Buffao Sabres hire Jason Botterill as new general manager

The Buffalo Sabres have hired former player and Pittsburgh Penguins Associate General Manager Jason Botterill as their new general manager.

The Buffalo Sabres have hired Jason Botterill to be the eighth general manager in team history. Botterill replaces Tim Murray, who was fired along with head coach Dan Bylsma on April 20. After retiring from playing in 2004, Botterill transitioned to the front office. Since June 2014, Botterill served as the associate general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Botterill was drafted in the first round of the 1994 NHL draft by the Dallas Stars. After winning a national championship with Michigan, Botterill turned pro in 1997. Throughout his career, Botterill bounced between the NHL and AHL playing for the Stars, Calgary Flames, Atlanta Thrashers, and Sabres.

After retiring, Botterill returned to Michigan to get his MBA. Botterill worked the NHL for a season before taking a scouting job with the Stars. After a year with the Stars, Botterill joined the Penguins front office as their director of hockey administration. In 2009, the Penguins promoted Botterill to assistant general manager.

Botterill’s first order of business will be hiring a new head coach. Sabres owner Terry Pegula fired Bylsma after a disappointing 33-37-12 season. The Sabres have not made the playoffs since the 2010-11 season. Buffalo will likely wait until the conclusion of the Stanley Cup playoffs to hire a new head coach. Botterill is expected to interview Penguins assistant coach Rick Tocchet and Nashville’s Phil Housley.

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In addition to hiring a new head coach, Botterill must prepare for the NHL expansion draft. Teams must choose what players they will leave exposed and picked by the Las Vegas expansion team. Afer the expansion draft, Botterill must prepare for the NHL draft on June 23 and the start of free agency on July 1.