Buffalo Sabres Rumors: Dan Bylsma’s Not Your Coach, Yet

The Buffalo Sabres got a little carried away when they were interviewing Mike Babcock for their vacant head coaching position.  Terry Pegula and Tim Murray were already to roll out the red carpet down Washington Street to the foot of First Niagara Center when it was announced that Mike Babcock told the Buffalo Sabres hey thanks, but I am moving to Toronto.

Now the Buffalo Sabres coaching search continues and the team has set it sights on former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma.  Of course, you don’t want to count your chickens before they are hatched.

Bylsma is still on the payroll of the Pittsburgh Penguins, so the Sabres had to ask for permission.  Permission that has also been granted to the New Jersey Devils and the San Jose Sharks.

Let’s run down the facts here once again – what job is more appealing?  The New Jersey Devils might be on the verge of a serious rebuild, the San Jose Sharks don’t know how to get over the hump, and the Buffalo Sabres are starting over.

I mean seriously, does anyone expect the Buffalo Sabres to win anything next year? Certainly they will be a better hockey club, but it will take more than a year to get things going back on track.  They are pretty much a decent rookie franchise at this point.

If Dan Bylsma does become your coach for all the right reasons, lets wait until the pen actually touches paper to say that you have an agreement in place, or to even plan a press conference.

Is Dan Bylsma a good fit for the Buffalo Sabres?

The other question you have to ask, is Dan Bylsma a good fit for the Buffalo Sabres?

Greg Wysh over at Puck Daddy seems to think the St. Louis Blues are the best fit for Bylsma:

I still think the St. Louis Blues are the most interesting fit for Bylsma, based on personnel and his reputation for taking over a very good team and making it a champion. But it sounds like Ken Hitchcock will be staying on for next season, even if they totally would have pushed him upstairs for Babcock.

If that is the case, wouldn’t Byslma want the chance to grab a team that is lower in the standings?  I mean in politics if your candidate isn’t doing a good job your going to blame the previous guy for screwing it up so much you couldn’t fix it right? Or if you walk in after a good run and even if you are the reason they get over the hump and win it all – you could still hear the naysayers going, well so-and-so laid the ground work.

With the Buffalo Sabres you have a clean slate.  For the most part your roster is full of talented players that haven’t accomplished much at the NHL level.

Clean slate Dan Byslma – you want another Cup?

Next: Life After Mike Babcock

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