Earlier this week, Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford gave his blessings to Dan Bylsma to go interview for NHL coaching oositions if he so chooses to. Bylsma was fired by Rutherford in June 2014, however, is still under contract to the Pens.
Bylsma is now free to roam about the continental USA in search of his next coaching conquest.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday night that Sabres GM Tin Murray will meet with Bylsma after the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Where and when isn't exactly known at this time.
Bylsma, 44, is considered to be one of the top available coaches on the market. The 2010-11 Jack Adams Award winner sat out the 2014-15 season after he was fired by the Penguins following a six-year stint with the club that included one Stanley Cup championship. He posted a 252-117-32 record (.668 win %) in 401 regular season games during his tenure in Pittsburgh with a playoff record of 43-35.
My Two Cents:
I like Bylsma. Don't love him. He isn't my first choice. I want Tim Murray to hire a teacher. Not a yeller, screamer, head game player. The Sabres are a very young team. They will be prone to making mistakes in all three zones in their maturation process.
To me, Bylsma is the type of coach you hire when your veteran team is in 10th or 9th place and you need a jockey to who your horses into shape down the home stretch. The 2015-16 Sabres will be young, skilled and very aggressive. I feel like a teacher of structure and systems is more what the Sabres need than a coach of higher end vets like Dan Bylsma is.
The mistakes will be coachable moments for one and all. That's why I prefer Luke Richardson, Guy Boucher and Pete DeBoer for the Buffalo job.