Sabres Part Ways With Dir of Player Performance In First Season Of $4M Deal

The Sabres on Saturday fired Dir of Player Performance Oliver Finlay after “significant personality conflicts and occasional pushback from players," according to John Vogl of the BUFFALO NEWS. Sources said that Finlay “failed to make it through the first season of a long-term deal" that was worth $4M. A nutrition plan put in place by Finlay’s performance department “hit a snag with players” after they were “discouraged from indulging in savory snacks.” The policy “was later eased.” Other issues included setbacks suffered by rehabilitating players, most notably G Robin Lehner and D Cody Franson, as well as “personality differences with longtime Sabres employees,” which “helped push Oliver out.” Vogl noted the Sabres hired Finlay in July “despite him having little hockey experience” (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/20).