They have no culture. You can draft high all you want, but you need to find guys who understand what it takes to win.
If need be give up picks to find those culture guys.
The culture problem doesn't start with the players. It's because everyone above the players in this organization is a joke.
1. The assistant coaches are the same clowns as the previous years. Yes. That's right. Lindy Ruff has the same assistant coaching staff as his predecessor. Aside from Seth Appert, who was the AHL HC for the Rochester Amerks last year, and is the heir apparent to take over once Ruff is gone, despite not having the qualifications or track record to do so, they've been set on grooming him to be Sabres HC for like 3 years now. If there's one thing this organization loves doing above all else, it's promoting unqualified losers from within. Oh, and the Devils are still paying part of Ruff's salary.
2. The front office is a joke. If you look at their resumes, it's a bunch of guys who have spent their entire careers in Buffalo. They know nothing but Buffalo and Pegula, and the playoff drought. They aren't here for their expertise and winning experience, they are here because they are cheap, and they don't rock the boat. A bunch of yes men, who know how to please Pegula. They've only had 1 pro scout on staff for the past 5 years, they just added a second one last season.
3. Kevyn Adams is completely unqualified to work in an NHL front office, let alone be GM. He has no front office experience aside from his GM role. He was an asst coach for the Sabres a decade ago, got fired, and then promoted to buisness OPs. He ran the Harbor Center ice rink complex and Sabres youth hockey program before being promoted to GM.
4. Pegula, the ring leader. Every front office employee or coach or player who has spoken up against how he's been running things no longer works for him. He surrounds himself with Yes Men, and pinches pennies throughout the org, so that it will later cost him dimes. He saves himself $5 million a year on staff payroll and $10million on roster payroll to cost himself $10's of millions in lost gate revenue and playoff revenue.
