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Report: Sabres, Bylsma agree on contract; pact hinging on Penguins' compensation

Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Sabres have reportedly agreed in principle to make Dan Bylsma their next head coach.

The two sides have a deal in place, as was first reported by John Wawrow of the Associated Press.

Bylsma was back at Buffalo's bargaining table again Thursday, presumably ironing out details, but one sticking point remains: He's still technically under contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, who fired him at the end of last season and are owed compensation should he find work elsewhere.

The Sabres were originally planning to introduce Bylsma at a press conference Thursday afternoon and still may, Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports.

The going rate for hiring away coaches and general managers, despite being let go by their former clubs, has been a third-round pick. Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers apparently agreed to that price with their hires of Mike Babcock and Peter Chiarelli, respectively.

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