Sabres Fire Coach Ralph Krueger and Name Don Granato as His Replacement

It finally happened. It won't save this season for Buffalo, but might give us a look at the way forward for a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2011.
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[@bdonaghu]

In before Urinating Tree's: "Days of our Sabres..." Also, Cozens has been invisible because he's been out the last three games.

[@ProductionsJazzhands]

Who do you think the equivalent to "Captain Fatfuck: Leader of Men" will be?

[@linkolinguino]

I’ve been asking for him to do a “Buffalo Sabres: A Half Century Of Failure” video for a while...so much misery on this team, hurts me every time to watch Eichel’s potential get wasted. He’d be an absolute beast in the playoffs too, you know it!

[@HunterDrone12]

@@linkolinguino the Echel trade will make that video a lock

[@shawn6745]

Tree has a sort of Jinx with his "Legacy of Failure" videos. I hope the Leafs win a cup because of it, then he makes a video for the Sabres.

[@ffej4895]

I love Urinating Trees vids.

[@iansweeney8406]

"The bar is so low I couldn't get it on camera." Painfully true, the fans deserve better.

[@Dr-Alexander-The-Great]

The bar is so low, only James Cameron can retrieve it

[@bruciesanchez6381]

@@Dr-Alexander-The-Great 👌

[@Mikeyski4]

@@Dr-Alexander-The-Great nobody scoops the fatty doo like you do

[@rorymacdermid5217]

“They’re not tanking they’re just bad” brutal

[@karltanner3953]

Brutally honest

[@Shadow12aven]

Avs were the same way during their Atlanta Thrashers season.

[@ninjashep5264]

They did. Issue is this is one of the weakest NHL Drafts in quite a while with no amazing #1 Overall talent. Owen Power seems good, but he wouldn’t have gone #1 Overall in most drafts

[@gocanuckurself1]

Very happy day for Melody Martin!

[@levifravel8432]

For like 5 minutes until the sabres lose again

[@gocanuckurself1]

@@levifravel8432 at least Ralph is gone!

[@deansmith6593]

Not really if the Sabres become decent she will not have anything.

[@bunnymcfoo8650]

literally my first thought!

[@stevenbiggar9249]

Happy day for buffalo,,

[@EmilySaxton]

The Taylor Hall Curse... from a Devils fan.

[@wilseph1]

OOF

[@user-ks5hu6sx8p]

Not saying you’re necessarily wrong, but what good teams has he been on

[@calcifer948]

The Taylor Hall curse... From an Oilers fan

[@gambl0r]

From a Devils fan? You mean the guy that dragged a bottom feeder team into the playoffs on his back? The guy that brought NJ their FIRST Hart trophy in franchise history? The 1st overall pick that Jersey got in his prime for Adam Larsson? Lmfao. Edmonton, Arizona and Buffalo fans can say 'The Taylor Hall curse'. Devils fans can say 'The Peter Chiarelli blessing'

[@michaelkerber3337]

@@user-ks5hu6sx8p he turned the yotes into garbage

[@exeter1985]

.... and the scary part is that the Sabres aren't tanking the season intentionally

[@bodhithomas5684]

That's really sad. I would make fun, but I feel bad for the fans

[@exeter1985]

@@bodhithomas5684 as an Oilers fan, I know what it feels like. When Ken Hitchcock says "No thanks, this team is beyond help... You're bad."

[@preppen78]

Imagine next year when there's a good draft. We'll see a a whole new level of low.

[@kevinbrown7326]

This is what happens when the owner of Bills is owner of Sabres !!!

[@Electricalphil]

@@kevinbrown7326 They are the worst. Absolutely the worst owners possible. NHL should never have allowed it.

[@1bert719]

Pegula was in his office, "well the Bill's did well, now let's see how the Sabres are.....oh sweet Enola gay!" Like when Mr Burns learnt about the 1929 crash in the 90's.

[@medtechfire22]

Honestly. "Okay well the Bill's are set. Wait, what's that smell? It smells like a rather large dumpster like object filled with our money is in fire." *Key Bank Arena billowing smoke* "We looked away for a minute what happened?!" *Kevyn Adams points to Kruger* At least that's how I imagine it.

[@floridaman735]

Buffalo: fires Krueger Literally every hockey fan: ABOUT GOD DANG TIME!!! WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG!!!

[@whatisawitch2550]

thank you, Cpt obvious

[@lojzek91]

Detroit fans: Coaches can be fired?

[@CasaleRA]

Probably finding someone that wanted the job.

[@brettviddal1593]

Pegulas being cheap. They just didn't want to write off his $3.75M X 2 contract. He should have been gone long ago. There were better choices to begin with.

