Pat LaFontaine to be named President of Hockey Operations

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Still though, in 06 and 07 this was a championship caliber team that had some bad luck keep them away from a trophy. It takes some awful mismanagement to completely blow up that team into one that was lucky to make the playoffs, and now one that is in dead last.

It is almost like you are talking about the Flames.

[StAlbertFlame]

With the Oilers losing their third straight shutout at home...how much longer could Kevin Lowe and company last!!! I love it when the Oilers lose...but if they don't start winning some games soon, Katz will get rid of the current management and they may start to eventually improve. Stupid Oilers!!!

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by StAlbertFlame

With the Oilers losing their third straight shutout at home...how much longer could Kevin Lowe and company last!!! I love it when the Oilers lose...but if they don't start winning some games soon, Katz will get rid of the current management and they may start to eventually improve. Stupid Oilers!!!

I'd almost take bets it'll be this week

[Itse]

I wonder what's the record for longest home scoring drought...

[Badger Bob]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Dumb dumb dumb.
Regier is a top flight GM. He just pulled off a major steal in his latest deal.
Why let him go?
DUMB

It's true that his recent trades were were very good, but this been a long time coming, actually. Pegula was late at pulling the trigger. He should've taken a fresh start after he bought the team, and removed Regier (and Ruff). Amazing that he's survived through 3 owners. He had opportunites through previous rebuilds.


http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/da...isses-20131113

LaFontaine is possibly the most revered former athlete in Buffalo. With the trend toward this role, it was a no-brainer.

Ted Nolan has close ties to LaFontaine, and is still widely liked among the fan base for getting player to perform beyong their capabilities and has strong loyalty from certain players. Despite that, there are a few question marks.

1.) He locked horns with John Muckler. With whatever Muckler did or didn't accomplish in Edmonton (truth be told, it was mostly the work of Glen Sater), the man was respected around hockey. Nolan gained a reputation as a GM killer.

2.) Dominik Hasek was an All World goalie and an All World flake. Howver, if the persistent rumors about Nolan and Hasek's wife are true, then Hasek was justified and it showed poor judgment on Nolan's part.

3.) Nolan's camp made accusations of racism after not receiving NHL coaching job offers after his initial stint in Buffalo. The man would not return soon enough to coaching in the OHL but a First Nations pickup league coaching gig was acceptable to him? Doesn't make sense.

Dreger was on NHL Network, this morning, suggesting that Rick Dudley wants the GM job.

[Badger Bob]

A couple of other points on the Sabres front office overhaul.

When the Sabres acquired Regehr, signed Ehrhoff and Leino, these were supposed to moves to put them over the top. It's not like how the Flames were pretending to be contenders, the last few years. The Sabres were actually expected to be a top team in the Eastern Conference. Now, they're a bottom feeder.

The Ron Rolston hiring was on Darcy Regier's watch. He was well regarded in USA Hockey and at the college level, but had only spent 2 years at AHL. So, his professional coaching career was limited. With reports of locker room strife, the fact is the the roster includes 4 18 year olds, who should've been back in juniors.