Two people familiar with the decision say Buffalo Sabres vice president of hockey-related business Joe Battista is leaving the team.

The sources say Battista wants to spend more time with his family in Pennsylvania. They spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the Sabres are not confirming the move.

The decision was in the works for several months and is not related to team president Ted Black's departure last week, sources say. Black was replaced by Buffalo Bills president Russ Brandon. The Bills and Sabres are owned by Terry and Kim Pegula.

Battista is a former Penn State hockey coach and athletic department executive with long ties to the Pegulas. He left Penn State to join the Sabres in 2013. His family still lives in State College.