Phil Housley named Buffalo Sabres head coach

The Buffalo Sabres have unveiled former player Phil Housley as their new head coach, replacing Dan Bylsma after just two seasons.

Phil Housley, 53, joins the Buffalo Sabres after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant coach with the Stanley Cup runner-up Nashville Predators.

This will be Housley’s first professional head coaching role and Sabres fans will be eager to see how a former player performs on the bench.

The Saint Paul, Minnesota native was drafted sixth overall by the Sabres in the 1982 draft, spending eight years as a high-scoring defenceman in Buffalo.

More from Buffalo Sabres

• Buffalo Sabres and Victor Olofsson making progress on contract extension
• Buffalo Sabres still need goaltender help despite re-signing Anderson
• Buffalo Sabres: Time to close book on the Jack Eichel chapter
• Buffalo Sabres receiving interest in members of defensive core
• Buffalo Sabres focused on youth during another disastrous season

Housley spent further seasons with the Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs, but it was with Buffalo that he made his name.

In the 2007/08 season, Housley was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the 2015/16 season.

After hanging up his skates, Housley took a head coaching role with Stillwater High School and stayed there for nine seasons, until joining the Predators as an assistant coach.

During his time with Stillwater and Nashville, Housley has coached with the USA Under-20 and men’s national teams, gaining further experience with the goal of building towards an NHL coaching role.

His time with the US national set-ups saw Housley earn a gold medal at the World Junior Championships and a bronze medal at the World Championships in the 2012/13 season.

With plenty of experience as both a player and assistant coach in the NHL, the time seems right for him to return to the Sabres and take up the mantle of head coach, with hopes of turning the team’s fortunes around.

Having a hall of fame playing career could help Housley connect with his players, who will no doubt respect what he was able to achieve, particularly for the Sabres, and he can impart his knowledge on to them.

Next: Too soon for the Sabres to give up on Reinhart

What do you think of Phil Housley’s appointment as Buffalo Sabres head coach? Let us know in the comments section below!