Lindy Ruff led the Buffalo Sabres to the playoffs back in 2011 and will do it again this year. A lot has happened between then and now and it starts with Terry and Kim Pegula buying the Sabres in February of 2011, saying that the Sabres reason for existence will be to win championships.

The Sabres looked to be in good hands. Following a strong second half to the season, they secured a playoff spot on April 8 with a win over the Philadelphia Flyers only to fall to them in seven games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. And with that the drought was underway.

The Buffalo Sabres introduced Lindy Ruff as their head coach on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. (Spectrum News 1/Rachel Hopmayer Photo)

Since then, the team went through seven different coaches, beginning with Ruff being shown the door in 2013. From there, it was  Ron Rolston, then Ted Nolan back for a second stint, Dan Bylsma, Phil Housley, Ralph Krueger and Don Granato from 2021-2024.

As for general managers, Darcy Regier, who famously said to fans that the rebuild “may require some suffering,” was let go in 2013, Tim Murray followed him and then Jason Botterill, Kevyn Adams took over in 2020 and now Jarmo Kekalainen half way through this past season.

Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, left, and general manager Darcy Regier talk before a team photo in Buffalo, N.Y., Monday April 7, 2008. In assessing their team’s collapse this season, Sabres management acknowledged on Thursday, April 10, what was readily apparent: A lack of veteran leadership ultimately led to the defending Presidents’ Trophy champions missing the playoffs. (AP Photo/David Duprey, File)

There were many players along the way that came and went as well. The Sabres “tanked” for a few seasons, which resulted in Sam Reinhart being drafted second overall in 2014. The next spring, the Sabres traded for Ryan O’Reilly and drafted gerenartional talent Jack Eichel, but things still didn’t improve. All three of those players traded with bad tastes in their mouths. O’Reilly said, at the time, that he lost his love of the game playing in Buffalo.

Reinhart was never offered a decent contract in Buffalo and Eichel famously left over a neck surgery disagreement and would return, only to be very critcal of Sabres fans. 

Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart (23) celebrates his goal with Jack Eichel (9) and Jeff Skinner (53) in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

All three would go onto the raise the Stanley Cup with their new teams and continue to florish in the NHL. Eichel just won Olympic gold with Team USA.

But through all of this, the team started to come together. O’Reilly was traded to the St. Louis Blues, which sent Tage Thompson back to Buffalo. Thompson is a bonified star in the NHL, who just also won Olympic gold alongside Eichel.

USA’s Tage Thompson holds the trophy after the Hockey World Championship gold medal match between Switzerland and USA at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday May 25, 2025. (Magnus Lejhall/Keystone via AP)

Eichel was then traded to the Vegas Golden Knights for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs and draft picks that helped them land Noah Ostlund and Jordan Greenway, all of whom are playing a role in the Sabres’ turnaround. A few other lean years turned into Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, both drafted first overall and both helping to sure up the defense. Dahlin is turning into what looks like the best defensive player in franchise history.

The team was in last place to start December and is now one of the first teams in the Eastern Conference to lock up a playoff spot.

Buffalo Sabres’ Alex Tuch (89) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Tuch famously said in January that making the playoffs is not enough.

“We’re trying to prove as a team that we’re legit,” Tuch said. “We’re not just going to go for the playoffs, we’re going to go for the Cup and that’s our goal. Get better every day and that’s it. That’s the end goal. We’re not here just to squeak in.”

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

The first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs gets underway in a little over two weeks. 

With the Sabres’ drought now officially over, the longest postseason drought in all major North American sports belongs to the NFL and the New York Jets at 15 seasons with their last appearence in 2010.