The Buffalo Sabres‘ search for a new general manager continues.
There are at least seven people who the Sabres have permission to, or already have, interviewed for their vacant GM position, according to Elliotte Friedman.
The list of candidates includes current Calgary Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy as well as two people from the Pittsburgh Penguins organization: Jason Botterill, the associate general manager, and assistant GM Bill Guerin.
Also included on the list is Paul Fenton (Nashville Predators), Tom Fitzgerald (New Jersey Devils), Michael Futa (Los Angeles Kings) and Bill Zito (Columbus Blue Jackets)
The search, however, continues and is not limited to the seven listed above.
“The other name I’m hearing is — maybe not for GM but possibly for another role in the organization — is Ed Olczyk of NBC Sports,” said Friedman on Saturday Headlines. “His son played at Penn State where the Pegulas restarted the hockey program. I think it’s possible that he could have some kind of role there.”
Olczyk is a former player and coach with over two decades of experience in the NHL.
As a player, he played 20 seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings, and compiled 794 points over 1,031 games.
His coaching career only lasted a season and a half when he was the bench boss of the Penguins in 2003-04 and 2005-06. He failed to make the playoffs in his only full season as head coach when he won just 23 games in 2003.
The Sabres have been without a general manager and head coach since Apr. 20 when owner Terry Pegula fired both Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma.
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