Penguins/NHL
Dan Bylsma has emerged as the Buffalo Sabres No. 1 choice to be their next head coach and whether Bylsma is going to become the Sabres next head coach should be known in the next 24 hours. Bylsma is in Buffalo today with the intentions of both sides finalizing a deal for Bylsma to become the Sabres head coach. Negotiations between the Sabres and Bylsma representative Lewis Gross began Tuesday evening.
If a deal falls apart and you never know in this business, it appears for now it will be Buffalo or nothing for Bylsma following the Sharks hiring of Pete DeBoer.
Bylsma does not have interest in coaching the New Jersey Devils, those in the coaching fraternity say of Bylsma, due to belief the Devils are not looking to pay top dollar for a coach and concerns about job security.
Bylsma is scheduled to earn around $2.3 million from the Penguins this coming season if he is not hired by another NHL team and is believed to be seeking around $3 million per season in talks with the Sabres.
The Penguins do not plan to demand compensation for Bylsma if it were to be a sticking point in him getting hired, sources say.
