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Buffalo Sabres Links: Trade Targets, NHL Coaches

By Melissa Kania

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With just over four months before the Buffalo Sabres return to the ice, there remain a lot of questions surrounding the organization. GM Tim Murray’s plan for the franchise appears to be taking shape, but the team still needs a head coach, goaltending, and there’s also the matter of the upcoming NHL Draft, which can shake things up in a big way.

Aside from the draft and free agency, one method by which we could see a lot of shakeup this offseason with the Buffalo Sabres: trades.

This piece from The Hockey Writers highlights just a few of potential trade targets for the Buffalo Sabres this offseason, including goaltenders such as Jimmy Howard and Cam Talbot.

Of course, there’s also the chance that the time finally comes when the Sabres pick up Ryan O’Reilly, which has been rumored for quite a while. Other tempting free agent targets will make this an interesting couple months.

There’s also some interesting space surrounding the Buffalo Sabres’ search for a new head coach, as well as head coaching jobs throughout the NHL.

As more and more teams continue to fill in the blank space for next season, the list of potential candidates for the Sabres narrows.

One name that’s now off the list: Ken Hitchcock, who signed a one-year contract extension with the St. Louis Blues this week.

Though I’m not sure that Hitchcock would have come to Buffalo, nor was he really even in the rumor mill of it, this is just one more candidate that will not be an option for Buffalo. On the flip side, it means one less team in the market for a new coach.

Aside from the Sabres, there are still three other NHL teams looking for a new bench boss: New Jersey, San Jose and Detroit.

Recent reports have indicated that the Sabres are meeting with Dan Bylsma this week, though that’s still no confirmation that he’ll be the one behind the bench next season. The Sabres had to receive permission from the Pittsburgh Penguins to speak to Bylsma, as he’s still under contract with them for two years.

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It’s also been rumored that the Devils are seeking permission to interview Bylsma. If he did go to the Devils, Bylsma would be reunited with his good pal Ray Shero. (Though to be fair, this relationship may also be the source of the rumors of NJ’s interest in him.)

In non-Sabres coaching news, we’ve already heard that the Flyers hired UND coach Dave Hakstol to be their new bench boss. What we now know, however, is that Hakstol now owes UND $100,000 as a result.

According to the Grand Folks Herald, Hakstol had an NHL clause in his contract with UND, specifying a penalty fee of $100,000 for leaving the UND position prior to June 30, 2015 for an NHL head coaching job.

Hakstol’s contract also included penalties for leaving to coach a minor league team, an assistant NHL gig or another NCAA team. He had three years left on the contract, and the penalties decreased each subsequent year.

It’s just quite interesting to see what other teams come up with when creating contracts.

The 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs continue tonight with game six between the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks. If Anaheim wins, they’ll move on to the Stanley Cup Final. If Chicago wins, they force a game seven to be held Saturday.

The New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning will face off in their own game seven on Friday. There are no games in the NHL on Thursday.

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