The Buffalo Sabres have given the Columbus Blue Jackets permission to speak with Portland Pirates head coach Kevin Dineen about their head coaching vacancy according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Dineen played two years (2000-02) for the Blue Jackets before moving into the role of Director of Player Development with Columbus where he stayed until being hired by the Anaheim Ducks as the Pirates head coach in 2005.

When the Anaheim Duck relocated to Iowa at the end of the 2008, Dineen could have stayed with the team in Des Moines, but opted to remain in Portland when the Pirates new NHL parent club, the Buffalo Sabres, hired him as head coach.

Dineen has had several chances to move to the NHL in the past, but each time has turned down the opportunities citing family reasons for staying with the Pirates. Dineen is married with four children.

“Historically, there have been some opportunities out there, (but) my comfort level has always been right here in Portland, improving as a coach and doing what I’ve done,” Dineen said the day after the Pirates had been eliminated from the first round of the playoffs.

According the Dispatch Dineen refused comment.

Last week, Dineen, whose contract expires on June 30th, gave no indication that he would be leaving the Pirates, but circumstances can change.

“Right now, I’m involved with helping my players make the next step, not only for the next couple of weeks, but for the next four or five months, and that’s where my focus is,” Dineen said.

“You can play this cat-and-mouse game when these different opportunities arise, but I’m very proud and excited to be a part of the Buffalo organization,” he added.

Dineen record with the Pirates the last five seasons is 219-131-23-27 with a .610 win percentage. Dineen has won AHL Coach of the Year in 2006, and made it to the playoffs four of the last five years, making the Eastern Conference Final twice.