The “interim” has been taken off Ted Nolan’s job title.
The 55-year-old coach, in his second stint as Buffalo head coach signed a contract extension Monday and will remain head coach after serving as the interim head coach since November 13.
General manager Tim Murray had the following to say about Nolan via the team’s website:
“We are very happy to get this deal done and have Ted Nolan as our permanent head coach going forward,” Murray said. “Teddy has proven time and again that he is an exceptional leader, motivator and teacher. He is exactly what we need in a head coach for our hockey team and we’re confident in his ability to guide our players and turn this team around.”
“I said back in November that it was a dream to be able to come back and coach the Sabres and that’s still true today,” Nolan said. “Hockey is my life and Buffalo is a special place for hockey. I’m excited by the challenge facing our team and our organization and I’m truly thankful to have this opportunity.”
Bob McKenzie of TSN is reporting the extension to be three years but the details are being finalized by lawyers.
The Sabres still have the worse record in the league, as they started 4-15-1 under former coach Ron Rolston but have improved to 16-30-8 since Nolan took over. Seeing what Nolan did with Latvia during the Olympics, the Sabres brass realized he is the perfect man to mold young talent into a team for the future. One example of such is forward Tyler Ennis. Ennis has scored 17 of his 19 goals this season with Nolan behind the bench. “I think he’s brought back a little bit more competitiveness and a little bit more confidence than I’ve had in past years,” Ennis said. “I kind of was slumping a bit before he came in and he’s helped me a lot.”
As for veterans, he currently has Drew Stafford, Christian Ehrhoff and Henrik Tallinder as his leaders currently. Only Tallinder is set to hit free agency this summer. After unloading Ryan Miller at the trade deadline, they have two cheaper options in goal with Jonas Enroth and Michal Neuvirth. Both are UFA’s in 2015 so expect next season both goalies to compete for a starting position and should one of them struggle that guy would be subject to departure at the trade deadline.
