Buffalo Sabres: Is Don Granato the long-term answer at coach

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 16: Don Granato of the Buffalo Sabres (C) watches the action during the third period of a NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes at KeyBank Center on October 16, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 16: Don Granato of the Buffalo Sabres (C) watches the action during the third period of a NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes at KeyBank Center on October 16, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)

When Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato took control, he inherited a wrecked franchise amidst an 18-game losing streak that tied an NHL record. 

Don Granato has seen his fair share of growing pains in the first year-and-a-half of his run as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. Currently 29-48-11 since taking over, Granato’s Sabres are still nowhere near contention.

No, he hasn’t been a miracle worker. But with a veteran-laden team that looked as though it belonged in the AHL (or ECHL) ranks when he took over followed by the mass exodus of players like Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel, Eric Staal, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Taylor Hall, it’s hard to see anyone coming in and completely turning around the organization.

And when you can’t win with seasoned veterans, like Eichel, who barely gave us a reason to cheer unless Alex Tuch‘s stealing the puck from him for a game-winner, you get younger. And younger they got, with guys like Tuch coming in along with Peyton Krebs via a trade for the ex-Sabre.

Casey Fitzgerald and Mattias Samuelsson stepped up and found permanent spots on defensive pairings. Tage Thompson has broken out. And Dylan Cozens has shown flashes of brilliance. So thank you, Don Granato.

Don Granato gives the Buffalo Sabres a new hope

How many players are still Sabres since Granato took over? Less than a dozen. Quite the roster turnover over a span of 13 months. Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, Jeff Skinner, Henri Jokiharju, Casey Mittelstadt, Kyle Okposo, Cozens, Victor Olofsson, Colin Miller, and Rasmus Asplund remain as the only players who saw extended playing time in 2020-21.

While the Sabres have gotten younger, Granato’s knack for getting the most out of his players is evident. His leadership allowed Tage Thompson to become perhaps the team’s top breakout player. He helped transform Rasmus Dahlin into an All-Star.

Granato also helped rejuvenate winger Jeff Skinner, who rode the bench often under former head coach Ralph Krueger. The Sabres, with general manager Kevyn Adams’ help, have also begun building through the draft to fill their talent pool at the lower levels. And you can bet that, in time, the strategy will pay off with the likes of Owen Power currently dominating the college ranks.

But it doesn’t stop with Power. Jack Quinn looked great before an injury. Krebs, essentially a rookie, is a keeper. J.J. Peterka has seen some NHL action. Brandon Biro has stood out in the AHL.

While the Sabres have struggled in 2021-22 under Granato, he’s brought the best out of this young team. And if March has served as an indicator, with iconic wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights, he’s got the Sabres closer to contention than ever before.

Don Granato, like many of these young Buffalo Sabres, has a future here. And that future is just now getting started.