Kevyn Adams GM thread

[joshjull]

You have hit the nail squarely on the head. And your comments about the Patty La situation are so very true; Kim f***ed that situation up so completely. These owners have no concept of how to run a hockey organization, and as long as they own the Sabres, they will never win a championship.

@May Day 10 is not %100 right about the Lafontiane situation.

-Pegula has dinner with LaFontaine who he is a fanboy of. He’s so excited by the conversation they have that he impulsively fires Regier/Rolston right after. Mind you this is in November.

-Then Terry hires LaFontaine as President of Hockey ops and Nolan as coach.

-LaFontaine does a GM search and hires Tim Murray. THEY are the ones that disagree on the direction the team takes.

-Murray, as we all know, wanted to tank. Patty did not. The final straw in this battle was trading Miller. Patty wanted to extend him.

-Patty lost the argument on tanking and resigned because of it.

That pissing match between Patty and Murray is why Pegula hasn’t wanted a President of hockey ops since then.

 

[Ace]

@May Day 10 is not %100 right about the Lafontiane situation.

-Pegula has dinner with LaFontaine who he is a fanboy of. He’s so excited by the conversation they have that he impulsively fires Regier/Rolston right after. Mind you this is in November.

-Then Terry hires LaFontaine as President of Hockey ops and Nolan as coach.

-LaFontaine does a GM search and hires Tim Murray. THEY are the ones that disagree on the direction the team takes.

-Murray, as we all know, wanted to tank. Patty did not. The final straw in this battle was trading Miller. Patty wanted to extend him.

-Patty lost the argument on tanking and resigned because of it.

That pissing match between Patty and Murray is why Pegula hasn’t wanted a President of hockey ops since then.

You’ve conveniently left out the part where Pat believed he had power here and Kim told him he did not. Who did he lose that argument to? He didn’t lose it to the guy he hired. He lost it to Kim Pegula and found out that his position was powerless and he walked. Everyone knows it. Well I thought so.

 

[May Day 10]

@May Day 10 is not %100 right about the Lafontiane situation.

-Pegula has dinner with LaFontaine who he is a fanboy of. He’s so excited by the conversation they have that he impulsively fires Regier/Rolston right after. Mind you this is in November.

-Then Terry hires LaFontaine as President of Hockey ops and Nolan as coach.

-LaFontaine does a GM search and hires Tim Murray. THEY are the ones that disagree on the direction the team takes.

-Murray, as we all know, wanted to tank. Patty did not. The final straw in this battle was trading Miller. Patty wanted to extend him.

-Patty lost the argument on tanking and resigned because of it.

That pissing match between Patty and Murray is why Pegula hasn’t wanted a President of hockey ops since then.

That is not what I heard from someone I know and trust. Kim Pegula was always around and offering input in on everything, despite LaFontaine's title as team president. Murray was hired as GM but LaFontaine was going to be more of a front and public-facing GM and he was learning the ropes from Craig Patrick. This relationship was fine, and I think if Murray was tasked with the scouting, analysis, and grocery getting roles with GM, and LaFontaine/Patrick were the controls on that (like making sure they didnt do things like trading McNabb and 2 2nds for Fasching and Deslauriers), things could have turned out fine. Actually the rumors are that McNabb needed to be traded due to Pegula family involvement.

The last straw happened when there was a parents' trip on the road. Ryan Miller wanted to bring his wife, LaFontaine said no. Kim went over his head and overruled him.

The common/convenient fan theory surrounds the tanking thing and the Miller trade due to the timing. I suspect LaFontaine wasn't all in on tanking like Sabres' ownership was (in hindsight he wouldn't have been wrong). He truly wanted Nolan to start to foster a winning attitude and culture from day 1. Honestly, that 2nd tank team probably had more heart and guts than any other drought-era team. Miller was getting traded regardless.
The tank/no tank thing was an easy way to paint LaFontaine as the villain and we were better off without him, while Tim Murray was funny and quirky and would steer us right into McDavid.

 

[KeyserSoze81]

KA and Terry are probably giving each other Dutch rudders

Well, at least I learned something today. I wish I hadn't, but knowledge is power.

