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Shock. Confusion. Anger. Bewilderment. Disgust. Not Surprised.
You are feeling one or all of these emotions right now.
You are not alone. The Pat Lafontaine resignation has created a million questions that currently have no answers.
Two weeks ago, Pat LaFontaine said in a TV interview that he was happy in Buffalo.
Thanks, wgrz.com
No mention of returning to work at the NHL league offices in this interview.
Something doesn't smell right here.
Sabres players past and present aren't sure why LaFontaine resigned from the Sabres.
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Now that Pat LaFontaine resigned, the natural question to ask is:
Can Tim Murray and Ted Nolan work together in peaceful coexistence?
I feel like once the initial sting of LaFontaine's resignation leaves Nolan, that he can make a successful career for himself in Buffalo. There is an undeniable brother-like relationship between Ted and Patty. That bond will never be broken. Personal is personal. Business is business. I hope that Nolan can separate the two schools of thought.
I think Nolan is tailor-made to coach these young kids and I think that he and Murray can work together.
On Friday afternoon, Murray told Hockey Central that gave Nolan a public vote of confidence when he said:
"I've been happy with Ted, I don't have anything bad to say about Ted, whatsoever, and he's got a strong chance to continue on in the organization, in my estimation".
If a contract extension offer is made to Nolan, I hope he accepts it.
If he doesn't then Murray can reach out to his close friend Luke Richardson who is the head coach of the Binghampton Senators. Murray and Richardson won a Calder Cup in Bingo a couple years ago.
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The Buffalo Sabres make it official.
Pat LaFontaine has resigned from his post inside the organization.
He was the President Of Hockey Operations.
Here's the official statement:
The Buffalo Sabres today announced Pat LaFontaine has resigned his position with the Buffalo Sabres to resume his previous role with the National Hockey League.
“I would like to thank Pat for all he has done for the organization,… said Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula. “Pat joined us at a very difficult time and helped transition the organization down a new path. Tim Murray will continue as General Manager and Craig Patrick will continue as a Senior Hockey Advisor. As has been the case since I bought the team, we’ll continue to do whatever is needed to rebuild the organization and keep it on path towards our ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.…
“Terry Pegula hired me in November and my primary objective was to lead the Sabres organization through a time of transition,… said Pat LaFontaine. “I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish in a short period of time and want to thank Terry and Kim Pegula for the opportunity and their support during my time with the Sabres. I also want to convey my best wishes to all of the players in the Sabres organization and to wish them the best of success in the future. Most importantly, I want to convey my heartfelt appreciation to the great fans of the Sabres for the way I have been treated here as a player and as an executive.…
One concludes that LaFontaine was in favor of re-signing Ryan Miller to a long term contract extension. Murray clearly had another idea. Murray's press scrum before the Boston game may have been the tipping point. Among other thing that Murray said that night, is the Sabres hadn't made a contract extension offer to Miller, nor had his agent asked to see an extension proposal. Therefore it was concluded by Murray that it was not realistic to hammer out a long term extension and that a trade would be the best route for Miller.
On Friday night, Murray traded Miller and Steve Ott to St. Louis for Jaro Halak, Chris Stewart, young prospect Carrier, a 2015 1st rounder and a conditional third rounder that will likely become a 2014 1st rounder if Miller re-signs in St. Louis or his Blues make it to the Western Conference Finals.
The GM appears to have won this power struggle.
LaFontaine fought the good fight and lost. Is Nolan on his way out the door behind LaFontaine?
They came in together. Will they leave together?
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In other news.....
Miller and Ott arrive in St. Louis
Thanks, Blues TV
Is there trouble brewing in the executive chambers in Pegulaville?
On Saturday afternoon, CBC’s Elliotte Friedman tweeted the following note about Sabres President Pat LaFontaine. Curious, I thought to myself. I expected to see Pat LaFontaine in the media room or on the postgame coverage on MSG to talk about the blockbuster Ryan Miller –Steve Ott trade on Friday night. LaFontaine was not seen nor was he heard from on the biggest night of his brief tenure at the helm of the Buffalo Sabres. Very odd indeed.
Something is up with Pat LaFontaine and the Buffalo Sabres.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 1, 2014An hour later, Friedman tweeted that he was hearing rumors of a change in the Sabres’ front office. TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News all seemed to be on the same page regarding the LaFontaine rumblings.
Have been on phone for last little while, see that @TSNBobMcKenzie and @BNHarrington are hearing rumours of change. Also getting no response
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 1, 2014What might the alleged internal issue be with LaFontaine and his organization? Is he upset about the Ryan Miller trade? LaFontaine spoke several times on the record in the past few months about wanting to speak with Miller about re-signing a contract extension in Buffalo before he qualified for unrestricted free agency in July. Was LaFontaine not in favor of trading Miller versus re-signing him?
Is LaFontaine miffed at Tim Murray’s hesitation and reluctance to extend Ted Nolan’s contract and to officially remove the “interim… tag from his business card?
Murray was a guest on Hockey Central at Noon on Sportsnet Radio on Friday and he raised more than a few eyebrows, including those of this observer, when he spoke candidly about Ted Nolan and his current contract status with the Sabres.
Fast forward to the 9:38 mark of the interview when Gord Stellick asks Murray to talk about Ted Nolan and his contract status. Murray said:
"I've been happy with ted, I don't have anything bad to say about Ted, whatsoever, and he's got a strong chance to continue on in the organization, in my estimation".
Continue on as the head coach, Tim? Or, continue on as a scout? A player development coach?
Thanks, Sportsnet 590 The Fan
Murray told the same program last month that a contract extension for Nolan was a very strong possibility. Why Friday was Murray so non-committal? What's changed in the past month? If anything Murray should be running full speed at a Nolan contract extension due to his Team Latvia success at the recently completed Olympics. Nolan's a hot coaching commodity right now based on his Buffalo body of work and his team's impressive showing at the Sochi Olympics.
Nolan is a Lafontaine guy. Murray was hired after Nolan. Is Murray interested in moving forward with Nolan as his bench boss?
What is the "issue" between LaFontaine and the Sabres? Is it Miller related? Nolan related? Is Murray contemplating hiring an assistant general manager?
I want you to fast forward to the 1:35 mark in this video and listen to Nolan respond to the question posed to him regarding Tim Murray's suggestion earlier regarding contract negotiations with Nolan.
Not exactly a positive response by Nolan. Since when is he a "no comment guy"? Nolan was upset after Miller's last ever start for the Buffalo Sabres.
Look at Nolan's body language from Friday night's post-trade presser. Understandably, Nolan wasn't in a positive state of mind. He loved Ott and admired the Hell out of Miller. He's a player's coach. He's loved by his players because he embraces them for their own individuality.
Or, is it something entirely unseen? Not sure. But what I do know is that at a time like this when the Sabres re-build is in full effect, all parties in the front office and coaching staff need toi be on the same page.
Lets just se what tomorrow brings.