TOUCH DOWN: Buffalo Sabres Head Coach Lindy Ruff Revealed what Kevyn Adams said to him During his first day as Head….

In a moment that Sabres fans have long anticipated, Lindy Ruff’s return to the Buffalo bench was officially cemented this week as he took the reins once again as head coach. With the memories of past glory and unfinished business lingering in the air, Ruff opened up about the conversation that kickstarted his second chapter with the team—one that began with a heartfelt exchange with General Manager Kevyn Adams.

In his first press availability since assuming the role, Ruff, visibly reflective, revealed the moment he sat down with Adams at KeyBank Center. According to Ruff, it wasn’t a tactical discussion or a strategic breakdown that began their partnership—it was something more personal.

“Kevyn looked me in the eye and said, ‘Lindy, we need your heart back in this building,’” Ruff shared, his voice steady but emotional. “He didn’t talk about systems or stats—he talked about belief, about leadership, about what this city and team means. That hit me hard.”

Adams, a former Sabres player himself and someone who played under Ruff during his earlier coaching tenure in Buffalo, has been clear about wanting to build not just a team, but a culture. Rehiring Ruff was as much about legacy and values as it was about Xs and Os.

“I knew there was one person who could walk in and immediately command respect—not because of fear, but because of love,” Adams said in a follow-up statement. “Lindy’s love for Buffalo is real. We needed that energy again.”

Ruff, who coached the Sabres from 1997 to 2013, remains the winningest coach in franchise history. Though his first stint ended without a Stanley Cup, he built some of the most competitive teams the city has seen in decades—teams that came within inches of hockey’s ultimate prize.

Returning now, Ruff acknowledges the weight of expectation but also the unique opportunity at hand.

“This isn’t about going back—it’s about pushing forward,” he said. “Buffalo deserves a team that fights every night, and I’m here to make sure that happens.”

Players have already reacted positively to Ruff’s presence. Several young Sabres, including captain Kyle Okposo and rising stars like Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson, expressed excitement at having a veteran voice behind the bench—one who blends passion with accountability.

Ruff’s mission is clear: restore pride to the Sabres crest, inspire a new generation, and maybe, just maybe, finish what he started.

As fans flood social media with nostalgia and hope, the message from Adams to Ruff on Day One rings louder than ever:

“We need your heart back.”

Buffalo has it now. And the Sabres are ready for takeoff.