Worse than Botterilll

Again, I think that this is revisionist history. Adams deserves some credit for solid drafting and for not completely screwing the team in the future. He has not done a good job, but inaction is preferable to scorched earth. Botterill subjected us to Ralph Krueger, had similar inaction to Adams, drafted worse, and screwed up the ROR trade. That Tage Thompson defied logic and turned into anything makes it easier to look at his tenure with rose colored glasses. I had to watch Sobotka for 2 years, which is itself a fireable offense.

That pissing match between Patty and Murray is why Pegula hasn’t wanted a President of hockey ops since then.

LaFontaine has also has a rocky history in management, and Tim Murray is lacking any semblance of soft skills. It is asinine if Pegula lets two unmanageable individuals poison the well.

 

[TehDoak]

Your average fan could come on these boards, read up on prospects and mock drafts, and have the Sabres, at the very least, in the same position as Adams has them.

I'd pump the breaks a bit on this, and this is as Adams biggest critic.

There is ALOT more to being a GM than simply making trades, draft picks, and contracts.

especially in Adams case when he is at the top of the org chart right below the Owner.

He is essentially the head of the organization, and that involves a lot of soft skills and people management.

By all reports, he appears to be very well liked by the staff. Jerry Forton broke down in tears about how much he likes and respects Adams

The problem is, while Adams might be a good people person and good with the media, he hasn't shown he can handle the Xs and Os of being an actual general manager. I've suggested on here before that Adams actually get promoted to team president where can continue to be good with people and be the eyes and ears of ownership in the org and he be the one who makes sure what they want gets followed. But have someone below him that runs the hockey operations department. It by all means wouldn't be ideal. Adams would have to be willing to be mostly hands off with the team other than input on big decisions and overall strategy. But in the alternative of starting the whole front office over again, I think some continuity would be nice....as long as Adams is willing to step back and say "I don't have the aptitude for this, lets find someone who does"

 

[May Day 10]

The 'rocky history' with LaFontaine is also over-stated.

He was hired as an unpaid consultant with the Islanders to assist and work with his close friend Neil Smith who was hired the first week of June.

After just 5 weeks after being hired, Smith was fired in favor of their goalie (Garth Snow), and LaFontaine resigned from his (unpaid) position because the guy he thought he was working with was fired after 5 weeks by a clown organization (this all feels so familiar)

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

@May Day 10 is not %100 right about the Lafontiane situation.

-Pegula has dinner with LaFontaine who he is a fanboy of. He’s so excited by the conversation they have that he impulsively fires Regier/Rolston right after. Mind you this is in November.

-Then Terry hires LaFontaine as President of Hockey ops and Nolan as coach.

-LaFontaine does a GM search and hires Tim Murray. THEY are the ones that disagree on the direction the team takes.

-Murray, as we all know, wanted to tank. Patty did not. The final straw in this battle was trading Miller. Patty wanted to extend him.

-Patty lost the argument on tanking and resigned because of it.

That pissing match between Patty and Murray is why Pegula hasn’t wanted a President of hockey ops since then.

How could Patty lose that argument if he was his boss? Hint: he wasn't really his boss because he wasn't allowed to make decisions. You're skipping the most important element of the story.

You’ve conveniently left out the part where Pat believed he had power here and Kim told him he did not. Who did he lose that argument to? He didn’t lose it to the guy he hired. He lost it to Kim Pegula and found out that his position was powerless and he walked. Everyone knows it. Well I thought so.

I basically just said the same thing. Agreed - everyone knows this.

That is not what I heard from someone I know and trust. Kim Pegula was always around and offering input in on everything, despite LaFontaine's title as team president. Murray was hired as GM but LaFontaine was going to be more of a front and public-facing GM and he was learning the ropes from Craig Patrick. This relationship was fine, and I think if Murray was tasked with the scouting, analysis, and grocery getting roles with GM, and LaFontaine/Patrick were the controls on that (like making sure they didnt do things like trading McNabb and 2 2nds for Fasching and Deslauriers), things could have turned out fine. Actually the rumors are that McNabb needed to be traded due to Pegula family involvement.

