All Things Pegula 2

[TehDoak]

If I am the Pegulas, I am calling Ken Holland in and offering him whatever he wants for an 8 month evaluation on the team. Call him a 'special advisor'. I want him to come in, observe our front office, do a deep dive on the processes, NHL and AHL, and come up with a full set of recommendations for a full front office restructure. Then I want him to help with interviews and front office building. Not necessarily come in and fire everyone, but rather a deep dive on what is good and what is bad from an outsiders perspective. He'd also be, effectively, a co GM to Adams in terms of recommendations and to get in Terry's ear if something sucks ass.

Blowing up the front office at this juncture is more symbolic than it is effective. You aren't going to have access to the best candidates, you essentially just have the leftovers to choose from.

Get a voice from outside of the org who has seen success and ran a model franchise.

 

[slip]

If I am the Pegulas, I am calling Ken Holland in and offering him whatever he wants for an 8 month evaluation on the team. Call him a 'special advisor'. I want him to come in, observe our front office, do a deep dive on the processes, NHL and AHL, and come up with a full set of recommendations for a full front office restructure. Then I want him to help with interviews and front office building. Not necessarily come in and fire everyone, but rather a deep dive on what is good and what is bad from an outsiders perspective. He'd also be, effectively, a co GM to Adams in terms of recommendations and to get in Terry's ear if something sucks ass.

Blowing up the front office at this juncture is more symbolic than it is effective. You aren't going to have access to the best candidates, you essentially just have the leftovers to choose from.

Get a voice from outside of the org who has seen success and ran a model franchise.

If I'm actually Pegula, I'm gonna call my GM multiples times a day and demand an explanation for the lack of success on the ice. I'm then going to fire up my yacht and cruise around the Caribbean for a week because why the f*** not. After that I'm calling my accountant to see how much money/equity I can extract from my professional sports franchises in order to build a statue of a gigantic middle finder to place at the entrance of Keybank Center to let the groveling hockey masses know who's the Man and how few f***s I give about your concerns.

 

[Tatanka]

If I'm actually Pegula, I'm gonna call my GM multiples times a day and demand an explanation for the lack of success on the ice. I'm then going to fire up my yacht and cruise around the Caribbean for a week because why the f*** not. After that I'm calling my accountant to see how much money/equity I can extract from my professional sports franchises in order to build a statue of a gigantic middle finder to place at the entrance of Keybank Center to let the groveling hockey masses know who's the Man and how few f***s I give about your concerns.

The statue is redundant.

 

[Ehran]

The statue is redundant.

But he's super rich so he doesn't GAF

 

[Tatanka]

But he's super rich so he doesn't GAF

Unless it comes to paying assistant coaches to not work for him.

 

[Gabrielor]

Look at this year's Washington Commanders....good QB pick, but look who's NOT there...

Dan Snyder.

Good ownership matters. Josh Allen and Brandon Beane have worked miracles to cover up that side of it.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

He doesn't have to sell but he absolutely has to stop being involved in any on ice team decisions. You can't have an amature owner being part of all the personnel and coaching decisions and have a functional team. It starts and ends with that fact.

They go together

 

[Sabre Dance]

Look at this year's Washington Commanders....good QB pick, but look who's NOT there...

Dan Snyder.

Good ownership matters. Josh Allen and Brandon Beane have worked miracles to cover up that side of it.

I just don’t understand why people think like this?

It doesn’t even make sense.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Please just hire someone who actually knows how to run an NHL franchise and just stay the f*** away from all hockey decisions? or sell the team.

Its been 14 years and you have absolutely NOTHING to show for it! You and your sports entertainment company clearly have no idea WTF it is you are doing.

 

[sabremike]

 

[5 Minute Major]

I’m starting to wonder if the good hockey fans in western NY wouldn’t be happier with an OHL team than the crap they are being served right now.

 

[Sabre Dance]

I’m starting to wonder if the good hockey fans in western NY wouldn’t be happier with an OHL team than the crap they are being served right now.

Maybe I’m just stupid but I really believe they’re going to get it right sometime and it’s going to be amazing.

Building successful hockey organizations is about drafting well, developing well, AND retaining your top talent.

I think this Sabres organization right now is like a puzzle missing a few pieces before being complete. I really believe they’re close. They need someone to make a couple right moves to complete it.

 

[slip]

Maybe I’m just stupid but I really believe they’re going to get it right sometime and it’s going to be amazing.

Building successful hockey organizations is about drafting well, developing well, AND retaining your top talent.

I think this Sabres organization right now is like a puzzle missing a few pieces before being complete. I really believe they’re close. They need someone to make a couple right moves to complete it.

