The Bills are winning despite Beane and McDermortt, not because of them. If Josh Allen developed into another JP Losman instead of the top 3 QB he is, the Bills would be bottom feeders to middling at best. Allen is a Super Bowl quality QB but he'll never touch one because of who's running the show.
The Sabres need, more than anything, an executive to come in rebuild the whole franchise. That is how bad it is. Pay Brian Burke as a consultant for 3 years to go out and find a president, rebuild the scouting department, get a new GM, and coach, etc. Most importantly, the Pegulas should be kept at arms length from all of it. Short of that, I can't fathom this francise ever recovering.