Pat Lafontaine resigns position with team

[Karate Johnson*]

A reliable reporter with a connection to Lafontaine from his NYI career/NYC presence

A tweet that corroborates what others have reported

A tweet that reasonably explains what might have occurred

A tweet that has not been denied by the organization/Pat nor revoked by the reporter




It is possible that this information is inaccurate. I believe it is much likelier that the information is correct.



"Burden of proof" is a court philosophy. To use it here is disingenuous

So,mot be clear, we are still talking about one tweet from a guy who wires for anothe team?


Did Botta develop a solid relationship with Patty during the 6 weeks he was there?



You can call it whatever you want. It's most certainly not enough to treat as an absolute truth.




I'm gonna be done responding to you now because it's really weird.

 

[Jame]

What makes any other more valuable in this case?

Nothing

Just a lot of repetitive pages referring to a tweet stating something anyone could infer

 

[Jacob582]

There was a Sports Break during the 1st intermission of the Hawks-Penguins game and I thought I heard Adam Benigni say it was something to do with Pegula's inner circle.

I hope Tim Murray can navigate this "inner circle" moving forward.

 

[Karate Johnson*]

Why can't I edit posts? I screw them up posting on a phone all the time and it's really annoying

 

[enthusiast]

Nothing

Just a lot of repetitive pages referring to a tweet stating something anyone could infer

And yet we have hfsabres thinking the concussion-demented lafontaine threw a tantrum on his way out of the office

 

[SamuraiArt]

There was a Sports Break during the 1st intermission of the Hawks-Penguins game and I thought I heard Adam Benigni say it was something to do with Pegula's inner circle.

That'd be Battista, right? Between notifying Nolan of the trade (kinda weird person to do it) and this new rumor of being someone high in the front office... looks like it's likely Battista.

 

[Cirris]

If Lafontaine wanted to re-sign Miller then I'm glad he's gone.

I think that's the biggest thing.

Miller would never get them a Stanley Cup during his tenure. This team is years away from even sniffing playoffs.

Miller re-signing is an emotional choice, not a rational one.

Cause it's completely opposite of the Sabres` mission statement, winning a Stanley Cup.

If you're making hockey decisions that are contrary to your team's goals, then it's better that he leaves sooner rather than later. But at least do it quietly and after the trade deadline. Just don't do it the way this crapola mess is playing out.

 

[hizzoner]

jeez -take my wife out for a fancy dinner and come home to this. Someone felt dissed and had an easy exit. I liked Patty but thought his hiring was pure pr. Speculation seems to be he wanted to micromanage-whatever-this reflects badly on EVERYONE.

 

[Jacob582]

That'd be Battista, right? Between notifying Nolan of the trade (kinda weird person to do it) and this new rumor of being someone high in the front office... looks like it's likely Battista.

It was reported that Battista was involved in making the calls to get permission to interview GM candidates as well.

 

[enthusiast]

I must have missed Battista's story. Who is this?

 

[B U F F A L O]

I must have missed Battista's story. Who is this?

Was the former PSU Mens Hockey Club head coach. When they got D1 via Pegula donation, he became an executive in their sports administration. Pegula hired him beginning of the year before LaFontaine as VP of Hockey Related Business with the Sabres.

 

[Puppa2Miller]

That'd be Battista, right? Between notifying Nolan of the trade (kinda weird person to do it) and this new rumor of being someone high in the front office... looks like it's likely Battista.

Who cares who relayed the message to Nolan? Anyone in the front office could have been sent down to do it. I find it hard to believe that has anything to do with anything.

 

[enthusiast]

Was the former PSU Mens Hockey Club head coach. When they got D1 via Pegula donation, he became an executive in their sports administration. Pegula hired him beginning of the year before LaFontaine as VP of Hockey Related Business with the Sabres.

Crony.txt

 

[Karate Johnson*]

I must have missed Battista's story. Who is this?

 

[SamuraiArt]

Who cares who relayed the message to Nolan? Anyone in the front office could have been sent down to do it. I find it hard to believe that has anything to do with anything.

You're probably right. I just hadn't heard Battista's name mentioned before Nolan's interview last night. Combined with hearing that he's Pegula's guy, it seemed more likely than any others, to me. Obviously, it's just guesswork but that was my reasoning.

 

[B U F F A L O]

Crony.txt

http://www.gopsusports.com/genrel/102913aaa.html

He was actually responsible for facilitating Pegula's donation for the Arena and starting the D1 program.

And he was literally hired just before LaFontaine. Started Nov 11.

 

[Jacob582]

Who cares who relayed the message to Nolan? Anyone in the front office could have been sent down to do it. I find it hard to believe that has anything to do with anything.

It's just curious that's all. Battista has no NHL experience, and yet he is in the war room for trades. Then again Pegula had no NHL experience and he used to talk to Darcy more than he talked to his wife.

 

[MagnumForce2]

I'm not even sure what Pegula's inner circle and Lafontaine would be butting heads about...

Not one thing makes sense in the whole ordeal

I am sure it will be the top story on Channel 2 news or any of the local Buffalo stations at 11pm. I don't think he mentioned Murray at all. Reflections of the Summer of 97 all over again

 

[enthusiast]

http://www.gopsusports.com/genrel/102913aaa.html

He was actually responsible for facilitating Pegula's donation for the Arena and starting the D1 program.

And he was literally hired just before LaFontaine. Started Nov 11.

That face! He's the platonic ideal of a yes-man

 

[Karate Johnson*]

Why did they not just wait t out, then have a press conference next Friday where zlaFontaine says "enjoyed it here, job here is done, good hands with Murray, returning to NY to work fr the league"

Sure there would be speculation, but they would have been ahead of it instead of getting outed by reporters taking wild guesses.

 

[enthusiast]

Also KJ I missed your post at the top but Patty played on the island for a while too not to mention working for the nhl in the same market

 

[MagnumForce2]

You are a trip

 

[Puppa2Miller]

It's just curious that's all. Battista has no NHL experience, and yet he is in the war room for trades. Then again Pegula had no NHL experience and he used to talk to Darcy more than he talked to his wife.

They could have literally sent any Sabre employee that Nolan would recognize to deliver the message. Marty Biron could have been told to run down the steps and I don't think we would just randomly blame things on him.

 

[MagnumForce2]

I am going to flip over to channel 4 for a few minutes to see what they have to say and see if they have a different angle to it.

 

[Beerz]

Adam Benigni ‏@AdamBenigni 5m

Conflicting information for sources on LaFotaine resignation... if you wanna call it that... @wgrz



Adam Benigni ‏@AdamBenigni 4m

talked to more than a half dozen sources... common theme = power struggle and subsequent rift... @wgrz



Adam Benigni ‏@AdamBenigni 3m

and that a good portion of this falls on LaFontaine how he tried to use power within organization... @wgrz