Tampa (WBEN) - As the Buffalo Sabres continue a slide and watch any hopes of making the NHL playoffs fade, General Manager Jason Botterill made a rare appearance with reporters on an off day and indicated Head Coach Phil Housley's job is safe.
Botterill told reporters, "I think the coaching staff has done a very good job". "There's not going to be a coaching change", Housley stated.
On the fans wanting a coaching change:
"They want a coaching change? No. We've made progress as an organization compared to last year. We're in a position where we've been in games. I see the results on the ice. I see the communication we're going through here. There's not going to be a coaching change."
On the trade deadline:
"We've had a lot of conversations going on. Whether those things come to fruition, that's always hard to predict. Sometimes you look at the draft and things move into July 1st, and then things move in the summer. Can't predict when it's going to happen. We continue to look at different ways to improve our team."
His assessment of the current roster:
"We're putting players in roles that they're not used to. Some nights they'll succeed in those roles, and some nights not. You've seen our blueprint. You've seen when we play well, we've played assertive in the offensive zone, got in front of the net. Played good defensive hockey. We've received results winning hockey games. Just haven't done that on a consistent basis."
On the tumble from 1st in the NHL to the current position in the standings: