Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It became rather obvious during the 2024-25 season that Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff didn’t see eye-to-eye with the sports science department. With that in mind, both Ed Gannon and J.T. Allaire were let go from the organization.
The Sabres have hired Brian Galivan on Friday to serve as the new director of performance in Buffalo.
Galivan is another Sabres hire from USA Hockey, as for six seasons, he was their director of sports science for the National Team Development Program.
He is currently serving as the performance coach for the U.S. men's national team at the World Championship in Denmark.
"Brian has been a trusted resource for hockey players from the junior levels through the NHL level for years and as we continue to make changes this offseason, we’re lucky to be able to add somebody with such a strong body of work to our organization," said Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams in a team statement on Friday. "Brian has been known around the hockey world for years as one of the preeminent strength coaches in the world. Our players will benefit from his vast experience and wealth of knowledge and I know he will be a tremendous asset for the Sabres."
At the NTDP, Galivan coached 84 players who were drafted, and 33 players who have played in the NHL.
Before taking the job with USA Hockey, Galivan formed his own company called GVN Performance. Galivan has no NHL experience with an NHL team, but he's looking forward to trying to make players better,
"I am excited to join the Buffalo Sabres and bring my experience to this incredible organization," said Galivan in a statement. "Building the sports science department at NTDP and helping shape the culture there has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I’m eager to bring my experiences and I look forward to working with the players and staff to continue elevating the team’s performance."
Galivan is the second addition to the Sabres organization this week, as Eric Staal was hired by his former Carolina Hurricanes teammate to be a special assistant to the general manager.
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