Joe Battista, Sabres VP of Hockey Related Business, has resigned

[That Aud Smell]

The fact that he's gone after a shakeup at the top of the BUSINESS side of the operation, kinda tells me it was.

 

Bazoinga.

[SwampD]

The fact that he's gone after a shakeup at the top of the BUSINESS side of the operation, kinda tells me it was.

That makes no sense. Like Smell said, if he had value, they would have kept him. People may have already had the seeds of conspiracy growing, but it's not like the situation itself hasn't shoveled fertilizer all over them.

[bunomatic]

This is starting to sound less like an episode of the Sopranos and more like a hockey club. 

[Taro T]

That makes no sense. Like Smell said, if he had value, they would have kept him. People may have already had the seeds of conspiracy growing, but it's not like the situation itself hasn't shoveled fertilizer all over them.

What makes no sense? Brandon took over Black's role on the business side w/ the Sabres ~1 week ago. Now another high level guy is gone. The timing implies that he was fired from the business side.

 

Typically, in WNY, hoof marks in the dirt near the side of the road are made by horses; no matter how much cooler it would have been for there to be zebras wandering around. ;)

[That Aud Smell]

That makes no sense. Like Smell said, if he had value, they would have kept him. People may have already had the seeds of conspiracy growing, but it's not like the situation itself hasn't shoveled fertilizer all over them.

 

I'm a firm believer that, if you're inclined to view things in that way, then the events that unfold around you will be construed so as to support or validate your views, regardless of what those events might be.

[TrueBlueGED]

The conspiracy around Battista was that he meddled in hockey matters. That he was canned by the new business president does, in fact, suggest the conspiracy theorists were totally out to lunch. As is usually the case.

[Claude_Verret]

I'm a firm believer that, if you're inclined to view things in that way, then the events that unfold around you will be construed so as to support or validate your views, regardless of what those events might be.

 

Yep, confirmation bias has run rampant with the Pegula and Battista conspiracies for quite some time around here.

[That Aud Smell]

The conspiracy around Battista was that he meddled in hockey matters. That he was canned by the new business president does, in fact, suggest the conspiracy theorists were totally out to lunch. As is usually the case.

 

Bazinga.

[nfreeman]

What makes no sense? Brandon took over Black's role on the business side w/ the Sabres ~1 week ago. Now another high level guy is gone. The timing implies that he was fired from the business side.

 

Typically, in WNY, hoof marks in the dirt near the side of the road are made by horses; no matter how much cooler it would have been for there to be zebras wandering around. ;)

 

Indeed -- and that Brandon wanted his own top lieutenants to work with him, not holdovers.

 

Now, if one were inclined to look for more sinister doings, one might think that Brandon won a power struggle over both Black and Battista (not just Black).

 

Either way, this does lend increasing credence to the theory that between Black, Battista and PLF, things were somewhat dysfunctional on the hockey side in the past couple of years.

 

Good thing riding to the rescue is an NFL executive who doesn't seem to think a good QB is an important commodity.

[JJFIVEOH]

Battista's departure eliminates something like 14% of this board's anticipated content for the upcoming season. 

 

What will fill the void?

 

Going to have to move Rob Ray up the whipping boy totem pole. That leaves room for a rookie whipping boy to get his chance at the bottom.

[SwampD]

What makes no sense? Brandon took over Black's role on the business side w/ the Sabres ~1 week ago. Now another high level guy is gone. The timing implies that he was fired from the business side.

 

Typically, in WNY, hoof marks in the dirt near the side of the road are made by horses; no matter how much cooler it would have been for there to be zebras wandering around. ;)

Yeah, but every once in a while,...

[DR HOLLIDAY]

I feel like Captain Tuttle just died.

 

Great post man..........Meet up at the swamp for some swill later on!

[PromoTheRobot]

How's PA doing? It can be rough when your reason for living suddenly goes away.

[I am Defecting]

The conspiracy around Battista was that he meddled in hockey matters. That he was canned by the new business president does, in fact, suggest the conspiracy theorists were totally out to lunch. As is usually the case

The conspiracy around Battista was that he was the liason between the business side and the hockey side.  With the Bills, neither side really dictates to the other.  If the Sabres now emulate the Bills model, that would eliminate the need for a Battista.  

