Bylsma is named coach of Sabres
The circumstances have changed for Dan Bylsma in taking over as coach of the young and rebuilding Buffalo Sabres.
The circumstances have changed for Dan Bylsma in taking over as coach of the young and rebuilding Buffalo Sabres.
The expectations have not for someone previously accustomed to coaching the Sidney Crosby-led Pittsburgh Penguins.
Bylsma's first objective is developing a winning attitude in Buffalo, on a team that has finished last in the standings in each of the last two seasons.
"The expectation for the winning culture and how we play is not going to change," Bylsma said during his inaugural news conference shortly after being hired Thursday. "And that's going to start, starting today. And it's going to continue as we go, as we develop this group."
Bylsma, 44, acknowledged it won't be an easy task for a team that lost a franchise-worst 51 games in each of its last two seasons, has purged much of its high-priced talent, and is now on its third coach since Lindy Ruff was fired in February 2013.
A week after losing out on hiring Mike Babcock, the Sabres turned their attention to another former Stanley Cup-winner to take over after Ted Nolan was fired last month. Bylsma led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup title in 2009 in his rookie season.
Sharks hire DeBoer
The San Jose Sharks officially hired former New Jersey and Florida coach Peter DeBoer to replace Todd McLellan.
The decision Thursday to hire DeBoer ended a lengthy search that started April 20, when the team and McLellan announced that he would not be back for an eighth season in San Jose. The departure was announced as a mutual agreement and McLellan was later hired as head coach in Edmonton.
General manager Doug Wilson interviewed numerous candidates before deciding on DeBoer, who has coached seven seasons in the NHL with the Panthers and Devils. His best season came in 2011-12, when he led New Jersey to the Stanley Cup Finals, where the Devils lost to Los Angeles.
That was the only time DeBoer made the playoffs in his coaching career. He was fired by the Devils in December.
DeBoer most recently served as an assistant to McLellan at the world championships, where Team Canada won the title.
DeBoer has ties to the Sharks front office. Larry Robinson was one of his assistants in New Jersey and is director of player development in San Jose after serving as an assistant to McLellan the last three seasons.