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Sabres promote Cunneyworth to player development coach

Randy Cunneyworth;

FILE - In this Dec. 17, 2011, file photo, Montreal Canadiens interim coach Randy Cunneyworth talks with players during an NHL hockey game in Montreal. The last-place Canadiens apologized to those fans upset with the team for not hiring a coach who speaks French. The apology by general manager Pierre Gauthier on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, comes two weeks after the appointment of Cunneyworth touched off a language flap. The Canadiens market themselves as French Canada’s team, and it’s been 40 years since the team last hired a coach who couldn’t speak French. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)

AP

The Buffalo Sabres have promoted former unilingual Canadiens interim coach Randy Cunneyworth from the role of pro scout to special assistant and player development coach for the Rochester Americans, the team’s AHL affiliate.

“This is an exciting opportunity to fully utilize all of Randy’s expertise as a hockey coach and mentor,” said Pat LaFontaine, the Sabres’ president of hockey operations, in a release. “Randy will work to ensure that the link between the Sabres and Amerks grows even stronger. Our goal is to make sure that the Amerks continue to thrive in developing and harnessing talent at the AHL level to be a reliable pipeline of NHL-ready players for the Sabres’ roster in the future.”

Player development is an important area for every NHL team, but even more important for rebuilding ones like the Sabres.

PS -- If you’re reading this, Randy, what’s the plan for Mikhail Grigorenko?