Confirmed with Link: Sabres Presser (Tim Murray announced as GM, Craig Patrick as Special Assistant to HD)

[Duddy]

we are waiting timmy, where are the BOLDMOVES?

 

[Jame]

I also loved this gem from Bucky -- CLEARLY butthurt over not getting the scoop from the Sabres:

http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/bucky-gleason/its-all-about-trust-for-lafontaine-20140108

this belongs in the embarrassment thread

 

[NotABadPeriod]

We have to be the only fanbase that actively roots against our local media getting scoops about our favorite team.

 

[Zman5778]

We have to be the only fanbase that actively roots against our local media getting scoops about our favorite team.

And the only ones that blatantly distrust anything they say about any "insider" rumors.

I mean, I think every other fanbase has ONE beat guy/gal that's actually connected.

We get these yutzes.

 

[1972]

How does this guy go from press conference to interview to interview telling everyone that he's a scout first and foremost, with a team sitting on a top pick, and nobody asks him his opinion on the draft class? Unbelievable.

I don't get it either, especially this morning when Kevin Devine was on and they were asking questions about the 2015 draft over players from the 2014 draft, why not ask something like "who is a guy to keep an eye on that may be flying under the radar".

 

[LaFontaineToMogilny]

I also loved this gem from Bucky -- CLEARLY butthurt over not getting the scoop from the Sabres:

http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/bucky-gleason/its-all-about-trust-for-lafontaine-20140108

If I were running the show, Bucky Gleason would be out of a job.

 

[JRiz13]

this belongs in the embarrassment thread

There are certain articles I read in TBN where I can instantly feel brain cells exploding. Total coincidence i'm sure, but they all seem to be written by Sully, Bucky, and Harrington. I would pay extra money every week to have the paper delivered to my house with their crap omitted.

You're right, this definitely belongs on the embarrassment thread.

 

[Mit Yarrum]

How does this guy go from press conference to interview to interview telling everyone that he's a scout first and foremost, with a team sitting on a top pick, and nobody asks him his opinion on the draft class? Unbelievable.

I'll tell you why. It's the same reason you get such ****** talk about propects on WGR.

None of these guys knows or cares about propects or junior hockey. They can't talk about them intelligently so they don't ask.

 

[Chainshot]

The Sekera talk should probably go into either a thread on Sekera or into a places Regier failed thread, both of which would need a bit of necro-bumping but are out there. It was pretty broad considering the GM search thread had gone sideways and was a sidebar that often happens as a thread winds down.

 

[Zip15]

I also loved this gem from Bucky -- CLEARLY butthurt over not getting the scoop from the Sabres:

http://www.buffalonews.com/columns/bucky-gleason/its-all-about-trust-for-lafontaine-20140108

Yeah, I commented about this article in another thread. Apparently, Bucky wanted the Sabres to break off talks with Murray even if it was his uncle who was leaking the news. Or Dorion. Or Lee. Or Murphy. Or any other Senators employee who may have found out by asking, "Hey, where's Tim today?"

"You should not hire this guy if someone else is talking about him interviewing!!!"

Okay, Bucky.

And, yes, he is butthurt. Possibly because he didn't scoop it. Possibly because I've long thought his "sources around the league" are Benning and Luce, and a Benning hire would have meant years of him being wired in to what the Sabres were doing. Who cares, he's a hack.

 

[joshjull]

-------

My response of ---- Why would I waste my time verifying this when you obviously don't care-----. was based on my interpretation of your comments in the previous post to mean the following; You wanted verification of what I laid out but it still wasn't going to sway your opinion. Couple that with the fact that I was a tad annoyed you seemed to think I was making this up. You got my heated response. I've always considered you one of the most reasonable posters on here so I was a tad surprised. If I misread the intent of your comments then my bad

Nolan was traveling in Europe when he had called LaFontaine to help set him up with tickets to "Book of Morman" for him and his wife. They were planning on seeing the show when they were in New York to watch Jordan play the Isles on Nov 14th. Here is what followed

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=691676


"LaFontaine took over as president of hockey operations and called Nolan to join him and finish out the season.

Nolan was travelling in Europe when he got the call from LaFontaine, who promised him Broadway theatre tickets. Reviving his role as a prankster from his playing days, LaFontaine told Nolan that he wouldn't be able to see the "Book of Mormon" musical or watch his son Jordan play this weekend. Instead, he'd be coaching the Sabres."[/QUOTE]


The only reason Nolan was in Buffalo was because he got hired to coach the team. Otherwise he wouldn't have been in town.

We can litigate and-relitigate the end of the Regier era and the beginning of the LaFontaine if you would like but it's going to be bulky, I promise you!

The short answer on LaFontaine is that I'm not willing to go far in either direction as to his performance, so far. The decision to send out most of the kids was an incredibly easy one. Nolan was a tougher one, that so far seems to be working. The process that led to Murray's hire seems well-thought out. The fact that Murray and Patrick were introduced on stage, somewhat concerning.

Of course it was easy. It was the smart thing to do and should have been done from the get go. Its a big reason Darcy is no longer employed.

Not sure why Patrick/Murray being introduced on stage matters. Its a fairly common practice for such a major announcement.

To answer your final question, which may give you a better view of my mindset, the short answer is that I was a Regier fan, fully endorsed his (and Ruff's) retention and had been nothing but disappointed in his results subsequent.

