Top Head Coaching Candidates for the Sabres

After firing Ralph Krueger, the Buffalo Sabres are looking for a new head coach yet again. This seems to be becoming a habit for the Sabres and it isn’t a good one. It goes like this: a new coach is hired, the team struggles and fans want the coach fired after 1.5-2 years. This cycle needs to stop and the time for change starts now. General Manager Kevyn Adams better hire the right guy because the fanbase is fed up with the losing and so am I. In this article, I will list a couple of candidates for the head coaching job in Buffalo.

Bruce Boudreau

I think Bruce Boudreau is the favorite to be the next head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. There have been some rumors that Boudreau wants the job and it makes sense. He lives near Buffalo in Canada, so he would be coaching a team close to his hometown. Another good reason why the Sabres should consider Boudreau, he’s had experience as a coach. His coaching record is 567-302-115, so he definitely has had success in the NHL. He also won the Jack Adams award in 2007-2008, which is given to the coach of the year each season. The Sabres need someone with experience and I think Boudreau would help this franchise.

Gerard Gallant

Another coach who I think is a possible candidate is Gerard Gallant. He has a record of 270-216-51 so even though he doesn’t have a good record like Gallant, he still has some experience and also a Jack Adams award in 2017-2018 when he led the Vegas Golden Knights expansion team to a Stanley Cup appearance in their first season. He does have the experience but I feel like Buffalo would want someone with more experience like Boudreau.

Steve Ott

I don’t think Buffalo would hire this guy but Steve Ott could be a wild card candidate. The former NHL agitator doesn’t have tons of experience when it comes to coaching but he was part of the Blues Stanley Cup team in 2019. Ott was a fan favorite when he was with the Sabres and was the team captain. I feel like he would be a good motivator and add that grit factor to the team even though he’s coaching.

Nate Leaman

The last possible candidate is Providence head coach Nate Leaman. I don’t think the Sabres will hire him but he’s definitely a top favorite to land a head coaching job in the NHL. According to College Hockey News, he has a pretty good record of 341-249-84. He’s done a good job in the college league but I think him having no NHL experience will be a factor. The Sabres have hired coaches with not a lot of NHL experience and clearly it hasn’t worked out.

My prediction

When all is set and done, I do think Bruce Boudreau will be the next head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. I want the next head coach to have experience which he has and also has a good record. I think he would be a perfect fit and could be the one to turn the franchise around.

All stats are credited to Hockey Reference.

-Zach Jezioro (@ZachJezioro_13)