In a bold and succinct move, Buffalo Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams has sent a powerful message to Head Coach Lindy Ruff as the team prepares for the 2025-26 NHL season. The four-word letter, simply stating, **”We Believe in You”**, has sparked widespread discussion among fans and analysts, signaling a renewed commitment to Ruff’s leadership and the Sabres’ quest to end their 14-year playoff drought.
### A Message of Trust and Accountability
The letter, delivered personally by Adams to Ruff, comes at a critical juncture for the Sabres, who finished the 2024-25 season with a disappointing 36-39-7 record, placing them second-to-last in the Atlantic Division. Despite the team’s struggles, particularly a devastating 0-10-3 stretch from November 27 to December 21, Adams’ message underscores his confidence in Ruff’s ability to steer the young roster toward success.
Ruff, who returned to Buffalo in April 2024 for his second stint as head coach, is the franchise’s all-time winningest coach, with 571 regular-season wins and 57 playoff victories from his tenure between 1997 and 2013. Adams emphasized that Ruff’s hiring was not driven by nostalgia but by his proven track record and ability to develop young talent. “Lindy is the right person for the job now,” Adams said in a press conference last year, a sentiment echoed in his recent letter.
### Context of the Letter
The four-word message arrives as the Sabres gear up for a pivotal offseason. At the “Blue and Gold Insights” event on March 27, 2025, Adams and Ruff addressed season ticket holders, acknowledging the team’s shortcomings and outlining a path forward. Ruff took full responsibility for the mid-season collapse, calling it “the toughest part of my 24-year coaching career.” Adams, reflecting on his own decisions, admitted he could have acted sooner to shake up the roster during the losing streak, potentially through trades or call-ups from the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
The letter serves as both a vote of confidence and a call to action. Sources close to the team suggest that Adams’ message is a reminder to Ruff that the organization expects results in the upcoming season. With key players like captain Rasmus Dahlin, forward Alex Tuch, and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen under contract, and young talents like Bowen Byram and Jiri Kulich poised for growth, the Sabres have the pieces to compete. However, as Adams noted, “We have to make the playoffs. It’s time.”
### Fan and Player Reactions
The Sabres’ passionate fanbase, frustrated by years of disappointment, has mixed feelings about the letter. Some view it as a sign of unity between the front office and coaching staff, while others, as expressed in posts trending on X, see it as a symbolic gesture that must be backed by tangible roster improvements. One fan posted, “Words are nice, but we need wins. Let’s see Adams and Ruff deliver in ‘25-26.”
Players, however, have responded positively to Ruff’s leadership. Center Tage Thompson, speaking at the season-ending press conference on April 19, 2025, praised Ruff’s emphasis on accountability: “He’s all about habits. You can’t let anything go.” Forward Alex Tuch, a Buffalo native and a fan of Ruff’s during his first tenure, expressed excitement about the coach’s return, noting, “He asks a lot of you, and with that comes a lot of success.”
### Looking Ahead
Adams’ letter also signals an aggressive offseason strategy. He has promised to address the team’s deficiencies, particularly on special teams, where the Sabres ranked 27th in power play and 22nd in penalty kill last season. Potential moves include targeting a right-shot defenseman to pair with Owen Power and exploring goaltending options to complement Luukkonen and prospect Devon Levi, who is currently starring in Rochester’s AHL playoff run.
Ruff, meanwhile, is focused on fostering a culture of selflessness and competition. “The goal is to out-compete, out-skate,” he said at the Blue and Gold Insights event. “We’re not taking time off. We’ve got to put extra work in to get our game in the right place.”
### A Defining Moment
As the Sabres prepare for training camp in mid-September, Adams’ four-word letter to Ruff has set the tone for a season of high expectations. The message is clear: the organization believes in Ruff’s vision, but the time for excuses is over. With a talented roster, a passionate fanbase, and a coach with a legacy to cement, the 2025-26 season could be the year Buffalo finally returns to the postseason.
For now, the Sabres’ leadership is united, and the city is watching. As Ruff himself put it, “The work starts today.”
