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LaFontaine's GM Search Began This Morning |
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Updated 12:10 pm:
Christmas Day came five weeks early to Buffalo, NY.
Pat LaFontaine and Ted Nolan are in. Its like the movie "Back To The Future".
I'll never forget standing outside Sabreland in Wheatfield for what seems like a hundred years ago. I was there to cover Pat LaFontaine's last media availability as a Buffalo Sabre. He thanked us all for being kind to him during his concussion recovery. He was later traded to the NY Rangers.
Similarly, I remember attending the rally to support Ted Nolan after he was fired 16 years ago. It was outside Marine Midland Arena. Mrs. Knox and hundreds of Nolan supporters were there. It was surreal.
Today, both men are Buffalo Sabres again.
Its true. You can go home.
Thanks, Sabres.com
LaFontaine said today that he believes the success of an NHL team starts at the top, works its way down through the organization, and then ends up back at the top of the organization. The Sabres were in dire straits and were in serious need of a change in the general manager's office. LaFontaine said that he isn't qualified yet to be an NHL GM, much less the GM of the Buffalo Sabres. However, LaFontaine said that he feels strongly that he can lead this organization through its work-in-progress re-build. LaFontaine is not wasting any time. The work begins today with a top to bottom evaluation of all players in the organization.Who's staying? Who's going? Who's happy? Who's not?
LaFontaine will have his hands as he determines the futures of UFAs to be Ryan Miller, Steve Ott, and Matt Moulson.It won't be easy, nor will it be sudden.
Nolan will have his hands full stepping into the Buffalo room and demanding more compete and more passion from all players. If any coach can look a player in the eye and look into his soul to evaluate his heart, its Ted Nolan. You don't have to be the most talented player in the world to be a soldier in Nolan's army. All you have to be is a warrior and a hunter. Either a player has it, or he doesn't. There's no B.S'ing Nolan. Effort will tell him who is committed to the cause, not lip service. He'll make his Sabres debut vs. Toronto on Friday night. The First Niagara Center's roof will be blown off the hinges for sure!
Thanks, Sabres.com
LaFontaine's phone will be blowing up today. He told "Sabres Hockey Hotline" that he will immediately begin searching for the next Sabres GM. LaFontaine said that he has a "few candidates" in mind who he'd like to interview for th GM position. LaFontaine said that he has one candidate in mind "who has won Stanley Cups", has had significant success building winners from the NHL draft, and has ties to Buffalo and Western New York. I'm told that the candidate that LaFontaine covets is former Sabre Rick Dudley. LaFontaine will have to seek permission from the NHL and the Montreal Canadiens in order to be granted an interview with Dudley. Dudley currentky serves as assistant GM to Marc Bergevin in Montreal. Dudley has built Cup winners in Tampa and Chicago, and his fingerprints are all over the current Montreal Canadiens roster. Dudley is a resident of Lewiston, NY and has maintained strong ties to Buffalo over the years. Dudley would not be making a lateral move in order to accept the Sabres GM job. Its a bump up. I can tell you that Dudley is interested in this job.
If LaFontaine cannot pry Dudley away from the Canadiens during the season, he'll have to wait until the summer time.
In the meantime, two other candidates will be considered for the vacant Buffalo GM job. They are Jason Botterill and Tom Fitzgerald. Each man serves as an assistant to GM Ray Shero in Pittsburgh. Each have had influence on the Penguins drafting and the shaping of their rosters that won the Stanley Cup in 2009.
Thanks, Bill Wippert for your brilliant photos.
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Updated 10:15 am:
Ted Nolan will be Sabres head coach.
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Updated 10am:
According to TSN, former Sabres captain Pat LaFontaine will be the new President of Hockey Operations for the Buffalo Sabres.
LaFontaine has been working for the NHL since October. He has served a variety of capacities, working alongside deputy commissioner Bill Daly as well as Brendan Shanahan.
Press conference 10:30 am.
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According to a report, The Sabres will be hiring a Director of Hockey Operations.
More to come at the 10:30 presser…
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