After what can only be described as a very poor year, the Buffalo Sabres are already making provisions for next season.

After a season which saw the Sabres win just 23 games, the team have fired head coach Ted Nolan and several of his assistants.

Sabres general manager Tim Murray made the announcement on Sunday night which will now make everyone question Buffalo's plans for the off-season.

It was also announced by the team today that assistant coach Danny Flynn has also been fired along with Nolan.

Assistants Bryan Trottier and Tom Coolen have also been informed that their contracts will not be renewed with the team.

The Sabres fans have proven to be unhappy with the decision in the hours since the announcement was made.

Who knows if firing Nolan will help to improve the fortunes of the Sabres but the lowest ranked team in the NHL can't really get worse.

Nolan has spent two years in charge in Buffalo but failed to really establish a good record as the teams head coach.

Buffalo were 40-87-17 during Nolan's almost two seasons in charge of the team in which they finished 8th in the Atlantic division each year.

The Sabres went 23-51-8 this season and were ranked 30th in the NHL - dead last in the league and finishing two points behind the Arizona Coyotes.

Buffalo scored 161 goals in 82 games this season and will now look to move forward and hope that their next head coach can take them in a better direction.

Time for the play-offs

The play-offs are set to begin in the NHL and it has already been filled with surprises as the defending Stanley Cup champions the LA Kings have missed out on the post-season.

The Boston Bruins who have been a permanent fixture in the post-season for several years have also missed out.

This is considered to be a very wide open race for the Stanley Cup with the eventual winner coming from possibly any division or conference.