Archives for 2013

'Pegula should have fired Ruff and Regier as his first act as owner and rebuilt a flawed roster immediately. The Sabres have lacked serious star power for a long time and were not very deep back in 2011. Now, they’re full of young, unproved players with a couple of rotting veterans who need to be sent away — Drew Stafford and Ville Leino for example.' … [Read more...] about Sabres’ shakeup long overdue

'Things had gotten bad inside the organization, too, with upper management sending memos to team employees that urged them to keep their heads up as losses and dark clouds grew in number. The Sabres needed something more than words to lift spirits and restore hope.' … [Read more...] about It’s back to the future for Sabres as LaFontaine, Nolan return to fix a broken team

'“I wouldn’t use that word,” LaFontaine said when asked about the catchphrase Regier uttered in May that will forever cloud much of his 16 years here. “I would use ‘patience’ and understand there’s a direction. If the fans know there’s leadership and direction and they know there’s good people in place and start to see it happening on the ice and see the product, they’re going … [Read more...] about LaFontaine’s goal as Sabres President of Hockey Operations: Restore the faith

'“We’re going to be working,” captain Steve Ott said. “That’s something that guys are going to have to be earning things around here. From a veteran guy to a young guy, everything is going to be earned. You earn your ice time. Go put your work boots on and you get things done. That’s something that creates accountability right from the get-go.”' … [Read more...] about Nolan gets back to work with nothing to prove

'“I looked at my phone after practice real quick and I had players from all over the league texting me right away saying how a great a guy he is and how you want to work for him,” Ott said. “If that gives any motivation to the guys in the room, you want to go through the wall for your coach and he’s one of those guys.”' … [Read more...] about Players hit reset button amid changes in Sabreland

'As for Regier, I never ripped him strictly for sport. It’s not how I get my jollies. For me, it’s about getting it right and sharing opinions with people who invested thousands of dollars on a faulty train that had the wrong conductor and was doomed to fall off the tracks.' … [Read more...] about LaFontaine, Nolan must rebuild bridges Regier burned

'In addition to a roster filled with underperforming players, the inadequate people/communication skills of the 56-year-old became public through the past two years. During an interview with Canadian cable outlet the Score, former Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke said talking trade with Regier would lead to an hour of wasted time.' … [Read more...] about Darcy Regier’s tenure one of hits and misses

'Whether this particular combination of leaders will be able to motivate and inspire the team to pull itself out of the sub-basement in which it now resides remains to be seen. But one thing is certain – it couldn’t get any worse, and something needed to be done.' … [Read more...] about Lafontaine, Nolan face the challenge of breathing life into stumbling Sabres

'“There’s no one that can bring a group of players together — and I’ve seen it first hand — than Ted Nolan,” LaFontaine said.' … [Read more...] about Ted Nolan named interim coach of Buffalo Sabres

'Now the man who let Nolan go (Regier) was himself let go and Nolan was brought back. That's surreal with a capital "S."' … [Read more...] about Sabres owner makes needed move

'“Terry said to me, ‘If you think (Nolan’s) that good and if you think he can help this organization, (do it),’” said LaFontaine, who played two years under Nolan. “So he’s putting his trust in me right away.”' … [Read more...] about Sabres owner Terry Pegula only began showing interest in Pat LaFontaine recently

'“I’m not worried about the Leafs,” he said. “If they want to do something, fine. I’m just going to play my game, hit people and be physical."' … [Read more...] about Buffalo Sabres tough guy John Scott says he’s not a ‘meathead’

'“I said to the team, I said, ‘We’re not going to promise if we compete we start winning. It has nothing to do with that. But if we compete, it gives us a chance to win,’” Nolan said. “Without that, it doesn’t work.”' … [Read more...] about Interim coach Ted Nolan wants to make Sabres work, evaluate new players

'Bringing Nolan back is appropriate under an interim basis. The biggest knock on him is that he holds only a .500 record as a National Hockey League head coach and, depending on whom you believe, gained a reputation within hockey circles as a “boss killer,” as critics say was evidenced by his notoriously difficult relationship with former GM John Muckler.' … [Read more...] about Will reaching back bring Sabres forward?

'I look forward to seeing who the new Sabres GM will be. I look forward to seeing if Nolan sticks around. For however long it lasts, I’m eager to watch the Sabres play again.' … [Read more...] about Let’s enjoy the moment, shall we?