When Buffalo Sabres fans heard that Phil Housley would be the team’s head coach, there was much rejoicing.
After all, Housley helped the Nashville Predators develop one of the most mobile, offensively-minded blue lines in the NHL, resulting in a trip to the Stanley Cup Final last season. In addition, Housley enjoyed success at the international level, leading Team USA to the gold medal in the 2013 World Junior Championships.
And oh yeah: Housley is also a Hall of Famer who is currently the fourth-highest scoring defenseman in NHL history. When your head coach has 1,232 points on his resume, you expect him to create a defensive corps that can get the puck down ice and put points on the scoreboard.