Sabres coach hires former NHL players Terry Murray, Dave Barr to coaching staff

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Sabres coach Dan Bylsma says former NHL players Terry Murray and Dave Barr will be joining Buffalo's coaching staff.

Bylsma announced the hires Thursday during the team's pre-draft news conference.

Murray, 64, is the uncle of Sabres general manager Tim Murray. He has previously been the head coach of the Washington Capitals (1989-94), Philadelphia Flyers (1994-97), Florida Panthers (1998-2001) and the Los Angeles Kings (2008-12). He was most recently head coach of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of American Hockey League.

Barr, 54, had been an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils since 2011. He has also coached for the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild.

Bylsma was hired by the Sabres last month. He says he is still evaluating the coaches he inherited, including goalies coach Artus Irbe, and hasn't yet made a decision on the rest of his staff positions.