The Buffalo Sabres have a new coach, and after much anticipation, Phil Housley is the man for the job.
Housley was originally drafted by the Sabres with the 6th overall pick in 1992. As a defenseman, Housley played eight seasons with Buffalo, before also playing for Winnipeg, St. Louis, Calgary, New Jersey, Washington, Chicago and Toronto (he played one game for the Maple Leafs).
Housley scored 1,232 points (338 goals, 894 assists) in 1,495 games throughout his career.
As an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators, he helped the defense get to where they were: in the Stanley Cup Final.
P.K. Subban had great things to say about him:
“He brings such a different element to coaching because of the player he was; he sees the game unlike probably anyone else who’s ever played the game,” Subban said. “When he talks, all that matters to me is what is coming out of his mouth.”
Now with Jason Botterill as GM and Housley as head coach, the Sabres can move on to their next task of protecting players before the expansion draft arrives.