The 2016-17 season was a major disappointment for the Buffalo Sabres that saw them take steps in the wrong direction. It was obvious that changes of some sort needed to be made in order for the team to make progress.
The first change was getting rid of the GM and head coach.
In their end of season press conferences, Tim Murray and Dan Bylsma both took the blame for a failed season. Murray was critical of himself, but was also critical of Bylsma’s failures to build relationships with his players. When Murray and Bylsma met with ownership, they were clearly unable to make a case for keeping their jobs.