[@TheArcher143]

@@lojzek91 lmao

[@Pazara61]

It's definitely well known Granato is indeed under the "Interim" tag.

[@bdonaghu]

Correct, Adams said it during his press conference. Granato is 100% an interim coach.

[@ABCowl]

He says he checks all sources. He doesn’t

[@quintonr6467]

@@ABCowl when has he ever said that

[@redwing3150]

That locker room must be silent as a tomb after every game.

[@justinshavers4692]

Detroit's too

[@Electricalphil]

I am sure Eichel was like "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. FIRE THIS GUY, I won't play until he is gone".

[@boodtwo4342]

Introducing... the new Sabres coach... the man... the myth... the legend... please welcome... JASON BOTTERILL!!!!

[@SabresGuy87]

He is an Assistant GM for the Kraken 😂

[@joebyrne230]

"Eichel, Skinner, and Hall, what do they have in common? Noooo not that they make a ton of money." Wayyyyyyy to punch down LOL

[@roaringfork78]

Video Request: The list of coaches that have been fired since Jeff Blashill has been hired by the Red Wings.

[@goenzoy]

roaringfork78 That's quite a number

[@jamesnialG]

What's happening to Detroit isn't Blashill's fault though.

[@jamesnialG]

A long rebuild is what inevitably happens when you do everything to stay competitive for 25 straight years. Detroit would be bad regardless of who was coaching.

[@jamesnialG]

If you simply made this comment to point out how long Blashill had been coach of the Red Wings compared to most coaches, I think Jon Cooper's got him beat by a season or two.

[@Notorious.Nick.]

This is sad, I don’t think anyone wants to see Buffalo do this bad

[@MrJimMajor]

I was recently in a discussion concerning the worst franchise in the NHL. That is not the worst _team_ , but the worst franchise year in and year out. There are a couple in the running; the Coyotes, Blue Jackets and Ottawa, but it was general agreed upon that it is the Buffalo Sabres. No Cup wins in 50 years, and none in sight.

[@petrograd4068]

At this point being eliminated shortly before the end of the regular season is considered a good year by their standards. I really feel for the fans. It's like with Ottawa. They deserve better owners.

[@buffalofan7169]

At least Don Granato has hockey Head Coaching experience in the USHL ECHL and AHL

[@ChronicleMercy]

Well, Melody Martin you got your wish for RK.

[@SabresGuy87]

As of it wasn't gonna happen eventually, she is a clueless fairweather fan 😂

[@daverosenblum8442]

Hey there, I've only recently discovered this site and am now hooked. Thanks for all the hard work. I love your passion, love your analysis and love your cats. Thew fact that the Caps are 6-0 without Wilson is a good indication of their depth. Is their depth, skill and embrace of Laviolette's system enough to carry them to the Finals? If not, who beats them in the playoffs?

[@lrgpapa315]

"They're not tanking, they're just bad" Buffalo quote of the year

[@philipcoggins9512]

Casey Mittelstadt is the type of player that gets traded to Pittsburgh, gets thrown on a line with Crosby, and becomes a 20+ goal-scorer overnight...

[@samuelfrick3475]

Here’s what Buffalo should do. Trade Sam Reinhart and act like nothing will happen :)

[@xMarik96]

Mitts has looked dramatically better this season than he did last season, so I'm not sure where THG is really coming from with that. It can work in Buffalo, but he's definitely not going to be the elite center we thought he would be.

[@TheAthletics15]

What you said about Cozens is not at all true. He's become more noticeable every game. That's why he was moved up in the lineup, had excellent chemistry with Hall. Especially noticeable because he's the only guy on the team that would try and fight someone, as a rookie, to get a spark. And now he's hurt.

[@midimusicforever]

One would have to be dumb to think that they are tanking. They really invested in the team for this season. It just failed.

[@MylordkronosRBLX]

real talk though, that reverse retro is absolute fire. one of the best in the league

[@jonathanpielmeier4956]

Cozens isn’t invisible. He’s playing great. He’s “invisible” in the literal sense BECAUSE HES BEEN OUT SINCE GETTING HIS HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE BOARDS and knocked out against Pittsburgh

[@thewolfdoctor761]

Cozen's play did not decline. The play of everyone else around him did. Mittelstadt is playing well. I'll be pissed if he is moved.

[@petrograd4068]

Buffalo can turn any player into dust, and then have that player revive their career when they get to move on.

[@liamgotimer5853]

Girardi is going to be a terrific assistant.

[@poonking3628]

Finally he’s gone what the hell were they thinking keeping him around.

