BREAKING: Top potential replacements for Don Granato as Sabres head coach
Don Granato’s departure from the Buffalo Sabres was inevitable. After more than three years at the helm without a single playoff appearance, the 56-year-old coach was relieved of his duties on Tuesday. During his tenure, he amassed a record of 122-125-27 and never managed to lead the team beyond fifth place in the division.
Granato joins a succession of underwhelming Sabres coaches, including Ralph Krueger, Phil Housley, Dan Bylsma, Ted Nolan, and Ron Rolston, all of whom fell short of guiding the team to the postseason. The Sabres’ playoff drought has now stretched to 13 years.
Expressing his aspirations for the team’s future, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams emphasized the importance of hiring a coach with NHL experience who can elevate the team’s performance. He stressed the significance of a coach’s pedigree and previous NHL head-coaching experience in guiding the team to the next level.
#LetsGoBuffalo fired Don Granato today. @mike_p_johnson on #NHL Morning Skate breaks down what this means for the team.
🎧https://t.co/LnsJOR3bbm pic.twitter.com/wCMrlS9nub
— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) April 16, 2024
Below is a list of some of the top candidates to succeed Granato as Sabres coach.
Craig Berube
If Adams is seeking a coach with a solid history in the NHL, Berube stands out as an excellent option currently available. With a Stanley Cup win and five playoff appearances in eight coaching seasons, he’s likely to attract significant interest during the next NHL coaching hiring phase. Berube boasts a commendable 54% win rate during his tenure with the St. Louis Blues and holds an overall career points percentage of 58.4. Given the Sabres’ roster brimming with young, skilled players, Berube could be the ideal candidate to elevate them into serious contention.
Dean Evason
Many believe that Evason was treated unfairly when he was dismissed by the Minnesota Wild after just 19 games into the season. Prior to his departure, he had guided Minnesota to three consecutive playoff appearances (four if you include his interim coaching stint the previous season), consistently securing high rankings in the Central Division.
During his tenure as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Nashville Predators, Evason amassed a six-season record of 242-161-53. This experience underscores his adeptness in mentoring young, emerging players—the cornerstone of the Sabres’ roster—while also highlighting his consistent success across different coaching positions.
Gerard Gallant
“Gallant, who has successfully led three out of four teams he has coached to playoff appearances, notably guiding the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural 2017 season, is a prime candidate for consideration by Adams. With a points percentage of 57.4% and a win percentage of 52.3% over 705 games, Gallant boasts a strong coaching record. He has steered his teams to the playoffs in five of his 11 seasons, achieving the 100-point milestone in two of his last five years. However, Gallant has been out of coaching since his dismissal by the New York Rangers in the 2022 season.”
Jay Leach
Leach, an assistant with the Seattle Kraken, stands out as the sole candidate in this group lacking prior head-coaching experience. Nevertheless, he has long been on the verge of securing his inaugural head coaching position, having been a finalist for the Boston Bruins job two seasons ago before it was awarded to Jim Montgomery.
During his NHL career spanning five seasons, Leach also made his mark as a highly accomplished player in the AHL. With previous experience as a head coach at the AHL level, coupled with high regard from his colleagues as one of the more respected assistant coaches, Leach played a pivotal role in the Kraken’s success last year. Notably, he contributed to their 100-point season and their victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalanche, in the playoffs.