Updated:
Sabres GM Jason Botterill spoke with Brian Duff prior to the 11:00 presser to introduce Ralph Krueger as his new head coach.
Botterill said Krueger has been on his radar for years due to the relationship Jim Rutherford has had with Krueger. Rutherford was Botterill’s GM in Pittsburgh. While with the Carolina Hurricanes, Rutherford hired Krueger to be the Canes’ European scout/consultant from 2005-10. The Canes won the Stanley Cup in 2006. Skinner, 26, was drafted seventh overall by the Canes in 2010, and played eight seasons in the Research Triangle.
I respect this Carolina connection between Rutherford and Krueger. Botterill thinks highly of his former boss Rutherford and respects his opinion.
Now, Botterill better get Skinner in a face to face meeting with Krueger. The sooner Skinner meets with Krueger the better for the Sabres and their pending UFA sniper.
Jason Botterill tells @duffersabres that his father was Ralph Krueger’s fifth grade teacher in Winnipeg #Sabres
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
“He’s a Manitoba kid who loves hockey…
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
Botterill said his former boss, Pens GM Jim Rutherford strongly recommended Krueger, who was a European scout for Carolina Hurricanes when Rutherford was their GM
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
Botterill says Krueger was a consideration last time #Sabres needed to hire a head coach. However, Krueger was involved with Southampton.
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
Krueger was Canes’ European Consultant 2005-10. He was with a Canes when they won Stanley Cup in 2006. Krueger is very aware of the type of person, player Jeff Skinner is. A bonus for #Sabres in re-signing the pending UFAto a long term contract extension
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
Botterill: Skinner has asked who the #Sabres head coach will be. Close him Botterill
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
Krueger will join Botterill in Bratislava next week at which time he will meet Jack Eichel and Samson Reinhart. Botterill says he will be sitting down with Jeff Skinner’s agent’s in near future
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
Botterill: Krueger met with the Pegulas as well as Randy Sexton and Steve Greeley. There was instant chemistry and great communication
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
Botterill says the first impression #Sabres players will have is Krueger’s passion for the game of hockey.
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 15, 2019
**
We found our guy.
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) May 15, 2019
Welcome to Buffalo, Coach Krueger! pic.twitter.com/uJEnxca8XV
The Buffalo Sabres have made it official.
Ralph Krueger is the 19th head coach in Buffalo Sabres franchise history.
Krueger is tasked with leading a young, talented, inconsistent Sabres squad to the Stanley Cup playoffs, something that has happened since 2011.
The team will introduce Krueger today at an 11:00am media conference in Buffalo. Krueger will not attend the presser because he still has business to tend to in Europe. Perhaps a Krueger conference call is in store for Tuesday afternoon.
OFFICIAL: Ralph Krueger is the new Head Coach for the @BuffaloSabres. Welcome back to the #NHL, Coach! pic.twitter.com/UU2ENbRq9a
— NHLCoaches (@NHLCoachesAssoc) May 15, 2019
Here is the official release from Sabres:
The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team has hired Ralph Krueger as the 19th head coach in franchise history.
“Throughout his career, Ralph has shown the ability to adapt to a variety of high-pressure environments while leading some of the world’s elite players,… Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill said. “His strong communication skills, leadership and diverse background make him a uniquely qualified candidate to lead our team going forward.…
Krueger’s most recent hockey experiences come in international competition. In 2014, he won a gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia as a consultant to Team Canada’s coaching staff. Most recently, he served as the head coach of Team Europe, who finished as runners up at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
“I am excited and honored to join the Buffalo Sabres family and will strive to maximize the potential that lies within this team,… Buffalo Sabres Head Coach Ralph Krueger said. “I look forward to building on the many positives that have been established within the organization and I am especially eager to get behind the bench and represent this passionate hockey city.…
At the NHL level, Krueger was named head coach of the Edmonton Oilers prior to the 2012-13 season after spending the 2010-11 and 2011-12 campaigns as the team’s associate coach. Prior to his time in Edmonton, Krueger served as a European Consultant for the Carolina Hurricanes from 2005 to 2010, capturing a Stanley Cup in 2006.
Krueger began his coaching career during the 1991-92 season as head coach of VEU Feldkirch in the Austrian Hockey League, where he spent seven seasons and led the team to five consecutive championships (1994 to 1998). He spent the next 12 years as head coach of the Swiss national team, serving behind Switzerland’s bench for three Winter Olympic Games and 12 IIHF World Championships.
A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Krueger recently spent over five seasons as the Chairman of Southampton Football Club, a soccer team that currently plays in England’s Premier League. During his tenure in England, Krueger helped guide Southampton to four consecutive top-eight finishes in England’s top league for the first time in the club’s 127-year history.
From Ralph Krueger via email regarding his appointment as Sabres coach and why the change of direction from what he said in his interview with me April 1:
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 15, 2019
``My heart has made this `back to coaching' decision. All the pieces fit together on this opportunity.'' _ Krueger
The pressure is still on Botterill to re-sign pending UFA sniper Jeff Skinner to a long term contract extension. Skinner, 26, tucked 40 goals in his first season in a Sabres sweater. Skinner is looking for $8 million average annual value on a long term contract.
Botterill must also acquire by free agency or trade a legitimate second line center to a lot in between Jack Eichel and Casey Mittelstadt.