Confirmed with Link: Steve Smith resigns

[GoldiFox]

Why is it a "better opportunity"? He left for a different opportunity, not sure it's "better".

I mean better for him. 0% related to Buffalo vs Carolina NHL personnel. Obviously he wouldn’t have made the move if it wasn’t beneficial for him.

Although I do believe that Buffalo is in a good spot if they build right. 2 Superstars under 23.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

All these departures gives off a very "Rats on a sinking ship" vibe.

Maybe, they also give off more of a "no playoffs for 9 years so lets clean house" kind of vibe.

Francis: fired
Peters: chose not to re-up, but it was clear Dundon was going to fire him no matter what.
Niewendyk: Was collecting a paycheck for doing very little (from what I can tell) and was a Francis hire.
Wesley: Lives in Utah now, make sense he's no longer the director of defensemen development.
Olcyk: His job was taken over by Paul K (however you spell his name).

Smith is the only guy that seems to have left when they probably still wanted to keep him. Other than him, it was more cleaning house IMO.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I mean better for him. 0% related to Buffalo vs Carolina. Obviously he wouldn’t have made the move if it wasn’t beneficial for him.

Although I do believe that Buffalo is in a good spot if they build right. 2 Superstars under 23.

Oh, ok..fair enough. It depends on what they were offering him in salary as well. Could be significantly more than he was getting here.

In terms of "clearly he wouldn't move if it wasn't beneficial to him," that could mean a lot of things. Maybe he was looking as soon as Peters was let go and Brindy took over, but didn't announce it until he had something lined up. Maybe he just didn't like how Dundon runs things. Maybe he was a "Francis guy" and the writing was on the wall.

Hard to tell what all his reasons were.

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Or an Anchor Bar thing

 

[CanesFanBudMan]

Maybe he wanted to keep Peter's defensive system and Brindy wasn't having it. Wishful thinking

 

[Wolfpuck]

Benedict Arnold

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Benedict Arnold

The man who cost the Canes a 5-peat.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Maybe he wanted to keep Peter's defensive system and Brindy wasn't having it. Wishful thinking

This may have had a lot to do with it. From Smith’s point of view, his former peer/colleague is now imposing his philosophy on the team. To the extent that Smith may have helped inform Peters’ defensive system concepts, he’s in the hot seat when Brind’Amour takes the HC job with a mandate not to make the same mistakes again. Dundon has been very clear about giving everything a hard shake-up. That means shaking up 4 years of Smith’s work.

I also tend to agree with @Boom Boom Apathy that this probably started back when Francis and Peters got the hook. Anyone with any kind of common sense would start tapping into their network for opportunities in case they’re next to go. If Smith first started talking to the Sabres two or three months ago, it makes sense that he would get an official offer around now. And given the circumstances above, it’s not a surprise that he’d rather have a degree of job security and an opportunity to get out of this dumpster fire.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Benedict Arnold

Benedict ‘Steve Smith’ Arnold

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

SMH, Should of kept Scott Smith.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Next time we play the Sabers I’m going to boo them because they stole Steve Smith

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Did we let him go or did he outright quit?

How does this work contractually? Seems weird to be able to break a contract and then go work for another team immediately.

 

[UNCCHcane]

Did we let him go or did he outright quit?

How does this work contractually? Seems weird to be able to break a contract and then go work for another team immediately.

He probably didn't "break" the contract. I'm sure he asked for release and the Canes willingly gave it.

Edit: Courts typically don't care for non-compete clauses, and with the job pool being so small in the NHL, even if there was one in Smith's contract it probably wouldn't be enforceable. This sounds like a mutual split. He didn't want to be there anymore, and I'm sure the Canes don't want a coach hanging around that doesn't want to be there.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Yeah, the statement from Waddell was that the split was amicable. He probably asked to leave and they granted it. No sense in paying him to keep him under contract and not let him get a job elsewhere.

 

[HisIceness]

I will miss that crazy son of a bitch Steve Smith. I hope his father Stan and his mother Francine are okay with this decision. Hopefully his alien friend Roger will continue to be a good influence.

We are talking about Steve Smith the former Panthers wide receiver right?

 

[Navin R Slavin]

I will miss that crazy son of a ***** Steve Smith. I hope his father Stan and his mother Francine are okay with this decision. Hopefully his alien friend Roger will continue to be a good influence.

We are talking about Steve Smith the former Panthers wide receiver right?

No, that's Steve Smith Sr.

 

[AD Skinner]

Or is it Wheels, of Wheels and the Leg Man?

 

[BHD]

Now is the time for The Anton to take over the defence.

 

[Lempo]

SMH, Should of kept Scott Smith.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

That’s the joke Son.

 

[Identity404]

Curious what scrub they replace him with. I'm sure most NHL assistant coaches make what Brind'amour is signed for, probably more.

I vote Char2018

 

[NotOpie]

That’s the joke Son.

 

[HisIceness]

I will miss that crazy son of a ***** Steve Smith. I hope his father Stan and his mother Francine are okay with this decision. Hopefully his alien friend Roger will continue to be a good influence.

We are talking about Steve Smith the former Panthers wide receiver right?

No dumbass you're thinking of Stephen A. Smith the loudmouth screaming host on ESPN's First Take show.

 

[BrindAmours Army]

Curious what scrub they replace him with. I'm sure most NHL assistant coaches make what Brind'amour is signed for, probably more.

I vote Char2018

#freeJoni

 

[NotOpie]

#freejoanie