Granato joined the Sabres as an assistant coach for the 2019-20 season, a role he held until he was elevated to interim head coach on March 17. With no assurances beyond the season, Granato chose to coach as if he would be in Buffalo for the long haul.
That meant prioritizing experience for young players. Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens took turns shouldering first-line center duties. The 21-year-old duo of Rasmus Dahlin and Henri Jokiharju spent virtually the entire last two months as the team's top defense pair.
"Behind the scenes, we were challenging these guys very, very much, which is a big part of it, because we need them to be better," Granato said. "And again, I coached as if I would be here next season. Obviously, I wouldn't want to be standing behind a bench in October and not have taken advantage of this opportunity to get these players valuable experience playing against top teams."
The players responded. Mittelstadt (nine goals and 17 points) and fellow first-round pick Tage Thompson (seven goals and 12 points) turned in the most productive stretches of their careers over the final 23 games. Cozens had one stretch where he tallied seven assists in eight contests.
Dahlin led the Sabres in ice time after April 1 and played with a renewed confidence.
"His way to play was how I learned to play hockey," Dahlin said. "But the thing I felt was that he trusted me as a player. He really saw what my potential was, and I felt comfortable playing out there. I wasn't thinking too much."
Added Mittelstadt: "I think a lot of guys, including myself, owe Donnie quite a bit. He challenged me when he took over and pushed me to become a better player. I think it's that simple. A lot of the strides I made are partly because of him pushing me or had a lot to do with him pushing me."
