| Born: | August 31, 1959 | Draft: | Undrafted |
| Hometown: | Steinbach, MN, Canada | Position: | Right wing |
| Known For: | Shoots: | Right | |
| National Team: | West Germany | | |
Ralph Krueger is a Canadian-born German-Swiss former hockey player and head coach. He is was most recently the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres. He has previously coached the Edmonton Oilers.
Krueger was born in Canada to German immigrants. He moved to West Germany in the late 1970s to sign for Duisberger SC. He briefly returned to Canada for spells in the WHL, but he moved back to Germany to play out the rest of his career. He also served as player-coach for Duisberger SC.
Between 1994 and 1998, Krueger led VEU Feldkirch to five consecutive Austrian championships. His success led to him being named the permanent head coach of the Swiss national team; he had split his time between club- and country-level coaching. He led Switzerland to three Olympic Games and many World Championship appearances.
Krueger’s first NHL coaching job was with the Edmonton Oilers, for whom he began as an assistant coach in 2010. He was promoted to head coach in 2012, but he was fired after one season. After he left Edmonton, Krueger became the chairman of English Premier League side Southampton F.C. and was a key member of the club’s board until May 2019.
Krueger was appointed the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres in June 2019 but was recently fired in March 2021.
Years as a NHL coach: 2010-2021
Ralph Krueger Statistics
Deeper Dive
Coaching Career
- Duisberger SC (Player-coach) 1989-1990
- VEU Feldkirch (Head Coach) 1991-1998
- Switzerland (Head Coach) 1998-2010
- Edmonton Oilers (Assistant Coach) 2010-2012
- Edmonton Oilers (Head Coach) 2012-2013
- Buffalo Sabres (Head Coach) 2019-2021