Well our drafting is sub par, our development is sorely lacking, and we can’t retain our top talent.

So I’m unsure where your optimism springs from.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Well our drafting is sub par, our development is sorely lacking, and we can’t retain our top talent.

So I’m unsure where your optimism springs from.

Drafting is good imo. Development hasn’t been good, but I think a lot of that is the supporting cast around our younger players. I think we can retain top talent and have.

 

[sabremike]

Maybe I’m just stupid but I really believe they’re going to get it right sometime and it’s going to be amazing.

Building successful hockey organizations is about drafting well, developing well, AND retaining your top talent.

I think this Sabres organization right now is like a puzzle missing a few pieces before being complete. I really believe they’re close. They need someone to make a couple right moves to complete it.

The Sharks and Blackhawks will be back in the playoffs before we are.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Look at this year's Washington Commanders....good QB pick, but look who's NOT there...

Dan Snyder.

Good ownership matters. Josh Allen and Brandon Beane have worked miracles to cover up that side of it.

Could you be specific in what Pegula has done bad on the Bills side? Because, quite frankly, I don’t see anything wrong there. I believe he stays out of the way for the most part unlike the hockey side where he thinks he knows a thing or two about hockey.

 

[Gabrielor]

I just don’t understand why people think like this?

It doesn’t even make sense.

You don't understand why the one constant during the drought might be the problem? Then I can't help you.

Could you be specific in what Pegula has done bad on the Bills side? Because, quite frankly, I don’t see anything wrong there. I believe he stays out of the way for the most part unlike the hockey side where he thinks he knows a thing or two about hockey.

Beane, from what I understand, does an excellent job of running his own ship and not letting Pegula interfere. That has kept Terry from f***ing up the Bills. Josh Allen's existence is also critical.

He doesn't stay out of the way in hockey, at all. The Eichel drama, the OReilly drama, and there's even b.s. that carries into the present day.

Adams is a yes-man. Every interview he's ever given makes that more and more clear. Terry wants to win, but doesn't want to spend any money to do it. The current Sabres' success plan is to draft, and draft, and draft, and stay cheap, and hope they luck into contention.


Now national media is picking up on this too. 32 Thoughts: The Podcast 'A Heavy Week in Manhattan'. Terry is the biggest part of the problem.

 

[TehDoak]

Beane, from what I understand, does an excellent job of running his own ship and not letting Pegula interfere. That has kept Terry from f***ing up the Bills. Josh Allen's existence is also critical.

He doesn't stay out of the way in hockey, at all. The Eichel drama, the OReilly drama, and there's even b.s. that carries into the present day.

Adams is a yes-man. Every interview he's ever given makes that more and more clear. Terry wants to win, but doesn't want to spend any money to do it. The current Sabres' success plan is to draft, and draft, and draft, and stay cheap, and hope they luck into contention.

I think (and this is all speculation, mind you) that Beane's experience in Carolina made him pretty much an ideal fit to be a Pegula underling.

I've long accused Terry specifically of attempting to be co-GM of the team, and there is ample evidence to support that. Just mind boggling moves that really only make sense if there is a person on the phone just saying "I don't care, just get it done"

I think part of the issue is a lack of trust and feeling locked out of the process.

Beane came up in an org with Jerry Richardson, who is similar to Pegula in a lot of ways of the 1st generation rich old guy. Beane likely learned how to make the owner feel involved without giving him a strong say in how things would turn out, if that makes sense. Explain things in a certain way where that leads them to making the 'correct' decision, which is what you wanted to do all along. McDermott also came up in that org so he knew how to be respectful to the owner without necessarily always agreeing.

The Sabres have never had the experienced executive who knows how to handle him and handle the hockey side of things, and part of that is by design of Terry.

 

[Fjordy]

I think (and this is all speculation, mind you) that Beane's experience in Carolina made him pretty much an ideal fit to be a Pegula underling.

I've long accused Terry specifically of attempting to be co-GM of the team, and there is ample evidence to support that. Just mind boggling moves that really only make sense if there is a person on the phone just saying "I don't care, just get it done"

I think part of the issue is a lack of trust and feeling locked out of the process.

Beane came up in an org with Jerry Richardson, who is similar to Pegula in a lot of ways of the 1st generation rich old guy. Beane likely learned how to make the owner feel involved without giving him a strong say in how things would turn out, if that makes sense. Explain things in a certain way where that leads them to making the 'correct' decision, which is what you wanted to do all along. McDermott also came up in that org so he knew how to be respectful to the owner without necessarily always agreeing.

