It appears that Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, and the rest of the baby Sabres will be coached by the same man who led Sidney Crosby and Geno Malkin to their only Stanley Cup victory.
Dan Bylsma to Buffalo appears to be a tap-in putt away for the Sabres.
Per @john_wawrow Sabres and Bylsma have agreement in place. Need to finalize compensation. 3rd rounder?
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 28, 2015The Penguins did not require compensation from the New Jersey Devils to hire their former GM Ray Shero earlier this month. The Pens just wanted to move Shero's salary off their books.
Jim Rutherford will be asking for a compensatory draft choice to complete the Bylsma to Buffalo deal. The Red Wings were compensated with a third round pick in one of the next three drafts by the Toronto Maple Leafs last week. The Sabres don't have a third round draft choice in the 2015 NHL Draft, however, have four of them in 2016-17.
Regarding assistant coaches, Bylsma's assistant coaches in Pittsburgh were Tony Granato, Todd Reirden, Jacques Martin, and Mike Bales (goalies). Tim Murray and Martin have Ottawa ties. Granato was Mike Babcock's assistant in Detroit last season. Now that Babcock is the head man in Toronto, its not known if Granato will be hired to assists Babcock there.
Personally, I'd love it if Tim Murray has suggested and strongly recommended that Bylsma hires Luke Richardson to be one of his assistants in Buffalo. Luke has paid his dues in the AHL and is now ready for an NHL coaching position. Why not hire Guy Boucher to run the forwards and special teams? Archie Irbe is still under contract for one more season and will work with the Buffalo goalies, if he so chooses. Or, Irbe can skate away.
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Pens GM is also looking to add a 2015 first round draft choice.
Imagine if Murray trade his 21st overall pick and a second rounder to Pittsburgh for Marc Andre Fleury?
Or, the 21st pick, a second rounder, and Mike Weber for Brandon Sutter and a propsect?
Much more to come....