Sabres fire head coach Granato

This just in, the Buffalo Sabres have relieved head coach Don Granato of his duties. Additionally, the team has also parted ways with assistant coaches Jason Christie and Matt Smith.

If you're keeping track that's now 7 coaches that the Sabres have burned through since their last Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance 13 years ago. Lindy Ruff, Ron Rolston, Ted Nolan, Dan Bylsma, Phil Housley, Ralph Krueger and Granato have all failed to help get this team back to the dance in the past baker's dozen years. Ouch...

Granato signed a multi-year contract extension in 2022. Double ouch...

The Sabres ended this season with a mediocre 39-37-6 record which was a huge disappointment after the way they ended last campaign. With both Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin breaking out and with some tantalizing young talent like Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka and Owen Powers, the Sabres looked poised to make a playoff push in 2023-24... then the wheels fell off. Thompson's production dipped precipitously, while seemingly everyone else stalled out. 

"I would like to thank Don for his time in Buffalo and commitment to the Sabres organization," general manager Kevyn Adams said in a prepared statement on the team's website. "He has been integral in the development of many of our players and has undoubtedly been the right coach to bring us to where we are now, but I felt it was necessary to move in a different direction at this point in time.

"My expectation is to be a consistent contender, and unfortunately, that goal has not been met."

It remains to be seen whether this team can get back to the playoffs in 2024-25, but they'll need a serious shift in coaching and playing style before they can be considered a playoff threat.