The last straw happened when there was a parents' trip on the road. Ryan Miller wanted to bring his wife, LaFontaine said no. Kim went over his head and overruled him.

The common/convenient fan theory surrounds the tanking thing and the Miller trade due to the timing. I suspect LaFontaine wasn't all in on tanking like Sabres' ownership was (in hindsight he wouldn't have been wrong). He truly wanted Nolan to start to foster a winning attitude and culture from day 1. Honestly, that 2nd tank team probably had more heart and guts than any other drought-era team. Miller was getting traded regardless.
The tank/no tank thing was an easy way to paint LaFontaine as the villain and we were better off without him, while Tim Murray was funny and quirky and would steer us right into McDavid.

Jeez that's a good point -- we probably would have been MUCH better off in the timeline where Patty stays and Murray leaves.

 

[Ace]

just a friendly reminder that only one player on this roster is under a contract signed by (or acquired by) a different GM. Other than leading goal scorer Jeff Skinner…this is the roster Adams picked. Either by signing, re-signing or acquiring them through trade.

This is his mess, and his alone.

 

[MOGlLNY]

just a friendly reminder that only one player on this roster is under a contract signed by (or acquired by) a different GM. Other than leading goal scorer Jeff Skinner…this is the roster Adams picked. Either by signing, re-signing or acquiring them through trade.

This is his mess, and his alone.

Thing is, with the core pieces we have and the treasure trove we are sitting on.. I still believe we can turn it around. This season and this performance? Yes it’s a mess. But I think we can get out of this in the long term. IF we are willing to take risks and try and bring in proper real players right now that can help us.

Sounds ridiculous to say this now as it’s dark times but all is not lost with this franchise taking the next step. But it’s time to pay the price to do it.

 

[dortt]

Well, he made A trade…

 

[HOOats]

Thing is, with the core pieces we have and the treasure trove we are sitting on.. I still believe we can turn it around. This season and this performance? Yes it’s a mess. But I think we can get out of this in the long term. IF we are willing to take risks and try and bring in proper real players right now that can help us.

Sounds ridiculous to say this now as it’s dark times but all is not lost with this franchise taking the next step. But it’s time to pay the price to do it.

It doesn't sound ridiculous at all. I'm just impressed you have the patience to stand up to the mobs spilling out of Twitter.

 

[jd1970]

It's as if he's trying to get the fans to hate him more.

 

[Sabre the Win]

It's as if he's trying to get the fans to hate him more.

I think hes just doing the bare minumum so the casual fan sees him trying stuff.

 

[toddkaz]

Team needs bodies with the injuries piling up so its understandable but it also shows the seriousness Adams has in making the playoffs.

He has had feelers out there for 2 years and comes back with this.

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

I dont think they need a new gm but a coaching change is needed. Sabres have a good team But they need to start say goodbye to some players in the summer . If this is not happening they need a gm change. Adams have Done a decent job But he need to start doing something this summer so patience not go over to being to passive.

remove: Olofsson Okposo Jost Robinson Johnson Jokiharju comrie Stillman from the roster .

Add good depth and veterans , hire a new coach and make the playoffs and if fails fire the gm as he failed it sfter the moves in the summer

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

"There's no strategy. I have no strategy. Zero strategy."-KA

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

I'm at another low point in my 45 year Sabres Fandom.

This team had a look at the playoffs last year and the gm punted because he is averse to giving anything up and making hard decisions.

Now, this year, with a bit of hope, this team is spider man pointing at himself for pretty much every other drought team. In 26 games I can count on 1 hand the number of 60 minute efforts, and they continue to somehow be worse on home ice.

Maybe they could have parlayed last year's promise with cap space into a great offseason. Instead it was more of adams' risk aversion and wanting to make everyone happy.

Even overlooking the odd 3 goalie, 7 defensemen thing, this roster is not a well stratified nhl roster. It should be embarrassing that a 170 pound 18 year old made the team and he outhustles and gets his nose dirtier than anybody.

