Dan Bylsma named new coach of the Buffalo Sabres

By @MichaelCaples –

Another coaching puzzle piece fell into place this afternoon, as the Buffalo Sabres formally announced that they have hired Dan Bylsma as their next head coach.

Bylsma, a native of Grand Haven, Mich., will be the 17th coach in the Sabres’ franchise history. He was the Pittsburgh Penguins’ head coach from 2008-14 before being let go at the end of last season.

He was the head coach of Team USA at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, as well.

When asked specifically about Bylsma at a press conference to announce that Mike Babcock would not be returning to Detroit, Red Wings GM Ken Holland said he would consider the Michigan native. Bylsma and Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill – also a Michigan native – were the only two coaching possibilities discussed by Holland during his media session, with Blashill the obvious frontrunner.