Now that we know, though. The former coach of the Sabres, Don Granato, was hailed by the team as expected; they acknowledged that they could have done more to support him and gave him credit for helping to further their careers.
They still obviously desired a different kind of leader.
The players “are craving accountability, structure,” according to general manager of the Sabres Kevyn Adams, who announced Granato’s resignation. On Wednesday, they repeated this view when holding exit meetings at KeyBank Center after an underwhelming 84-point loss.
Although Granato, who was fired on Tuesday, is respected by the players, they feel he should have been more strict with them.
Regarding accountability, Sabres center Tage Thompson remarked, “I know that word gets thrown around a lot.” “Accountability, in my opinion, consists of acts and consequences. If you’re not playing winning hockey, there should be consequences for your actions on the ice, such as benching yourself or spending time in the press box.
Granato’s opposite, of course, will be the new coach the Sabres name in the next few days or weeks—Adams wants an NHL veteran with experience.
Alex Tuch of the Sabres stated that the group “needs and is ready for” responsibility.
He said, “Donny did a really good job helping our games and developing guys in this room, including myself.” “However, our next coach will be someone who holds us responsible and ensures that we give it our all—or else you won’t give it any at all.
“I can’t wait for it. I look forward to the task. We can do a lot in this locker room, in my opinion.
Next season, Thompson, who signed with the Sabres in 2018, will be under the direction of his fourth coach.
Regarding the effects of the change on players, he stated, “Hopefully the response is intensity.” “We were a little too comfortable this year, and I think comfort can be the death of you.”
Rasmus Dahlin, the defenseman, stated that the Sabres “have to be pushed.”
“We need to be pushed hard because we have a young group that is hungry,” Dahlin added, conceding that the players should have done more to support Granato. And we’re prepared for it, too.
Of course, part of that push needs to come from within. Dahlin said that the Sabres need to approach practice in a new way.
He declared, “We have to challenge ourselves.” “We need to realize that preparation is just as vital as actual play. Yes, I believe that will be our primary goal going forward.
According to defenseman Connor Clifton, the Sabres failed Granato, one another, and the city.
“I think we were a better team than we showed all year, and we all thought we were going to have a better year,” he remarked. That, I suppose, is the most disheartening aspect of this. We’re going to watch the Stanley Cup Playoffs after that.
The Sabres may have ended their 13-year playoff drought if they had been more consistent throughout the season—they never won more than three games in a row.
“You can see that we were a great team at times, and we were too casual at other times,” Thompson remarked. That’s something that needs to be ingrained in us, in my opinion, and it relates somewhat to the accountability issue. ..
“If someone isn’t performing to the level that they should, it’s up to us in this room to hold each other accountable. Of course, this also requires input from the top. I don’t think we had enough of it this year, either.
There is a dearth of experienced NHL coaches seeking employment. Perhaps the most interesting prospect is Lindy Ruff, the former coach of the Sabres who was sacked by the New Jersey Devils last month. Adams served as an assistant coach on Ruff’s last staff in Buffalo.
Another candidate for consideration is Gerard Gallant, who guided the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their first season. After the previous season, he was sacked by the New York Rangers.
Todd McLellan, Bruce Boudreau, and Craig Berube might also meet Adams’ requirements.
Tuch, a Baldwinsville native and longtime Sabres supporter, claimed that Ruff was his favorite coach.
He declared, “I’ve always been a huge fan of his.”