By John Vogl (The Athletic)

By Don Granato’s count, he coached just 12 practices after taking over the Sabres. The players were usually half-gassed after playing the night before in a condensed schedule, so they weren’t long practices, either.

Still, Granato’s game plan sank in. He preached offense, and the Sabres scored nearly a goal more per game under him than previous coach Ralph Krueger.

Granato can’t wait to see what happens with an offseason of planning, a full training camp and a regular practice schedule for the 2021-22 season.

“I’ve spoken a lot about offense, and I say that because that’s a necessity,” the coach said. “You’re not going to get better playing conservative.

“The defensive systems are very straightforward and simple. It’s just a question of sacrifice and hard work. It comes down to pride and care for your team. The offensive systems are much more complex. They evolve over time, and practice is an integral part of that. I really feel we can enhance our offensive game through the process of practice.”

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