The Buffalo Sabres are winding down the 2024-25 season and one that they may want to forget. The team did not perform to expectations and maybe looking at a tough offseason. Changes are expected but one change that could happen may be behind the bench.
While head coach Lindy Ruff just celebrated his 600th career win as a Sabres coach, the organization may want to see another bench boss. Coincidentally, a coach recently became available.
Sabres to move on from Ruff?
Ruff singed a two-year deal with Buffalo on April 23, 2024 as the team showed some promise after releiving Don Granato of his duties. The Sabres had playoff expectations entering the season but will fall short again this season.
The team may be forced to make changes as the lineup does not have any players who can carry the load night after night. Buffalo also dealt young star Dylan Cozens to the division rival Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline.
Ruff has not made the Stanley Cup Final since the 1998-99 season and carries a .549 winning percentage. He is the fourth winningest coach in NHL history and is 65 years old. To some, he still has wins in his back pocket but does he have anything left for this Sabres team?
The team lacks offense while the defense and goaltending are solid. Ruff failed to get control of this team from the start of the seasand the wheels fell of rather quickly.
What do the Sabres do?
Buffalo may be looking to tear it down and retool for next season. One move that could be made is hiring John Tortorella, who was fired by the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. The Flyers were on the way down, going 0-5-1 in their last six games and 1-10-1 in their last 12 games.
He spent 2 1/2 seasons with the Flyers and they were more competitive under him but failed to make the playoffs. Flyers general manager Daniel Briere was quoted as saying "John (Tortorella) played a vital role in our rebuild."
Tortorella has a career coaching record of 770-684-37 and has done wonders with teams lookinig for a change. He guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2003-04, helped build the Columbus Blue Jackets into a competitive team, and did the same with Philadelphia.
The Flyers were in the playoff chase both seasons he was behind the bench but fell short. Not without controversy, he gets the best out of this players and turns around teams almost instantly. He has an old style of coaching about him and is controversial but has success. He is 66 years old and has a career winning percentage of .538.
Ruff has a better winning percentage but has coached 200 more games. Why Tortorella over Ruff? A new system, a new voice, a new direction, new lines, and a new way of thinking. Tortorella coached teams do not quit and always play to the whistle.
He has teams that play a hard nosed style, which the Sabres need in a tight Atlantic Division. Would Tortorella want to coach a younger team? He has faced challenges before and came out on top as he loves a good challenge. A lot of teams may want his services so Buffalo should act quickly after the season if that is their direction. Who knows. A new face could mean a playoff spot.