The NHL playoffs are in full swing. As for the Buffalo Sabres, they are trying to turn things around. The team has missed the playoffs for a tenth consecutive season and are in the market for a new head coach. According to TSN insider Pierre LeBrun, the team might be one step closer to hiring their next head coach.
Rick Tocchet and Bruce Boudreau are among several candidates the Sabres have lined up for interviews. My sense is that GM Kevyn Adams wants to talk to quite a few coaches, including from the college ranks. Not in a rush. Don Granato also in the mix.@TSNHockey @TheAthletic
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 21, 2021
As you can see from the tweet above, general manager Kevyn Adams has interviews scheduled with Rick Tocchet, Bruce Boudreau and more candidates. LeBrun also said Adams is in no rush and that interim head coach Don Granato also remains in the mix. I love this from Adams, there’s no need to rush. Adams needs to take his time to make sure he has the right guy. Starting with Granato, I wouldn’t mind keeping him around. He doesn’t have that much experience but the team did play better under him after the firing of former head coach Ralph Krueger. I still would like to have a coach who has a lot of experience but I would be okay with the Sabres keeping Granato around.
As for Bruce Boudreau, I want him coaching the Sabres next season. He has everything the Sabres are looking for. Experience, a good playoff record and coached a team that won the Stanley Cup. According to Hockey Reference, his coaching record for the regular season is 567-302-115. When it comes to the postseason, he has a record of 43-47. He would be a great hire for Buffalo and I think he can help the franchise turn this ship around.
The other candidate listed was Rick Tocchet. I’m not high on Tocchet to be honest. His coaching record during the regular season is 178-200-60 and his postseason record is 4-5 according to Hockey Reference. I know I don’t have a say in the coaching search but I don’t think Adams should hire Tocchet. His coaching record isn’t really that impressive and he doesn’t have that much experience compared to Boudreau. It’s just my opinion but I don’t think Tocchet would be the right man for the job.
Final Thoughts
I know LeBrun said college coaches are in the mix as well but I wouldn’t hire a coach from the college ranks. They don’t have any experience and the Sabres have had bad luck with hiring coaches who don’t have tons of experience. I think Buffalo should hire Boudreau. As I said before, he has tons of experience and that’s what I’m looking for in our next head coach. It’s been a long and painful ten years for Sabres fans. They’re losing patience and so am I, it’s time for change.
-Zach Jezioro (@Zach Jezioro_13)
