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Sabres name assistant coach Lambert AHL Rochester bench boss

Seattle Thunderbirds v Kelowna Rockets

KELOWNA, CANADA - JANUARY 16: Head coach Dan Lambert of Kelowna Rockets speaks to a referee at the whistle during third period against the Seattle Thunderbirdson January 16, 2015 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

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Buffalo made a coaching change at the American League level on Monday, moving Dan Bylsma’s assistant -- Dan Lambert -- to the head coaching gig down in AHL Rochester, where he’ll replace Randy Cunneyworth.

“We had a plan in place going into last season to eventually promote Dan to head coach of the Americans and transition Randy back to player development,” Sabres GM Tim Murray said in a release. “With his experience as a Sabres assistant last season, we felt Dan was ready to take on the added responsibility of being a head coach and implementing our organizational philosophy in Rochester.”

Lambert, 46, joined the Sabres last season to reconnect with Bylsma. Lambert and Bylsma were teammates in both the AHL and IHL in the early- to mid-90’s and, when Bylsma was out of coaching two years ago, Lambert brought him on board to serve as a guest coach in WHL Kelowna.

With today’s move(s), there is a position on Bylsma’s staff at the NHL level that needs to be filled. Given the fluidity of the coaching market in the last few weeks, it’ll be curious to see who Buffalo targets for the job.

The Sabres were reportedly interested in ex-Sens assistant Luke Richardson prior to hiring Bylsma, but it’s believed Richardson wants a head coaching gig, not an assistant’s position.

What’s more, he’s believed to be in the running for the vacant Anaheim gig.