The Buffalo Sabres have hired Dan Bylsma as head coach.

Bylsma's first objective is developing a winning attitude in Buffalo, on a team that has finished last in the standings in each of the past two seasons.

''The expectation for the winning culture and how we play is not going to change,'' Bylsma said during his inaugural news conference shortly after being hired Thursday. ''And that's going to start, starting today. And it's going to continue as we go, as we develop this group.''

The 44-year-old Bylsma led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup title in 2009 in his rookie season as coach. He eventually spent five-plus seasons in Pittsburgh, where he won a franchise-best 252 games and was the NHL's 2011 coach of the year, before being fired during front-office shake up a year ago.