On the Buffalo Sabres …
John Vogl of the Buffalo News: New Sabres GM Jason Botterill met with their scouting last week. Five people from the scouting department have been let go.
Botterill is looking to have 12 to 15 amateur scouts and four or five pro scouts. Pittsburgh Penguins director of amateur scouting Randy Sexton could join Botterill in Buffalo according to Chuck Gormley on twitter. Botterill can bring people over from the Penguins but it has to be a ‘promotion’ and not a lateral move.
John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Botterill plans on having a head coach in place by the draft.
“I don’t know who I want,” Botterill said. “I don’t have a specific name. I know there’s certainly people I want to talk to and have dialogue.”
Two potential coaching candidates are still in the playoffs – Phil Housley with the Predators and Rick Tocchet with the Penguins.
Botterill will let the new coach decide on assistant coaches – Terry Murray, Bob Woods, Tom Ward and goaltending coach Andrew Allen.
John Vogl of the Buffalo News: Viktor Antipin said he’s coming to Buffalo, but GM Botterill couldn’t confirm.
“I can’t officially say anything in that regards just yet, but I think I’m excited about the possibility,” Botterill said.
The 24-year old Antipin should be battling for a top-four role on the Sabres blueline.
“He’s a type of player that this organization needs to find a way to bring more in,” Botterill said. “We’ve got to improve our defense around here. We’ve got to improve the puck-moving ability of it, and I think it was a great job by Tim Murray and his staff to look at these different things, look at whether it’s a Casey Nelson a couple years ago from college free agency, the staff looking over to Europe for different options.”