Nolan keeps Sabres loose during turmoil

You can only imagine what it must feel like to be playing for the Buffalo Sabres these days, with the circus surrounding Pat LaFontaine's departure from the team paired with all of the trade speculation leading to Wednesday's deadline.

The Buffalo News provides an update on where things stand between GM Tim Murray and Nolan on a contract extension for the now not-so-interim coach. In the meantime though, Nolan has a realistic and intelligent message for his players.

You won't be able to ignore the other stuff. But you can use it.

“Life sometimes sucks,” Nolan told center Cody Hodgson, “but what we’re doing on the ice is just playing a game, trying to put a little black puck inside of a net. All the other stuff you have no control over. The only thing you can control is playing this game.

“You let them play and have a smile on their face once in a while because after all it is only a game.”

Source: John Vogl, Buffalo News