The Sabres have hired Girardi as a player development coach, joining a staff that includes director of player development Ellis and goaltending development coach Seamus Kotyk.
Girardi began his career as an undrafted defenseman and went on to play 13 NHL seasons, amassing 1,070 games between the regular season and the playoffs. He appeared in the 2011-12 All-Star Game and, despite a propensity for blocking shots, played a full 82 games five times.
The defenseman's career is a model for the type of players the Sabres are looking to foster under general manager Kevyn Adams and his staff, who have emphasized the development of specialized roles where applicable and have sought out players they deem to possess "growth mindsets," including 2020 first-round draft choice Jack Quinn.
Ellis also sees in Girardi an ability to connect with individuals that will serve the organization well at a time when communication is paramount. The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the development process as it has all things, from limiting in-person interaction to creating disproportionate situations for prospects in various leagues around the world.
"He's gonna provide some invaluable experience, some great lessons, and he'll be a great resource to help continue pushing the needle forward for all of our prospects as they continue their journey to becoming hopefully down the road Buffalo Sabres," Ellis said.
Ellis, who played parts of seven seasons with the Sabres, was hired as director of player development in September. He has spent the time since building the infrastructure of the team's new development program, curating the tools to ensure proper viewings of the organization's prospects while fostering relationships in virtual settings.
Meanwhile, the job has required a constant understanding of how the pandemic is affecting leagues and teams in various parts of the world.
"It's been good in the way that you have to be on the ball because things are changing very quickly," he said. "The one theme that this has presented to all of our prospects is being able to be in the moment and use adversity to your advantage because there's been no shortage of that.
"That hopefully will be something that becomes part of our prospects' fabric, being able to utilize adversity, take it, and run with it as a positive."
