The Buffalo Sabres have relieved head coach Ralph Krueger of his duties with the team. This comes after a very unsuccessful start to the 2020-21 season, only Krueger’s second with the team. The Sabres currently sit at a record of 6-18-3. They have dropped 12 games straight. This has placed them firmly last in the NHL.
Head coach Ralph Krueger has been relieved of his duties. pic.twitter.com/IymNcxg7B3
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) March 17, 2021
Ralph Krueger Let Go by the Buffalo Sabres
What This Means for the Team’s Future
Krueger was hired only two years ago, following the departure of Phil Housley. The Sabres pried Krueger away from European football, where he had served as Southampton’s chairman. His career in soccer started in 2014.
The Sabres are in a very tough spot. This is the team’s third coach since captain Jack Eichel joined the team. The team sits at the bottom of their division and are contemplating trading Taylor Hall, who signed with the team hoping to make the playoffs. They’ll need to make a series of difficult decisions moving forward; coaching is just the tip of the iceberg.
Whether general manager Kevyn Adams decides to commit to another rebuild or not will depend on his choice of coach. Having said that, the Sabres’ woes go far beyond their coaching staff. Their biggest issue lies within team culture — how and when that will be fixed remains to be seen.
Potential Head Coaching Options for the Buffalo Sabres
While a temporary option will, obviously, be put into place, the Sabres are at the liberty of an incredibly rich coaching pool. Claude Julien was recently relieved of his role with the Montreal Canadiens, entering the open-pool. He joins some already intriguing names, including Gerard Gallant and Geoff Ward, who was recently let go by the Calgary Flames. It’s not sure when the Sabres will make their new appointment but some choices could really transform the face of a franchise that’s struggled for years.
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