Nashville Predators assistant coach and former Buffalo Sabre Phil Housley has been linked to the head coach job in Buffalo since general manager Jason Botterill was hired in May. With his team’s season on the precipice this evening, Botterill may not have to wait long to finally get his interview with with Hockey Hall of Famer. What’s even more interesting though, is that the Sabres are also reportedly interested in two veteran assistant coaches from the other bench: The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rick Tocchet and Jacques Martin.
Both have the edge over Housley in that they have prior NHL head coaching experience. Martin has nearly 20 years experience in the NHL as a head coach, while Tocchet spent two turbulent seasons behind the bench in Tampa Bay. Housley, to his credit, has done a tremendous job in Nashville the past four seasons and is certainly deserving of a head coaching position.
It will be interesting to see how Botterill and the Sabres management group decides to address their coaching staff this offseason. While the team is young and and still in a developmental phase, an experienced head coach like Martin may help them reach a new level. On the other hand, a younger coach like Housley, eager to prove himself on the big stage, may be the perfect fit for the upstart Sabres. Stay tuned.
