Nolan’s return not necessarily spoiled in loss to the Sabres
By Charles Roberts
BUFFALO – Sabres fans saw a familiar face calling the shots Monday afternoon when Ted Nolan returned to HSBC Arena as head coach of the New York Islanders.
“It’s always nice to come back here, this has always been a very special place to be,” Nolan said after the Sabres dropped the Islanders 3-1.
Nolan left Buffalo in a bizarre fashion after the 1996-97 season in-which he was the NHL’s Jack Adams Award winner (coach-of-the-year). There was much speculation that tension between former Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek, general manager John Muckler and Nolan caused a world of turmoil in the Sabres locker room. The first to feel the heat was Muckler, as he was let go immediately following the Sabres elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. New manager Darcy Regier reportedly offered Nolan a one-year extension worth $500,000. Nolan declined the offer, along with subsequent offers to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning and work as an assistant for the New York Islanders. Since then, Nolan has essentially fallen off the NHL radar, until making his return this season as head coach of the Islanders.
Although Nolan’s departure from Buffalo was amidst turmoil and speculation, Nolan contests he holds no grudge for the on-goings.
“I’ll always remember those two years as being a great two years,” Nolan said with a look of sincerity when speaking of his time as Sabres head coach.
In typical Nolan fashion, the Islanders came out Monday afternoon and played a physical contest backed by solid goaltending from the centerpiece of their organization.
Much like Nolan and the Sabres used to depend on Hasek, the Islanders are convinced they have a gem in Rick DiPietro, who’s in the first season of a 15-year $67.5 million contract.
“The big thing for us is playing well and playing our way…if we play that way, we’ll win our share,” Nolan said. “The last couple games the puck hasn’t bounced for us and the last couple games we’ve gone up against two of the top goaltenders in the business- Miller here and Brodueur the night before.”
Although Nolan makes mention of Ryan Miller and New Jersey’s Martin Brodueur as being two of the best in the business, he didn’t forget about the guy who’s set to remain between the pipes for the next 14 and-a-half season’s for his squad.
“Our goaltender Rick is right up there as one of the best in the business too,” Nolan added.
Although Nolan can’t say how his players spent New Years Eve in Buffalo, he said he spent the evening at Buffalo’s laceName>ElectriclaceName> laceType>TowerlaceType> for the ball-drop.
“Oh, they found a place on their own I would think…New Years Eve and all,” Nolan said of his players. “There was a nice reception last night (I was) walking around, watching the ball drop. It’s always nice to be back and to be appreciated. There were a lot of thank yous.”
