Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - After months of anticipation for the upcoming hockey season, the Buffalo Sabres will open the 2023-24 season on Thursday night when they host the New York Rangers at KeyBank Center.
The Sabres were incredibly close to making the playoffs last season, only missing the cut by one point, finishing behind the eventual Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. Despite just missing out on the postseason, it officially extended the Sabres' record playoff drought to 12 seasons.
Don Granato became the Sabres' head coach three years ago, and has since built quite the foundation of young talent in Downtown Buffalo. He understands, though, that as this team gets better, his coaching style needs to adapt.
"You coach the team you have, if you don't, you're in trouble," said Granato during his first visit on WGR this season with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "Within the context of where you're at in the league and situation, I felt they had to coach a certain way through the process in the last couple of years. I feel the same is there now. You have to coach the situation as it is, and we're a better team. Our guys need to be pushed in different areas, and our players have definitely evolved their game."
Granato knows he has to make changes as a head coach in his style, but also notes the players will have to adapt as well. He also says they understand the gravity of the situation the team is in.
"Talking a couple of years ago about learning or growth, this now is more of evolving," Granato said on the "Jeremy and Joe Show". "I think we're good enough, but that doesn't mean you're going to come out and win. You've got to evolve and learn how to win as a group. We've added new players, they're still getting on the same page. We have a lot of anxiety, and our guys absolutely love Buffalo. They feel they're on the cusp of something really good here, and that's putting pressure on them, which is positive. But we've got to learn how to deal with that too, and they want it so bad."
Hear more from Granato's appearance with Jeremy and Joe available in the player below:
