The Buffalo Sabres sacked head coach Don Granato on Tuesday, marking him as the seventh coach to be dismissed during the NHL’s record 13-season stretch without making the playoffs.
The decision was revealed by the team following the Sabres’ final game, a 4-2 victory against Tampa Bay. They ended the season with a record of 39-27-6 and were ruled out of playoff contention last week.
Granato finished his third full season in Buffalo after taking over on an interim basis during the shortened 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, following Ralph Krueger’s firing.
The 56-year-old Granato still had two seasons remaining on his contract, including an extension that was set to begin next season.
Buffalo struggled throughout the season, managing to win three consecutive games only twice, and often found it challenging to recover from slow starts.
This outcome was unexpected for a team that began the season with GM Kevyn Adams proclaiming their readiness to contend. Last season, the Sabres narrowly missed the playoffs by two points, leading to increased hopes.
The 13-season playoff drought now ties with the New York Jets for the longest active streak among North America’s four major professional sports leagues.
