Tim Murray wants to re-brand his Buffalo Sabres as a young, skilled, fast, hard team to play against.
Murray has several rock solid prospects who possess the aforementioned attributes. Dan Bylsma will need help teaching the new culture to the youngsters.
Murray has hired two former NHLers who were the epitome of hard work and dogged determination. The Sabres have Adam Mair and Krys Barch as player development coaches.
Known as one if the grittiest, hardest working players in Sabres history, Mair rejoins the organization after spending the last 18 months as a coach with the Academy of Hockey at HARBORCENTER, where he was responsible for educating aspiring hockey players and coaches both on and off the ice through clinics, on-ice instruction and classroom teaching. Mair began his coaching career in 2012-13 as director of player development for head coach Dave Smith at Canisius College.
Mair spent 12 seasons as an energy forward in the NHL, appearing in 615 games. In addition to his seven seasons and nearly 500 games with the Sabres, he also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings, and finished his NHL career in 2010-11 as a member of the New Jersey Devils.
Here's an example of how Mair, the son of two school teachers, can break down a prospect's overall game. Here he analyzes the tendencies in the impressive work Zemgus Girgensons.
Mair will be tasked with transitioning youngsters Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Nikita Zadorov, Mark Pysyk, Jake McCabe, Nick Baptiste, Justin Bailey, J.T. Compher, Evan Rodrigues and others to the NHL level of play.
Barch will begin his post-playing career with the Sabres after spending eight seasons and 381 games in the NHL as a forward for the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils. Barch was a rough and tumble energy guy who showed zero fear in dropping his gloves to defend his teammates.
Thanks, Sabres
Congratulations to Adam Mair on joining the @BuffaloSabres as a Player Development Coach: http://t.co/gOTUe7kgVu pic.twitter.com/FqvGxmTSQR
— Academy of Hockey (@AcademyOfHockey) June 17, 2015