-Vintage Canuck- Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Sabres agree to hire coach Bylsma: BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres have reached an agreement in principle to hire former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press on Thursday. The one holdup is a discussion over whether the Penguins are due compensation from the Sabres for hiring a coach who is still under contract with Pittsburgh, the person said. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Sabres have not disclosed details of their search to replace Ted Nolan, who was fired last month. A second person familiar with the talks told the AP that the Penguins are seeking a draft pick as compensation. That person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the negotiations between the two teams are private. Though the Penguins relieved Bylsma of his duties a year ago, he is still under contract through June 2016. Last year, the NHL approved a rule requiring a team to provide a draft pick as compensation should it hire another team’s coach, general manager or president of hockey operations who is still under contract. The cost is a third-rounder if the hiring takes place during the off-season, or a second-rounder if it happens during the season. The agreement to hire Bylsma was reached after he spent a second consecutive day meeting with Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula and general manager Tim Murray in Buffalo. Bylsma, who coached the Sidney Crosby-led Penguins to the 2009 Stanley Cup championship, takes over a franchise coming off consecutive last-place finishes and attempting to rebuild through youth. He will become Buffalo’s third coach since Lindy Ruff was fired in February 2013. Bylsma spent five-plus seasons in Pittsburgh, where he won a franchise-best 252 games and was the NHL’s 2011 coach of the year, before being fired during a front-office shake-up a year ago. Buffalo was forced to restart its search last week after losing out on Mike Babcock. The former Red Wings coach turned down the Sabres’ offer to instead sign with Toronto. The New Jersey Devils are the NHL’s only other team with a coaching vacancy. Bylsma and the Sabres have several connections. The Pegulas were previously based in Pittsburgh before purchasing the Sabres in February 2011. Terry Pegula was such a Penguins fan that he named his beloved dog Sidney. Though the Penguins enjoyed plenty of regular-season success under Bylsma, they faltered in the playoffs after winning the Cup in 2009. They were twice knocked out in the first round and reached the Eastern Conference final just once more, in 2013, when they were swept by Boston. The Sabres have missed the playoffs in each of the past four seasons and haven’t won a playoff series since 2007, when Buffalo reached the Eastern Conference final. The Sabres have spent the past three seasons adding youth and stockpiling high draft picks. Buffalo has the No. 2 choice in the draft next month for the second consecutive year and is expected to select Boston University centre Jack Eichel. Bylsma got his NHL coaching break in February 2009 during his first season with the Penguins’ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton affiliate. He was promoted to Pittsburgh to replace Michel Therrien with 25 games left in the season. The Penguins finished out 18-3-4 to make the playoffs, and then went on to clinch the franchise’s third championship by defeating Detroit in Game 7 of the Cup finals. From Grand Haven, Michigan, Bylsma is a former NHL forward, who made his professional debut by playing two games with the Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester in 1992-93. After bouncing around the minors, he eventually played parts of nine seasons with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks before retiring in 2004. http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/source-sabres-agree-to-hire-coach-bylsma/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iinatcc Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Still can't believe it costs a 3rd to hire a coach that is already fired by his previous team. Hopefully New Jersey hires Tortorella so Vancouver can a 3rd round pick as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qwags Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 This could work out for Buffalo, but I don't know if the potential compensation is worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatedkid666 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 That why you always sign your coach long term. Because if u have to fire him then at least you might get a 3rd rounder out of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jägermeister Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Having to give compensation for hiring a fired coach is stupid as crap and would set a set a ridiculous precedent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I wonder how Sabrefan feels about this... As I recall, he was hoping for Richardson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tre Mac Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Lol most gms didnt even know about this loophole when they drafted up this rule. How bush league is the NHL exactly? So you fire your coach but tell him since he is still on the payroll that he can help the equipment manager until the season is done then he can answer the season ticket holder hotline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiboynux4lifee******* Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Someone hire Tortrella please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I