Sabres fire Dan Bylsma and Tim Murray

The Buffalo Sabres have fired both head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Tim Murray. 

The Buffalo Sabres are coming off three consecutive disappointing seasons. Changes were expected this offseason for them. However, no one expected them to completely overhaul their coaching staff and front office. This is the route the Sabres have chosen, as they have fired both head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Tim Murray. The latter had just signed an extension in October.

This is a very surprising move. The Sabres owners, the Pegula’s, also own the Buffalo Bills. Considering they’re already paying Rex Ryan a ton of money to not coach, it’s shocking they’re willing to do it with another team.

However, perhaps this is a necessary change. Clearly what the Sabres are doing isn’t working at all. Murray hasn’t given Bylsma the proper talent. Moreover, the coach hasn’t been able to help the team improve. There are also reports star center Jack Eichel didn’t want Bylsma as his head coach. To his credit, the center denied those claims yesterday. However, it’s hard to deny Eichel’s at time rocky relationship with Bylsma had something to do with his firing.

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Moving forward, the Sabres must get their next hires right. They can’t afford to waste any more seasons from Eichel. Buffalo has a rich owner who is willing to spend money to bring in talent. They struck out on Mike Babcock in 2015 and are now regretting it. Expect Dean Lombardi to be a serious candidate to replace Murray.

He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings. Lombardi recently got let go after his team missed the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Darryl Sutter could be a coaching candidate if the Sabres go that route.