The Buffalo Sabres have fired head coach Don Granato after the team failed to make the playoffs for a record-breaking 13th consecutive season. Granato, who had been with the Sabres for three full seasons, was let go along with assistant coach Jason Christie and video coordinator Matt Smith.
General manager Kevyn Adams thanked Granato for his time in Buffalo and his role in developing many of the team’s players, but stated that a change in direction was necessary to achieve the goal of becoming a consistent contender.
The Sabres struggled throughout the season, rarely winning more than three games in a row and often falling behind early in games. Despite high hopes at the beginning of the season, the team was hampered by injuries to key players, inconsistent goaltending, and a decision to add more young players to an already youthful roster.
As a first-time NHL head coach, Granato was praised for his ability to develop players like defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and center Tage Thompson. However, Thompson’s progress was slowed by a hand injury that limited him to 29 goals in 71 games this season.
The Sabres now face the familiar task of searching for a new head coach, with potential candidates including former St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube, Sabres minor-league coach Seth Appert, and former Sabres captain Michael Peca, who recently served as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers.
The team’s playoff drought, which is tied with the New York Jets for the longest active drought in North America’s four major professional sports, continues to be a source of frustration for fans and the organization alike.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.