Sabres Add USA Hockey’s Galivan As Director Of Performance

The Buffalo Sabres earlier this week began a reshuffle of their organization with the hiring of former NHLer Eric Staal as a special assistant to GM Keyvn Adams. On Friday, the changes continued with the hiring of Brian Galivan as the club’s Director of Performance.

Galivan replaces Ed Gannon, who was let go by the Sabres after 10 years after the season, and comes after serving with USA Hockey and as the director of sports science of the US National Team Development Program.

“Brian has been a trusted resource for hockey players from the junior levels through the NHL level for years and as we continue to make changes this offseason, we’re lucky to be able to add somebody with such a strong body of work to our organization,” General Manager Kevyn Adams said in a press release. “Brian has been known around the hockey world for years as one of the preeminent strength coaches in the world. Our players will benefit from his vast experience and wealth of knowledge, and I know he will be a tremendous asset for the Sabres.”

The Sabres are hoping that Galivan can bring an improvement in the club’s overall strength and conditioning, as a number of players have encountered lingering injuries, and those absences have contributed to their inability to snap a league record 14-year playoff drought. Galivan marks another connection between the team and USA Hockey, which includes assistant coach Seth Appert and Director of Pro Scouting Jeremiah Crowe.

“I am excited to join the Buffalo Sabres and bring my experience to this incredible organization,” Galivan said. “Building the sports science department at NTDP and helping shape the culture there has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I’m eager to bring my experiences and I look forward to working with the players and staff to continue elevating the team’s performance.”