‘Word out of Buffalo is Tocchet and Nashville assistant Phil Housley are the top candidates for the job, the NHL’s only vacant head coaching position. Some say Housley is the favorite because he was the Sabres’ No. 1 draft choice in 1982, played eight seasons for them and is in their Hall of Fame, as well as the Hockey Hall of Fame. Hiring him would please the Buffalo fans. But others around the team say Tocchet is the favorite because he has NHL head coaching experience with Tampa Bay (2008-10) and has ties to new Sabres general manager Jason Botterill, a top-notch hockey man who was Jim Rutherford’s top assistant with the Penguins before taking the Buffalo job in May. Former Penguins assistant Todd Reirden, now with Washington, also is believed to have been interviewed and has a relationship with Botterill. A hiring could come this week.’