On the heels of losing their 12th consecutive game Tuesday night, the Buffalo Sabres relieved Ralph Krueger of his duties as head coach Wednesday morning, along with assistant coach Steve Smith. Assistant coach Don Granato will take over for the team on an interim basis and will be the seventh head coach of the Sabres since the Pegula’s became owners in February 2011.
The trend of coaching changes continue for the Sabres, as they have fired their head coach every two years, dating back to Lindy Ruff in 2013. That was followed by Ron Rolston (’13), Ted Nolan (’15), Dan Bylsma (’17), Phil Housley (’19), and now Ralph Krueger. While there have been varying degrees of experience in previous coaches, ranging from Stanley Cup champion in Dan Bylsma to first-time head coaches at the NHL level like Phil Housley, coaching has been a consistent issue in this organization for many years.
There has also been constant turnover at the general manager position, as Darcy Regier, Tim Murray, and Jason Botterill have previously held the position of GM for the Sabres since 2013. Pat Lafontaine also held the position of President of Hockey Operations for a short period during the 2013-14 season.
The Sabres have struggled mightily in recent years, finishing in last place three times in the last seven seasons, resulting in drafting top players in Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel, and Rasmus Dahlin and bringing in talented players through trades and free agency. Kyle Okposo, Jeff Skinner, and Taylor Hall are among those signed by the Sabres in the last five years that have not produced to the level that was expected. As a result, the team is sitting in last place yet again despite having just under a million dollars of cap space, one of the main issues this team is dealing with.
While a new head coach will be hired by GM Kevyn Adams in the offseason, despite top coaching candidates being currently available, their next hire must have NHL head coaching experience. Individuals such as Bruce Boudreau and Gerard Gallant are currently available, along with coaches potentially available after the season, including John Tortorella and Rod Brind’Amour, should be among the top coaching candidates for the Sabres.
Although those individuals must be strongly considered, the Sabres organization must improve from the top down, starting with ownership, to build a winning culture. This is a crucial step because even the best coaches would not be successful when surrounded with instability, as has been the case for the last decade in Buffalo.