Updated 8:10pm:
A month ago, Pat LaFontaine hired Kevin Prendergrast to work in the Buffalo front office. Prendergast worked for 20 years in the Edmonton Oilers organization.
I'm guessing Kevin Prendergast gave LaFontaine intel on Linus Omark, having drafted the kid while in The City Of Champions.
Prendergast joined the Buffalo Sabres on November 27, 2013. Prendergast works with and assist Sabres assistant general manager Kevin Devine as both a pro and amateur scout.
Prendergast most recently served as the head scout for Hockey Canada’s men’s Program of Excellence, where he was responsible for all player evaluation and recruitment for Canada’s National Junior and Under-18 development and selection camps, as well as for evaluations with the Under-17 program.
Prior to his stint with Hockey Canada, Prendergast worked for 20 seasons in the Edmonton Oilers organization, joining the club in 1990-91 as its vice president of hockey operations and eventually taking on the title of assistant general manager in 2006-07. As part of his duties with the Oilers, Prendergast oversaw the Oilers’ pro and amateur scouting staffs, coordinating coverage of the NHL, AHL and ECHL as well as the major junior teams of the Canadian Hockey League, the U.S. collegiate and high school ranks and the European leagues. He also was the Oilers’ representative on the American Hockey League’s board of governors and serves as the director of player personnel for both the Springfield Falcons (AHL) and Stockton Thunder (ECHL).
What trade freeze? Pat LaFontaine has his dealin' shoes on.
#Oilers have traded winger Linus Omark to the @BuffaloSabres in exchange for a conditional 6th round selection in the 2014 #NHLDraft.
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 20, 2013
Omark has 14 goals and 15 assists in AHL Oklahoma City this season. 29 points in 29 games. Nice.
Omark (2/5/87, 5'10", 187 lbs) joins the Sabres after spending the last three seasons in the Oilers organization, where he has played in 66 NHL games, tallying 30 points (8+22). In 2013-14. He is currently tied for fourth-most points in the AHL.
Drafted by the Oilers in the fourth round (97th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Omark signed a one-year contract with the club in August 2013.
Omark had asked the Oilers to trade him.
I like the trade. Omark is not a kid. he's a 26 year old man who had been buried in the minors for three years. He's skilled, slick and worthy of an opportunity to play in Buffalo.
Look at these sick, silky mitts on Omark!!
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The Oilers confirm that they have traded Omark to Buffalo for a conditional sixth round pick.
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Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News reporting that the Sabres have acquired forward Linus Omark from the Edmonton Oilers.
More to come....
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Marcus Foligno exchanges holiday cheer with Matt Fraser.
Its Sabres-Bruins time!
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The end may be nearing in the long, exhaustive process of finding the next Buffalo Sabres GM. Sabres president of hockey operations Pat LaFontaine has completed most of the processes of the interview processes. He's not completely done with the process, but he's getting closer everyday.
"Its moving along at a good pace", says Patty La La.
His short list is now a medium sized list.
He has identified several qualified candidates, he has been granted the permission to interview and has completed much of the meetings. The end of the interview process is almost done. It seems to be all over but the actual hiring itself.
LaFontaine told WGR radio in Buffalo on Thursday night that he is not interested in hiring a GM who doesn't want to be in Buffalo. For example, if Brian Burke and the Calgary flames want to hire one of LaFontaine's target list GM candidates, then he's not interested in that man. Nothing personal, just business. LaFontaine wants to hire a hockey man who only is interested in the Buffalo GM job. If he has eyes on Calgary and Buffalo, LaFontaine will shake hands, thank him for his time, and move along.
The man that accepts the Buffalo job will be focused solely on making the Sabres a winning organization.
" Thanks, WGR
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The NHL Department of Player Safety on Thursday announced Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson will not be subject to supplemental discipline for a check on Philadelphia Flyers forward Brayden Schenn in a game Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center.
Wilson had a phone hearing Thursday afternoon with the Department of Player Safety.
Schenn will play tonight vs. Columbus. He said that other than aches and pains, he's ok.
"I’m going to be sore for another couple days, maybe a week," he said. "When you have an impact like that, your whole body has to get realigned, readjusted. I’ve got a little stiffness, but I feel good. Head’s good, that’s the main thing."
My take:
The NHL fumbled the puck big time on this one.
Wilson tracked Schenn from the top of the faceoff circles down to the wall. It was premeditated and he meant to splatter the Flyer. Now, the Flyers will have to get revenge the old fashioned way by taking care of Wilson themselves the next time both teams play.
Ten knuckle justice for Wilson instead of a suspension