[@jmarx3943]

What were they thinking for the last decade

[@Antigravityskateshop]

money. they owe staff like 15 million or something (all firings)

[@LeoMajor1]

The last name for Don was cut off when i went to click on this and I was like OH MY GOD THEY HIRED DON CHERRY THE ROLLER COASTER CONTINUES and then i clicked on it and was disappoint :(

[@ColdFear22]

Granato is the interim head coach. Adams said during his presser today that the search for the next coach begins immediately. Also Cozens has absolutely not been invisible. He's been a bright spot, and he's also been out the last few games due to a probable concussion.

[@jean-philippedoyon9904]

If he wants...Guy Boucher might be the best pick for them ! He is due for a comeback !!

[@SteveWKk]

Absolutely......

[@TheArcher143]

Guy already said he wasn't interested in coaching the Buffalo Sabers.

[@johanericsson7309]

The way you were talking about expected goals was pretty funny, surprised ppl aren't saying "well, how many expected stanley cups do you have?"

[@itakei]

2:22 ? It literally says "interim" on every article about the coaching change.

[@TR-pu2cw]

Not sure i agree with what you said on Cozens. I know you watch every team so its hard to keep up but hes been solid every game hes played leading up to that injury. Mittlestadt has also been one of the best forwards on the team as of late

[@thewolfdoctor761]

Yeah, he's only looking at goals scored - not watching the games.

[@chriscostello117]

Even when the ESPN deal drops this is still where ill come for my hockey content.

[@sportslad9769]

Buffalo fires Krueger *everyone likes that*

[@Jacob-du5if]

2022 draft looking super top-heavy - Savoie, Lambert, and Wright would all easily go number 1 in 2021

[@commissioner1969]

One of the best jerseys in the league

[@jeffhockey5163]

Buffalo's prayer has been answered for at least something to change. This is positive because it could not be worse for them, if only one win in the next 12. Here's hoping they can go on a mini run and at least get their confidence up and be competitive.

[@volcanope]

They need a guy like Tortorella, someone who's going to demand effort from everyone

[@andrewpoole160]

Excellent video, as usual. I too am rooting for Sabres from California. Sabres fans are very passionate and know hockey. There is so much at stake in Buffalo. Not just fans but also players who love Sabres.

[@andrewhogan6533]

Whoever the next coach is, the first thing they have to do is let the players play and rediscover their enjoyment of the game. If they lose 6-5, so be it. You can teach defense or sign some decent defensemen. After that get a solid goalie tandem. Skinner is a 40 goal scorer, Staal at least 20-30. Eichel obvious. Hall can be a 100 point player if the stars align. Let them play, then focus on discipline and defensive strategies etc.

[@Krokodilius]

i can't blame the coaching...they're not a good team. how many 8M+ plugs do they have? 3? there are few contracts worse.

[@ABobeck94]

When it comes to possible Head Coaches, I truly believe Kevyn Adams really wants Brind' Amour and it makes sense when you think about it. His first trade was for a guy he won a Stanley Cup with in Eric Staal, now he's looking into hiring Jason Karamanos as an Assistant GM who was also with the Hurricanes when they won the Stanley Cup. And the Captain of that cup winning team was none other than Rod Brand' Amour. Brind' Amour doesn't have a contract after this season and is probably looking to get paid. If Carolina doesn't offer him an extension, Kevyn Adams is gonna be calling him ASAP.

[@imaratspal]

I think Ullmark made the Sabres look better than they were. Him going down definitely played a big part on their downward spiral. They still probably wouldn't have made the playoffs but would finish more respectably and Krueger would keep his job until the end of the season.

[@johanjotun1647]

I love the show, for a non player fan its really friendly and easy to absorb... Stupid question here, Ive see a few of the "coach fired vids" and I wonder if teams ever try to pick up refs to fill the spot, or is that a step down in job title or considered an unfair advantage??? from the outside looking in, I cant imagine anyone having a better idea about whats happining and what players need to be doing or not doing and they definitly have a feel for what the compitision is up to.

[@vithursan.b]

Cant wait for Melody's video

[@SabresGuy87]

I can, she is not very bright and very fairweather

[@ripsaw2322]

Sabres need gritty players, they need a aggressive coach... Until they bring in players with grit it will always be like this. You can have all the talent in the world but if you're getting bullied every game you'll lose.

