Rumor: John Tortorella linked to potential sale of the Buffalo Sabres.

The coaching carousel in the National Hockey League is always an interesting topic in the offseason but I must admit that today's rumor is not one that I have come across before. Not only is one of the league's most notorious coaches being linked to a potential changing of the guard behind the bench of an NHL franchise, but the rumor actually connects him to the potential sale of that very same franchise.

On a recent episode of the Kyper at Noon podcast, former National Hockey League general manager Doug MacLean revealed that he heard rumblings of a truly massive rumor linked to former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella. MacLean revealed that he had been told that a long time friend of Tororella's was giving serious consideration to purchasing the Buffalo Sabres from the Pegula family that currently owns the team. 

"Listen, here's what I heard," began MacLean. "As they say in P.E.I. I'm not telling you it's the truth I'm just telling you what I've heard. Somebody mentioned to me that a friend of John Tortorella's is trying to buy the Buffalo Sabres," said MacLean."

MacLean appeared to think he was going on good information here because he asked his co host, former NHL player Nick Kypreos, if he had heard of similar rumblings around the league. Although Kypreos admitted that he had not heard of Tortorella's potential link to the sale of the Buffalo Sabres, he did go on to add that he had heard the Pegula family might be looking to move on from the NHL.

"Have I heard that the Pegula's don't love the Sabres as much as they love the Bills? Yes," said Kypreos in response to MacLean's question.

That is a blockbuster of a rumor by anyone's standards and the fact that it came from the mouth of a former general manager in the league certainly lends some credibility to it. The two hosts went on to discuss how Tortorella's style would mesh with the Buffalo Sabres' current roster, specifically captain Jack Eichel, and needless to say they had their questions about that.

"What would Tortorella do with a guy like Jack Eichel?" asked Kypreos. "It wouldn't even be a fair fight."

MacLean appeared to agree.

"Torts is 63 and it wouldn't be a fair fight," said MacLean with a laugh.

Given the recent trade rumors surrounding Eichel that may not even be a concern by the time Torts arrives in Buffalo, if he ever does.