Buffalo Sabres Give Pittsburgh Penguins A 2016 Third Round Draft Choice For The Right To Hire Dan Bylsma

After searching nearly 1 and a half months, the Buffalo Sabres finally have their man, as they named Dan Bylsma their head coach on Thursday.

ESPN is reporting that the Sabres are sending a third-round pick to Pittsburgh, as Bylsma was still under contract through 2016 with the Penguins despite having been dismissed as their coach prior to the start of last season.

This is the second year of the rule, which requires compensation to be sent to a team that loses a key member of their management team provided that member is under contract.

“Last year, the NHL approved a rule requiring a team to provide a draft pick as compensation should it hire another team’s coach, general manager or president of hockey operations who is still under contract. The cost is a third-rounder if the hiring takes place during the offseason or a second-rounder if it happens during the season.”

NHL.com reports that the Sabres will keep their own third round selection in 2016, but must surrender the higher draft choice that originally belonged to the New York Islanders or Vancouver Canucks. The Sabres received those two picks as part of previous trades.

Bylsma, who replaces Ted Nolan, received a five-year contract. He is the Sabres’ third head coach since the organization fired Lindy Ruff in 2013, and 17th head coach all-time — this does not include coaches that have had multiple stints with the franchise.

Bylsma, 44, spent six seasons in Pittsburgh and led the team to the 2009 Stanley Cup. Overall, he posted a 252-117-32 regular season record with the Penguins but had a losing record in the playoffs (43-45).

While Bylsma was not the Sabres first choice — the team heavily pursued Mike Babcock, who ultimately decided to go with the Toronto Maple Leafs — he has always been the right choice, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

“Bylsma has the experience of coaching just-entering-the-league superstars (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin). That’s a bonus for Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and others.

He knows how to win. He reached 250 wins faster than any coach in NHL history.

He has won a Stanley Cup. Promoted from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in mid-stream following the firing of Michel Therrien in February of 2009, he guided the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup. Had his goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, not become ordinary every spring, the Penguins maybe would have at least one more ring.”

The Sabres have not reached the playoffs since 2011 and have finished with the worst record in the league the past two seasons. The Sabres are very young but do have some talent, including projected 2015 first round selection (No. 2 overall) Eichel. Tyler Ennis, Zemgus Girgensons, Marcos Foligno, Nikita Zadorov, Reinhart, and Evander Kane are among the group of talented youngsters.
“I’m here to develop a winning culture and a winning team,” Bylsma said. “There is a bright future ahead of this team. A lot of young, great hockey players here and on the way … a fan base that’s passionate about the game of hockey.”

From one head coach to another, welcome to the #OneBuffalo family! #Sabres #WelcomeDanhttps://t.co/tWiCMRZKMi

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) May 28, 2015