"The Buffalo Sabres felt they caught a break last year when no NHL team decided to hire Kevin Dineen. It meant they had him around to coach their minor-leaguers for one more season.

It appears last season was the last one. The Florida Panthers have called a news conference for this afternoon, at which time they are expected to name Dineen as their head coach. It will be the first NHL job for Dineen, who has coached the Portland Pirates for six seasons, including the past three as the Sabres' affiliate.

Dineen, 47, was a finalist last year for the Columbus Blue Jackets job that went to Scott Arniel.

"He's ready for the National Hockey League as a head coach," Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier told the Maine Hockey Journal last month. "That's certainly how I feel. Whether someone else recognizes that and takes advantage of it, I don't know. If he gets the opportunity, on one hand we'd really miss him. On the other hand, I'd only wish him the best.""