Last-place Sabres fire head coach Ralph Krueger
The Buffalo Sabres have fired head coach Ralph Krueger, the team announced on Wednesday.
The decision comes in the midst of a 12-game losing streak for the Sabres, who sit dead last in the NHL with 16 points (6-18-4).
Assistant coach Don Granato will take over head coaching duties on an interim basis, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News. Assistant coach Steve Smith has also been fired, while development coaches Matt Ellis and Dan Girardi will join Granato behind the bench.
BREAKING: I've learned Don Granato will be the #Sabres interim coach and Steve Smith has also been fired. Development coaches Matt Ellis and Dan Girardi are going to be behind the bench as assistants.
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) March 17, 2021
Matt Ellis and Dan Girardi are childhood friends. Neither one has NHL coaching experience. Ellis has been working with the Sabres' taxi squad this season.
A lot of people in this organization who don't have much experience in their respective roles. https://t.co/ysQn6g1LYh— Lance Lysowski (@LLysowski) March 17, 2021
Krueger was in just his second year with the Sabres after returning to the NHL following a six-year hiatus. After being fired by the Edmonton Oilers in 2013 after one season, Krueger left hockey to become the director of Premier League club Southampton, where he worked for six seasons before stepping down.
Krueger was Buffalo's fifth coach since the team fired Lindy Ruff in 2013. In his first season in Buffalo, Krueger led the Sabres to a 25th-place finish.
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