BUFFALO, N.Y. -- First, Ryan Miller. Now, Pat LaFontaine. A day after trading their star goalie to St. Louis, the Buffalo Sabres lost another face of their franchise after LaFontaine abruptly resigned as president of hockey operations on Saturday a little more than three months after being brought in to provide a new direction to the NHLs last-place team. The Sabres announced the decision in a news release issued after speculation had been raised of a potential front-office shake-up involving LaFontaine. "I would like to thank Pat for all he has done for the organization," Sabres owner Terry Pegula said in the release. "Pat joined us at a very difficult time, and helped transition the organization down a new path." The Sabres said LaFontaine would be returning to his previous role working with the National Hockey League. LaFontaine had been working with the league on player safety issues before being hired by the Sabres in mid-November. The former Sabres captains arrival was hailed as a major turning point for a struggling team. LaFontaine took over following a change in the front office during which general manager Darcy Regier and coach Ron Rolston were dismissed following the Sabres 4-15-1 start. LaFontaines first move was hiring former Sabres coach Ted Nolan to take over as coach on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. LaFontaines next step came in January, when he hired Tim Murray as general manager. "Terry Pegula hired me in November, and my primary objective was to lead the Sabres organization through a time of transition," LaFontaine said in the Sabres release. "Im proud of what weve been able to accomplish in a short period of time, and want to thank Terry and Kim Pegula for the opportunity and their support during my time with the Sabres." LaFontaines resignation still comes as a major surprise. In January, LaFontaine talked openly about how he would use his connections to USA Hockey in a bid to lure national and international events to Buffalo. He leaves a day after Murray made his first big splash by trading star goalie Ryan Miller and captain Steve Ott to the St. Louis Blues. In exchange, the Sabres acquired goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a 2015 first-round pick and a conditional 2016 third-round pick in a deal reached in advance of the NHL trade deadline on Wednesday. The Sabres (18-34-8) had the day off on Saturday, and return to practice on Sunday before travelling to play at Dallas on Monday. They remain in last place, but are enjoying their first three-game winning streak following a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Friday. This is not the first time LaFontaine has abruptly stepped down as an NHL team executive. In July 2006, LaFontaine quit the New York Islanders a little over a month after being brought in to serve as senior adviser to owner Charles Wang. In Buffalo, LaFontaines absence was notable this week once the team returned to the ice following the leagues Olympic break. He was not spotted in the press box during the Sabres three-game homestand that began with a 3-2 win over Carolina on Tuesday. That was unusual because LaFontaine had previously spent time watching games from the press-box level in Pegulas box, alongside Murray and several of the owners associates. LaFontaine also missed the teams "Power Play Luncheon" for fans on Friday, when he was scheduled to speak along with fellow former Sabres greats Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Danny Gare. The crowd was informed LaFontaine had the flu. The Sabres have become a top-heavy organization since Regiers dismissal. Pegula created the position of president of hockey operations to hire LaFontaine. And Pegula did so only after LaFontaine declined a chance to become the GM by saying he didnt think he had enough experience for that job. Along with hiring Murray, the Sabres also brought in Hockey Hall of Fame member and long-time executive Craig Patrick to serve as a special adviser. LaFontaine backed the hiring of Murray and Patrick, by referring to both as his "wingers." He also discussed how important it was for him to be building a front-office team that could work together in rebuilding a team that has missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, and not won a playoff round since reaching the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. Its not clear what effect LaFontaines departure will have on the teams short-term future, including Nolans status. Murray said this week hes already had discussions with Nolan about extending his contract beyond this season.
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Sam Dekker Jersey . -- Craig Anderson has quite a record against his former team, the Florida Panthers.EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Mario Manningham attended his first NFL training camp in 2008 as a third-round draft pick of the New York Giants, basically secured of his place on the teams opening day roster. Six years later, Manningham is back in Giants camp after a two-year, injury-plagued stint with the San Francisco 49ers. This time, Manningham is still recovering from off-season knee surgery, his third in three years, so theres no guarantee of him being with the team when the season kicks off against the Detroit Lions on Sept. 8. Manninghams last knee surgery has prevented him from participating in any full drills as the Giants began their second week of training camp Monday. He has not been cleared by the teams medical staff to resume football activities, so he falls behind on the teams depth chart for every practice and preseason game he misses. "I dont have anything made here," Manningham said Monday before the Giants took the field for their two-hour practice session. "I have to be here like I have something to prove. I cant worry about what has happened in the past. Thats wasted energy. Its a new team, with new faces and a new coaching staff. I have to try to get out there and prove what I can do." Manningham was one of the stars of the Giants last Super Bowl victory, making an acrobatic 38-yard catch down the sidelines on third down to keep the game-winning touchdown drive alive in the 21-17 win over the New England Patriots on Feb. 5, 2012. Manningham had his best season as a professional with the Giants in 2010, catching 60 passes for 944 yards and nine touchdowns. After that Super Bowl-winning season, Manningham became a free agent and signed with the 49ers, but never reached the same heights he achieved with the Giants. He caught only 42 passes and one touchdown in 2012, and had only nine catches for 85 yards and no scores last season. Both years were cut short by injury. Manningham said he had no plans of returning to the team that drafted him out of the University of Michigan six years ago. "I really didnt think about it," Manningham said. "I hit free agency and it just turned out this way. I settled back here." Manningham knows that tthe clock is ticking on his chances to make the Giants final roster.dddddddddddd "I know I still have to make the team," Manningham said. "Its frustrating not to be out there, but thats just part of the game. I have a couple of cobwebs, but Im getting there. I know my knee is fixed. Its just my confidence, knowing whether I can stick my leg in the ground and turn the right away. Every day, its getting better and better. "Theres not any pressure on me to get out there. But in the back of my mind, I know its up to me or them. Im preparing myself to make the team." Giants quarterback Eli Manning is glad to have one of his former targets back. "Mario enjoyed being a New York Giant and had a good thing going here," Manning said. "Sometimes, you leave and you realize what you had. He left on good terms, went off, had some injuries and now hes here. Im glad to have him back." Same goes for wide receiving partner Victor Cruz. "He was here when I was first coming through here," Cruz said. "Its a little nostalgic. He brings a lot of energy into the room again and its very beneficial for us." Manningham is not expected to see any preseason action until the fourth game in three weeks, giving him little time to make the final 53-man roster. "This is still training camp," said Manningham, who has caught 211 passes in his six-year career for 2,849 yards and 19 touchdowns. "You learn from mistakes. I just have to put myself in the best position to be on the field. Im pretty close now. NOTES: New Giants QB coach Danny Langsdorf said that he would like to see Manning "around 70 per cent" in his completion ratio this season, a number that Langsdorf realizes has only been reached nine times in the history of the league. "I want him to be able to spread the ball all over the field," Langsdorf said. "But I also want him to be able to push the ball down the field in big chunks." Manning has only reached 60 per cent four times in his 10-year career, with a career best of 62.9 per cent in 2010. His career percentage mark stands at 58.5 per cent, after completing 57.5 last season.
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