Buffalo Sabres fire head coach Don Granato after extending playoff drought to 13th season
The Buffalo Sabres have fired head coach Don Granato, making him the seventh coach to be ousted during whatโs grown into an NHL-record 13-season playoff drought.
![AP sources: Eichel switching agents amid dispute with Sabres](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/iBb2fELGVdyFMZDvdfrxRG8ZB1o=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/NATOENYIPZHERM7RTZ4CW7SJFI.jpg)
AP sources: Eichel switching agents amid dispute with Sabres
Four people with direct knowledge of the playerโs decision have told The Associated Press that Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel is changing agents while in the midst of a long-standing dispute with the team over how to treat a neck injury.
![M Go Big: Led by Power, Michigan goes 1-2 in NHL draft](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/s1bwvcHykq25w1rdHo_69aNLDl0=/800x592/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZL2M4PZBJVALREM3ZCCP5QUA3Y.jpg)
M Go Big: Led by Power, Michigan goes 1-2 in NHL draft
University of Michigan dominates start of NHL draft with defenseman Owen Power and forward Matthew Beniers becoming the first teammates selected first and second overall since 1969.
![Debate over surgery has Eichel questioning future in Buffalo](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/xsxZiJZwt2hKdP6Vkjf0CjGVPTo=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DG3C3FCIDZGM7LLYQH4MXPHSWI.jpg)
Debate over surgery has Eichel questioning future in Buffalo
Sabres captain Jack Eichel is questioning his future in Buffalo by saying there is a disconnect with the team over whether to have surgery to repair a herniated disk.
![The Latest: Sabres to have limited number of fans at 4 games](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/uQsB9cmB9XQkbjloPIgKd_CObJI=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GHO452RR55BOLNVM6I5KF4AS7M.jpg)
The Latest: Sabres to have limited number of fans at 4 games
The Sabres added another option of proof of a negative antigen COVID-19 test within six hours of the doors opening. The Sabres had fans in attendance only once this season. No other players or coaches were affected by the coachโs positive test. ___Buffalo Sabres interim coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis are headed back to work after being cleared from the NHLโs COVID-19 protocol. Ad___The Michigan Wolverines are out of the NCAA Division I men's hockey tournament because of positive COVID-19 test results within the team's Tier 1 testing group.
![The Latest: Sabres coaches placed in NHL COVID protocol](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/p49Oe6qkpT4lOiaqbAIEGQAeoEc=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HTJGNCHWGRFQDICTOEXNNMO53M.jpg)
The Latest: Sabres coaches placed in NHL COVID protocol
(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Buffalo Sabres interim coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis have been placed in the NHLโs COVID-19 protocol. The development leaves general manager Kevyn Adams taking over behind the bench for Buffaloโs game at Pittsburgh on Thursday night. This marks the second time the Sabres have been hit by COVID-19 in two months. Buffaloโs season was paused for two weeks in early February after nine players and then-coach Ralph Krueger were placed in the protocol. The university said the team went through seven rounds of testing in the seven days leading up to its departure for Albany on Wednesday.
![Sabres fire coach Krueger while in midst of 12-game skid](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/7fEFKBVdXYwHqyqpg8tjforfzqk=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TCEUWG2AVVANBLBAPHKEPORM2M.jpg)
Sabres fire coach Krueger while in midst of 12-game skid
The Sabres fired coach Ralph Krueger on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)BUFFALO, N.Y. โ Firing Buffalo Sabres coach Ralph Krueger on Wednesday represents just the beginning of what could become Kevyn Adamsโ major overhaul of an overpriced, underperforming team in the midst of a 12-game skid. The Sabres are starting fresh yet again with Krueger becoming Buffaloโs sixth coach fired in just over eight calendar years. AdKrueger is the third NHL coach fired this season, after Montreal dismissed Claude Julien and Calgary replaced Geoff Ward with two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Darryl Sutter. โThere has to be pride that goes with putting on a Buffalo Sabresโ jersey.โThe Sabres have lurched from one crisis to another this season.
![Sabres agree to sign Taylor Hall to 1-year, $8 million deal](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/urGvH-gNQrzx6WZzt3duEyFkEq8=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FVXX2IYUWVD73BPYKFCHKISJUA.jpg)
Sabres agree to sign Taylor Hall to 1-year, $8 million deal
BUFFALO, N.Y. โ The Buffalo Sabres are banking on Taylor Hall to turn what was a long and unsettled offseason into a far brighter immediate future. Buffalo became the surprise team to win the Hall free-agency sweepstakes by signing the 10th-year forward and six-time 20-goal-scorer to a one-year, $8 million contract Sunday night. The deal came together after the Sabres made landing Hall their top priority in free agency, with second-year coach Ralph Krueger playing an integral role. Krueger was an assistant in Edmonton during Hall's rookie season, and then spent the 2012-13 lockout shortened year as the Oilers coach. The Sabres entered free agency about $26 million under the NHLโs salary $81.5 million cap, and are currently projected to have about $14 million of space available following Hallโs addition.