Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Sabres have had a rough start to their 2023-24 season with an inability to string multiple wins together. The team is just below an even record, and have struggled to produce consistent offense over the past few weeks.
Over the past month, the Sabres have also struggled to remain healthy with multiple key players missing from the lineup. This includes the likes of forwards Tage Thompson, Zemgus Girgensons, Jack Quinn, and recently Alex Tuch and Jordan Greenway.
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Despite the injuries and offensive inconsistencies, Sabres head coach Don Granato feels his team can get through it on their own, partially because other teams deal with it as well.
"When you're missing top players, it's hard in this league. You can just look through the league, the parity in the league is incredible," said Granato during his weekly appearance on WGR with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "For us, we've got to muscle through a stretch here of a lot of games, very little practice time-to-no practice time, and kind of a depleted forward group. We've just got to battle through it, knowing this is going to happen to other teams at various points. It's going to be a real challenge for them too."
Something else that has been prevalent for the Sabres over many seasons has been frustrating losses, and how they tend to pile one on top of the other. Granato acknowledges this, and understands the frustration from the fanbase, but knows teams need to remain calm in these situations.
"It is really frustrating to be a fan and care, I get that, I know that. I respect that, 100%. I think that's something you have to have respect for, your fans and their feelings," Granato said during the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on Tuesday. "For me, I can't rant and rave after every game I see, and a lot of what they see and feel. But you can't sit in front of a podium and go crazy on it, and call guys out and scream and yell. It's a tough, demanding league."
One player that recently voiced his frustrations with the group's performance is center Dylan Cozens. Cozens has been a player the team is leaning on in the absence of their high-scoring forwards, but the results haven't been there for the former first-round pick in 2019.
Granato feels a turnaround for Cozens will come with time.
"He's created lots of chances through his identity. More speed, more direct play, and obviously we will be pushing him to play that way," Granato said of the 22-year-old. "Again, it's a confidence thing. You've gotta get to the point where you feel you get into a rhythm. Definitely the other day was a sign of going the right direction. You have to have a confidence to stay in that direction. Just see it through."
Hear more from Granato during his appearance with Jeremey and Joe available in the player below:
