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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Following Staffords rookie season in 2007, the Sabres lost co-captains Chris Drury and Danny Briere to free agency. Last year, long-time coach Lindy Ruff was fired. What occurred during a 24-hour stretch this weekend has become the topper, leaving Stafford shaking his head in disbelief after returning to practice Sunday. "I thought I had seen it all," Stafford said. "But, I guess, theres always room for more surprises. And this ones definitely a shocker." On Friday, Stafford had difficulty keeping his emotions in check after star goalie Ryan Miller was traded to St. Louis. A day later, he was blindsided upon learning of Pat LaFontaines abrupt resignation as president of hockey operations. "Its tough," Stafford said. "Its another challenge, a little more adversity that youve got to put on top of the pile." As if the Sabres (18-34-8) needed any more distractions during a season in which upheaval and dysfunction have been common threads for the NHLs last-place team. At 2-13-1, Buffalo got off to its worst start in team history. Leading scorer Thomas Vanek was traded to the Islanders in October. The Sabres opened 0-8-1 at home, before enjoying their first win on Nov. 12. Three days later, general manager Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolston were fired. Now this. Miller getting dealt along with captain Steve Ott, were widely anticipated moves because both were in the final years of their contracts. LaFontaines departure was a surprise, coming a little more than three months after his arrival was hailed as a positive turning point for a struggling team. "Its a lot for our fans to swallow in a short amount of time," Sabres president Ted Black said. "It creates uncertainty. And its something that fans are going to be upset by." Black failed to divulge any further details regarding the resignation except to reiterate LaFontaine wanted to resume his previous role working with the National Hockey League. Black called the resignation a disappointment, but denied speculation that there had been any discord between LaFontaine and front-office staff or owner Terry Pegula. LaFontaine has not returned messages, and on Sunday, his cell-phone mailbox was full. Whats clear is that his departure marks the latest setback for a franchise that has had difficulty establishing a winning course in the three years since Pegula bought the team and vowed to build an immediate contender. The Sabres are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a third straight season, and in the midst of a rebuilding plan that began with the purge of numerous high-priced veterans last year. Black said the objective has not changed, and the teams transformation will continue under general manager Tim Murray. "Pat was here for three months. It is one person," Black said. "I dont know if that impacts the greater mission or will deter us." Murray was hired by LaFontaine in January, and now assumes much of his former bosss responsibilities. It was Murray, who negotiated the Miller trade. And he is also fielding offers to make further deals before the leagues trade deadline on Wednesday. Next on Murrays priority list is negotiating a contract extension with interim coach Ted Nolan, who was brought in by LaFontaine for a second stint in Buffalo. "We want Teddy to be our coach going forward," Murray said. "If he wants to be here, I want him to be our coach." The question is whether Nolan wants to stay, something he left open following practice Sunday. "Right now, its not about my contract. Its about the situation thats happening," Nolan said. "Its about whats transpired in this organization, what happened to a very dear friend. And well leave it at that." So much for the momentum the Sabres were supposed to be enjoying with their first three-game winning streak in preparing to play Dallas on Monday. "We traded our franchise player, we traded our captain. Thats tough enough as it is. And then all of a sudden the situation with Patty," Nolan said. "Right now, I have to put my personal situation behind right now and really concentrate on those 22 guys here." Informed of Nolans comments, Murray said, "Im not going to beg anybody to come work here." Murray said its his objective to continue rebuilding the Sabres, which is what he was hired to do with or without LaFontaine. "I cant make choices for him. He makes his own choices," Murray said. "Im not one to dwell on what-ifs and sentiment and all that. But Ill forever be grateful that he hired me." 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Here are some of the best from Week One and some to watch in Week Two: TOP PERFORMERS Anthony Allen, RB, Saskatchewan (176 YDS, 2 TD, 30 touches vs. Hamilton) - Powerfully-built back burst onto the scene in his CFL debut, after a couple of years in the NFL, playing 21 games with the Baltimore Ravens.DETROIT – The play in question was still running through his head as he stretched in one corner of the cavernous visitors dressing room at Joe Louis Arena. Jonathan Bernier wondered how a masterful night, one in which he made 31 saves, could still feel a little bit empty afterward. Thats hockey, he said, knowing how slim the margin for error can be sometimes. Bernier stopped every shot but the last one on Saturday night. Henrik Zetterbergs one-timer caromed off the edge of the goaltenders stick, off the post and then into the goal with less than 10 seconds remaining in overtime, the settling marker in what was previously a 0-0 affair between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. And though he claimed error on the play afterward – he didnt actually see Zetterberg until it was too late, over-challenging on the strong side – the 26-year-old could be blamed for almost nothing on this night. He was a difference maker for the Leafs in defeat, delivering the kind of performance that became synonymous with his impressive first season in Toronto – one that saw him eventually wrestle hold of the no. 1 job from James Reimer. It was the kind of response he needed after a disappointing start to the season. He made some outstanding saves when we did make some mistakes, said head coach, Randy Carlyle, and we made some individual mistakes with pucks and gave up some point-blank opportunities, but Bernie stood tall and saved some guys butts. Bernier was hit hard in his first two starts. The Habs and Penguins peppered him for nine goals on 73 shots, a few of the variety he needs to stop. I think he would probably be the first to admit he wasnt too happy with his first couple games, Joffrey