Sabres name Housley head coach

The Buffalo Sabres have their man.

Phil Housley has been hired as the Sabres' next head coach, replacing the fired Dan Bylsma.

Housley met with Sabres general manager Jason Botterill in Nashville on Monday, TSN's Darren Dreger reported earlier Thursday.

He spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators, helping mold their defense corps into arguably the best in the NHL.

The Hockey Hall of Famer also has a wealth of experience with USA Hockey, guiding the U.S. junior squad to a gold medal in 2013.

Housley was one of the most productive blue-liners to ever play the game, retiring with the fourth-most points by a defenseman in NHL history (1,232) and the sixth-most games played (1,495) at the position.

He played eight seasons for the Sabres from 1982-83 to 1989-90 after Buffalo selected him sixth overall in 1982.