For once, it looks like the Buffalo Sabres will have a little stability.
Since the firing of Lindy Ruff during the abbreviated 2012/13 season, it’s been an up-and-down ride for the Sabres coaching staff and front office. Which is really just a nice way of saying it’s been such an unparalleled cluster-frig.
Rochester Americans coach Ron Rolston took over for Ruff, the formerly longest-tenured coach in hockey, and helped the Sabres be as non-competitive as can be. He was ridiculed for the way he handled lines and most knew almost instantly that he wouldn’t be around for awhile.
Sure enough, he was let go and an old face emerged: Ted Nolan. The former Sabres coach was brought back in by the new management group led by former Sabre Pat LaFontaine. He’s done a decent job with a woefully undertalented team, though nothing can stop them from losing far more than winning. He’s stuck around even after the ugliness involving LaFontaine’s dismissal from the front office just months into his tenure.
Now, he’s been rewarded with a show of faith: Nolan was given a new three-year extension to keep him as the head coach of the Sabres. For a team that, heading into the trade deadline, was looking unstable – there was a reported power struggle between LaFontaine and new general manager Tim Murray – things have settled down. Murray has acquitted himself well in his new role, stockpiling assets for the rebuild and putting the Sabres in a very good position in the next two drafts.
With Nolan in the fold for the foreseeable future, the Sabres will not only have that consistency but they will have a guiding hand. Nolan works well with youngsters and will be a key in the developments of Zemgus Girgensons, Rasmus Ristolainen, Nikita Zadorov, and whomever the Sabres take with their high draft picks in the 2014 and 2015 NHL Drafts.
It all won’t be sunshine and pie, though. Nolan will be in charge of one of the worst offensive teams in recent memory. The Sabres are averaging just 1.84 goals per game this season and that’s after an absolute outburst against Tampa Bay on Saturday that saw them net three goals (they had that many goals in their previous three games).
Still, for a team that’s rebuilding through prospects and draft picks, a man like Nolan is right for this job. If anyone can handle ugly, low-on-talent Buffalo teams, it’s Nolan. Except this time, there’s no Dominator around. Good luck, Ted.
Follow Ryan on Twitter: @TwoPadStackRW
