Toronto Maple Leafs begin cleaning house, firing coach and GM

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired General Manager Dave Nonis on Sunday along with interim Coach Peter Horachek and his staff after the team’s worst season in almost 20 years.

The moves by President Brendan Shanahan mark the start of a tumultuous off-season for Toronto that could bring wholesale roster changes.

Nonis was dismissed with three years left on his contract. The Leafs went 30-44-8 with 68 points, the fewest in an 82-game season since 1996-97. Assistants Steve Spott, Chris Dennis and Rick St. Croix were fired, and Steve Staios was moved back to the front office as manager of player development.

Assistant GM Kyle Dubas and director of player personnel Mark Hunter will share interim duties until the Leafs hire a new general manager.

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The Buffalo Sabres fired Coach Ted Nolan, a day after their season ended with a 23-51-8 record and a second consecutive last-place finish.

Nolan, hired in November 2013 on an interim basis after Ron Rolston was fired, had two years left on a contract he signed a little more than a year ago. It was second stint in Buffalo; he spent two seasons with the Sabres and was the NHL coach of the year in 1997.