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The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team has hired Phil Housley as the 18th head coach in franchise history. The Hockey Hall of Famer and former Sabres defenseman becomes the seventh alumnus to serve as the team’s head coach.
The Sabres will introduce Housley at a 4pm press conference today.
I'm felling very nostalgic because I covered Housley and the Sabres from 1986-1990. "Wowie" was as electric a player as Gilbert Perreault was. He brought fans to their feet when he grabbed the puck and started wheeling.
Housley joins the Sabres after helping to guide the Nashville Predators to their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history. Named an assistant coach on May 22, 2013, Housley was a driving force behind one of the NHL’s best defensive groups throughout his tenure.
“Based on his experience as a player and coach, we think Phil is uniquely qualified to be our head coach and to help us achieve our organizational goals,” said Sabres General Manager Jason Botterill. “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 in the future.”
Today is the 32nd wedding anniversary of Housley and his wife, Karin.
Thanks, Sabres PR
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Im a bit shocked to learn from a Darren Dreger tweet that the Buffalo Sabres did not contact Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach Rick Tocchet about Dan Bylsma's old job. One thought that the Jason Botterill relationship with Tocchet would have at the very least earned Tocchet a face to face interview.
The Sabres had no comment on the Dreger tweet.
Tocchet, 53, is a three time Stanley Cup champion. He's earned two straight Cups as Mike Sullivan's right hand man in Pittsburgh, where he runs the forward group and power play units.
Tocchet's omission from the head coaching candidate list gives Nashville Predators assistant coach Phil Housley, 53, the cat bird's seat to be the successor to Bylsma.
Botterill has said his goal is to complete his search this week.
I have a source who tells me that Housley was in Buffalo in Wednesday.
Housley is the People's Choice to be the new head coach for the Sabres. Buffalo nostalgia aside, Sabres fans have done their homework and the conclude that Housley can immediately make the Buffalo D corps a more respectable unit. Housley's finger prints are all over the Nashville Predators D corps and its development into one of the top three units in the NHL. It's amazing that Housley has been able to overcome the loss of lynch pin, bedrock D Shea Weber and has bonded his group into one of the most formidable units in the NHL. Housley isn't just a defensive guru. He loves to play north-south hockey, withmoave qnd physicality, too.
Twenty seven years ago tomorrow, Housley was traded from Buffalo to Winnipeg for Dale Hawerchuk and a 1990 1st round pick (#14) which the Sabres used to select Rick Tocchet clone and power winger Brad May from the Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL).
Winnipeg received Housley, Scott Arniel, Jeff Parker and a 1990 1st round pick (#19) that theJest used to draft Keith Tkachuk with.
Botterill recently interviewed former Philadelphia Flyers head coach and Craig Berube and former Erie Otters (OHL) head coach Kris Knoblach. He also reportedly spoke with NY Rangers assistant S ott Arniel. Im told that Berube and Knoblach were being considered for the Rochester Amerks head coaching vacancy. Botterill has also reportedly spoken with Detroit Red Wings assistant coach and former Amerk Doug Houda for the Rochester head coaching gig. I'm told that Botterill will also be speaking with his former Amerks teammate Chris Taylor, currently an assistant with the Wilkes Barre Scrantin Penguins.
Botterill said at his introductory presser that He would like to have his new Sabres head coach in place by the time the NHL Entry Draft begins on June 23rd in Chicago.
Phil Housley is hockey royalty in Buffalo, NY. "Wowie Housley" took Buffalo by storm when Scotty Bowman drafted him straight out of high school to play for the Sabres in the first round (6th overall) in 1982.
Housley has run the Nashville Predators D corps like the conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The Preds defenders are on the score sheet every game because Housley has given them the green light to attack on every shift.
A few years ago, "Wowie" was coaching high school puck in Minnesota. He's a great coach and has proven that he can earn the respect of NHL players.
“Any time your name gets thrown out there, it just shows that a lot of people have respect for the work you’ve done,” Housley said.
Housley was the Erik Karlsson and Drew Doughty were of his era in the 1980s and '90s. He has forgotten more about creating offense from defense than the majority of the NHL will ever know.
“Everybody has goals in life, whether you’re a player or a coach. I have those inside of me and what I want to do, but right now I’m really enjoying coaching in Nashville,” Housely said. “It’s a great city. The fans are unbelievable, as you saw in our series, and it’s an exciting time right now for the Nashville Predators.”
Housleyplayed 20 seasons in the NHL from 1982-2003. His career path took him from the Buffalo Sabres to Winnipeg to St. Louis to Calgary to New Jersey to Washington to Chicago and Toronto.
Housley is the second leading scorer amongst U.S.A. native NHL players. "Wowie" accumulated 1,232 points on 338 goals, 894 assists. Housley held the record for most points by an American-born NHL player until Mike Modano broke his record in 2007.
Housley played more NHL games without winning the Stanley Cup than any player in NHL history.
More to come....
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