The team is slipping fast. Hurtling to the new year and nearing last in the conference. Something needs to be done. Our jr sabres coach made gm is incapable of doing anything. He wants everybody to be happy and comfortable on long term deals and we see what that looks like.

Adams is almost surely here for another 2.75 seasons, and I'd be surprised if granato isn't as well. More unearned long extensions by this franchise.

It is all Pegula. This team will never be a relevant NHL team as long as he us the owner of it. The biggest priority the organization has is to preserve his communication mandate, circular structure, and his ability to share "ideas". No GM, president, or coach worth anything is going to agree to work under that. Adams is a perfect yes man, and granato too. Neither have other nhl options. I don't even think it'd adams decision on granato. This whole operation is always rigged to fail. Until pegula sells the team, or steps away completely and puts the org in the hands of a team president (with experience this is a heavy lift), it won't sniff any success.

They had Craig Patrick and lafontaine, but lafontaine didn't like consulting with and getting forced to hear Kim pegula's ideas. They butted heads through his short tenure, culminating with her going completely over his head on something which resulted in a blow up. Pegula at his next pc said his biggest regret was giving up control and that wouldn't happen ever again. Haunting words for a sabres fan

Great post.

I tend to give the Pegulas a pass, but the lone constant during the endless playoff drought and the revolving door of GMs, coaches, and players is the Sabres absentee landlord owner.

Any other billionaire Sabres fans who are happy to let professionals run their vanity project?

 

[zenthusiast]

The core of the lafontaine business is so reliant on unconfirmed stuff that there’s not a real point to arguing it. Stuff might be plausible but we can’t treat it as gospel.

 

[toddkaz]

Don't know if Hockey Writers is credible or not. Interesting read especially about Clifton and Erik Johnson.

Sabres' Struggles Result of Kevyn Adams' Poor Management - The Hockey Writers Buffalo Sabres Latest News, Analysis & More

The Sabres have gotten off to a subpar start, and while blame can be pointed at injuries or underperformance, the real blame is Kevyn Adams.

thehockeywriters.com

 

[BFLO]

Regier was fired after 2 consecutive seasons of failing to make the playoffs, and essentially kicking off the tank.

GMTM was fired after a 3 point drop in the standings from the previous season.

Botts was fired for non-hockey reasons, but did oversee a 16 point drop his first season as GM

Adams oversaw a 26 point drop his first season (prorated to 82 game pace)

Adams is on pace in his 4th season to oversee an 18 point drop from last season.

 

[Ace]

Regier was fired after 2 consecutive seasons of failing to make the playoffs, and essentially kicking off the tank.

GMTM was fired after a 3 point drop in the standings from the previous season.

Botts was fired for non-hockey reasons, but did oversee a 16 point drop his first season as GM

Adams oversaw a 26 point drop his first season (prorated to 82 game pace)

Adams is on pace in his 4th season to oversee an 18 point drop from last season.

Yeah but he communicates with Pegula really well about his incompetence

 

[SabresFan26]

Yeah but he communicates with Pegula really well about his incompetence

Was going to say something similar like ya but Pegulas like him and everyone likes playing in Buffalo.

 

[Washed Up 29YearOld]

We're going to stop... being the... stupid NHL team- because that’s what the league thinks of us- we're going to be the brilliant NHL team. We're going to be so smart, Adams is going to make great deals, we're going to bring back our fans- we'll buyout our vets! We're going to repeal and replace Kim Pegula from team president- it’s a disaster !!
We're going to have strong borders on the northern border ! WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A WALLL! And who's going to pay for the wall??
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS !!

Who?

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

THEY'RE PAYING !!!

 

[Deleted member 346512]

I've given up hope. It happens more and more often that I don't watch Sabres games. I don't care anymore, nothing will change and it will stay that way. let's not fool ourselves

 

[toddkaz]

The team can still make the playoffs but I read they have to play at a 108 point pace.

With a 7.6% chance of making the playoffs and its not even Christmas its gutting to have our hopes dashed already by Adams and Granato.

NHL Playoff Odds -MoneyPuck 2025 Playoff & Cup Odds

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I can't imagine other franchises keeping a GM and coach who missed the playoffs this many times.