[News] LaFontaine resigns from the Sabres - Page 4 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

PeteMoss · 03-01-2014, 05:37 PM

The whole thing is weird. Did he hire the GM? Seems very quick for the new GM to pull a power play on him regarding this Miller trade... unless the owner was the one who hired Murray.

JonDuke · 03-01-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

And for one day. For one, brief, shining moment, the Edmonton Oilers are not the most embarrassing franchise in the NHL.

Your move, Lowe.

Nah. Can't let anyone else take those honors over. Edmonton still sucks the big one better than anyone else.

transplant99 · 03-01-2014, 05:49 PM

Nm

Zevo · 03-01-2014, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dammage79

Because this is all Nolans fault? I don't buy it. He's a good coach. Darned good IMO.

On the surface he seems to be a good coach, but there has to be a reason he hasn't worked in the NHL for so many years. I hope the Flames stay far, far away.

Resolute 14 · 03-01-2014, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zevo

On the surface he seems to be a good coach, but there has to be a reason he hasn't worked in the NHL for so many years. I hope the Flames stay far, far away.

He was blackballed for a long time for his work to undermine Muckler. GMs tend to stay away from coaches that will try to get them fired.

Erick Estrada · 03-01-2014, 06:56 PM

If in fact he was against the Miller trade then it was probably for the best he resigned as he obviously isn't ready for the responsibility of running a team. Miller wasn't likely going to re-sign and the team hit a home run on that deal. Nothing to be unhappy about with how that went down. As for Nolan I believe when you hire him you have to consider inner squabbles as it is part of the deal with him and it's why he has a hard time finding work in the NHL.

FAN · 03-01-2014, 07:12 PM

Got to hand it to Lafontaine though. If he doesn't like his situation he's not afraid to re-sign. Then again, he doesn't seem to be a guy who will stick around and work things out.

Badgers Nose · 03-01-2014, 07:22 PM

He seems like a quitter who embarrassed himself and the person who gave him the job IMO.

If its really his dream job, why quit? Keeping Miller is not worth quitting for, plus that isn't his job to make those decisions.

Need more facts, because this is crazy.

Southside · 03-01-2014, 07:36 PM

Sounds like he was supposed to have the final say on all deals. They went over his head, so be quit. If he was to have ultimate decision and they went over his head this early in his tenure, not a sign of good things to come.

3rd line Grinder · 03-01-2014, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southside

Sounds like he was supposed to have the final say on all deals. They went over his head, so be quit. If he was to have ultimate decision and they went over his head this early in his tenure, not a sign of good things to come.

That is the story as per cbc, if true then it shows massive issues within the Sabers organization. It would also explain the haste of his departure. That being said if it was a feaster-esque deal, then you imagine that he would have fired Murray instead of resigning

killer_carlson · 03-01-2014, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

He was blackballed for a long time for his work to undermine Muckler. GMs tend to stay away from coaches that will try to get them fired.

That was coming up on 20 years ago.

No longer an excuse. Has to be something else

Erick Estrada · 03-01-2014, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Southside

Sounds like he was supposed to have the final say on all deals. They went over his head, so be quit. If he was to have ultimate decision and they went over his head this early in his tenure, not a sign of good things to come.

Well it sounds like he had a say and it was so blatantly wrong that they had to go ahead with a no-brainer for everyone but him in the organization. This is probably a good thing for the Sabres as he's obviously not ready for this much power and he hired a GM and should let the GM make those decisions or they are the Oilers. Why in the heck would he want to hold on to an aging goaltender that's good but not great with the 30th overall team in a full rebuild that just got a very handsome return for him?

Erick Estrada · 03-01-2014, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

That was coming up on 20 years ago.

No longer an excuse. Has to be something else

He's still Ted Nolan so why would that no longer be an excuse? You don't undermine your boss and when you do don't expect GM's keep you on speed dial...ever.

flamesfan1297 · 03-02-2014, 11:45 AM

Matthew Barnabay @MattBarnabay3636
The more I hear on Sabres situation the weirder it gets. Hardest thing is knowing who's lying. Bc a lot of that going on

Matthew Barnabay @MattBarnabay3636
Here's what I know. It's not over Nolan. Not over trade. Also know Patty just didn't miss his job! Big thing going on

Matthew Barnabay @MattBarnabay3636
Did Patty quit or get fired...I think I know the answer. More to come....

