The Buffalo Sabres announced Tuesday that Don Granato was named the new head coach.According to ESPN, Granato's contract with the Sabres is for three-years.Granato (53), was the interim coach for the Sabres' final 30 games last season, when Ralph Krueger was fired. Granato was appointed as interim coach after the Sabres suffered an NHL-record 18-game losing streak. Captain Jack Eichel was also out. The 10th consecutive season of drought saw Buffalo miss the playoffs, making it the longest in NHL history.Granato's 28-year coaching career has been challenging. Granato was 38 when he was coaching the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate. Granato was then diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. Granato thought he would never be able to coach again after he had to take time off from the team for treatment. Granato stated to ESPN that he had always wondered about it. Granato said that it was more of an anxiety. "But I have to get through it."Granato is part one of America's most prestigious hockey families. Tony is his brother and is Wisconsin's head coach. Cammi is a Hockey Hall of Famer as well as a scout for Seattle Kraken.The 2021 draft lottery was won by the Sabres and they will be selecting number 1. For the second consecutive year, No. 1 will be selected.The most important issue for Buffalo this offseason will be Eichel. The team is at odds over how to treat Eichel's herniated disc. Eichel requested a procedure that was "never done on an NHL hockey player," but the team declined.Granato is familiar with Eichel's history, having coached the center as a teenager under the U.S. National Team Development Program."I met him when he was still alive, and I loved him." Granato stated to ESPN that Granato means a lot to him personally in April. I love that he is so passionate about the game. He's got to find the joy in all this. This is something I have reminded him many times. Some of these athletes can feel so intense that they don't feel like they have any fun. It's a business. They are judged at different levels. It's difficult to speak generally when you lose your awareness or you stomp knowing that.
