BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres are not renewing the contract of associate coach Brian McCutcheon, though they haven’t ruled out the possibility of him returning in another role.
General manager Darcy Regier calls the move one that’s best for the organization in a release issued by the team Thursday. McCutcheon has been a Sabres assistant since 2000, and served as coach Lindy Ruff’s top assistant for the past five seasons.
He previously spent three seasons as coach of the Sabres minor league affiliate, AHL Rochester.
Regier says he has “not closed the doors” on McCutcheon.
One possibility is McCutcheon returning to the AHL. The Sabres are in need of a minor-league coach after Kevin Dineen was hired by the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.