In explaining why he fired Ralph Krueger, Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams appealed to his players’ pride.
Adams wanted to keep Krueger, a coach he said his players believed in and “really, really love.” The rookie GM stood by him for weeks, allowing the Sabres to implode and their losing streak to balloon to 12 games.
But Wednesday morning, hours after the Sabres’ 3-2 road loss to the New Jersey Devils, Adams knew he had to make a change and start overhauling what has become a rotten culture. He met with Krueger, 61, and dismissed him.
“The results speak for themselves,” said Adams, whose Sabres rank dead last in the NHL. “The standings speak for themselves. We’re not where we need to be and I felt it was the right time to make the change.”
Adams named Don Granato, one of Krueger’s assistants, the interim coach. He said a search for a replacement will begin immediately.
When the Sabres arrive at KeyBank Center this morning to prepare for their game against the Boston Bruins, Adams said he will have a “very honest conversation” with his players. He’s clearly livid with them.
If they loved playing for Krueger so much, why did they abandon the on-ice principles he often spoke about and give so many soft, embarrassing efforts over the last month? Why weren’t they more accountable?
“There has to be a pride that goes with putting on a Buffalo Sabres jersey,” Adams said on a Zoom call. “There has to be a pride of showing up every day and being a National Hockey League player, of looking around and saying I’m one of the 700, 800 … that get to do this every day.
“And that has to be something that is just inside you and drives you to be better every single day. To love, to look around the City of Buffalo and see Sabres hats and signs and people wearing jerseys – that matters.”
Adams said that must become ingrained in the team’s DNA.
“I don’t care where we are in the standings right now,” he said. “If we do not show up at the rink tomorrow and for the rest of that season have that characteristic about our team, it’s going to be unacceptable. And that is going to be a message and something that I’m going to spend time on.
“As we evaluate players, as we scout players, that needs to be part of it. You just have to love to show up every day and want to compete and be a Buffalo Sabre.”
The Sabres own an awful 6-18-4 record. They’ve lost 16 of 18 games since their COVID-19 pause ended. They will almost certainly tie a league record by missing playoffs for the 10th straight season.
Adams said Krueger “believed to his core that he could turn this around.”
“But my job was to tell him where I felt we were and have an honest conversation,” he said.
The Sabres also fired assistant coach Steve Smith, who was in charge of the defensemen.
“It was just getting a fresh perspective, different voice,” Adams said of letting him go. “Steve’s been here a few years.”
Matt Ellis, the Sabres’ director of player development, and Dan Girardi, a development coach, will move behind the bench as assistants.
While Adams is unhappy with his players, he knows everyone in the organization must improve.
“We need to coach better, we need to scout better, we need to develop players better,” he said. “We need to practice better. I mean, you name it, we need to do it better. Period.”
Adams, a Clarence native, said the Sabres must build an identity and create a special environment.
“(The) players love playing, they compete hard, the fans love watching it and it’s all connected,” he said. “I know, I’ve seen it in this town before. I know what that does for our fan base, and I understand that and we’re not there. …
“Every part of our organization has to better, and it starts with me. The accountability factor is something that is real and we all have to understand that. And it’s not saying, ‘Oh, if this guy was better over here or they were better or there.’ It’s all of us looking in the mirror.”
The Sabres’ next coach will be their sixth in eight seasons. Krueger ended his tenure with a 36-49-12 record.
In Adams and Krueger, Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula thought they possessed a GM-coach duo that would last years, not months. While Adams inherited Krueger, they developed a strong relationship and worked well together, teaming up nine months ago when the Pegulas’ mass firings created a skeleton staff.
The Sabres, despite an awful five-on-five attack, enjoyed a solid start this season, entering their COVID-19 pause with a 4-4-2 mark. But they quickly regressed after the break, losing their first three games. They haven’t won since Feb. 23.
As the losses piled up, it became only a matter of when, not if, Krueger would be fired.
“It’s been a tough day,” Adams acknowledged.
THe owners should sell the team they do not know or care about the team. The players on team let the all the coaches and the Fans of buffalo,The fans come out to the games both bills and Sabres. They come to the Good games the bad games and the ulgy games spend there hard earn dollars to see pro players. if it was me i would send the whole team down to Rochester. only a hand full of players should be there. and that gm adam guy he should look for new job also or step up and make big trades now till the trade dead line. if staring out fresh big players in that want to play and show the owers and most the fans we have a good team.
I think you need a reality check, Mr. Zollweg. Yes, they are terrible and need a house cleaning, but you can’t send EVERY player to the minors without most of them clearing waivers. That would be akin to given away every asset the organization has. That would be like turning our beloved Sabres into an expansion team without the benefit of an expansion draft. I appreciate your passion, but we must deal in reality.
Lets Go Buffalo!
It’s unfortunate Coach Kreuger had to be the fall guy, but there is way too much talent on this team, regardless of the circumstances, to accept results amounting to what could be accomplished by minor leaguers. If the players liked the coach so much, why were they completely impotent on the ice? All agreed after each game they were awful and that was unacceptable, yet after horrendous efforts, little more than 1 or 2 periods of passable hockey would occur before the same defeatism and listless malaise resurfaced. Where is the personal pride, and real grit of doing everything a person possibly can to win a game, or go down fighting.? They are being paid millions to entertain the fans, yet are committing what amounts to highway robbery in the effort and perseverance departments. I’m tired of spending money on NHL Center Ice so I can watch the Sabres play, only to have to turn it off in complete frustration. You would think someone would have a clue as to how to turn this mess around, but I’m beginning to wonder. A few players are trying. For all the vitriol in the past directed at Ristolainen, he is one of the few who has continued to show some passion and grit. I’m amazed by his determination to play after his bout with Covid. The trades have proven ineffective, seemingly catching the malaise quicker than catching Covid. I’m tired of writers pointing fingers at the coach for scratching Skinner. The guy is not performing, and I’m fine with him sitting the rest of the season after last season and this year’s performance so far. The team won’t miss his 1 goal contribution so far this year. Play the younger guys. At least they’ve shown some effort. At this point, I’m fine with trading anybody, including Jack Eichel if that is what it takes to finally get the Sabres on track. They are a totally dysfunctional embarrassment, and the pattern still hasn’t changed.
I agree with you kirk the fans in buffalo and Rochester need and see the best of the team. From coaching to the plays on the ice. Tbe Gm and coaches should tell them Rochester is not too far give your 100 percent or you may be going down to minors or trade or sit out. Some where drafted and some have been in nhl for long time those guys should be showing and teaching the rookies what it takes to become a pro in nhl. All the rest will follow. So rest of season show fans what you can do. Lets Go Buffalo.