The Buffalo Sabres have fired head coach Don Granato and two other staff members after missing the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year, marking the search for their eighth coach since 2010-11, following a season where key players underperformed.
So, the Buffalo Sabres have made a big move. They’ve let go of head coach Don Granato. Why? Well, it’s been a rough ride, missing the playoffs for the 13th straight year. And it’s not just Granato; assistant coach Jason Christie and video coordinator Matt Smith are also out.
Now, the search is on. The Sabres are on the hunt for their eighth coach since 2010-11. That’s a list that includes names like Lindy Ruff and Ralph Krueger. Quite the coaching carousel, huh?
This season had some high hopes. Last year, they were so close, finishing 10th in the Eastern Conference. But this year? A step back. They ended up with just 84 points, missing out on the playoffs again.
What went wrong? Well, their top scorers just couldn’t hit the mark this season. Alex Tuch, Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Jeff Skinner all saw huge drops in their points. Skinner’s fall was the most dramatic, from 83 points to just 46.
Granato tried, really. But getting more from the depth players just didn’t happen. And ultimately, that cost him his job.
Granato wasn’t new to the NHL. He started with the Blackhawks as an assistant back in 2017. After joining the Sabres midway through the 2020-21 season, he stuck around for three years. His record? 121-125-27. That’s a .512 points percentage.
But now, it’s back to the drawing board for Buffalo. They’re desperate to break what’s become the second-longest playoff drought in North American professional sports. Who will step up to the plate next? Only time will tell.
