BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres coach Ted Nolan will keep building what he started in Buffalo -- minus the interim tag. Nolan is staying on as the head coach beyond this season after signing a three-year contract extension Monday. The deal comes 4-1/2 months after Nolan returned to Buffalo for a second stint -- this time, initially, on an interim basis. And its a reward for Nolan, who has provided a spark to a young, patchwork lineup on a last-place team. "I said back in November that it was a dream to be able to come back and coach the Sabres, and thats still true today," Nolan said. "Im excited by the challenge facing our team and our organization. And Im truly thankful to have this opportunity." The extension was more of a formality than a surprise. The two sides established the framework of a contract about a month ago and agreed to the deal in principle last week. Nolan took over in mid-November after coach Ron Rolston was fired along with general manager Darcy Regier after Buffalo got off to a franchise-worst 4-15-1 start. The Sabres (20-45-9) havent done much better at 16-30-8 under Nolan and are likely to finish in last place with only two weeks left in the season. Buffalo is 1-10-1 in its past 12 games in preparing to host New Jersey on Tuesday. Record aside, rookie GM Tim Murray is impressed by the job Nolan has done during what he called "a trying situation." "I dont know if there was one Eureka moment," Murray said. "But I certainly got to the point where I knew I wanted him back, and I wanted him to be our head coach. And that wasnt yesterday or the day before." The next step is providing Nolan more talent. "We have to get him better players," Murray said. "It doesnt take a genius to figure that out." The Sabres are a shell of the team that last made the playoffs in 2011, with Nolan the teams third coach in a little over a calendar year. Regier began purging an over-priced and under-achieving roster last season. And Murray, who was hired in January, completed the overhaul in the days leading up to the NHL trade deadline on March 5. Thats when Buffalo made four trades, including one that sent goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to St. Louis. The future looks promising with the team having stockpiled a series of first- and second-round draft picks over the next three years. Nolan has a reputation as a motivator with a solid track record of developing young players. This is Nolans second stint in Buffalo. He went 73-72-19 in two seasons before leaving in the summer of 1997 because he was unhappy with the teams one-year contract offer after being selected the NHLs coach of the year. Nolan then spent two seasons coaching the New York Islanders and led them to the playoffs in 2006-07, before being fired after the following season. Nolan also enjoyed a successful stint at the Sochi Games, where he coached Latvia to an eighth-place finish -- the countrys best in five Olympic appearances. Sabres players greeted the news of Nolans contract extension as an important first step toward establishing stability. "Hes a guy that I think is perfect for this type of rebuild as far as motivation and making sure the right guys are staying around," forward Drew Stafford said. "Its been a real challenging season, a lot of shake-ups, a lot of changes. To get that interim tag off is definitely some stability now." Nolan is staying on even though Pat LaFontaine -- the person who brought him on board -- abruptly stepped down as Sabres president of hockey operations on March 1, after only 3-1/2 months on the job. Thanking LaFontaine for the opportunity, Nolan said hes focused on the head coaching job. "Im really excited about going with the next step forward and helping shape this team into a very competitive team," Nolan said. "With Tims knowledge in getting us the right players, hopefully, I can coach them good enough to win." Discount Seattle Seahawks Jerseys . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan. Cheap Seattle Seahawks Jerseys Online . 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When answering a question last week about whether he could still enjoy the playoffs given his previous post-season disappointments, Manning dropped in a phrase that "the light is at the end of the tunnel for me, no question." Meaning, that at age 37 he certainly has more games and seasons behind him than ahead. Following Denvers 24-17 win over San Diego on Sunday that sent the Broncos into the AFC championship, Manning was asked whether a medical exam on his surgically repaired neck following the season, which ESPN reported will determine whether he even plays in 2014, was weighing on his mind. "Its really not," Manning said. "Whats weighing on my mind is how soon I can get a Bud Light in my mouth. Thats priority one." Neither Manning nor the Broncos have any indication whatsoever that Manning wont pass his medical exam in March -- if anything were wrong, he wouldnt be playing right now. And Manning is coming off the best statistical season of his brilliant career, one in which he threw for a record 55 touchdowns and 5,447 yards. But hes not one who likes to look too far ahead anyway, just like he hates going down memory lane or talking about his health publicly. Now, Patriots pass-rushers Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich might be among his concerns this week. But he didnt even want to talk aboout the Patriots following Denvers win over the Chargers, much less about his upcoming medical exams or his football future.dddddddddddd "It was an intense game and up and down and a lot of emotions," Manning said. "Even the Patriots is (too far) ahead. And that question is way far ahead. I am not there. This team has been a one-week-at-a-time season. For all weve been through, losing our coach, losing different guys to injury, that approach has served us well and I think we need to keep that approach from here on out." Manning has always said that if doctors had told him after his spinal fusion surgeries two years ago that he shouldnt continue playing football, he would have walked away from the game without regret and that hed do the same if he receives such medical advice down the road. All parties expect him to receive the go-ahead to play next season when he has his medical exam in March, which is just like the one he had after last season. Manning was released by the Indianapolis Colts in March of 2012 after four neck operations that weakened his throwing arm. He signed with the Broncos and has gone 27-7 in Denver with 97 TD passes and 24 interceptions, counting playoffs. The Broncos (14-3) on Sunday host the Patriots (13-4), who havent played on the road in the AFC playoff bracket since losing to Manning and the Colts 38-34 in the AFC title game following the 2006 season. 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