WNY and Buffalo NY Hockey Coverage
July Edition
Ralph Krueger coached the Edmonton Oilers one season. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Three years ago, in the midst of his tenure as chairman of Southampton F.C., an English Premier League team, new Sabres coach Ralph Krueger briefly returned to his roots.
Krueger, who hadn’t been behind a bench since the Edmonton Oilers fired him in 2013, took a job coaching Team Europe’s entry at the World Cup of Hockey.
While Krueger wanted to remain in his role in Southampton, the short hockey gig reignited his ... Read the full article
Jeff Skinner scored a career-high 40 goals in 2018-19. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – Sabres general manager Jason Botterill understands 40-goal winger Jeff Skinner needed to know something important before making a huge decision.
“If you’re going to sign a long-term contract with an organization, you kind of want to know who the head coach is,” Botterill said Wednesday after announcing Ralph Krueger as the 19th head coach in franchise history.
Skinner, who turns 27 on Thursday, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Until ... Read the full article
Ralph Krueger was an unknown candidate last month. ©2019, Hickling Images
BUFFALO – When new Sabres coach Ralph Krueger visited here with his wife, Glenda, last month, he decided to tap into the city.
So Krueger, then an unknown candidate, said he went bar hopping to watch some NHL playoff games, never staying at one location more than one period.
“He actually spent a weekend here, went to a lot of different establishments, I guess a little bit undercover,” Sabres general manager Jason Botterill said this ... Read the full article
Jason Botterill has spent the last five weeks looking for a coach. ©2019, Hickling Images
The Buffalo Sabres will introduce Ralph Krueger as the 19th head coach in franchise history today.
Sabres general manager Jason Botterill will address the media at 11 a.m. at KeyBank Center. Krueger, who’s in Europe, will speak on a conference call at 12:30 p.m.
“Throughout his career, Ralph has shown the ability to adapt to a variety of high-pressure environments while leading some of the world’s elite players,” Botterill said in a statement. “His strong ... Read the full article
Ralph Krueger will be the 19th coach in Sabres history. ©2019, Hickling Images
When Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill fired Phil Housley five weeks ago, he started pursuing experienced coaching candidates.
The Sabres struggled for two seasons under Housley, a first-time head coach, so not surprisingly, Botterill wanted a veteran to lead his team.
As expected, plenty of familiar names – Jacques Martin and Dave Tippett, for example – materialized as candidates.
Then in the last week, an intriguing name began popping up: Ralph Krueger, who coached ... Read the full article
