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

[Jim Bob]

They actually did it.

I hope Appert isn't the next head coach.

Click to read more...

 

[slip]

No brainer. Good start.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Just heard it….Wow!

 

[VaporTrail]

Good start...Guessing we're stuck with a Adams though ?

 

[Gabrielor]

BIG summer commenced. Hopefully becoming a serious organization.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Pleasantly surprised. I hope they bring in someone with real experience who can teach these guys how to play winning hockey. And also not shit all over themselves on the PP.

 

[RefsIdeas]

I really didn’t think they would do it.

Good start, now bring in a serious coach (ie, not Appert)

 

[slip]

Good start...Guessing we're stuck with a Adams though ?

I'm hoping since he likes to talk to the Big Guy on the daily move him to president of hockey ops, bring in a qualified GM.

 

[enthusiast]

Waiting to see who gets the gig but this is the first move they had to make.

They should have just moved on from both, but we take what we can get

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Glad Adams did the obvious thing. Hopefully that’s a trend that continues.

 

[DapperCam]

I feel a little bad because I liked Donnie, but had to be done. Hopefully he lands a nice assistant coach job somewhere.

 

[sabres4ever]

What about Matt Ellis?

 

[Deevo]

Why have the other assistants been kept on?

 

[Jim Bob]

BIG summer commenced. Hopefully becoming a serious organization.

I am waiting to see who they hire. If it is Ellis or Appert, it's just more of the same.

I really want to see a veteran head coach brought in. I would he fine with Lindy again at this point.

And the only rookie NHL coach hire that would not have me unthrilled would be if they paired Peca or McKee or Jeep with Lindy (or another proven NHL head coach) as an assistant. This team needs coaches (plural) that have been there and done that with regards to getting to the playoffs. It is past time for them to have development coaches and that is what Ellis and Appert have proven to be to this point.

What about Matt Ellis?

I hope he gets shifted back to a development coach role.

 

[BowieSabresFan]

Video coordinator too. They're serious.

 

[OkimLom]

My wild guess, Ruff agreed to come on board with some behind closed doors meetings. He's probably not going to be coaching for long, and he has a relationship with Ellis already.

 

[Jim Bob]

Why have the other assistants been kept on?

I have no issue with Bales staying as the goalie coach. He's been solid given the goalies he's had to work with.

I hope Ellis goes back to being a development coach.

 

[DapperCam]

What about Matt Ellis?

He’s been a good soldier, so instead of unceremoniously canning him, I wonder if they will just shuffle him internally into some other role.

Doubt he’s back behind the bench.

 

[Reddawg]

I think Ras should coach the team Reg Dunlop style. Just balls to the wall creative offense, no system (I think we’re all pretty collectively done with system hockey) let the backliners do their thing and hope the goalies bail out the rest. Win a bunch of 7-5 games and at least make it fun again.

 

[tsujimoto74]

I feel a little bad because I liked Donnie, but had to be done. Hopefully he lands a nice assistant coach job somewhere.

Same honestly. I do think Granato is a very good developmental coach, but I think he’s lacking for a team that needs to turn the corner and start winning more games, and he shot himself in the foot bringing in inexperienced assistants. I’m sure he could’ve been more successful/worked out longer if he’d gotten himself better help behind the bench. I wish Donny the best, but, like you said, this needed to be done.

 

[enthusiast]

Me: “God, they *have* to take Ellis out of his role.”

Sinister genie, laughing: “Oh, that’s no problem…”

 

[Fezzy126]

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...

 

[GrierIsGod123]

Why have the other assistants been kept on?

This part if puzzling ... is it possible their contracts were up so they don't technically need to be let go? I can't imagine Matt Ellis survives this...wouldn't make any sense.

 

[Gabrielor]

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...

Thats some great lowering of expectations by Terry. Hopefully that ended today.

Terry's now paying a guy not to coach his team. Pretty big after the post 2020 crap.

 

[Bones Malone]

I feel a little bad because I liked Donnie, but had to be done. Hopefully he lands a nice assistant coach job somewhere.

I feel the same way. Donnie seems like a great person, it just unfortunately didn't generate the required results.