Former Buffalo Sabres coach Ted Nolan was a trailblazer for First Nations people in the elite hockey world, both as a player and behind the bench of prominent teams. And on Thursday, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame honored Nolan with the announcement that Nolan will be inducted in its class of 2025.
The CSHOF will honor Nolan with a ceremony on Oct. 28. The hall -- located in Calgary -- will also honor softball pitcher Darren Zack in this year's class.
Nolan coached the Sabres for the first time from 1995-97, winning the league's Jack Adams Award as coach of the year in his second and final year, becoming the first Indigenous coach to win the award. After moving on to be bench boss of the New York Islanders from 2006-2008, Nolan returned to coach the Sabres from 2013-15. In 472 regular-season games, he posted a record of 188-227-57, and he went 6-11 in 17 career Stanley Cup playoff games.
Nolan also coached the Soo Greyhounds to the Memorial Cup championship in 1993, and as an NHL player, he appeared in 78 regular-season games with the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins before retiring in 1986.
Sabres Can't Afford To Wait For Star-Studded UFA Group Of 2026 -- They Need To Spend Their Salary Cap Space Now
There are some very good players available in NHL free agency this summer. T<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-won-t-land-maple-leafs-marquee-free-agents----but-they-can-set-their-sights-on-this-young-leafs-player-via-trade">oronto Maple Leafs stars Mitch Marner and John Tavares are looming UFAs</a>, as is <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/canucks-upcoming-free-agent-should-be-a-target-for-sabres-this-summer">Vancouver Canucks star winger Brock Boeser</a>. But with that said, let's be honest -- this year's group of free agents isn't particularly deep with high-end talent. And that may result in some teams waiting until the summer of 2026 to spend the bulk of their salary cap space. But the <a href="http://thn.com/buffalo">Buffalo Sabres</a> can't afford to be patient and wait until then to improve their lineup. The change for the Sabres has to come right away.
In 2023, Nolan published his memoir, "Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back". In 2004, he established the Ted Nolan Foundation, which supports the educational and athletic aspirations of female First Nations students via the Rose Nolan Memorial Scholarship Fund.