Botterill - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres acquire Nathan Beaulieu from Canadiens

BUFFALO – The Sabres have acquired defenseman Nathan Beaulieu from the Montreal Canadiens for a third-round pick, 68th overall, in next week’s NHL draft, the team announced this afternoon.

The deal was announced about an hour before an NHL roster freeze for the upcoming expansion draft.

The Sabres need to improve their defense corps, so Jason Botterill’s first trade as general manager addressed his team’s biggest need. New coach Phil Housley, a Hall of ... Read the full article

Sabres legend Phil Housley paid many dues to become Buffalo’s coach

BUFFALO – On Thursday, Phil Housley’s 32nd wedding anniversary, he forgot to get his wife, Karin, a card. Sure enough, when the legendary Sabres defenseman returned to his room after meeting with general manager Jason Botterill, he noticed a card from her on the table.

Housley, however, never panicked. He had something better for their special day.

“I said, ‘I’m the new head coach of the Buffalo Sabres,’” Housley said Thursday during his introductory news ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Kyle Okposo ‘looking great,’ will be ready for training camp

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Kyle Okposo, who was reportedly hospitalized late last season in the neuro surgical intensive care unit at Buffalo General Hospital, will be ready for training camp, general manager Jason Botterill said.

“Everything’s looking great for Kyle,” Botterill said Thursday during an introductory news conference for coach Phil Housley inside KeyBank Center. “Physically he looks great, mentally he looks great.”... Read the full article

Phil Housley thrilled to be Sabres coach: ‘I don’t think it’s really sunk in’

BUFFALO – Today, Phil Housley’s 32nd wedding anniversary, he forgot to get his wife, Karin, a card. Sure enough, when the legendary Sabres defenseman returned to his room after meeting with general manager Jason Botterill this morning, he noticed a card from her on the table.

Housley, however, had something better for their special day.

“I said, ‘I’m the new head coach of the Buffalo Sabres,” Housley said this afternoon during his introductory news conference ... Read the full article

Sabres hire Phil Housley as coach

BUFFALO – The Sabres today hired Hall of Fame defenseman Phil Housley as the 18th head coach in team history.

Housley, 53, will be formally introduced at a 4 p.m. news conference inside KeyBank Center. He replaces Dan Bylsma, who was fired with general manager Tim Murray on April 20.... Read the full article

Reports: Sabres close to hiring Phil Housley as coach; Update: Housley officially hired

BUFFALO – The Sabres are close to hiring Hall of Fame defenseman Phil Housley as their next head coach, according to multiple reports.

Update: The Sabres have officially hired Housley. He will be introduced at 4 p.m.

Housley, an assistant with the Predators, met with the Sabres on Monday in Nashville and could be in Buffalo today, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. He tweeted the team wants to have a new coach by next Monday.... Read the full article

Report: Sabres did not contact Rick Tocchet about coaching vacancy

For weeks, Rick Tocchet and Phil Housley have been considered the leading candidates for the Buffalo Sabres’ head coaching job. But the Sabres did not contact Tocchet, who just won his second straight Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

It was widely assumed Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, an assistant GM with Pittsburgh until last month, would speak with Tocchet after the Penguins clinched Sunday.... Read the full article

Sabres re-sign goalie Linus Ullmark

BUFFALO – The Sabres have re-signed goalie Linus Ullmark to a two-year, $1.5 million contract, the team announced this afternoon.

Ullmark, 23, spent most of last season with the Rochester Americans, playing an AHL-high 55 games and just one NHL contest. He was due to become a restricted free agent.

If the Vegas Golden Knights don’t select Ullmark in the upcoming expansion draft – given the Swede has morphed into top prospect, he could be ... Read the full article

Report: Panthers set to hire former Sabre Bob Boughner

Scratch one coaching candidate off the list for the Buffalo Sabres.

The Florida Panthers are close to hiring San Jose Sharks assistant coach and former Sabres defenseman Bob Boughner, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie. That would leave the Sabres, who reportedly interviewed Boughner, as the only NHL team without a head coach.

The Sabres want to interview Nashville Predators assistant coach Phil Housley and Pittsburgh Penguins assistants Rick Tocchet and Jacques Martin following the ... Read the full article

Report: Sabres prospect Rasmus Asplund to stay in Sweden next season

Rasmus Asplund, perhaps the Buffalo Sabres’ top center prospect, will play in Sweden again next season.

The Sabres, who recently hired general manager Jason Botterill and still need to find a coach, want contract flexibility, Asplund, 19, told Värmlands Folkblad, a Swedish news service.

So the 33rd overall pick in 2016 will play a fourth pro season with Färjestad BK, a team in the Swedish Hockey League.... Read the full article