The announcement today that Ted Nolan has been named the new VP of Hockey Operations for the Rochester Americans is hopefully the start of many big announcements to come.

Today is the start of the free agency period and it’s a time that the Florida Panthers and Rochester Americans have said that they will be busy getting veteran players signed in Rochester.

Hockey fans in Western New York will remember Nolan from his days at the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres from 1995 to 1997.  He was named coach of the year for the 96/97 season.  That was also his last season with the Sabres after a highly publicized dispute between himself John Muckler and Dominik Hasek.

If we go back even further in time he did play for the Rochester Americans during the 1984-1985 season.  During that season he played in 65 games scoring 28 goals and 34 assists for 62 points.

Ted Nolan and Jody Gage (who is still employed by the Amerks) also have a history when they played together with the Adirondack Red Wings back in the early 80′s.

Most recently Nolan coached the New York Islanders from 2006-2008.  In his first season as head [...]Read More