After missing out on Mike Babcock, the Buffalo Sabres are moving on and continuing their head coach search. That search now turns to Dan Bylsma who is expected to meet with the team this week. The Sabres already received permission to speak with Bylsma from the Pittsburgh Penguins (Bylsma was fired by the Penguins, but is still on their payroll as his contract ran through next year) and it’s believed Bylsma may be a solid fit for the roster.
Bylsma may even be a natural fit for the incoming Jack Eichel, according to Sportsnet:
Friedman mentioned that Bylsma could appeal to the Sabres because he worked with highly-touted draft prospect Jack Eichel as assistant for Team USA at the 2015 world championships in Czech Republic. The Sabres own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft and they are widely expected to select Eichel.
Sabres fans may be disappointed the organization missed out on Babcock, but Bylsma isn’t a bad option. In fact, he’s a terrific option and should come at a lower cost. Bylsma took last year off and should come back recharged and ready to turn things around in Buffalo. He was 252-117-32 during the regular season and 43-35 in the playoffs with the Penguins. Bylsma has his critics, but he’d represent a big upgrade behind the bench for the Sabres.
