Jason Botterill isn't tipping his hand when it comes to his head-coaching targets, but he doesn't have to look far for an example of someone he'd like the Buffalo Sabres' future bench boss to resemble.
When asked what he's looking for, the Sabres' new general manager said his former coworker has all the right qualities.
"I (was) very proud of our group in Pittsburgh hiring Mike Sullivan as our American Hockey League coach and then having him come up to Pittsburgh," Botterill said on Sportsnet's Hockey Central at Noon on Friday.
"I think he demonstrates a lot of the traits that are key in a National Hockey League coach here right now. It's that presence in the (dressing) room, making sure that people know that he's the main authority figure, but it's also about communication."
Botterill spent 10 seasons with the Penguins in various hockey operations roles, most recently serving as Pittsburgh's associate GM.
Sullivan led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship last June after taking over from the fired Mike Johnston in December 2015.
The new Sabres GM said he'd like to hire a head coach before the draft next month.
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