The Sabres have never had the experienced executive who knows how to handle him and handle the hockey side of things, and part of that is by design of Terry.

Find an experienced GM/POHO.

 

[Ace]

The latest PDOcast talked about the press conference like everyone in hockey is. They pointed out the obvious with ownership. That you can excuse not spending when you aren’t trying to win…but the last three years they were trying to turn it around and still won’t spend. They went so far as to bring up Adams bringing up Allen and the Bills turning it around as something he said directly to kiss ownerships ass since he owns them too. They think what many do. A puppet in place to save the owner money and tell him how great and smart and amazing he is. And things won’t get better.

 

[Gabrielor]

I think (and this is all speculation, mind you) that Beane's experience in Carolina made him pretty much an ideal fit to be a Pegula underling.

I've long accused Terry specifically of attempting to be co-GM of the team, and there is ample evidence to support that. Just mind boggling moves that really only make sense if there is a person on the phone just saying "I don't care, just get it done"

I think part of the issue is a lack of trust and feeling locked out of the process.

Beane came up in an org with Jerry Richardson, who is similar to Pegula in a lot of ways of the 1st generation rich old guy. Beane likely learned how to make the owner feel involved without giving him a strong say in how things would turn out, if that makes sense. Explain things in a certain way where that leads them to making the 'correct' decision, which is what you wanted to do all along. McDermott also came up in that org so he knew how to be respectful to the owner without necessarily always agreeing.

The Sabres have never had the experienced executive who knows how to handle him and handle the hockey side of things, and part of that is by design of Terry.

The following is just yelling into the void, and I acknowledge that.


Terry, being a billionaire doesn't make you adept at anything you do. It boggles my mind that someone can live 70+ years and have zero self-awareness and seemingly no desire to learn.

He shouldn't need to be made to 'feel special' on any GM decisions. He, as the owner, hired the GM. He should feel special about the whole body of work GM succeeds with! The idea that he needs proper handling is why he should sell the Sabres, amongst probably an avalanche of other reasons.

 

[Fjordy]

The following is just yelling into the void, and I acknowledge that.


Terry, being a billionaire doesn't make you adept at anything you do. It boggles my mind that someone can live 70+ years and have zero self-awareness and seemingly no desire to learn.

He shouldn't need to be made to 'feel special' on any GM decisions. He, as the owner, hired the GM. He should feel special about the whole body of work GM succeeds with! The idea that he needs proper handling is why he should sell the Sabres, amongst probably an avalanche of other reasons.

It pisses me off a little that none of his kids told him, "Dad, you're wrong, you need to do it differently."

 

[Sabre Dance]

You don't understand why the one constant during the drought might be the problem? Then I can't help you.

I don’t understand why people don’t give him
credit for the Bills but give blame for the Sabres. It doesn’t make sense to me.

I dont criticize ownership the same way I would criticize a GM. I think he came in and spent a lot of money. It didn’t work and he’s being more patient with building up the organization.

At least that’s how I view what’s happening now. I think they decided to start over a few years ago and build up the organization through the draft.

I typically feel like teams should make the playoffs within 3 years of rebuilding. They traded Reinhart and Eichel in 2021. It’s definitely time to make the playoffs. So my opinion will start to shift. I did believe they would spend more this year. They are spending a little more but not as much as I thought.

It’s definitely time for Pegula to dig into his wallet and pour some money into the Sabres. We’ll see if he does.

 

[Gabrielor]

It pisses me off a little that none of his kids told him, "Dad, you're wrong, you need to do it differently."

(not including Jessica, the tennis star, but they might be equally inept. I don't hold much hope in that next generation either)

 

[sabremike]

I don’t understand why people don’t give him
credit for the Bills but give blame for the Sabres. It doesn’t make sense to me.

I dont criticize ownership the same way I would criticize a GM. I think he came in and spent a lot of money. It didn’t work and he’s being more patient with building up the organization.

At least that’s how I view what’s happening now. I think they decided to start over a few years ago and build up the organization through the draft.

I typically feel like teams should make the playoffs within 3 years of rebuilding. They traded Reinhart and Eichel in 2021. It’s definitely time to make the playoffs. So my opinion will start to shift. I did believe they would spend more this year. They are spending a little more but not as much as I thought.

It’s definitely time for Pegula to dig into his wallet and pour some money into the Sabres. We’ll see if he does.

He's literally Jimmy Dolan:

He actively meddles in the affairs of one of his teams (Sabres/Knicks) while not meddling in the other (Bills/Rangers). The one he meddles in has been a catastrophe while the one he doesn't has done very well.