[@jeremiahjohnson7644]

It makes me sick to watch dahlin constantly be the victims of cheap shots and dirty hits and no one on the team sticks up for him. And then we wonder why his play is regressing... what a joke

[@youtoob5477]

To your point about getting fans in the building- they can barely even sell out 10% capacity. Over half of those tickets were still available after season ticket holders were given first pick

[@Lilbailnick]

9min shy of 13 in a row! My word this team is so sorry.. The Toyota big save on the Buffalo broadcast doesn’t even go to our goalies anymore! That truly sums it up.

[@berniehenao9999]

This is one of my favorite THG vids. Keep the faith 716! LGI

[@niteporter]

Congrats to my New Jersey Devils. Big win last night. Yes buffalo lost 11 but I'm a Die hard Devils fan and I'll take whatever wins I can get

[@999thundernic9]

I hope they get better.. really. It sucks for the fans, for the prospects etc.

[@josiahharrison9843]

David Poile: “I like this guy, I think he’s what my team needs”.

[@Roochfan20]

Hey Shannon, what are your thoughts about the next coach being fired after Krueger? I was willing to give Dallas Eakins the benefit of the doubt initially thinking that he was a victim of the Oilers' front office. Now, he is proving me wrong with how the Ducks have been playing lately. It's been the same old gong show since 2018-2019 after Randy Carlyle was fired for the second time. I'd like your thoughts on who you think the next coach to go. If anything, Eakins should at least be on the hot seat. So should Bob Murray, the GM.

[@bjornengqvist9629]

DJ Smith?

[@exeter1985]

According to an article on the Buffalo News website, it says "as Interm Coach"

[@zeuk416b]

Shannon is a hockey genius!!!!!!!!!!

[@francisbibeau2543]

That not a reason Washington vegas colorado Flyers was good after the covid pause and alot of other team

[@TheArcher143]

Question for you THG. How different would the Oilers and Sabers be if Buffalo had won the McDavid lottery instead of the Oilers?

[@SabresGuy87]

Different if they had taken Draisaitl instead of Reinhart like I wanted in 2014

[@tylerbeaudoin8872]

Something I want to point out. Kruegers system was not going to work with the Sabres players, I know they liked him but Krueger’s system does not fit with these players. Especially with Skinner, he scored 40 goals with Housley as coach and then Krueger comes in and he’s goals just disappeared. Adam’s has to find a coach that can help them play to their strengths. This team is too talented to be this bad

[@rickyhazel1030]

Don Granato is very smart hockey guy he's one of the guys that Mark Yanetti LA's head of scouting has mined for information on draft eligible players we'll see how he does as an NHL head coach but a very smart hockey mind and talent evaluater

[@ZeoKappa]

Coaches in Buffalo have the shelf life of a glass of milk in the summer sun.

[@Shadow12aven]

Wright is effing amazing but Lambert is better at the current moment. Whatever the case is, that draft is going to be superb.

[@bjornengqvist9629]

I predict Gerard Gallant will be in Buffalo soon.

[@dealy9268]

With mounting ijuries I see the Canes getting E Staal sooner then the deadline. With Ned playing well in net Maybe Reimer goes to Buffalo for E Staal. Reimer is UFA at end of year.

[@levidobbin5654]

Dan Girardi also has a big ass house he built 45 minutes away in Niagara Falls ON, so might be a bit of a close-to-home move for when the border opens too.

[@farmerbrown7651]

Cozens has become better as his game has gone along

[@sunnygill8323]

Girard Gillant is watching

[@goon8058]

Honestly I think it would be a good hire, he's known as a players coach and Buffalo players aren't having fun playing the game. I'd like to see a culture in Buffalo where players want to stay, they enjoy playing for a coach and put forth the effort in the process.

[@InsignificantNick]

About 28 games too late.

[@TheArcher143]

I feel bad for the new coach. There's no way he can turn things around this year.

[@michaelharrison5725]

If he could pull a 40% win percentage he could get a chance next season but Buffalo is a clown car this year and the past 12 games they set the car in fire.

[@TheArcher143]

@@michaelharrison5725 That's the thing, I seriously doubt they can even do that. They're in a really strong division and the team is just awful. He's going to have to change everything about that team for things to get better.

[@jeffbrylinski4147]

He’s the interm head coach

[@mr.cheese7763]

The lines are so wacky. Skinner should be on the 1st line. It should go like this.... 1st line: Skinner--Eichel--Reinhart (Skinner scored 40 goals on this line in 2018-19) 2nd line: Hall--Staal--Olofsson 3rd line: Cozens--Sheahan--Middlestat 4th line: Lazar--Eakin--Rieder/Okposo/Thompson

[@love4adventurz]

I mean this just proves that Hall is bad luck to any team who hires him he had that MVP season with the Devils and then after that the Devils sucked, then he goes to Arizona who were doing well and they just collapsed and now Buffalo surprisingly became worst this season which is saying alot and I think the most fitting part is that so many people are linking Taylor Hall to the Leafs which I think is perfect a bad luck player mixed with a team that loves to disappoint their fans what could possibly go wrong haha

[@danieldesanctis4559]

Do a video on what you would do as a new GM for the Sabres!💪

[@jeffthewhiff]

Sabres fans have had to be so patient for so long and it just makes you wonder why the team hasn't been that good for such a long time. Too bad they still don't have Gilbert Perrault, Rick Martin and Rene Robert (The French Connection Line)!

