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An exhaustive five-week coaching search that began with the dismissal of Phil Housley would have led Buffalo Sabers general manager Jason Botterill to a man with perhaps one of hockey's most unique resumes professional.
According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, 59-year-old Ralph Krueger, former coach of the Edmonton Oilers and the Swiss national team, will be named 19th coach of the Sabers franchise history. An announcement is expected Wednesday.
Although Krueger was behind the Oilers' bench for only 48 games during a 2012-13 lock-out season, he spent two years as the team's assistant and has led Switzerland at 15 international tournaments over a period of 13 years. Krueger has played no role behind the bench since 2016, when he led Team Europe in a remarkable run for the World Cup Hockey Final.
Instead, he was president of Southampton F.C. of the English Premier League. since March 2014 and was fired by the team last month. It was expected that any return to hockey would probably occupy a similar leadership position, but Botterill apparently drew Krueger into training.
Ralph Krueger wants to reverse the training trend at Sabers
The release of Krueger from the NHL six years ago is probably more surprising than his return.
In his first season as head coach, the Oilers scored a total of 19-22-7 against nine players under 24 years old. Under Krueger's direction, winger Taylor Hall finished ninth in the championship with 50 points. In addition, Edmonton's power play and penalty penalty ranked seventh and ninth, respectively.
Krueger, born in Winnipeg of two German immigrants, joined the Oilers' staff as an assistant in 2010 and helped their control play move from 27th to 3rd in the league during his second season under Tom Renney.
Krueger has long been recognized as an innovative strategist and received his first opportunity in the NHL because of the winning culture he built with Switzerland. His one year audition showed an ability to motivate young players and teach them how to play within a defensive structure.
However, Craig MacTavish, the team's general manager at the time, had sacked Krueger on a Skype call and had immediately hired Dallas Eakins, considered one of the best candidates becoming of this sport. Eakins lasted less than two seasons, recording a record of 36-63-14.
Krueger joined Team Canada as a consultant for the 2014 Winter Olympics, helping a team led by current Toronto Maple Leaf coach Mike Babcock to win a medal d & # 39; gold. However, Krueger chose to leave the sport a few months later.
Krueger had long been a target of the NHL teams for his work with Switzerland from 1997 to the 2010 Olympics. He led the team to appearances at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Olympics and was the coach of 12 trips to the World Championship.
Krueger was also a screening consultant for the Carolina Hurricanes, led by General Manager Jim Rutherford, former boss of Botterill in Pittsburgh, and coach of VEU Feldkirch at five consecutive championships in Austria from 1994 to 1998.
Krueger is the author of a best-seller in German on leadership and motivational skills, titled "Teamlife: Over Failbacks to Success". He was one of the key members of the World Economic Forum's board on new leadership models.
Krueger played professionally for 11 seasons in Germany, including a year as a coach-player, before becoming head coach of VEU Feldkirch in 1991-1992.
Despite his unique experience, the name Krueger was not associated with any of the seven vacancies in the NHL until he spoke to the Sabers. There were some connections between the two sides.
Steve Smith, Housley's assistant coach last season, was Krueger's assistant for two seasons in Edmonton and remained on the coaching staff after Krueger's promotion. In addition, Botterill and Krueger have a relationship that goes back several decades. Krueger played with Botterill's father, Cal, at the St. John's-Ravenscourt Preparatory School in Winnipeg.
Krueger will try to create the winning culture the Sabers have been lacking since Lindy Ruff left in 2013. The franchise has had a worse drought in the playoffs in eight seasons and each of the two previous coaches was sacked after just two seasons, including Former Dan Bylsma Stanley Cup winner.
Krueger is the fifth coach since Ruff's dismissal in February 2013 and has inherited a team similar to the one he had headed to Edmonton, although the Sabers are better equipped for a quick turnaround. Although Buffalo does not have enough depth to score, the lineup should include Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Dahlin.
The team could also re-sign 40-goal scorer Jeff Skinner and have up to $ 23 million in space, while holding the seventh overall pick in next month's draft. However, Krueger will face all the problems of his team during his collapse in the second half this season.
The Sabers won 10 consecutive games in November to take first place in the NHL. They finished 27th after beating 16-33-8 in the last 57 games of the season. Before winning the final of the season, the Sabers had not won consecutive games since December 13 and had not won 14 straight games on the road. Buffalo was ruled out five times in 12 games from March 9 to 31, including three straight, and won just two games in the month.
Although Krueger was never the head coach of a team during a regular 82-game season, his reputation as a teacher and motivator allowed him to break out of a pool of experienced candidates including Jacques Martin and Dave Tippett.
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