. … I’ve been fortunate, a lot of good people around me that have helped throughout the years. And [there’s been] unbelievable fan support here in this building.”
Ruff is now just the second coach in NHL history to reach 600 wins with a single franchise. The only coach with more victories for one team is Al Arbour, who led the New York Islanders to 740 wins.