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Sabres fire head coach, general manager; hire Pat LaFontaine, Ted Nolan

Pat LaFontaine is back with the Sabres, who he played for from 1991-97. (Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)

Pat LaFontaine is back with the Sabres, who he played for from 1991-97. (Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)

The Buffalo Sabres announced the firing of head coach Ron Rolston and general manager Darcy Regier at a Wednesday morning press conference.

Rolston will be replaced on an interim basis by Ted Nolan, who coached the Sabres from 1995-97. Pat LaFontaine, who played six seasons for the Sabres, was hired as President of Hockey Operations, which is a new position.

LaFontaine was most recently a consultant for the Islanders. He said he will begin "actively searching" for a new general manager.

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Nolan, who will coach Latvia in the upcoming Olympics, won the Jack Adams Award (given to the Coach of the Year) with the Sabres after the 1996-97 season.

Regier was in his 17th season as general manager and had received a contract extension before last season, while Rolston was 19-26-6 in two seasons as head coach.

The Sabres (4-15-1) have a league-worst nine points through 20 games and have missed the playoffs in four of the last six seasons after two straight Conference Finals appearances. They beat the Kings in a shootout Tuesday night for their first home win of the season.

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