On Thursday, Buffalo filled out Dan Bylsma’s coaching staff by adding two assistants -- Terry Murray, the uncle of Sabres GM Tim Murray, and former New Jersey Devils assistant Dave Barr.
The Murray hire is an intriguing one. The 64-year-old veteran bench boss is highly regarded in NHL circles, having spent time as a head coach in Washington, Philadelphia, Florida and Los Angeles.
Most recently, he served as Philly’s AHL coach in Lehigh Valley and was thought to be a leading candidate -- if not a lock -- for an assistant gig with the Flyers under new head coach Dave Hakstol.
“Obviously, if there were another head-coaching position with another team in the NHL, I would want to do that,” Murray said in late May. “I’m also very realistic where things are in the game and my age now and years of experience I have in the game as a head coach.
“Would I embrace an assistant’s role? Absolutely.”
Well, Murray certainly embraced the assistant’s role... just in a different city than most expected.very puzzling. Terry Murray seemed all but locked in to join Hakstol’s staff weeks ago and now BUF has hired him
— Tim Panaccio (@tpanotchCSN) June 18, 2015
As for Barr, the 54-year-old is a veteran of over 600 games and has a wealth of experience as an NHL assistant, having served in that role for the Devils, Wild and Avalanche. He was dismissed by then-New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello midway through last season, along with Peter DeBoer.