Ralph Krueger is rising on the Buffalo Sabres' list of coaching candidates and will get "a real shot at the job," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman wrote in Sunday's edition of "31 Thoughts."

Friedman adds that Sabres general manager Jason Botterill spoke to Krueger in 2017 before hiring Phil Housley, who was fired last month.

Krueger, the soon-to-be former English Premier League executive, coached the Edmonton Oilers in 2012-13 and led Team Europe to an unexpected run to the World Cup of Hockey final in 2016.

The Sabres have reportedly considered several candidates for the position, including Dave Tippett, Jacques Martin, and Todd McLellan, who the Los Angeles Kings later hired.

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