‘Granato’s arrival coincided with the first real positive movement for the Sabres as a hockey team in several years, as the 55-year-old joined the club midway through a disastrous 2021 season and proceeded to lead them to an impressive 16-9-3 finish over the final two months. And while the Sabres failed to reach the playoffs again last season, they experienced incremental improvements in all aspects of their game, climbing out of the divisional basement to finish fifth in the Atlantic standings while also seeing a number of key players go on to have career-best years.’