STOCKHOLM – Ralph Krueger sees things differently than most people.



That’s true in the grandest of schemes with his role as a motivational speaker. It’s true in hockey, too. The Sabres coach has worked all over the world, which has helped him avoid the cookie-cutter mindset that develops when people stay in one place for too long.



“I do have a different perception,” Krueger said from a glass conference room overlooking his hotel lobby. “It’s just different. I’m not saying what’s better or worse, but I definitely have developed a unique style.”



And it almost never happened. Back in 1991, Krueger was planning to get into the hotel business in Austin, Texas. But the native of Manitoba ran into visa troubles, so to bridge the time gap he took a coaching job in Austria.



“And the rest is history,” he said.



As he returns to Europe with the Sabres, Krueger is clearly savoring...