WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
Calder Cup Playoffs Edition
Dan Girardi played 11 seasons for the New York Rangers. ©2021, Dan Hickling
BUFFALO – Dan Girardi retired less than two years ago, so the ex-NHL defenseman was a contemporary to many of the Sabres.
If they knew Girardi as a player – despite going undrafted, he enjoyed a stellar 13-year career – they can likely relate to him as an assistant coach.
When the hapless Sabres fired coach Ralph Krueger on Wednesday, they also let go assistant coach Steve Smith. General manager Kevyn Adams wanted a fresh ... Read the full article
Don Granato coached his first game Thursday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
BUFFALO – Instead of having a day or two of practice and preparation prior to his first game as interim Sabres coach, Don Granato had one meeting just two hours before the opening faceoff.
On Thursday, a day after the Sabres fired coach Ralph Krueger and named Granato, 53, his interim replacement, a member of their hockey staff entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. The Sabres, who had Wednesday off, canceled their morning skate and stayed ... Read the full article
Kevyn Adams said Ralph Krueger “believed to his core” he could turn the Sabres around. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
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 ... Read the full article
Don Granato has extensive experience as a head coach. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
For the time being, Don Granato, a 53-year-old hockey lifer who has spent the last 27 years coaching or scouting in pro, college and junior, is leading the hapless Buffalo Sabres.
The Sabres on Wednesday named Granato their interim coach after firing Ralph Krueger in the midst of a 12-game losing streak.
Granato, who joined Krueger’s staff as an assistant last season, will be behind the bench tonight against the Boston Bruins at KeyBank ... Read the full article
Taylor Hall has struggled this season, his first in Buffalo. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres are “open to anything and everything” regarding winger Taylor Hall’s future, general manager Kevyn Adams said.
The Sabres could re-sign Hall, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Hall, 29, recently expressed interest in staying in Buffalo.
But the hapless Sabres, who fired coach Ralph Krueger on Wednesday in the midst of a 12-game losing streak, could also trade Hall. The 2017-18 NHL MVP has a no-movement clause in the ... Read the full article
Ralph Krueger coached the Sabres less than two seasons. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
The Buffalo Sabres fired coach Ralph Krueger this morning in the midst of a stunning stretch in which the hapless team has lost 12 consecutive games and 16 of 18 since its COVID-19 pause ended.
Don Granato, an assistant under Krueger, will serve as the Sabres’ interim coach, general manager Kevyn Adams said. The Sabres also fired Steve Smith, Krueger’s top assistant.
Matt Ellis, the Sabres’ director of player development, and Dan ... Read the full article
Ralph Krueger’s Sabres have suffered a stunning decline. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Everything was set up nicely Tuesday for the Buffalo Sabres to end their marathon losing steak.
In the New Jersey Devils, the hapless Sabres faced another reeling team they have earned three of their six wins against this season.
The Devils, who also endured a long COVID-19 pause last month, had 11 lost straight games at Prudential Center. Overall, they had dropped four straight contests and 12 of their last 14.
But the Sabres, who ... Read the full article
Sam Reinhart scored two goals Tuesday. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Now what happens? The hapless Sabres completed the road trip from hell and returned to Buffalo following Tuesday’s 5-4 shootout loss, a game in which they twice enjoyed a two-goal lead over the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Sabres, who went 0-4-1 on the trip, have today off before hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins. Will Ralph Krueger still be their coach on Thursday?
Right now, the Sabres are enduring one of the roughest stretches in franchise history. They’ve ... Read the full article
Rasmus Dahlin has an NHL-worst minus-21 rating. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
Those brilliant rushes Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin showcased as a teenager – he would grab the puck and start controlling the game, dazzling all over the ice with it – have become a rare occurrence.
These days, Dahlin, 20, never seems to have the puck on his stick. The Swede has struggled most of this season, often looking overwhelmed defensively.
Through 23 games, Dahlin is the NHL’s clubhouse leader, sporting a ghastly, league-worst minus-21 ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner hadn’t scored a goal since Feb. 29, 2020. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu
As their three-game set against the New York Islanders mercifully neared its end Sunday afternoon, the hapless Buffalo Sabres finally started displaying some signs of life.
After falling behind 3-0, winger Jeff Skinner’s first goal since Feb. 29, 2020 jumpstarted the Sabres 5:41 into the third period. Defenseman Colin Miller’s goal at 9:35 moved them within one.
Suddenly, the Sabres were pushing for the tying score inside Nassau Coliseum. And then a sequence that sums ... Read the full article
