The Buffalo Sabres are reportedly set to name Dan Bylsma as their new head coach.
Bylsma, the former coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been in Buffalo since Wednesday. The Buffalo News reported Thursday that the only holdup to a press conference to make the announcement official is possible compensation to the Penguins.
Pittsburgh fired Bylsma, as well as general manager Ray Shero, last May in a housecleaning after a disappointing playoff exit. Bylsma, who led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup title in the spring of 2009 after taking over behind the bench midseason, still has one year remaining on his contract with Pittsburgh.
Since the Penguins are still paying Bylsma, the Sabres would apparently owe Pittsburgh a draft pick as compensation.
Bylsma spent the 2014-15 season out of the NHL and most recently served as an assistant coach for the United States at the recently completed 2015 World Hockey Championship in the Czech Republic.
In addition to the Sabres, it has been reported that the New Jersey Devils wanted to speak with Bylsma about their coaching vacancy. With New Jersey, he would be reunited with Shero, who was named the Devils' general manager earlier this month.
Bylsma guided the Penguins to a record of 252-117-32 with four 100-point seasons and six playoff berths during his tenure, earning the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach in 2011. However, after the Pens won the Stanley Cup in the spring of 2009, the club won just four playoff series in the subsequent five seasons and twice lost a series in which the club held a 3-1 advantage.
The Sabres need a replacement for Ted Nolan, who was fired in April after the team finished with the fewest points in the NHL for a second year in a row.
[SportsNetwork.com]
