The Buffalo Sabres have hired Nashville Predators assistant Phil Housley as their new head coach, the team announced Thursday. Housley replaces Dan Bylsma, who was fired in April after an underwhelming 2016-17 season.
Buffalo Sabres hire Phil Housley as new head coach
Housley is getting his first NHL head coaching gig.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
This is the first NHL head coaching opportunity for Housley, who has spent four years as an assistant with the Predators. He’s also served as head coach for the Team USA juniors team, which won gold at the 2013 World Juniors tournament under his watch.
The hiring reunites Housley, 53, with one of the teams from his playing days. The Sabres drafted him as a defenseman with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1982 NHL entry draft. He would go on to be an immediate contributor in Buffalo, including top-five Norris Trophy finishes in 1984 and 1990.
Eventually, the Sabres traded him in 1990 to acquire Dale Hawerchuk. Housley bounced around for the remainder of his career, playing for the Jets, Blues, Flames, Devils, Capitals, Blackhawks, and Maple Leafs. He retired in 2003, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
Now Housley will get the opportunity to make an impact in the NHL as a head coach. He’s taking on a young, intriguing team with Jack Eichel as the cornerstone. The Sabres stumbled to a 33-37-12 record last season, but Eichel missed 21 games and the defense was often an issue.
If Housley can get a healthy Eichel and help make some improvements to the defense, the Sabres could take a step forward next season. Housley is one of the great American hockey players of his generation — now he’ll get to team up with Eichel to get the Sabres back on track.
See More:
