Updated:
Nashville Predators AGM Paul Fenton wants Pat LaFontaine to “call me maybe…. The Preds defeated the Leafs in Toronto on Thursday night. Before the game, Fenton spoke on the record with reporters about his desire to be the next GM of the Buffalo Sabres.
Josh Cooper of The Tennessean reports that Fenton told reporters in Toronto that he feels like he is prepared to be a GM in the NHL, preferably with the Sabres.
“I believe that I’m ready,… “I’m hoping somebody else does.…
That special “somebody… is LaFontaine, who has been on the road this week conducting his GM search. He has been granted permission to speak with Jim Benning, AGM of the Boston Bruins and with Jason Boterill, AGM of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Its not known right now if LaFontaine has been granted permission yet by the Montreal Canadiens to interview their AGM Rick Dudley.
The Preds have called the Sabres about Fenton and haven’t heard back yet from LaFontaine. Does this mean that the Sabres’ new president of hockey operations is focusing on other candidates for the vacant GM job in Buffalo? Or, is it just the normal course of business where Fenton and LaFontaine are playing “telephone tag…?
Fenton told reporters that Predators GM David Poile has personally called the Buffalo Sabres to vouch for Fenton as a candidate for the seat that was vacated when Darcy Regier was fired from Buffalo two weeks ago. According to Cooper’s report, Fenton has yet to hear back from the Sabres. (I wonder if Poile has asked about a certain team USA goalie's availability).
“(David) was talking to them about me being interested in the job,… Fenton said. “There’s no question, I would love to get an opportunity to talk to them.…
Fenton meets some of the qualifications that LaFontaine has described in his quest for his new GM. Fenton has no previous ties to the Buffalo Sabres, other than the Paul Gaustad for first round draft choice trade (14th overall 2012: Zemgus Girgensons) . Fenton has not won a Stanley Cup in his career. However, he does oversee Nashville’s AHL club in Milwaukee. Fenton has a keen eye for talent in his selections of Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Seth Jones, and other top-end draft choices over the years.
“Sometimes it’s the right place at the right time,… Fenton said. “I make decisions, I’ve been put on the spot to make decisions with everything from free agency to the draft to any type of acquisition. I live it every day. For me I think it’s a natural progression.…
Thanks, Tennesean.com ______________________________________________________________________
For the umpteenth time this season, the veterans were the culprits in a brutal road loss.
Earlier this week, Ted Nolan and Pat LaFontaine shifted the paradigm in Sabreland from young to old. Several of the kids, thought to be the reason for the mistakes and inconsistent play, were moved out of Buffalo back to their junior clubs and to AHL Rochester. Nikita Zadorov was sent back to the OHL London Knights. The team tried to sent Mikhail Grigorenko to the Amerks for a two-week conditioning stint, however, were overruled by the NHL. Grigorenko played for Nolan for the first time Thursday night in Philly and he didn’t play badly either. Rasmus Ristolainen and Johan Larson were sent to the Amerks. Whats more, Nolan sat youngsters Corey Tropp, Mark Pysyk, and Brian Flynn. In their place Nolan played older prospects Luke Adam and Brayden McNabb.
The “older… individuals who played in Philly really didn’t play heads and shoulders above the effort levels set forth by the kids. Dumb penalty after dumb penalty, by veteran guys who are supposed to …know better… killed the Sabres and their momentum. Buffalo took a 1-0 lead to their locker room after twenty minutes for the first time this season. That’s like winning the New York State Lottery. The Sabres vets promptly handed their winnings back to the store clerk vis a vis
Deservedly so, Nolan wasn’t happy with his veterans after the 4-1 loss in Philly.
“When you constantly do the same thing over and over and over again and lose for the same reasons, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out,… Nolan said. “We have to do simple things. We have to play a grind-out kind of game. We can’t have turnovers. We can’t take the foolish penalties. We can’t get bounced off the puck and out-muscled in corners.…
Matt Read made it 1-1
Matt Read gave the Flyers the 2-1 lead
Vinny Lecavalier threw this dagger through the Sabres’ heart PPG
Nolan has seen and heard enough. He’s spoken with the players individually. He’s spoken with his assistant coaches. Now there are no secrets, nor exuses.
Guys are going to have to give Nolan the effort that he demands or they will sit and eat popcorn while their responsible teammates play in games. Or, the offenders will eb traded away from Buffalo in exchange for players who want to play the Ted Nolan way.
Nolan placed the onus directly on his players.
“So the gloves are officially off. You’ve got to do certain things to play. If you don’t, you’re not…
The excuses have to end, too.
“Everybody is telling me the young guys are the problem,… Nolan said. “The young guys ain’t here anymore so we don’t have that excuse anymore. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and we have to bring what each and everybody has on this team to bring.…
Thanks, Sabres.com
My takeaway:
I smell a trade or two coming. I can also see Pat Kaleta being recalled in the near future.
Did you focus on Nolan's expressions in the video of his post-loss presser? He looked agitated and concerned to me. The head coach took great pains to shift the heat away from the youngsters like Grigorenko, McNabb, and Adam on Thursday night.
I didn't hear the coach propping experienced players like Stafford, Leino, McCormick, Ennis, Moulson and Ott. All Nolan is asking for is execution of the small, fundamental plays inside of shifts and games all of the time, not some of the time. He's not asking his vets the world. I get the sense that Nolan is tired of asking.
Nolan has proven this week that he's not one to tap dance around a situation, He takes swift action to solve problems. Look at how quickly the kids were shipped out of town.
Source: Sabres postgame show
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So, the day has come. Drum roll, please..
At long last the Buffalo Sabres are officially unveiling their new third jersey.
What the Hell did you think I was talking about?
A Rick Dudley hiring announcement?
Sunday night at home vs. Detroit, Buffalo will bust out their mustard yellow sweaters for their very first time.
The "Ketchup and Mustard War" is going to be awesome!
NEWS: #Sabres to debut new 3rd jersey on Sunday vs. @DetroitRedWings. 3rd jersey schedule: http://t.co/pMoxbh1FjH pic.twitter.com/FHTJUz1URN
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) November 21, 2013Below is the full schedule of games the Sabres will wear the third jerseys in 2013-14:
November 24 vs. Detroit Red Wings November 27 vs. Montreal Canadiens December 5 vs. New York Rangers December 14 vs. Calgary Flames January 4 vs. New Jersey Devils January 14 vs. Philadelphia Flyers February 5 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins March 16 vs. Montreal Canadiens April 1 vs. New Jersey Devils April 8 vs. Detroit Red Wings
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