Fansided

Phil Housley to make his return to Buffalo with Arizona Coyotes

By Jim Lynch |
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 17: Assistant coach Phil Housley of the Arizona Coyotes watches from the bench during the first period of the NHL game against the Nashville Predators at Gila River Arena on October 17, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 17: Assistant coach Phil Housley of the Arizona Coyotes watches from the bench during the first period of the NHL game against the Nashville Predators at Gila River Arena on October 17, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Phil Housley will be making his return to the team that drafted him tonight. Housley, the current assistant coach for the Arizona Coyotes, coached two seasons with Buffalo before joining the ‘Yotes staff.

Buffalo has always given Housley a chance. Not only did the Sabres draft him back in 1982, but they also gave him a chance as a coach. Housley coached the Sabres to a record of 58‑84‑22, over the course of his two seasons with the team.

Emotions can be at a high when you faceoff against the team that you played 608 games with over the course of 8 seasons. However, that is not the case with Housley.

Housley understands that his job is bigger than himself now, and when asked about what he would have done differently last season to not get let go at the end of the season. This is what he had to say.

“There’s no use. It’s not going to benefit me right now to explain myself. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game and trying to finish this road trip off the right way.”

Speaking of the road trip the Coyotes have been very successful so far. They are currently 2-1 on their four-game road trip through the eastern conference.
The Coyotes have beat teams like the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils, in large part thanks to Housley. Housley has done his part to help get the Coyotes a win.

Phil Housley serves as the defensive and power play coach for the Arizona Coyotes. Although the blue line has lost players like Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jordan Oesterle that does not change the fact that Housley has made the team successful.

The power play has never been the ‘Yotes bread and butter, but this season seems to be different. The Coyotes have 7 power-play goals so far this season, compared to last seasons’ 42 power-play goals. The Coyotes are on pace for a lot more PP goals than last season, thanks to the help of Housley.

I’m sure it will be an emotional night for Housley. He did coach and play for the Buffalo Sabres for so long, but now he is succeeding in his current role. Success is not something he really saw in Buffalo.

BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 5: Head coach Phil Housley, Casey Mittelstadt #37, Conor Sheary #43 and Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres watch the action during an NHL game against the Minnesota Wild on February 5, 2019 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – FEBRUARY 5: Head coach Phil Housley, Casey Mittelstadt #37, Conor Sheary #43 and Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres watch the action during an NHL game against the Minnesota Wild on February 5, 2019 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

In two seasons with the Sabres, Housley never made the playoffs with the team, even with talented players like Jack Eichel. Housley is creating a new story as a coach with the Coyotes, and hopefully it can end in success.

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