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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres coach Ted Nolan will keep building what he started in Buffalo -- minus the interim tag. Nolan is staying on as the head coach beyond this season after signing a three-year contract extension Monday. The deal comes 4-1/2 months after Nolan returned to Buffalo for a second stint -- this time, initially, on an interim basis. And its a reward for Nolan, who has provided a spark to a young, patchwork lineup on a last-place team. "I said back in November that it was a dream to be able to come back and coach the Sabres, and thats still true today," Nolan said. "Im excited by the challenge facing our team and our organization. And Im truly thankful to have this opportunity." The extension was more of a formality than a surprise. The two sides established the framework of a contract about a month ago and agreed to the deal in principle last week. Nolan took over in mid-November after coach Ron Rolston was fired along with general manager Darcy Regier after Buffalo got off to a franchise-worst 4-15-1 start. The Sabres (20-45-9) havent done much better at 16-30-8 under Nolan and are likely to finish in last place with only two weeks left in the season. Buffalo is 1-10-1 in its past 12 games in preparing to host New Jersey on Tuesday. Record aside, rookie GM Tim Murray is impressed by the job Nolan has done during what he called "a trying situation." "I dont know if there was one Eureka moment," Murray said. "But I certainly got to the point where I knew I wanted him back, and I wanted him to be our head coach. And that wasnt yesterday or the day before." The next step is providing Nolan more talent. "We have to get him better players," Murray said. "It doesnt take a genius to figure that out." The Sabres are a shell of the team that last made the playoffs in 2011, with Nolan the teams third coach in a little over a calendar year. Regier began purging an over-priced and under-achieving roster last season. And Murray, who was hired in January, completed the overhaul in the days leading up to the NHL trade deadline on March 5. Thats when Buffalo made four trades, including one that sent goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to St. Louis. The future looks promising with the team having stockpiled a series of first- and second-round draft picks over the next three years. Nolan has a reputation as a motivator with a solid track record of developing young players. This is Nolans second stint in Buffalo. He went 73-72-19 in two seasons before leaving in the summer of 1997 because he was unhappy with the teams one-year contract offer after being selected the NHLs coach of the year. Nolan then spent two seasons coaching the New York Islanders and led them to the playoffs in 2006-07, before being fired after the following season. Nolan also enjoyed a successful stint at the Sochi Games, where he coached Latvia to an eighth-place finish -- the countrys best in five Olympic appearances. Sabres players greeted the news of Nolans contract extension as an important first step toward establishing stability. "Hes a guy that I think is perfect for this type of rebuild as far as motivation and making sure the right guys are staying around," forward Drew Stafford said. "Its been a real challenging season, a lot of shake-ups, a lot of changes. To get that interim tag off is definitely some stability now." Nolan is staying on even though Pat LaFontaine -- the person who brought him on board -- abruptly stepped down as Sabres president of hockey operations on March 1, after only 3-1/2 months on the job. Thanking LaFontaine for the opportunity, Nolan said hes focused on the head coaching job. "Im really excited about going with the next step forward and helping shape this team into a very competitive team," Nolan said. "With Tims knowledge in getting us the right players, hopefully, I can coach them good enough to win." Pedro Strop Jersey .Those stars, most notably the top line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, struggled against the Montreal Canadiens and must be better as the Leafs look ahead to facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers this weekend. Allen Webster Cubs Jersey . The Philadelphia Eagles acquired running back Darren Sproles from the New Orleans Saints for a fifth-round draft pick on Tuesday. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1150t-nicholas...ersey-cubs.html. The Raptors have been outscored 88-66 in the opening quarter over a three-game span to begin the month of February. Their most recent loss, 109-101 in Sacramento on Wednesday, was eerily similar to Saturdays defeat at the hands of the Trail Blazers. Mark Prior Cubs Jersey . Today, he looks at the offensive line. 1. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (OT, McGill) You Should Know: Over the course of his university career, Duvernay-Tardifs commitments to medical school and the family business frequently limited him to one practice per week, yet he was still the Metras Trophy winner as the Top Lineman in CIS football in 2013. Albert Almora Jr. Cubs Jersey . That assertion is getting harder and harder to make, especially given the way 23-year-old Danilo Gallinari has been playing this season.Samoa fly-half Tusi Pisi has agreed to join Bristol Rugby ahead of the 2016/2017 season. Pisi, 33, will arrive at Bristol from Japans first Super Rugby franchise the Sunwolves and has an impressive CV playing for Toulon, the Hurricanes and the Crusaders as well as winning 28 caps for Samoa.Pisi is a regular international and his experience off the pitch will be just as important as it will be on the pitch for the Championship side as they fight for promotion to the Aviva Premiership. Tusi is Samoas first choice fly-half and a respected leader, Bristol coach Andy Robinson said. Hes developed a reputation as an intelligent, level-headed fly half with a strong kicking game.He added: Tusis experience will be beneficial for our younger players and he remains as hungry and motivated as ever. We look forward to welcoming him to Bristol Rugby. Pisi scores a try against Scotland during last years Rugby World Cup Pisi says he is hungry for the challenge of playing for Bristol and is excited to play in England for the first time in his career.ddddddddddddHe said: Im delighted to be joining Bristol Rugby and look forward to playing club rugby in England. Ive enjoyed my time in Japan and the experience has helped me develop as a player. I still have much I want to achieve and I hope I can do that with Bristol.Bristol are currently top of the table by 13 points with only three games of the regular season left, their next game is away to London Scottish on Saturday.Watch Tusi Pisi in action when the Sunwolves visit the Southern Kings on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2 (red button) at 4.05pm Also See: Rugby on Sky Follow @SkySportsRugby Pundits Fixtures and results ' ' '