Former RPI and USNTDP coach served as head coach in Rochester for four seasons
The Buffalo Sabres appeared to want some organizational continuity after dismissing head coach Don Granato last month and there was some immediate speculation that Rochester head coach Seth Appert could move up to the NHL staff to assistant veteran head coach Lindy Ruff, who signed a two-year contract.
“Realistically, it’s not something I’ve put any thought into,” Appert said to Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News. “At the end of the day, those decisions are made by Kevyn, Jason, and Lindy, so I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about things that are outside of my control. I know that I’ve got the trust of people in this organization in terms of the job that we’ve done here and to me that’s good enough, and wherever it goes, it goes.”
On the Monday following the Rochester Americans early exit from the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Sabres announced that Appert had been promoted to Ruff’s coaching staff, and confirmed that the coaches who were dismissed when Granato was fired have been retained.
Goalie coach Mike Bales, assistants Matt Ellis, and Marty Wilford; video coach Justin White; and on-ice rehab and skating instructor Mike Ansell were retained, and video coordinator Amir Gulati, who was Appert’s video coach with the Amerks, was promoted.
Appert was head coach with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for 11 seasons (2006-2017) and coached with the US National Development Program for three seasons before joining the Sabres organization in 2020. The Amerks went 123-94-32 and made the playoffs three times in his four seasons, including a run to the Calder Cup Eastern Conference Final in 2023.
The elevation of Appert, his familiarity with a large chunk of the Sabres young core group, and the short term of Ruff’s contract make it very possible that the 49-year-old is being groomed to be the next head coach after Ruff retires, but that will depend on the success the Sabres have over the next couple seasons.
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