Sabres News: Clinching scenarios, Maxim Strbak, Pete Guelli on Lindy Ruff

The Buffalo Sabres' far-too-long stint as an NHL laughingstock is about to reach a merciful conclusion as the team is one win (or some outside help) away from a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It's been a wild ride for Sabres fans this season. The Blue and Gold got off to a miserable 11-14-4 start, putting them firmly on a path for a 15th straight season without postseason hockey, but a remarkable turnaround beginning in mid-December now has them in contention for an Atlantic Division title and perhaps even the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Buffalo's clinching moment will steal the spotlight, and rightfully so, but there are other happenings in the Sabrehood, including a prized prospect signing his entry-level contract and continued uncertainty about whether head coach Lindy Ruff will return next season.

Sabres can clinch a postseason berth Thursday night

Buffalo's playoff odds have rounded up to 100% for over a week, but there's a difference between the numbers saying a team is a lock and actually clinching the spot, especially for a diehard fanbase that's been through much pain across the 14-year postseason drought.

The Sabres have two paths to print the playoff t-shirts on Thursday evening, according to Jourdon LaBarber of the club's official website:

Buffalo would prefer the more direct route, a win over the division rival Ottawa Senators. Not only would that be a more thrilling way to accomplish the feat, but helping keep the dangerous Sens out of the playoffs should be a secondary goal for the Blue and Gold.

Even if the moment doesn't arrive on Thursday, the Sabres will clinch in the near future.

Buffalo signs prospect Maxim Strbak; Joins Rochester Americans

The Sabres announced Wednesday they signed defensive prospect Maxim Strbak to a three-year, entry-level contract, which will begin next season.

In the meantime, Strbak will join the AHL's Rochester Americans on an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) for the remainder of the current campaign. He'll try to provide a blue-line boost for the Amerks, who are trying to secure a place in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Buffalo selected the 20-year-old defenseman in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft. He's spent the past three seasons playing college hockey at Michigan State.

Strbak recorded 18 points (three goals and 15 assists) and a plus-20 rating across 37 appearances for the Spartans in 2025-26. His offensive game hasn't developed at the rate the Sabres probably hoped, but he was a defensive stalwart for MSU.

Sabres executive discusses future of head coach Lindy Ruff

Lindy Ruff is a strong candidate for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's best coach this season, an honor he previously earned in 2006, but his contract is set to expire after the campaign and so far there's been no agreement on an extension.

Sabres president of business operations Pete Guelli told Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News general manager Jarmo Kekalainen will have autonomy to decide who leads the Buffalo coaching staff for next season and beyond.

"Jarmo is in charge of hockey operations," Guelli said. "I think everyone is happy that it's his show to run. You know who is in charge, you know who is accountable. That's a good feeling when you've got somebody as competent as Jarmo to do it, so it's his decision on how we handle anything from a hockey perspective. Ultimately, he's spoken with Terry [Pegula] and myself on that, but I'm here to support him and those are his decisions to make."

Ruff hinted during a recent discussion with NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet that he'd like to keep coaching for at least a few more years.

Kekalainen has so far declined to speak publicly about Ruff's future status, saying it's his standard procedure to remain quiet about personnel matters.

The former Sabres player and current coach is a Buffalo legend and should be offered a place in the organizational hierarchy, even if the front office moves in a different direction behind the bench.