Bylsma - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres must find direction after firing GM Tim Murray, coach Dan Bylsma

BUFFALO – Now what? In a stunning move, general manager Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma are gone, victims of the Sabres’ last-place finish.

Tanking, gutting the roster and starting from scratch were supposed to transform the Sabres into perennial contenders.

Instead, they’ve remained a laughingstock. So on Thursday, 11 days after the Sabres completed a disappointing 78-point season in which they regressed, owner Terry Pegula fired Murray and Bylsma.

Obviously, missing the playoffs by ... Read the full article

Sabres stunner: GM Tim Murray, coach Dan Bylsma fired

BUFFALO – In a stunning move today, Sabres owner Terry Pegula fired general manager Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma.

Obviously, the wretched Sabres’ last-place finish in the Atlantic Division this season, a year they were supposed to return to the playoffs, was too much for Pegula to handle.

The move, perhaps not coincidentally, happened a day after WGR reported star center Jack Eichel wouldn’t sign a contract extension if Bylsma remained coach. Eichel’s agent ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel’s agent says client unfairly criticized, wants to stay with Sabres

BUFFALO – Center Jack Eichel’s disdain for losing was evident throughout the Sabres’ trying season.

The second-year star often looked frustrated after losses as he searched for answers. A day after the campaign ended, a restless Eichel was curt to the media. It appeared the Sabres’ last-place finish was still tormenting him.

“He’s very frustrated, and he wears his frustrations on his sleeve,” Peter Fish, Eichel’s agent, told the Times Herald by phone today. ... Read the full article

Report: Jack Eichel has ‘no desire’ for extension if Dan Bylsma remains coach

BUFFALO – Sabres center Jack Eichel has “no desire” to sign a contract extension this summer if Dan Bylsma remains coach, according to WGR’s Paul Hamilton.

The report, published this morning, comes as general manager Tim Murray is meeting with owner Terry Pegula in Florida about the Sabres’ future following a last-place finish.

Murray said last Wednesday he wanted to pursue an extension with Eichel, a young star who scored 24 goals and 57 ... Read the full article

Strong season gives Sabres’ Evander Kane value

BUFFALO – Barely a year ago, as rumors swirled the Sabres wanted to trade Evander Kane, the same question kept popping up: did the enigmatic winger possess any real value?

Kane, 25, wasn’t just coming off a disappointing 20-goal season in 2015-16. Off the ice, he partied in Toronto and missed practice, earning a one-game benching. Then in June, with the team hosting the NHL Draft, Kane was arrested.

Combine his limited production and ... Read the full article

Sabres saw late glimpses of Dmitry Kulikov’s talents

BUFFALO – Three weeks ago, after months of waiting, Sabres general manager Tim Murray finally caught some glimpses of defenseman Dmitry Kulikov’s slick talents.

First, manning a point on the power play, Kulikov fed Jack Eichel a “perfect one-time pass right on the tape,” Murray said.

“Right where it should be, and it’s a goal,” he said Wednesday during his end-of-season news conference inside KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Tim Murray takes responsibility for Sabres’ failed season

BUFFALO – Right now, just days after the Sabres ended another disappointing season in last place, Dan Bylsma is still his coach, general manager Tim Murray said.

“He’s my coach today, I’m the general manager today,” Murray said Wednesday during his end-of-season news conference inside KeyBank Center. “There’s a review top to bottom. I have to meet with ownership next week in Florida. I’m sure I’ll be reviewed, I’m sure I’m being reviewed right now, ... Read the full article

Tim Murray apologizes for Sabres’ poor season

BUFFALO – For now, after the Sabres’ disappointing last-place finish, Dan Bylsma is still coach, general manager Tim Murray said.

“He’s my coach today, I’m the general manager today,” Murray said this afternoon during his end-of-season news conference inside KeyBank Center. “There’s a review top to bottom. I have to meet with ownership next week in Florida. I’m sure I’ll be reviewed, I’m sure I’m being reviewed right now, as I should be.”

What does ... Read the full article

Johan Larsson’s absence hurt Sabres

BUFFALO – When center Johan Larsson suffered two season-ending dislocations New Year’s Eve, the Sabres quietly experienced a critical blow to their playoff hopes.

While the absences of some higher-profile forwards – Jack Eichel and Kyle Okposo, for example – garnered more attention, the Sabres struggled to replace Larsson’s tenacious two-way game.

Without Larsson, who dislocated his elbow and wrist, the Sabres became a “different team,” said Marcus Foligno, the Swede’s regular winger on ... Read the full article

Sabres missed Kyle Okposo’s leadership

BUFFALO – How valuable is Kyle Okposo to the Sabres? They went 4-11-1 without the winger in his first season here. After a mysterious illness sidelined him late, they closed the disappointing campaign 1-5.

Okposo was discharged from the Neuro Surgical ICU at Buffalo General Hospital on Friday, according to WIVB.

Sabres coach Dan Bylsma had no update on Okposo, 28, on Monday.

On the ice, Okposo compiled 19 goals and 45 points in ... Read the full article