Confirmed with Link: Granato Out (Jason Christie & Matt Smith also let go, Ellis being reassigned)

[BFLO]

Thanks Donnie for a decent run with a young crew. I'll have some positive memories of him moving forward, though it was 100% time to move on. Always appreciated his passion and individual development, but always wished for more in-game and planning.

Jeremy White saying his Super Secret Sabres Source thinks retaining Ellis and Wilford hints at Appert getting the promotion. I don't think that's what any of us want and I have a hard time believing that Adams doesn't see the need for experience behind the bench and a new voice. And no Adams isn't going anywhere this off-season. He deserves a chance to jump this build into the next phase this summer, which was always the plan imo

This is going to shock the players, hopefully in a positive way and into a summer dedicated to improvement.

Adams had the chance to jump this build into the next phase for the past 2 summers. Why do you want him to have a 3rd?

 

[Dreakon13]

I think whatever little success Granato found with this group... was less his ability as a coach, and more that we have some ridiculously talented players on this team that busted out (if you can call it that) once the Kreuger handcuffs were taken off.

Letting the kids play was a way to bring in some good vibes and make for some entertaining hockey for a few years, but it's not really coaching, and was always kinda doomed to crash into the wall once the league caught on and there were no adjustments to be made.

That said, he seems like a good guy and I think for a few years this group needed a players coach to shake off all the toxicity in the locker room. Wish him the best... but please, please find a coach that can hammer some real NHL structure into this group.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I am super happy this happened before locker clean out so these players have to answer to this as well.

 

[vcv]

Because the Pegulas are going to be paying Granato for the next two years not to coach. So they have the final say. Adams could have said "I think we should get a new coach" but without the Pegula's approval, it’s not happening.

They always have the final say. But if Adams said we need to fire Granato and pegula said ok, it’s still Adams decision.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

I just don't see the need to get the old band back together. They weren't that good.

The game has certainly changed, but Ruff, if he weren’t a prior Sabres coach, I think would be getting more discussion here for his experience. A Cup appearance, 4 conference final appearances, and even 2 playoff round wins since our drought started.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Why does anyone think it will be anyone other than Appert, considering all of the smoke around him being the Sabres next HC the past few weeks?

Also remember the weird game where he came up to be behind the bench when Donny was sick? It's Appert folks. They'll pretend to do a search and then give it to him.

 

[vcv]

Those are coaching concerns, though.

What you need from a coach is driven by what you have on the roster and the expectations you have for the team.


If Appert or Ellis are the next head coach, those questions will still be out there.

Well I was primary confused by your first paragraph, which was not coaching and which you called out as your biggest concern.

My biggest concern is that they had a team that was bottom 5 in both payroll and experience this season and we might not see changes in the roster that change that this offseason.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Because the Pegulas are going to be paying Granato for the next two years not to coach. So they have the final say. Adams could have said "I think we should get a new coach" but without the Pegula's approval, its not happening.

Every owner has the final say on any decision involving money. Do you think any GM can just fire a coach or retain salary on a contract without the owner knowing?

 

[EichHart]

No one here thinks they will do it until they do it. It’s like clockwork every cycle. It always happens

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Almost every business owner (not just sports, all businesses) cut costs during and post covid. The fact that we reset the rebuild at that time as well created the perfect storm for this narrative.

Hiring guys like Karmanos and Ventura, as well as all the long term extensions should have put this silly narrative to bed.

Back to the coaching discussion, pencil me down for Peca.

I'm not the type that has the pendulum reaction, I never want the disciplinarian, I never want the retread.

Give me the next great coach and let him grow with the boys.

Peca is the weirdest prediction. He literally has no HC experience. Even Appert has more experience, and he's seen as the "no experience" option.

 

[slip]

The game has certainly changed, but Ruff, if he weren’t a prior Sabres coach, I think would be getting more discussion here for his experience. A Cup appearance, 4 conference final appearances, and even 2 playoff round wins since our drought started.

And an inability to lead a young Devils team into the playoffs make me question if he can lead and even younger Sabres team to the post season dance. I'll pass.

 

[Jacob582]

Lets be clear about this, this wasn't Adams decision.

This was the Pegula's deciding enough was enough.

And its encouraging, because it means the Pegulas at least are still aware the Sabres exist.

It wasn't even Terry. Michael, Laura, Jessica, Kelly and Matthew had an intervention.

 

[CrazyWayne]

Peca and berube would be at the top of my list without really do much research into who is or isn't available

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

No one here thinks they will do it until they do it. It’s like clockwork every cycle. It always happens

That's called the mark of an incompetent. No one knows what you're going to do because nothing you do makes sense.

 

[Zman5778]

Wow. I can't believe they actually did it.

Excellent.

 

[Snippit]

I mean it’s great news.

But holy crap if he had done this in November we might have turned this around. It was so obvious we were going nowhere.

I am hoping for Bruce Boudreau.

 

[Jim Bob]

And an inability to lead a young Devils team into the playoffs make me question if he can lead and even younger Sabres team to the post season dance. I'll pass.

That is on their GM's inability to get quality goaltending for Lindy & Hamilton's injury more than the coaching job, IMO.

 

[slip]

That is on their GM's inability to get quality goaltending for Lindy & Hamilton's injury more than the coaching job, IMO.

Matt Ellis can shift to SpaceX test pilot for all I care.

 

[joshjull]

Don Granato is 5th on the all time sabres win list (3 wins behind Muckler). He also coached them to their two highest point totals in the past decade. Let that nugget of mediocrity sink in for a few minutes...

He is the king of ….. meh!

 

[vcv]

It wasn't even Terry. Michael, Laura, Jessica, Kelly and Matthew had an intervention.

Wrong. It was Sydney, the brains behind the whole family.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

No one here thinks they will do it until they do it. It’s like clockwork every cycle. It always happens

This is far more of an indictment on the organization than the fans.

 

[joshjull]

I guess Pegula is willing to eat Granato’s contract.

Some folks will need to recalibrate their narratives

 

[Jacob582]

Peca is the weirdest prediction. He literally has no HC experience. Even Appert has more experience, and he's seen as the "no experience" option.

Weirdest is Ellis.

 

[Misko]

This just had to happen. Pleasantly surprised they did it so quickly too, did not expect that. I do wish the best to Donnie though, I really liked him as a person and he was very likeable in interviews and with the players, hopefully he finds another job elsewhere.

Hopefully they take the summer to find the right fit coach.

 

[OkimLom]

Wrong. It was Sydney, the brains behind the whole family.

ALWAYS trust a dog's instincts.