Don Granato officially named head coach of Sabres

Don Granato will have an opportunity to show what he can do as the main man for the Buffalo Sabres. 

The Sabres confirmed Tuesday they named Granato their full-time head coach. Granato, 53, first joined the organization as an assistant ahead of the 2019-20 season and was elevated to the role of interim head coach after Buffalo parted ways with Ralph Krueger on March 17 this year.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan reports Granato put pen to paper on a three-year agreement. Per the official NHL website, the Sabres started 0-5-1 under Granato but ultimately tallied a 9-11-2 record during his brief stint as interim coach.  

Jenna Callari of Buffalo's WKBW recently campaigned for Granato to earn the gig. 

"It's worth noting that Granato coached a team that didn't include top players like Jack Eichel, Jake McCabe, Carter Hutton, and Linus Ullmark as all were dealing with injuries that kept them off the ice for the majority or all of Granato's season," Callari wrote about Granato notching an impressive mark considering the circumstances.

Eichel, Buffalo's captain and star, continues to be linked with a summer move away from the club via a trade involving potential buyers such as the New York Rangers or Boston Bruins.