[News] LaFontaine resigns from the Sabres

[ClubFlames]

This situation is just so weird.

[mikeecho]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Sportsnet guys at noon talked to a Buffalo reporter and it was apparently all about Miller. Lafontaine wanted to explore offering Miller a contract and Murray would have no part of that. Pegula sided with Murray in regards to trading Miller for assets and Lafontaine quit. The whole thing kind of paints Lafontaine as a quitter to me and a guy that didn't understand where he stood when he first accepted the job. How could Lafontaine and Murray have gone through the interviews and not discussed what they would do with Miller? How could Lafontaine hire a guy that within a month he would disagree with so strongly and not come to a compromise that he would quit his job?

I can understand that he may have felt disappointed that ownership didn't agree with him but I've sat in big meetings where higher ups never saw eye to eye and at the end of the day you move on and have to live with the bosses decision. Sounds like a pouter to me.

Did the Sportsnet guys finish off the segment suggesting that any available player on the trade market was likely to be traded to Vancouver as they they have been saying for the last two months?

Just saying... Those guys are tremendously unreliable with their inside scoops, so I wouldn't take what they says as the gospel. It's what happens when John Shannon, Brian Lawton, Doug McLean and friends make up your upper echelon of "insiders."

[Resolute 14]

The funniest part of the Sportsnet guys coverage of this was when Kypreos sent out a tweet saying one of his sources called the situation "ugly". His "source", of course, was Matthew Barnaby's twitter feed.

[Ring of Fire]

I wonder if this has anything to do with Lafontaine's GM search. There was talk that multiple teams didn't like the way the search was conducted and as such teams are now reluctant to give permission to other teams (like the Flames) to interview their hockey operations staff. Could be a case of Lafontaine being disliked after the GM search and the owner cutting ties with a figure that could hamper future negotiations. Just a thought.

[devo22]

pretty harsh piece in regards to Pegula and the front office:

Let’s get to the point: Ted Black saying there was no discord between Pat LaFontaine and the front office was absurd. Obviously, there were major problems at the top. Rather than acknowledge their existence, Black made a lame, embarrassing attempt to con the public into thinking it was an amicable divorce.

Does he really think people are that stupid?

The rhetoric was laughable when stacked against mounting evidence of an irreparable rift between LaFontaine and owner Terry Pegula. Next we’ll hear Black suggest a few ice cubes sank the Titanic and firecrackers ended World War II. It appears we’re back to the same old routine with Pegula and his flunkies in fantasyland.

If everything were hunky-dory, LaFontaine would still be in Buffalo. If he wanted to return to a lesser job in league offices for personal reasons, as Black said, he would have held a news conference and explained as much. Anyone with a conscience would have understood that family comes first, no questions asked, no big deal.

And LaFontaine would have been celebrated for a job well done. He hired the right coach in Ted Nolan and an aggressive general manager in Tim Murray. Together, they were on their way to restoring credibility. Pegula would have thanked him for his work, wished him well and sent him on his way.

Really, it doesn’t get much easier.

Instead, LaFontaine is holed up heaven knows where with tape over his mouth. He’s not returning phone calls. A source close to him said he was devastated over the weekend but feeling better Monday. LaFontaine was passionate about building a winner in Buffalo. If he were at peace with leaving, he would be up front and positive.

I’m positive. I’m positive Black is either lying about the front office or grossly out of touch with his own organization. People are losing faith in him and Pegula by the day. They haven’t earned the benefit of the doubt. If that’s the leadership the Sabres are getting from the top, what does it say about everyone else?

http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/b...oblem-20140303

[neo45]

Who cares about LaFontaine. He did such a bad job searching for a GM that we aren't allowed to even interview candidates right now. Then he quits after the guy he hired makes one (predictable) move. Sounds like he did the organization a favour

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by devo22

pretty harsh piece in regards to Pegula and the front office:

http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/b...oblem-20140303

Almost paints an Oilers-esque picture.

If the Sabres are paying LaFontaine to stay quiet, clearly the problem is the organization and not him being a baby as some suggest.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by neo45

Who cares about LaFontaine. He did such a bad job searching for a GM that we aren't allowed to even interview candidates right now. Then he quits after the guy he hired makes one (predictable) move. Sounds like he did the organization a favour

I think it's a general policy to allow hockey management staff to move in the off season where they won't be taking too much inside info with them to another team. When we hired Craig Button, it was with the understanding that he couldn't take part in the draft or offer any information gleaned from the Stars.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Almost paints an Oilers-esque picture.

If the Sabres are paying LaFontaine to stay quiet, clearly the problem is the organization and not him being a baby as some suggest.

I see so he's such a proud man that he's willing to quit his job based on integrity but he will accept money to keep his mouth shut. Doesn't make a lot of sense. I'm willing to bet it's damage control on both sides as he realizes he doesn't come out if this clean either and both parties have decided this is the best way to go about this.

[sun]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

So apparently LaFontaine was essentially bought out by the Sabres and is being paid to be silent.

Nick Kypreos @RealKyper
#Sabres /LaFontaine settle terms on his multi yr deal. Won't be hearing from Pat anytime soon as he also signed a non-disclosure agreement

wtf?

[killer_carlson]

not often seen in the world of sports executives, but pretty standard business operating procedure.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I see so he's such a proud man that he's willing to quit his job based on integrity but he will accept money to keep his mouth shut. Doesn't make a lot of sense. I'm willing to bet it's damage control on both sides as he realizes he doesn't come out if this clean either and both parties have decided this is the best way to go about this.

I think it's pretty standard if you want another job in NHL hockey you don't bad mouth your previous employers. If he had to be paid off, he was obviously pissed.

[killer_carlson]

He isn't being paid to shut up, he is being paid the severance due in his contract. Employer will often ask for a confidentiality clause on the settlement.

I see no issue here

[Machiavelli]

wrong thread

[PeteMoss]

Signs point to this Sabres owner being a bit of a nut.

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

He isn't being paid to shut up, he is being paid the severance due in his contract. Employer will often ask for a confidentiality clause on the settlement.

I see no issue here

I thought that he would only get severance if he was fired or laid off during the term of the contract and not leaving on his own terms. Doesnt him resigning basically just cancel the contract and all severance that would be due? Im not arguing with you, i honestly do not know.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Signs point to this Sabres owner being a bit of a nut.

Well they were consulting him during the first round of the draft last year. Clearly he's more involved than your average owner.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by flamesfan1297

I thought that he would only get severance if he was fired or laid off during the term of the contract and not leaving on his own terms. Doesnt him resigning basically just cancel the contract and all severance that would be due? Im not arguing with you, i honestly do not know.

Best answer is: It depends.
Someone can be forced to resign or be pushed out, such that it can then be a constructive dismissal, and they're paid severance as if they were terminated, or they can agree he will resign, and still get the severance, to help the optics in favour of both parties.

[sureLoss]

Looks like Nolan extension will get done:

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Ted Nolan's three-year contract extension with BUF in hands of lawyers. Contract language still being finalized. Not "done" quite yet.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Looks like Nolan extension will get done:

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Ted Nolan's three-year contract extension with BUF in hands of lawyers. Contract language still being finalized. Not "done" quite yet.

Really? That seems unusual. Arent coaching contracts pretty standard? I wonder why the lawyers are getting involved?