3 reasons why bringing back Lindy Ruff makes perfect sense for the Sabres

Ruff proved he was still an excellent coach while in New Jersey

It wasn’t a good year for Ruff in Newark, and the New Jersey Devils felt it was wise to get rid of him in favor of a fresh face who, at the time of this writing, has yet to be announced as his successor. But we also need to remember that Ruff’s star player, Jack Hughes, never seemed to be completely healthy, while their top blueliner, Dougie Hamilton, was finished after 20 games. 

In 2022-23, Hamilton put up forward numbers and finished sixth in Norris Trophy votes, so losing him for an entire year would have been akin to Buffalo losing Rasmus Dahlin for a season. There was no way the Devils were reaching 112 points again, a number that is now a franchise record in the regular season. 

And in case you’re wondering, the 2022-23 Devils finished the year as the second-youngest team in hockey. That mark alone shows you what Lindy Ruff can do with a young group, and the Blue and Gold still happen to be one. 

They must find a way to stay healthy, something that hurt them earlier in the 2023-24 season, but if they can stay out of the trainer’s room, Ruff will have this team winning early and often. This isn’t saying he will lead Buffalo to an Atlantic Division crown - though that would be cool - but he’ll have them in contention all season if they can stay at full strength.