The wheels for major changes have been in motion for the Buffalo Sabres over the last few days. The wheels’ first turn led to the ousting of Kevyn Adams as GM. The move didn’t really surprise anyone. If anything, fans were surprised it took as long as it did.
The next move hardly surprised anyone, either. Bringing in Jarmo Kekalainen as Adams’ replacement was written on the wall. Ever since the Sabres hired the former Columbus Blue Jackets GM as a special adviser, the path ahead became evident.
Now, the next shoe to drop for the Sabres could come behind the bench. The chatter has now focused on finding Lindy Ruff’s replacement. It could be that this might be the right time for the Sabres to strike.
During the December 17 edition of Frankly Hockey, NHL broadcaster John Buccigross floated an interesting idea:
“We were talking about Buffalo and a coach and I had mentioned…Peter DeBoer: I had this little birdie tell me, John Tortorella, there’s obviously a connection in Buffalo, Jarmo hired him in Columbus.”
So, two crucial things to unpack for the Sabres here. First, name-dropping Peter DeBoer doesn’t seem out of the blue. The Dallas Stars cut ties with DeBoer last season following their playoff elimination at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. While DeBoer will be an assistant under Jon Cooper for Team Canada at the Olympics, DeBoer could step into an NHL role in short order.
Second, the Tortorella-Kekalainen connection is evident. GMs like to feel confident with their coaches. As such, bringing in a familiar face would allow the current Sabres GM to feel more at ease with the voice running the club.
Recycling Coaches May Not Be the Wisest Thing for Sabres
Hiring either DeBoer or Tortorella would be a case of recycling coaches for the Sabres. Yes, they are two seasoned and respected coaches. But the fact is that recycling coaches may not be the best path forward.
The Sabres need a major overhaul to spur a meaningful turnaround. That’s why thinking outside the box may be the best path forward in Buffalo. But then again, those sorts of changes generally happen during the offseason. When in-season coaching changes occur, it typically involves an assistant getting a promotion or an unemployed coach jumping into the fray.
Buffalo Should Beware of Tortorella
John Tortorella’s last coaching gig didn’t end up very well. Tortorella’s tenure ended unceremoniously in Philadelphia last season after the team fell apart during the second half.
Since then, Tortorella has been on television as an analyst. Like DeBoer, Tortorella will also serve as an assistant coach at the 2026 Olympics. Tortorella will serve under head coach Mike Sullivan, delivering much-needed experience and support.
Despite Tortorella’s track record, the veteran coach has a reputation for being tough to play for. While respected, his grinding style can be highly taxing on players. That’s a major consideration since the Sabres’ roster is not really conducive to that style of play.
Ultimately, the Sabres face a major decision regarding their next coach. That’s why jumping to make a change may not necessarily be in the team’s best interest at this point.
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