 

If you pay attention to the rising of Venus, you will see that this was bound to happen.  August of 2015, just like was predicted in The Wicans Almanac.  There aren't really any advanced stats that could have helped you in this situation.  My friend, who is a Druid, actually predicted the day and hour of the event.  It's really amazing stuff.

 

Perspicacity, my dear doctor.  Perspicacity.   ;)

[WildCard]

I find it very telling that the Sabres have said exactly nothing about this.

Why? 

[That Aud Smell]

In terms of business dictating to hockey (football), that report about how GM TM admitted that he moved the scrimmage to Friday in a concession to business (after an intense day on Thursday) is one that comes back to mind. Eichel appeared somewhat gassed, recall.

Edited August 4, 2015 by That Aud Smell

[Johnny DangerFace]

Why?

Well it's obvious isn't it?

[Doohickie]

I find it very telling that the Sabres have said exactly nothing about this.

 

Has anyone heard anything other than from that twitterer Bucky?

 

This is the Information Age.  A Tweet from Bucky is considered official.

[PASabreFan]

How's PA doing? It can be rough when your reason for living suddenly goes away.

This is true. I want my hockey team back.

[qwksndmonster]

This is true. I want my hockey team back.

</3

[PASabreFan]

I love how everyone likes to feel good about what they like to feel good about.

 

The "tinfoil hat" folk have been questioning Battista's qualifications, his duties, etc since he arrived, saying it was part of TPeg's old boys club, meddling way. So now when TPegs brings in an actual president to take the place of that club that wasn't working, the "tinfoil hat" crew is somehow wrong?

 

Whatever.

Thank you. Now I don't have to say it.

[That Aud Smell]

^

 

But you are perhaps obliged (expected) to respond to the bazinga and bazoinga points above.

 

No one ever disputed that Battista was an unqualified crony who received a manufactured job title and no defined responsibilities.

 

It was the idea that he was running amok in the hockey department that most rolled their eyes at.

[biodork]

Sounds like JB's departure is much more amicable than TB's was:

 

http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2015/08/03/sabres-front-office-gets-cleanup/

 

 

 

Let me be clear: Battista was not fired.

This isn’t like Ted Black getting shown the door and having the Sabres announce his dismissal as a “mutual” agreement. Black was given the news and immediately left First Niagara Center. He was forced to resign with 11 months left on his contract. About 11 minutes later, Russ Brandon was named president of the Sabres and Bills.

Battista will remain with the organization until Aug. 14. Without splitting hairs over word usage, you might say his departure was a mutual understanding between him and the Sabres. Both sides understood it was better if they moved in separate directions with no hard feelings.

It’s quite possible that Battista sensed in recent months that his days with the organization were numbered and orchestrated his own exit plan.

[woods-racer]

Sounds like JB's departure is much more amicable than TB's was:

 

http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2015/08/03/sabres-front-office-gets-cleanup/

 

 

Sounds like a 2 weeks notice to your employer was done by Battista.

 

He'll get his job back at Penn State and the Sabres will wish him well and thank him for his time and efforts while with them and all will end well.

[PASabreFan]

^

 

But you are perhaps obliged (expected) to respond to the bazinga and bazoinga points above.

 

No one ever disputed that Battista was an unqualified crony who received a manufactured job title and no defined responsibilities.

 

It was the idea that he was running amok in the hockey department that most rolled their eyes at.

He did accompany Patty to Ottawa for the GMTM interview. That doesn't strike me as someone without power in the hockey department. That, and notifying Nolan that Miller had been traded, and then signing Vinz, and bragging about signing Vinz in a Tweet, were his claims to fame. After that, it was more of a running joke than anything else.

 

Maybe, like Bucky wrote, Murray had no use for Battista and wanted him out of the picture.

 

We need a Ken Sawyer website modeled after abevigoda.com.

What's he selling?

Pressers and overpriced peanut butter-filled donuts.

The conspiracy around Battista was that he meddled in hockey matters. That he was canned by the new business president does, in fact, suggest the conspiracy theorists were totally out to lunch. As is usually the case.

Perhaps an issue was what Joe thought he was doing went beyond the scope of what he was hired to do. Would you like to read this LinkedIn profile if you were GMTM?

 

Joe Battista serves as vice president of hockey and business administration for the Buffalo Sabres. He is responsible for overseeing hockey department administration, budgets, personnel, and technology, and serves as the hockey department’s liaison to the Sabres business operations, Harbor Center, and Pegula Sports and Entertainment.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joebattista