NHL
Cunneyworth joins Thrashers’ staff
Sabres seek coach for AHL affiliate
The search is on for another man to lead the Buffalo Sabres’ prospects, as longtime minor-league coach Randy Cunneyworth has finally received his NHL call.
Cunneyworth, who has coached the Sabres’ AHL team in Rochester for the past eight seasons, was hired as an assistant coach by the Atlanta Thrashers. Cunneyworth joins the staff of new Thrashers head man John Anderson.
“I’m very happy for him,” Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said Friday. “It’s well-deserved, and he’ll do a terrific job.”
The need for a new minor-league leader was something the Sabres saw coming. Cunneyworth was under contract with the Sabres until the end of August, but he was not interested in relocating to Portland, Maine, the Sabres’ new affiliate. He was given permission to talk with NHL teams and allowed to chat with the Florida Panthers about staying in Rochester to coach their AHL squad. But the Thrashers finally gave him his NHL job.
Regier said the Sabres are “well down the path” to hiring a new AHL coach, and the announcement could come in two weeks. Regier would not divulge the candidate but did say it was someone from outside the organization. It also will not be a player-coach, which Cunneyworth was in his first season behind the bench.
Former Hartford Whaler Kevin Dineen was Portland’s coach last season and was well-liked by the Pirates’ organization.
Cunneyworth was the longest-tenured coach in Amerks history, compiling a record of 306-273-61. He was named the AHL’s Coach of the Year in 2004-05 after going 51-19-4-6.
More importantly to the Sabres, he was trusted implicitly to groom the team’s prospects, and it was up to Cunneyworth to decide which player should be called up.
He helped teach most of the players on the Sabres’ roster, including Ryan Miller, Jason Pominville, Paul Gaustad, Derek Roy, Thomas Vanek, Ales Kotalik, Drew Stafford, Daniel Paille, Henrik Tallinder, Andrew Peters, Andrej Sekera and Nathan Paetsch.
“It’s an impressive group that’s passed through his hands,” Regier said. “He’s been very important.”