hope Buffalo knows what they're getting out of Bylsma. For all his apparent success. one has to remember, he had a team with Crosby, Letang, Malkin, MAF and only won the cup once, after the Pens had already almost won it the year before. For all of Bylsma's vaunted record he's literally done nothing with the 2 best players in the world. I would take this as a wait and see signing as opposed to cheering wildly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuck73_3 Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I hope Buffalo knows what they're getting out of Bylsma. For all his apparent success. one has to remember, he had a team with Crosby, Letang, Malkin, MAF and only won the cup once, after the Pens had already almost won it the year before. For all of Bylsma's vaunted record he's literally done nothing with the 2 best players in the world. I would take this as a wait and see signing as opposed to cheering wildly. Well without Bylsma the Penguins have flamed out of the playoffs fast including almost missing the playoffs entirely... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonMexico Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I hope Buffalo knows what they're getting out of Bylsma. For all his apparent success. one has to remember, he had a team with Crosby, Letang, Malkin, MAF and only won the cup once, after the Pens had already almost won it the year before. For all of Bylsma's vaunted record he's literally done nothing with the 2 best players in the world. I would take this as a wait and see signing as opposed to cheering wildly. C'mon man, why are coaches never given any credit when they have a few of the top players at the time on their team? One could argue that Bylsma was able to manage the massive egos in the room enough to keep them on the same page. Not to mention, there is little chance of dynasties ever occurring like they did in the past. All the Penguins seem to be is a victim of the salary cap; which has nothing to do with coaching or the players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neversummer Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 If I was Pittsburgh, I'd give Buffalo a 3rd round pick to take Bylsma off my payroll. Whatever ... but I think this is a relatively good hire but with coaches, only time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Having to give a 3rd should only apply if he coached this season. Not a bad hiring, though I thought he'd end up in San Jose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I hope Buffalo knows what they're getting out of Bylsma. For all his apparent success. one has to remember, he had a team with Crosby, Letang, Malkin, MAF and only won the cup once, after the Pens had already almost won it the year before. For all of Bylsma's vaunted record he's literally done nothing with the 2 best players in the world. I would take this as a wait and see signing as opposed to cheering wildly. He did a great job keeping his team competitive when Crosby and Malkin were hurt, so he can certainly make a difference. If Pittsburgh had decent depth over the last few years (aside from 2013) he could've taken his team to the finals again. Hard to win with no depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apple Juice Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 C'mon man, why are coaches never given any credit when they have a few of the top players at the time on their team? One could argue that Bylsma was able to manage the massive egos in the room enough to keep them on the same page. Not to mention, there is little chance of dynasties ever occurring like they did in the past. All the Penguins seem to be is a victim of the salary cap; which has nothing to do with coaching or the players. The Penguins problem has been not having enough depth ever since 2010. With Neal, they only had 2 other high prolific scorers in Malkin and Crosby. There's no secondary scoring that Pittsburgh has and that has been their downfall and the reason why they've never made it back to the Cup Finals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyLuciano Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 What's the price point on a third or second round pick? Hire and for coaches and stack up on picks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iinatcc Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Someone hire Tortrella please If The Blues exit the first round again perhaps they will hire Torts to scare the team's core. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etsen3 Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 would laugh if he says no and goes somewhere else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I wonder how Sabrefan feels about this... As I recall, he was hoping for Richardson I don't know much about Bylsma to be honest. I've never been much of a Pittsburgh Penguins viewer. He has a history with Eichel so that's good. I was ambivalent about Richardson. I know more about him as a player than I do as a coach. I was just 80% sure that he was going to get hired because of his close connection to Murray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SabreFan1 Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 would laugh if he says no and goes somewhere else He has already signed the contract and has been announced as the new coach. http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2015/05/28/Buffalo-Sabres-agreement-former-Pittsburgh-Penguins-coach-Dan-Bylsma/stories/201505280187 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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