Former Rockets coach, Lambert, let go by AHL Rochester
The winds of change in Buffalo left Dan Lambert out of a job on Friday.
Lambert was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres’ farm team, the AHL’s Rochester Americans, after only one season in charge with a record of 32-41-0-3.
Lambert was hired in July 2015 as an assistant for the NHL’s Sabres, serving under head coach Dan Bylsma, who was fired last month along with general manager Tim Murray.
New GM Jason Botterill, hired from the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this month, announced the decision to part ways with Lambert.
“I would like to thank Dan for his hard work and contributions to our organization during the last two seasons and I wish him the best in the future,” Botterill said in a brief news release. “I felt this was the right move for both the Sabres and Amerks and we will begin the process of searching for a new head coach immediately.”
The Sabres have yet to name Bylsma’s replacement, but the entire organization is being overhauled following another disappointing season in missing the playoffs at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Prior to joining the Sabres, Lambert had a successful six-year run with the Rockets — highlighted by guiding Kelowna to the 2015 WHL championship and Memorial Cup final in his only season as head coach. Lambert spent the previous five campaigns as an assistant and associate coach under Ryan Huska.
Following a successful 19-year pro career as an offensive-minded defenceman, including a decade in Germany, Lambert retired in 2009 and immediately joined Kelowna’s staff.
Lambert became Huska’s right-hand man over the next five seasons and was promoted to head coach in June 2014 when Huska left to join the Calgary Flames’ organization as head coach of their AHL affiliate.
Lambert also got head-coaching experience with Hockey Canada, manning the bench at World Under-17 Challenge tournaments in 2014 and 2015.
He was recruited into coaching by Rockets assistant general manager Lorne Frey, having previously won a Memorial Cup together with the Swift Current Broncos in 1989 when Lambert was named the tournament MVP in Saskatoon. Frey doubled as an assistant coach and assistant GM for that team.