Buffalo Sabres Former Coach Ted Nolan Releases Statement

The Buffalo Sabres organization is now two days without a head coach, no doubt waiting to see if they can lure the likes of Mike Babcock, or other notable coaching candidates that might be made available this off-season.

After being released from the Buffalo Sabres, former head coach Ted Nolan released this statement, pulled here from WGR 55o:

"“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kim and Terry Pegula, Pat Lafontaine, my coaches and the Sabres management, players, medical, training, arena and public relations staff for all of their support over the past two seasons. Above all, I want to thank the fans and the beautiful people of Buffalo! THANK YOU BUFFALO!!! Yours in spirit, Ted.”"

For not being a Buffalo guy, Ted Nolan was really a Buffalo guy. A classy way to go out from a guy who knew exactly what he was up against, and exactly what was in store for him.

Maybe he didn’t see eye-to-eye with Tim Murray on a lot of things. Certainly there were players that he felt should have been playing in Buffalo (Mark Pysyk) and he wasn’t given a full deck of cards to go to battle with in the 2014-2015 regular season.

He was given a three year deal by Tim Murray – because Tim Murray knew, even though Ted wasn’t his guy, he was going to need something to keep the fans motivated through the final painstaking days of the process to flush out the roster and get the best chances in the draft lottery.

But did the Buffalo Sabres fan-base need the great motivator as a public relations move to keep fans happy? Certainly Ted Nolan wasn’t selling out the arena during this tumultuous time period. Most fans were on-board with the, dare I say “tank” – because they knew what the plan was.

Ted Nolan wasn’t there for the fans. Maybe he was there to make sure the players were still high on morale. Interesting that he was apart of the exit interview process, makes you wonder if any of the players that will be around long term sold him out to management, or pled for a coach that can actually put in a system.

This isn’t a bash Ted Nolan time. I personally think he got a raw deal in Buffalo the second time around, but the facts don’t support him finding work in the NHL again. He is a subpar coach, that has only seen real success at the junior level, a level where motivation might be more important than a system in place designed to undermine your opponent and make you better.

I wish Ted Nolan the best of luck in his future endeavors, and if he is still behind the bench of the Latvian National Team – further success there. The NHL, not a place for Ted Nolan, and this last go round in Buffalo is not the only reason I am saying that.

The Buffalo Sabres Could Have Handled Ted Nolan Differently

The Buffalo Sabres organization knows that Ted Nolan is a fan favorite. They also have deep pockets, and give jobs out to other fan-favorites and smart hockey people all the time. He could easily have taken his services to the American Hockey League, or in the Pegula School of Hockey.

Ted Nolan wanted to win, and it is a shame that he won’t be around when the Buffalo Sabres start to do it. Was his firing unfair? Some would say so. But for most, it was the worst kept secret in the history of sports that it would come. Have we heard the last of Ted Nolan on the topic?

I think he is a classier guy than to air out any dirty laundry over the situation, especially at a time when so many people know he got an unfair shake at things and could be interviewing or trying to interview for other coaching jobs.

But in honesty – how long had he been out of the NHL after his gig with the Islanders – and no one was willing to give him a chance (that we know of) before the Buffalo Sabres called? A dismal two years even with this Buffalo Sabres team isn’t going to change wide spread perceptions about him.

Now both sides look to the future without one another, their paths likely to never cross again.

Next: Ted Nolan Relieved Of Coaching Duties

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