I was the in the same camp

The longer answer is I feel the 2011 plan was to find creative-ish ways to spend Pegula's money to end up with the exact same result we'd had prior (I was fully ready for a complete rebuild after the poor start in 2011-12, so I turned quickly and hard). After they made the tough but correct decision for a full rebuild (after the alleged attempts for Parise, Suter and Doan), I feel as though there hadn't been any plan other than tank. IMO, tanking for a top pick is only part of a rebuild but the developmental plan seemed non-existent (Grigorenko last year and this and this year's opening lineup are part of that, see my pamphlet for more!). Things like keeping Rolston, with a flimsy excuse about him "making them not need to look elsewhere" and then completely purging hockey ops 24 games later comes of, to me, as lacking any coherent plan. As I see it, there have been three since Pegula took over. Cup in Three Years. Tank. And now Actually Rebuild. I just don't see the direction from the top. That with him as an owner and when there are clearly eyes in the rear-view mirror (don't forget his Feb 22 comments about wishing they'd kept Tallinder and Lydman, either), I remain worried. You call this melodramatic and I don't quite understand why.

I agree and thats on Regier. I also think he botched the handling of Grigs and was in the process of doing the same with several other youngsters. It was incredibly disappointed then angered by Regier's stupidity on that front.

And the lamenting the loss of Lydman and Tallinder seemed like a pretty smart hockey observation to me. It was pretty dumb to let them go for the reasons they were.

But, as I said, I'm open to having my mind changed. I'm open to the idea that LaFontaine is assembling a front office that can actually lead the team in a direction. And since it's going to be years before we'll know if he has, I have plenty of opportunity to change my mind as the results dictate. So relax, because we're not settling this one today!

I'm breathing slow and deep as we speak.

If I missed anything that you really wanted my comment on, just repost and I'll reply, promise!

i think you covered everything

 

[1point21Gigawatts]

I was wondering how long it would be before Bucky turned on the new GM...that was quicker than i thought it would be...

 

[B U F F A L O]

I was wondering how long it would be before Bucky turns on the new GM...that was quicker than i thought it would be...

Before he even got named GM! Thats a new record, has to be.

 

[IHWR]

I always loved Tim's super candid draft recaps:

http://video.senators.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=182748

 

[RazielMoshman]

Yeah, I commented about this article in another thread. Apparently, Bucky wanted the Sabres to break off talks with Murray even if it was his uncle who was leaking the news. Or Dorion. Or Lee. Or Murphy. Or any other Senators employee who may have found out by asking, "Hey, where's Tim today?"

"You should not hire this guy if someone else is talking about him interviewing!!!"

Okay, Bucky.

And, yes, he is butthurt. Possibly because he didn't scoop it. Possibly because I've long thought his "sources around the league" are Benning and Luce, and a Benning hire would have meant years of him being wired in to what the Sabres were doing. Who cares, he's a hack.

Well said, something I've been saying for years. Dude is a joke, it's almost as bad as the UK press. Yes I said 'Almost as bad'.

 

[Zip15]

Is WGR using dial-up to upload these interviews? It seems like they add a new one every two hours.

 

[Beerz]

I wonder how much of Murray being a "draft guru" is going to actually come into play..most GM's have too much on their plate to do any significant scouting..so it seems it will come down to whoever he puts in that position (Devine?) to determine the overall success.

If not Devine ..who? .. Wonder if we'll be getting a new Director of Amt Scouting or if that'll still be under Devines control..



If only our media could come up with some decent questions to find out instead of wasting time on questions that nobody can give an honest answer about at this time (Miller question)

 

[KennyFnPowers*]

Is WGR using dial-up to upload these interviews? It seems like they add a new one every two hours.

honestly, would not surprise me to find out Paul Hamilton was still using dial-up.

 

[B U F F A L O]

I wonder how much of Murray being a "draft guru" is going to actually come into play..most GM's have too much on their plate to do any significant scouting..so it seems it will come down to whoever he puts in that position (Devine?) to determine the overall success.

If not Devine ..who? .. Wonder if we'll be getting a new Director of Amt Scouting or if that'll still be under Devines control..

From what Murray said at the PC about scouting (Theres 1st liners through 4th liners) and theres players he liked as a scout with OTT that BUF drafted, I'd have to guess Murray probably thinks highly of Divine and will keep him but want to add more "1st liners"

 

[joshjull]

From what Murray said at the PC about scouting (Theres 1st liners through 4th liners) and theres players he liked as a scout with OTT that BUF drafted, I'd have to guess Murray probably thinks highly of Divine and will keep him but want to add more "1st liners"

That 1st liners and 4th liners comment was about the scouting staff.

 

[Beerz]

LeBrun seemed to think that Murphy (Pro Scout) was coming with Murray ... Was that mentioned at all during PC?

 

[Ethan Edwards]

LeBrun seemed to think that Murphy (Pro Scout) was coming with Murray ... Was that mentioned at all during PC?

Negative.

 

[1972]

That 1st liners and 4th liners comment was about the scouting staff.

He knows that

 

[B U F F A L O]

That 1st liners and 4th liners comment was about the scouting staff.

I know. My interpretation of what Murray said leaves me to believe he thinks highly of Divine, a "1st liner"

 

[Beerz]

I can't find video of presser on Sabres site...anyone have it? .. Getting sick of watching Blue Cross commercials looking for it.