The Buffalo Sabres fired head coach Phil Housley on Sunday, the team announced.

Sabres general manager Jason Botterill took some responsibility following the move, telling reporters, including The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington, that it was his decision to dismiss Housley.

"We didn't put the proper roster out there," he added.

Botterill also pointed to "lapses defensively in our structure," a notable remark considering Housley is a legendary former blue-liner who's known as a defensive specialist.

Housley was hired following the 2016-17 season after a successful four-year stint as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators. He was unable to turn the Sabres around, though, failing to make the playoffs both seasons in Buffalo and compiling a record of 58-84-22.

After a successful month of November, which included a 10-game winning streak, the Sabres sat atop the NHL standings. However, from that point, Buffalo went 16-33-8 and failed to win in regulation during March.

The Sabres' next head coach will be the club's fifth bench boss since Lindy Ruff's 15-year run came to an end midway through the 2012-13 campaign.

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