[@jeffdange75]

We are definitely heading in the right direction. And we got Owen Power

[@Aaron-dt9pu]

LMAO this thumbnail cuts off at Don, and for a second I thought it'd finish with Cherry

[@JaredLS10]

Left off that Riley (Last goal at the Joe) Sheahan has 3 goals. Put him up on the first line and see what happens, can't get any worse.

[@brandonsmith5488]

Zoom in on the board more

[@sadrevolution]

Shannon is so excited about Demko.

[@Cabsmell]

If I had to make a note of anything with these players and why they aren't playing well (from what I've seen) is speed. Taylor Hall can't skate with Staal. You have players with drastically different skating ability playing with one another. Curtis Lazar is scoring because he's a decent skater like Rieder and Reinhart. Match those and I think you could fix the scoring hole. If not... Time to start packing and move to Quebec City

[@SabresGuy87]

Quebec will never have a team ever again, get over it, and NHL will NEVER let the Sabres move

[@Cabsmell]

@@SabresGuy87 2 more seasons TOPS before the Uhaul trucks show up at the loading dock

[@lukewoodworth2101]

Twelve losses in a row. Buffalo:"ok, now we fire him"

[@martinlaporte8379]

The bar is so low I couldn’t get it on camera 😂 I don’t want to laugh but... never heard a better truth.

[@sportsrook8282]

At least Sabres fans have something to be happy about for now.

[@jadenippersiel912]

Granato is a place holder until Torts gets the job, assuming he doesn't work out with CBJ

[@adamvani2707]

GM Kevyn Adams announced in his press conference, Granato, Ellis and Girardi are all interim.

[@BSAnime]

The Sabres last win was Feb 23 (against the Devils), that's almost a month of winless hockey. I feel so bad for them, but I just don't what they can do to fix it... everything is going wrong for them

[@GnocchiPotato]

Nothing will change. Everyone wants to blame the coach and GM. Jack Eichel is not a Captain. Jack Eichel is not a leader. The losing continues!

[@_JamesBrown]

Great video, thanks from Buffalo!

[@Jay-gi6oh]

Who could have seen this coming?

[@LoppartG]

I could see them going after Rikard Grönborg (former head coach of sweden's national team) but he extended his contract in europe

[@jessejamesainger3263]

Wait a minute.. Is that a framed photo of Gary Bettman on the top right corner of the wall?

[@TheHockeyGuy]

That's been there for months.

[@jessejamesainger3263]

@@TheHockeyGuy Lol, just noticed it, usually watch your vids on my phone, using laptop today. I am surprised there are photos of Bettman for sale.

[@tylerbeaudoin8872]

Buffalo doesn’t need this defensive genius for a coach either, with the players on that team they are built to be an offensive team. They need a balanced head coach that can hopefully revive a lot of these players careers. Also they should just trade hall to get rid of that cap and get whatever you can for him to help their team. They really don’t need hall at $8M and Skinner. Then they can use that money in the off-season to add depth for either the blue line or up front.

[@shanielcabral]

Great timing this vid dropped right after I finished watching the east review lol. Also no surprise giradi is stepping into the coaching world

[@MapleSyrup04]

I wonder what excuse we will hear now about Skinner if he doesn’t start producing. ”Well, he only plays on the first line and get first PP. Coach hate him.” Lol

[@shawnthompson2303]

Noticing Taylor Hall is around for a lot of this type of thing....

[@cope847]

I'm still not convinced that we can win another game this season. I'll believe it when I see it.

[@farmerbrown7651]

Mittlestadt is playing amazing this season

[@HunterDrone12]

Biggest win for buffalo this season

[@ayroau]

Could you do an analysis on Arizona Coyotes? Why is it just not working out for them? They have so much talent and potential in their roster but what is missing? Can't say they don't have Stanley cup champions in the team.

[@MrTheWanz]

I honestly dont even know where you start with fixing this franchise outside of blowing it all up

[@petrograd4068]

I recommend starting with replacing the owners. Yeah, I know that wont happen...