Ralph Krueger, Sabres Agree on Contract to Be Team's Next Head Coach

The Buffalo Sabres announced the hiring of Ralph Krueger as their new head coach Tuesday.

Krueger will replace Phil Housley, who was fired in April after going just 58-84-22 (.421 points percentage) in two seasons at the helm in Buffalo.

The 59-year-old Krueger spent one lockout-shortened season as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers in 2012-13, going 19-22-7 and failing to reach the playoffs.

In a statement on the Sabres' official website, Krueger said: "I am excited and honored to join the Buffalo Sabres family and will strive to maximize the potential that lies within this team. I look forward to building on the many positives that have been established within the organization, and I am especially eager to get behind the bench and represent this passionate hockey city."

Sabres general manager Jason Botterill added: "Throughout his career, Ralph has shown the ability to adapt to a variety of high-pressure environments while leading some of the world's elite players. His strong communication skills, leadership and diverse background make him a uniquely qualified candidate to lead our team going forward."

After getting fired by the Oilers in 2013, Krueger served as the chairman of Southampton Football Club in the English Premier League for more than five seasons.

His hockey involvement during that time had been somewhat limited, although he did help lead the Canadian men's hockey team to gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, as a consultant, and he also served as the head coach for Team Europe in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, leading them to a surprising second-place finish.

Per Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News, Krueger had told TSN's Pierre LeBrun that he likely would not return to the NHL in a head coaching capacity:

On Wednesday, LeBrun noted that Krueger told him: "My heart has made this 'back to coaching' decision. All the pieces fit together on this opportunity."

While Krueger has limited NHL head coaching experience and has been out of the league for several years, former Sabres winger Thomas Vanek believes it is a great hire, telling John Vogl that Krueger is a "huge, huge get."

In Buffalo, Krueger will take over a team with the NHL's longest active playoff drought (since 2010-11). The Sabres have a talented core that includes 2015 No. 2 overall pick Jack Eichel and 2018 No. 1 overall pick Rasmus Dahlin, but they have been unable to put it all together. Still, while Buffalo faltered down the stretch this season, the team improved significantly from the season prior (62 points to 76).

Krueger has a great deal of experience coaching in Europe, and with the Sabres having several key European players such as Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen, Linus Ullmark, Alexander Nylander and Victor Olofsson, Krueger could prove to be a strong fit in Buffalo.