Poe969 · 03-02-2014, 12:19 PM

Barnaby is such a tool. Maybe LaFontain was a cancer in the room...

Badger Bob · 03-03-2014, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Some close to the Sabres says there was no power struggle, Lafontaine wanted to get back to New York and the working for NHL. Hmmmmm.

Doubt it

The local writers were all over this Sunday morning. Then, tried to get more from NHL Network. Obviously, they were still busy hyping the outdoor games, but Dreger did come on a offer that little gem.

Lafontaine hasn't been reachable since, so there was definitely a lot going on upstairs. This wasn't just about returning to the league job, because with the timing, that could've waited until after the season.

OP suggested that it was related to the Miller situation. Miller seemed emotional about leaving, but it was believed that he would've spoken with Oshie, Shattenkirk and Backes over in Sochi. With Halak being weak for Slovakia, Blues management had to realize that an upgrade in net was needed for meaningful games. So, this was no suprise. Now, whether or not Miller gave indication of any willingness about re-signing in Buffalo, nobody has said so.

It could also be related to the Nolan status. Nolan still has the "interim" tag, but there have been extension talks. Barnaby might well be a tool, but he is a reliable source about Nolan. He was one of the players, who were loyal to Nolan and moved out, first time around (others being Lafontaine, Brad May, the Boogie Man). It's also true that there was a reputation of being a GM-killer. He did lock horns with Muckler, and irrespective of whatever Muckler accomplished in Edmonton, he was respected by hockey people. Still, that was so long ago, this isn't still in play, even if the episode isn't totally forgotten.

The issue with Hasek left a more lasting impression. Nolan likely wasn't blackballed, per se, but his pride got in the way. If he'd gone back and coached in the OHL, NHL job offers would've come his way much sooner. Nolan was still revered in Buffalo for getting the most from the talent level available. Lafontaine is one of the most loved former athletes in Buffalo sports history. Anyway, the influence on Lafontaine's departure wasn't necessarily hinged on Nolan's status. Still, it feels odd with Craig Patrick remaining in a advisor role, when Lafontaine was the one who brought him to town in the first place.

Best guess is power struggle. It's seem like "meddling" from ownership, but the perception now is that it's more cluelessness.

Badger Bob · 03-03-2014, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fischy13

I wonder if Lafontaine is calling shenanigans on the rumored moulson/Stewart trade to Ottawa. New GM is providing a favor to uncle Murray... Best interest isn't in favor of the Sabers.

Stewart was known to be potentially available to another team when acquired. Moulson is going to be UFA, so this makes sense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ped

I doubt Tim Murray is dumb enough to make a gift trade to a divisional rival, especially so soon after getting his first GM job.

What diff does it make, if it's a divisional rival? Sabres are years from contention. They need picks & prospects for the future. What Ottawa does has no impact on the Sabres future plans, and they still need to stock assets.

Erick Estrada · 03-03-2014, 02:13 PM

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.

Clever_Iggy · 03-03-2014, 03:52 PM

Quote:

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.

Makes me wonder how well this "new management structure" will really work with all clubs. If the GM (who is supposed to make the day-to-day personnel decisions for the team) wants to make a decision does he have to pass it through the President of Hockey Ops? Does he have to do it with every player or just a select few? If the President of Hockey Ops disagrees, why doesn't it die there instead of going to the Team President or ownership?

Perhaps I still don't understand the point of having that extra layer for a team like Buffalo. With Calgary, King has so many other responsibilities beyond the Flames (Hitmen, Roughnecks, Stamps, stadium, etc) that it makes sense to have a guy like Burke... but what exactly will Burke do once he hires a GM? I assume scouting, Conroy, Weisbrod's replacement will all report into the new GM.

sureLoss · 03-03-2014, 04:15 PM

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