"I can tell you that I was proud of the way (the players) handled it for a group that has never been there before," Ruff said.
"This is a giant step for us," he added. "A giant step for all the players to really get a feel of what it's really like.
To be proud of being a Buffalo Sabre, to be proud of playing here."
Ruff noted that his primary objective upon taking the coaching job was to rebuild the team's pride in representing the city of Buffalo.
"When I took the job, I thought, number one, I wanted these guys to like being a Buffalo Sabre.
I think they like being a Sabre and I think they made our city proud," he said.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen, who took over in mid-December after Kevyn Adams was fired, strongly endorsed the extension.
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"Extending Lindy, a no-brainer," Kekalainen said.
"Real proud of the whole group and what we went through, how much we learned," he added.
"I can't emphasize enough how excited I am about the future of this group and the potential we have," Kekalainen said.
He noted that studying the game alongside Ruff has motivated him to improve his own performance as an executive.
"I've really enjoyed working with Lindy.
I've enjoyed his sense of humor, his experience, his passion for the game, his details and how he's still involved as a coach," Kekalainen said.
