Sabres’ Lindy Ruff Deserves to Win the Jack Adams Award – The Hockey Writers – Buffalo Sabres

When the Buffalo Sabres hired Lindy Ruff as their head coach before the 2024–25 season, there was one goal in mind: simply make the playoffs. In his first season back behind the bench, the team fell short and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 14th straight year.

Over the summer, the Sabres reshaped the roster by making a splash trade with the Utah Mammoth, sending J.J. Peterka in exchange for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring. They also signed goaltender Alex Lyon to a two‑year deal in free agency, adding stability in net.

The Sabres have since delivered one of the best seasons in franchise history, recording over 109 points, and a massive part of that success is the job Ruff has done. He has been named one of the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, and in my opinion, he deserves to win it.

Ruff Leads Sabres to Atlantic Division Title

The Sabres won the Atlantic Division for the first time since the new division alignment was introduced in 2012–13, and it marks their first division title since the 2009–10 season.

Buffalo finished the regular season with a 50‑23‑9 record, good for 109 points and second place in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Carolina Hurricanes. Considering how the season started, if you had said back in December that the Sabres would win the division, advance to the second round of the playoffs, and Ruff would be named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, everyone would have called you crazy.

But that’s the reality now, and while many people played a part in it, what Ruff has done to change the culture in Buffalo and get every single player to buy in is a major reason why he deserves this award.

On Dec. 9, 2025, the Sabres were 11‑14‑4 and buried at the bottom of the standings. Then came a 10‑game winning streak… which turned into winning 15 of 17… which turned into winning 20 of 23… which turned into winning 33 of 42. That 42‑game stretch (33 wins) stands as one of the most successful runs in NHL history over that span.

The Sabres closed the regular season red‑hot, going 39‑12‑5 in their final 56 games. During that stretch, they battled the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. Buffalo faced Tampa four times, going 3‑0‑1, with wins of 6‑2 on Feb. 28, 8‑7 on March 8, and 4‑2 on April 6.

They also faced the Canadiens three times in that span, going 2‑1‑0, with wins on Jan. 15 (5‑3) and Jan. 22 (4‑2).

Sabres Recorded 50-plus Wins

The Sabres recorded 50‑plus wins for just the third time in franchise history, joining the 2005–06 and 2007–08 teams, and Ruff was the head coach for both of those groups as well.

Recording 50‑plus wins in a season is a rare accomplishment for any franchise, and considering how this season started, it’s no surprise Ruff was named a finalist. Buffalo’s 50‑win campaign is the clearest evidence of his impact. This wasn’t a lucky run or a hot streak; it was a full season of sustained excellence. The Sabres didn’t just improve; they evolved into a legitimate contender. Their speed overwhelmed teams, their defensive structure tightened, and their young stars took massive steps forward under Ruff’s guidance. Hitting 50 wins is the kind of milestone that signals a franchise has arrived, and it doesn’t happen without elite coaching. It’s the on‑ice proof that Ruff didn’t just steady the ship — he turned it into a powerhouse.

Even though all three finalists deserve consideration for the Jack Adams Award, Ruff stands above the rest. Between ending the playoff drought, leading one of the best teams in the league, and overseeing one of the greatest turnarounds in recent NHL history, there is no one more deserving than him.