"Lindy Ruff has looked down the Buffalo Sabres' bench and seen Brian McCutcheon for 11 seasons. The coaching combination will not be together for a 12th.

The Sabres announced Thursday that McCutcheon will not return next season, a decision a source says was made last week. McCutcheon has been a member of Ruff's staff since 2000, including the last five as associate coach.

"This was a difficult decision for me to make," Ruff said. "After meeting with Brian, I felt that we needed to go in a different direction with my staff moving forward."

McCutcheon, who coached the Sabres' minor-league affiliate in Rochester for three seasons prior to joining the NHL club, may not be done within the organization. He is a candidate to join an expanded scouting department. He also is under consideration to assume the minor-league coaching job left open when the Florida Panthers hired former Portland coach Kevin Dineen on Wednesday.

"We have not closed the doors on a different opportunity within the organization for Brian in the future," Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said.

McCutcheon, 61, coached Rochester to a record of 128-82-9 from 1997 to 2000, twice leading the Americans to the Calder Cup finals. He was runner-up as AHL Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000.

His primary duty in recent seasons was to develop the power play, but assistant coach James Patrick assumed many of McCutcheon's other roles.

"I want to personally thank everyone involved in the many great seasons and moments that I have had with the Buffalo Sabres organization," McCutcheon said. "It was a difficult decision, but I agree that at this point in my career it is time to move on to something different. I'm looking forward to exploring different career options, including any offered by the Sabres organization."

McCutcheon's next assignment likely won't be determined until the Sabres decide whether to place their minor-league team in Portland or Rochester, a decision expected within the next few weeks."