BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Buffalo Sabres have hired Pittsburgh Penguins associate general manager Jason Botterill to oversee a franchise that owner Terry Pegula criticized for lacking structure and discipline.
Botterill takes over three weeks after Tim Murray was fired, and one day after Pittsburgh advanced to the Eastern Conference finals by defeating the Washington Capitals 2-0 in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series.
Botterill’s first priority will be hiring a coach to replace Dan Bylsma, who was also fired in Buffalo’s second front-office house-cleaning in 3 1/2 years.
The former NHL player has spent the past 10 years working up the Penguins’ executive ranks.