The Buffalo Sabres' expectations were far from met over the past two years, forcing them to make a change at the top. They found Phil Housley's replacement on Tuesday night, hiring Ralph Krueger as their next head coach. Buffalo made the news official with an announcement on Wednesday, as they continue the process of figuring out how to put an end to their eight-year playoff drought. They are hoping Krueger is the answer to that puzzle, as his last coaching gig came in the lockout-shortened 2012-2013 season with the Edmonton Oilers. He was fired via Skype by the Oilers after going 19-22-7 in a short time with the organization.
Despite not being in the NHL for six years, Krueger claims that he has stayed close to the game, and felt that his time was coming yet again to get back in the league. He does have coaching experience elsewhere as well, including with the Switzerland national team in the Olympic Winter Games in 2002, 2006, and 2010. Sabres general manager Jason Botterill listed his "communication skills, leadership, and diverse background" as to why their new coach was the perfect fit to lead the Jack Eichel-lead team.
Krueger has spent the past five seasons as the chairman of soccer's Southampton FC of the English Premiere League. He never played hockey in the NHL but did play professionally in Germany from 1979 to 1991. He is taking over a Sabres team that finished in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, joining the 2016-2017 Philadelphia Flyers as the only teams to miss the playoffs in the same season that they posted a 10-game winning streak. That led to Housely getting fired after two seasons, as his team won just 16 of their final 57 games,
Despite not being in the NHL for six years, Krueger claims that he has stayed close to the game, and felt that his time was coming yet again to get back in the league. He does have coaching experience elsewhere as well, including with the Switzerland national team in the Olympic Winter Games in 2002, 2006, and 2010. Sabres general manager Jason Botterill listed his "communication skills, leadership, and diverse background" as to why their new coach was the perfect fit to lead the Jack Eichel-lead team.
Krueger has spent the past five seasons as the chairman of soccer's Southampton FC of the English Premiere League. He never played hockey in the NHL but did play professionally in Germany from 1979 to 1991. He is taking over a Sabres team that finished in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, joining the 2016-2017 Philadelphia Flyers as the only teams to miss the playoffs in the same season that they posted a 10-game winning streak. That led to Housely getting fired after two seasons, as his team won just 16 of their final 57 games,
