buffalosabresnow: Sabres hit the ice for Ralph Krueger's first practice as Buffalo head coach

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Sabres hit the ice for Ralph Krueger's first practice as Buffalo head coach

Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-13-2019

It seems like a classic wash-rinse-repeat September day as on-ice sessions begin for the Buffalo Sabres. Five years ago it was Stanley Cup-winning head coach Dan Bylsma taking over for Ted Nolan, who coached the Sabres through most of their 2013-15 tank seasons. Bylsma was relieved of his duties two years later and in came rookie head coach Phil Housley, who's top-notch work with the Nashville Predators defense as an assistant turned him into a top head coach candidate.

The tenures of Bylsma and Housley both lasted two years, both ended up with underachieving clubs and prior to their dismissal, both had lost the locker room. They finished 23rd, 26th, 31st (a first for the league with the inclusion on the expansion Vegas Golden Knights) and 27th, respectively, and combined for a 126-157-454 post-tank record, which was last in the league during that period. It was a dismal showing, especially for a team and fanbase where the promised "suffering" of 2013-15 came to fruition but wasn't followed by any modicum of success save for maybe the 2015-16 season.

So out went an aloof head coach in Bylsma and a rookie coach in Housley who was in way over his head and in comes Krueger.

Ralph Krueger is a 60 yr. old Winnipeg, Manitoba native who's last job was chairman of the Premier League soccer club, Southampton FC. Krueger is an author and started his own company, TeamLife, working the circuit as a motivational speaker and was also a member of the World Economic Forum. His hockey resume includes over 360 games of professional hockey between the WHL and German professional leagues as a forward, an assistant coach and head coach in Europe, head coach of national teams and a stint as an assistant coach with the NHL's Edmonton Oilers before he became their head coach in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. Krueger was also a consultant for the Carolina Hurricanes and was head coach of a surprising Team Europe in the inaugural 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

To say he's worldly and well-round would be an understatement and he makes an impact wherever he goes. Former Oilers head coach Tom Renney hired Krueger as his assistant in 2010 and told The Athletic's John Vogl, "Whether it's Game 1 of 82 or Game 82 of 82, I promise you that no one will ever leave a conversation with Ralph thinking it was a waste of time. You'll be better for it and he brings with that a terrific disposition that is contagious, honest, sincere, to the point and prepared to help."

The Krueger-effect has hit Buffalo this off season as well. Upon being hired he went to Slovakia to personally talk with two key Sabres cogs--Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart--were playing in the IIHF World Hockey Championships. Krueger had good conversations with each individually that touched upon hockey but also leaned heavily towards getting to know them personally. "He wants to know you as a human being," said Eichel to the gathered media at the opening of camp yesterday. "He wants to know about your family, your likes and dislikes away from the rink and I think he cares a lot about everyone," with the Sabres captain also saying that "I think the guys have really responded to it."

Just how much of a response will be played out over the course of the season and it begins today with on-ice sessions at training camp. Krueger has assembled a staff to his liking that includes assistant coaches Steve Smith (the only holdover from Housley's staff,) Don Granato and goalie coach Mike Bales, and will be relying on them for input into the systems he deploys. "There could be a specific input from an assistant coach or an angle that I've never heard before or seen before that I will open my mind up to," Kruger told Jourdon LaBarber of Sabres.com, "and maybe it will alter my course.

"We're evolving a brand new way to package this. Now within this package there's going to be a lot of root principles that I believe in as a head coach need to be in place. But there will be others that are new, refreshing. I think that's important. My philosophy is to have clear guidelines but also be flexible about the way you bring them to life."

It's now wonder players are gravitating toward Krueger as flexibility within a clear-cut message is both team friendly and player friendly.

However, it's best to be reminded that right now it's conceptual. Preseason begins Monday and the first of 82 regular season games begins October 3. It's a long season, with many ups and downs, hot-streaks and cold streaks and navigating his team through that will be a huge challenge. "As we experience things, the relationships will deepen and the trust will grow, which is the most important thing you can have between coaches and players," said Krueger. "You want to develop trust.

"Everyone who was hired is bringing character with them, and I believe our dressing room and locker room is filled with character. So I trust it's going to happen."

From a Buffalo fans perspective, we've all heard something similar to that before. The question heading in to this season is, will it work?

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Buffalo's practice groups (via sabres.com):