Sabres hire Housley as head coach

Phil Housley began his Hall of Fame playing career in Buffalo. It is also where he will open his NHL head-coaching career after being hired by the Sabres on Thursday.

Housley’s hiring completes an off-season overhaul for the Sabres in replacing coach Dan Bylsma, who was fired along with general manager Tim Murray in April.

He represents the first significant move made by first-time general manager Jason Botterill, who took over the job last month.

Housley inherits a team that stagnated under Murray in extended its franchise-worst playoff drought to six seasons. With a 33-37-12 record, Buffalo finished last in the Atlantic Division, 26th overall, and with two fewer wins than last season. Housley has spent the past four years as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators. He is credited for overseeing a highly skilled and speedy group of defencemen that helped Nashville make its first Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history.

“Based on his experience as a player and coach, we think Phil is uniquely qualified to be our head coach and help us achieve our organizational goals,” Botterill said. “His approach to the game aligns with the way we envision our hockey team playing, and we’re excited to see where his leadership will take us.” It’s a home coming for Housley, who was selected with the No. 6 pick in the 1982 draft by Buffalo and spent his first eight of his 21 NHL seasons playing for the Sabres.