Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "I've always maintained a home here in Buffalo. This has been home for my family."
Just over a week after being re-introduced as the new head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, Lindy Ruff hopped on WBEN on Thursday to talk about coming home.
Ruff says it was a family decision to take the reins as head coach again, and it didn't talk any arm twisting.
"My wife and my family were all onboard, as all of our friends are here. They were super excited and said why wouldn't you do this? So, here I am," Ruff said with Brian and Susan.
Ruff is the last coach to get the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Since then, the 13-year playoff drought has seen many fans fall off the bandwagon. He says he understands the challenge and responsibility ahead.
"You have to win fans back by playing good hockey and winning hockey games. It's that simple. You can't make promises," Ruff said. "You have to play good hockey. I've talked to every player about taking the next step. It's going to take everybody to do a little bit more, even in the offseason, to have a standard that's above where it is now. You're going to have to push yourself to the limit to be where we want to be at the end of next season."
Just over one week on the job, Ruff says he's talked to every player about taking the next step.
Just in the last couple of days, Ruff spent time with three players who were skating at Harborcenter: Dylan Cozens, Owen Power and Bowen Byram.
"I've just been talking hockey and that will continue," he said.
Ruff sent a letter this week to Sabres partners and Season Ticket holders:
So what's changed and hasn't at KeyBank Center?
"Not a lot has changed. There are still familiar faces. It brought back a great feeling," Ruff said. "To be able to play here and coach here and now have a second opportunity to get this team to where we want to get them, it's a real special opportunity."
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