It was an emotional moment at KeyBank Center Thursday evening, as Buffalo Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff fought back tears while paying tribute to his late teammate and longtime friend, Brad McCrimmon. The somber moment came during a pre-game ceremony honoring former NHL players and coaches who have made a lasting impact on the game—and for Ruff, the tribute hit especially close to home.
As the crowd stood in silence, the arena lights dimmed and a video montage lit up the jumbotron, showcasing highlights of McCrimmon’s decorated career. Ruff, visibly moved, stood at center ice alongside McCrimmon’s family and former teammates. His voice cracked as he stepped to the microphone.
“Brad wasn’t just a teammate. He was a brother,” Ruff said, pausing to collect himself. “He led with courage, integrity, and grit—qualities that defined him both on and off the ice. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about the lessons he taught me—about hockey, and about life.”
Ruff and McCrimmon played together in the early 1980s during their NHL careers, developing a close friendship forged in the fire of fierce competition and mutual respect. McCrimmon, who tragically passed away in 2011 in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash that claimed the lives of nearly the entire KHL team, has remained a powerful influence on Ruff’s coaching philosophy.
The ceremony was part of the Sabres’ new “Legends Legacy Night,” a series honoring influential figures in hockey history. Fans wore commemorative patches and McCrimmon’s former teams—including the Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames—shared tributes on social media.
After the ceremony, Ruff spoke to reporters about how difficult but important it was to honor his old friend.
“This sport is a family. We compete, we clash, but at the end of the day, the bond we share is unbreakable,” he said. “Brad gave everything to the game. Tonight, we gave a little something back to him.”
The Sabres went on to secure a 4–2 win over the Ottawa Senators, a fitting end to an emotional evening. Ruff, normally stoic behind the bench, allowed himself a small, skyward glance as the final buzzer sounded.
Sometimes, the hardest battles aren’t fought on the ice—but in the heart.
