LaFontaine's career still up in the air

Buffalo Sabres captain Pat LaFontaine does not know whether hewill play hockey again.

In an interview with the Buffalo (N.Y.) News, his first since hesuffered a concussion last month, LaFontaine said he was "feelingmore like myself every day, but I just have to see this thing outbefore I know where it will all end up."

Since he has been out of the lineup, LaFontaine twice has beento the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He will be making repeatedvisits there as he attempts to come back from what the club now hassaid are the effects of a brain trauma."It's been very strange," LaFontaine said. "I know I haven'tbeen myself and knew that something was wrong, but it's been veryhard to make the connections. You know something is wrong, but youdon't know what it is. It's been very frustrating. I have learned alot about brain injuries the last few weeks."The headaches have been the worst, but I'm learning to handlethem. Actually, I've been feeling better every day, which is prettynice. For a while there, I had forgotten what it was like to feelgood."I don't know what the future holds. I really haven't thought awhole lot about it. My whole focus right now has been on gettingmyself to feel better. Right now, all my treatment is focused inthat direction. From what they tell me, they don't want me to haveany contact or even think about playing until they re-evaluate me atthe clinic."It's been scary because a lot of my ability to function hasn'tbeen there. I've certainly learned a lot of things, and I have asympathy for anyone who's ever gone through something like thisbefore. Sometimes you can't even find the words to express yourthoughts, and that's very frustrating. It's like you know what youwant to do or say, but you can't make the connection. For the lastseven weeks or so, it seems every day was like that. But now I'mstarting to feel better."NOT SHUFFLING OFF: Looks like Sabres second-year coach Ted Nolanis off the hot seat.The Sabres have started talks aimed at signing Nolan to a newthree-year deal. Nolan is said to be receptive to the proposal, buthe is approaching it cautiously and is looking to get someprofessional guarantees before talks get really serious.