Lupul observed. That changed at the Joe following a weeks worth of practice as the understudy to Reimer. Sharp, aggressive, and square to pucks from the outset, he was there to turn aside just about everything the Red Wings could muster. There were consecutive saves on Andrej Nestrasil and Jakub Kindl in the waning moments of the opening frame, a right shoulder stop on Gustav Nyquist point-blank in the middle period, and an enthusiastic glove turn-down of Justin Abdelkader late in regulation. Only Zetterberg, who finished with a Crosby-like five points in the two-game set against Toronto, was able to sneak one by. I just wanted to have a good start, Bernier said, ultimately outdueled by former Leaf, Jonas Gustavsson. [After the] last two I had, that was important for me and for the team to give them confidence that I can be there for them. Bernier, making his first start in a week, used the extra practice time to address his aggressiveness in the crease. He was challenging pucks probably a foot higher on Saturday, fighting harder to see them through the usual maze of traffic. That way, instead of reaching for it then it just hits me, he said. And that was indeed the case against the Red Wings. Shot attempts mostly hit him dead-red, few rebounds living further for Detroit to snare. Reimer drew the start in the previous three for the Leafs, a reaffirmation of the goaltending competition Carlyle pledged to initiate at the start of training camp. That competition is likely to continue for the first half of the season and perhaps longer if both Reimer and Bernier each perform capably as they did until December last winter. Bernier wasnt alarmed after those first two starts. Disappointed, sure, but confident of the progression he would make, a progression that began on this night. Yeah I felt pretty good, he said. I think I just brought my compete level higher and thats what made a big difference. Five Points 1. PK Third-worst in the NHL last season, the Toronto penalty kill has been an early source of strength (especially valued given the ongoing discipline issues). Save a disastrous showing against the Penguins – the Pens scored three that night – the unit has been perfect, killing off all 17 opposing power-plays in the remaining five games. Its a mostly revamped group. Gone are the likes of Jay McClement, Mason Raymond, Carl Gunnarsson, and Paul Ranger, replaced in the offseason by Daniel Winnik, Leo Komarov, Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak. The tandem of Komarov and Winnik has been especially effective, particularly Winnik, yet to be on the ice for a goal against in more than 20 minutes on the kill.dddddddddddd They put pressure on the puck down the ice, Carlyle said of Komarov and Winnik, hesitant to heap too much praise. Theyre penalty killers that have plied that trade for a number of years as a pro. If you have that type of will and that type of knowledge and that type of skating ability and understand what it takes to kill penalties [youll have success]. 2. Response Carlyle was troubled by his teams performance in a 4-1 loss to the Wings one night earlier – their defensive play, energy, and will all in question. He asked, as he does from time to time, that the compete level of his group go up more than a few degrees in the rematch Saturday, something he did receive in nearly 65 minutes. For us as a coaching staff we feel that we have to play every game with the desperation in which we played tonight, he said. Thats more along the lines of what its going to take to have any success. We were two different hockey clubs tonight and [Friday] night. Hammered by a relentless Detroit attack in Toronto, the Leafs actually won the possession battle at the Joe – 45-39 at even-strength. They were far more engaged in the proceedings and not quite as messy defensively. We just thought it was a better effort, Lupul said. I thought we won more battles. We were a lot more physical; you could notice us throwing the body around a little bit and stopping progression and just not letting them get quite as comfortable as some of their guys were [Friday]. 3. Faceoffs There were only a handful of regular faceoff men in the NHL who fared worse than Nazem Kadri last season. Of the 83 players who took at least 730 faceoffs, Kadri ranked 78th with a lowly mark of 45.2 per cent. Its a point of needed improvement for the 24-year-old. Though he started strong early this season, Kadri fell back badly in the back-to-back set with Detroit, losing 17 of 24 draws – including 11 of 14 on Saturday. The Leafs were a bad faceoff team as a whole a year ago, ranked 25th overall – only Jay McClement cracking 50 per cent. They were beaten on 60 per cent of the faceoffs on Saturday. 4. Calm Lupul had this assessment on Bernier when he veered into a zone like Saturday: You just see that confidence. Hes really calm in the net and I think sometimes when the other team gets momentum or we get running around a bit he can be a bit of a calming factor back there, stopping pucks and holding them. 5. Early Opportunity Missed? Peter Holland scored seven goals and offered eight assists during the Marlies playoff run last spring. It was thought that such a performance would springboard him toward an established spot in the NHL this fall, but that has not proven the case early on. The 24-year-old didnt register a point in a very quiet preseason and remains empty on the score-sheet through six games. Holland has played limited minutes on the teams fourth line, struggling with faceoffs – just 40.9 per cent after Saturdays game – and possession. Holland has to continue to develop and show us what hes got, Carlyle said. I think he has to find a place that hes comfortable in our lineup and that were comfortable with his contribution. That place is still being determined. Holland, who started the season on the penalty kill before being lifted, returned to those duties against the Red Wings, replacing the injured Brandon Kozun. He played less than seven minutes, however, in defeat. Stats-Pack 0 – Number of power-play goals scored against Daniel Winnik. PK 35-29 – Even-strength possession battle, favouring the Leafs on Saturday. 15-15 – Record for the Toronto penalty kill in the past four games. 3-14 – Faceoff mark for Nazem Kadri against the Red Wings on Saturday. 31-77 or 40% – Leafs in the faceoff circle on Saturday. Special Teams Capsule PP: 0-5 Season: 20.8% PK: 5-5 Season: 86.4% Quote of the Night Its probably better energy than we get back in Toronto. -Joffrey Lupul on the feisty atmosphere between rival fan-bases in Detroit. 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