All the calls for accountability during the Buffalo Sabresâ locker cleanout days revealed the frustrations that were bubbling under the surface before Don Granato was fired as coach this week.
Players cited a lack of focus and intent in practice. They wanted their teammates to have their ice time cut, or benched altogether, if their performance called for it.
Granato had developed many of them into impactful NHL players, but there seemed to be a unanimous opinion that a different voice and approach were needed to lead the Sabres into the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season.
They also acknowledged, however, that a coaching change wonât be a cure-all. Players must hold themselves accountable, and the leadership inside the teamâs dressing room also must address what went wrong this season.
The Sabres havenât had a captain since Kyle Okposo was traded to the Florida Panthers in March, but itâs safe to assume that Rasmus Dahlin will be the next to hold that title. Tage Thompsonâs honest, pointed comments to reporters this week are a reminder, though, that Dahlin wonât be alone in trying to eliminate the bad habits and comfort that were Granatoâs undoing.
âI think in our room, we have a really tight locker room,â Thompson, now 26 years old and 372 games into his NHL career, explained. âGuys that are very close with each other. Bonds that are very, very tight. And I think thatâs pretty special. Thatâs not something that a lot of teams can say. But at the same time, when you have those bonds, you donât want to upset or ruffle any feathers.
“And I think we need to be OK with calling guys out if theyâre not â obviously itâs coming from a place of love and that underlying belief that you know they have better, and you just want to see the team succeed and you want better from them and better for them. I think everyone in here understands that and thatâs something that we got to be OK with doing.â
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Really curious as to what players and times specifically they are talking about when asking for players to have been benched.
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All the calls for accountability during the Buffalo Sabresâ locker cleanout days revealed the frustrations that were bubbling under the surface before Don Granato was fired as coach this week.
Players cited a lack of focus and intent in practice. They wanted their teammates to have their ice time cut, or benched altogether, if their performance called for it.
Granato had developed many of them into impactful NHL players, but there seemed to be a unanimous opinion that a different voice and approach were needed to lead the Sabres into the Stanley Cup Playoffs next season.
They also acknowledged, however, that a coaching change wonât be a cure-all. Players must hold themselves accountable, and the leadership inside the teamâs dressing room also must address what went wrong this season.
The Sabres havenât had a captain since Kyle Okposo was traded to the Florida Panthers in March, but itâs safe to assume that Rasmus Dahlin will be the next to hold that title. Tage Thompsonâs honest, pointed comments to reporters this week are a reminder, though, that Dahlin wonât be alone in trying to eliminate the bad habits and comfort that were Granatoâs undoing.
âI think in our room, we have a really tight locker room,â Thompson, now 26 years old and 372 games into his NHL career, explained. âGuys that are very close with each other. Bonds that are very, very tight. And I think thatâs pretty special. Thatâs not something that a lot of teams can say. But at the same time, when you have those bonds, you donât want to upset or ruffle any feathers.
“And I think we need to be OK with calling guys out if theyâre not â obviously itâs coming from a place of love and that underlying belief that you know they have better, and you just want to see the team succeed and you want better from them and better for them. I think everyone in here understands that and thatâs something that we got to be OK with doing.â
——–
Really curious as to what players and times specifically they are talking about when asking for players to have been benched.