Former Sabres Head Coach Hired As Assistant In Columbus

Former Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato kept his hand in the game in May, as he coached Team USA at the IIHF World Championships in Switzerland, and two years after being fired in favor of Lindy Ruff, he has rejoined the NHL as an assistant coach under Rick Bowness with the Columbus Blue Jackets.The 58-year-old took over for Ralph Krueger in March 2021 and in 274 games over 3 ½ seasons, led the Sabres to a 122-125-27 record, including a 42-33-7 record in 2022-23, where Buffalo missed the playoffs by a point. Granato was given a contract extension in 2022 that extended through the 2025-26 season, but he was fired in April 2024 before the extension kicked in.Other Sabres StoriesSabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime LossOver the last two seasons, he has served as an analyst for NHL Network and NHL Network Radio.In other news, the Sabres announced the schedule for the 2026 Prospects Showcase against the Boston Bruins. The club last season hosted the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Columbus Blue Jackets over five days, but this season they will host their Atlantic Division rival in a pair of games on Sunday, Sept. 13 (5pm) and on Monday, Sept. 14 at Noon. The head-to-head matchup against last season’s first-round opponents is part of a two-year agreement where the club’s prospects will play in Boston in September 2027.Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffaloTHN.com/Free