Buffalo went 39-37-6 this season and missed the playoffs for the 13th straight season.
The Buffalo Sabres as an organization and as individuals were expected to face a number of difficult questions during their end-of-season media availabilities this week, with the future of head coach Don Granato being at the top of the list. After a disappointing 39-37-6 record and taking a significant step backwards after missing the postseason by one point last season, the Sabres have fired Granato, assistant coach Jason Christie, and video coordinator Matt Smith.
Granato replaced Ralph Krueger on an interim basis in March 2021 and unlike his predecessor, had a good rapport with his players, which translated into the improvement of key contributors in defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, winger Jeff Skinner, and forward Tage Thompson, whose move to the middle gave the Sabres a top-line center to replace Jack Eichel.
In three-plus seasons, Granato went 122-125-27, and after it became clear that the club was going to miss the postseason for the 13th straight year, the Sabres fanbase made their displeasure known on social media, on talk radio, and in the stands during the losses chanting for the firing of the head coach.
There had been indications that owner Terry Pegula and GM Kevyn Adams were not of a mind to get rid of Granato, who had not started a two-year contract extension signed before the 2022-23 season, but based on their lack of progress, a change behind the bench is the first of potentially many major changes this summer.
Adams will speak with the media on Tuesday afternoon to lay out the plan of a search for a new head coach. It is expected that Rochester Americans head coach Seth Appert, who led the Sabres AHL affiliate to a Calder Cup Eastern Conference Final appearance and has a long history with Sabres players going back to the US National Development Program, will be a leading candidate.
LATEST THN BUFFALO STORIES