Kevyn Adams - New GM

[Myllz]

Adams will get whatever he wants. He'll make the decisions and the Pegulas will approve. They trust him because he talks to them all the time and he's able to explain things to them in a way they understand. It's similar to the Marv Levy, Ralph Wilson relationship. If Adams is competent as a GM we're going to be set for the next 20+ years. If not, it's best not to think about it.

Yeah, that's why I think they have to get lucky. Either they have good luck and Adams knows what he's doing or they sink and repeat the process again in 3 or 5 years. The cross your fingers and hope method of driving the organization is maddening.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Here is the interview with the Instigators. 06-17 Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams

I find this hire fascinating. Totally out of the box. Not going to compare the hires to Beane and McDermott. Since these 2 guys had more experience in ops and they have knocked it out of the park with the rebuild of the Bills. But one thing in common I am getting from all 3 guys is the culture these guys bring. Adams sounds so much in sync with Beane and McDermott in the character aspect. Accountability and hard work. This is very evident. Great communicators.

This is a model that still needs to produce results, but after listening to Adams for only 22 mins. I think Sabres fans should give him a chance, as a NHL fan, I get Sabres fans being weary of another GM with no experience being hired. But give him a chance to build the organization with bringing in the right people.

Especially the scouting and development area. Going to be interesting who the Sabres tap to fill in the vacancies.

 

[Jim Bob]

Here is the interview with the Instigators. 06-17 Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams

I find this hire fascinating. Totally out of the box. Not going to compare the hires to Beane and McDermott. Since these 2 guys had more experience in ops and they have knocked it out of the park with the rebuild of the Bills. But one thing in common I am getting from all 3 guys is the culture these guys bring. Adams sounds so much in sync with Beane and McDermott in the character aspect. Accountability and hard work. This is very evident. Great communicators.

This is a model that still needs to produce results, but after listening to Adams for only 22 mins. I think Sabres fans should give him a chance, as a NHL fan, I get Sabres fans being weary of another GM with no experience being hired. But give him a chance to build the organization with bringing in the right people.

Especially the scouting and development area. Going to be interesting who the Sabres tap to fill in the vacancies.

I didn't mind what I heard from Adams in that interview.

The biggest concerns I have are more with the Pegulas, the level of involvement they demand, and yet another rookie GM hire.

We have no choice but to wait and see what happens.

 

[Ace]

How does Kevin Devine continue to survive?

Anyway the interviews were fine. Seems like a nice guy. They need someone with experience.

 

[Jim Bob]

How does Kevin Devine continue to survive?

Anyway the interviews were fine. Seems like a nice guy. They need someone with experience.

They need someone who makes a lot more good decisions than bad decisions.

 

[brian_griffin]

I find the new GM choice.....Inconceivable.

He's spent the past 9 years building up a tolerance to Iocane poison extracted from the Black Widow.

He grew up in Buffalo and worked with the Pegulas. No need to do a job search.

I don't think Kim or Terry enjoy job searches which is why they often just grab someone out of left field.

A baseball player would have done better than Botterill.

T.Pegs mentioning Kevyn is "loyal." Yikes

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." M. Corleone.

Just a reminder, Botterill was touted as one of the most potential up and coming management candidates in the league. He was considered intelligent, and well versed in many areas.

I recall that, too. Why?, I have no idea.

I spent all day at work ranting to a coworker about everything and at the very end I said something like... “but that doesn’t mean it won’t be better because the last regime was that bad”.

If failing to clear low bars were given Stanley Cups the Pegula’s hockey organization would be a dynasty.

They managed to take the thing I wanted most...Botterill to be gone...and make it a miserable day.

It’s really impressive.

We should institute the Pegula Cup on this board, awarded to the franchise which botches and/or regresses the highest percentage of organizational decisions and opportunities each season.

I recall a book I once read where the main character becomes an advisor to the Swedish Prime Minister. He quickly figures out that the PM has too big an ego to actually take good advice, so his strategy becomes to offer up to options; one good and one obviously bad, and then lean on the bad one himself. That way, the PM can come to the conclusion that he wants to go with the better option, and believe he came up with it himself. I think Adams may need to take a similar approach.

No lie, my son's godmother did that with his godfather (her husband) their whole marriage re: financial decisions (minus endorsing the bad one). Gave him the illusion of control / decision / ego, because he was a great husband / father, but not too bright for nuanced financial decisions. Tragically, he had early onset dementia and passed at age 58 after ~5 years of rough downhill progression.

Botterill sucks. Not in Adams 'defense, but judging by his interview he has a lot of information on Sabers' hockey activity and is a more sociable person, I don’t see how he gets worse than the idiot Botts, only if Pegula does not decide to become the same as the owner of Ottawa.

If I can listen to Adams for 1 minute without wanting to punch him in the face, as I always did with Botterill's noncommittal equivocations, I will at least sleep as a Sabres fan.

New board nickname for GMKA: "The WHY?"

 

[Beerz]

So the interview with Adams... was it touched on if they plan on bringing in new people to take over for all the people they fired or what?

 

[AustonsNostrils]

We're down to luck, dumb luck, that Kevyn Adams is a hidden gem and turns into a brilliant GM. I'd settle for a very good GM. It's possible but he'll have to figure out how to do his job while keeping the owners feeling like they are getting their way.

 

[flashsabre]

People are saying how could it be worse:

1) Status Quo. Nothing changed. Same Botts led team with all the departments the same.

2) The massacre happens yesterday and Botts is still GM.

3) Kim announces she is the GM and the only one making decisions going forward.

4) Botts is retained and told to trade Jack for future pieces for financial reasons. He licks his lips and calls St. Louis.

 

[Buffaloed]

I posted this in the Botts fired thread. This is probably a better spot for it...


Pretty funny that we fired him as an assistant coach a whole 7 years ago. Guess the Pegulas changed their minds pretty swiftly. What did he do until he was hired as the VP? I don't remember.

He was always in the picture with the Pegulas.
https://sabresmedia.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/10-23-bos-clips.pdf

October 22, 2013
Buffalo, NY (WGR 550) -- Many were upset when Western New York native
Kevyn Adams was fired by Ron Rolston. It was not a move Terry Pegula liked, but
he stayed out of it.
What Pegula did do was stay in touch with Adams and now he’s back.

Once the summer hit Adams wasn’t sure if he wanted to stay in the coaching
profession. He had numerous conversations with Pegula trying to adjust his life
goals. Adams said, “I spent a lot of time thinking about that exact question. I took
a deep breath, I’ve gone back to school where I’m getting my MBA. I
contemplated coaching, I had a couple of good opportunities, but the more I
talked to Terry and Kim, John Koelmel, the more I understood what’s trying to
happen here at the HARBORCENTER, the more I sat back and realized I’m from
here, my family’s happy. I’ve moved a lot, I got traded five times so this was the
right move.” In his career Adams played in Toronto, Columbus, Florida, Carolina,
Phoenix and Chicago.

 

[Tatanka]

I have never been a fan of the Pegs. However, I have come to the conclusion that a total gutting was inevitable.

Lets assume you have not been feeling well, and you seek out the best specialists recommended to you by people you respect. However, you are not feeling better. You tell the doctor you aren’t seeing any benefits from the treatment plan and would like explore additional options. The doctor tells you she is the most qualified person based on her education, residency years of practice etc., to treat your symptoms and make you well. But you are not getting better. You do not feel better. You feel the same.

So you try someone new. The hot new doc from the best school who is on the rise based on his recent accomplishments. This new doc also says he knows best and leave it to him plan your treatment and make you well. But you tell him that part of the plan he is prescribing didn’t work before and made you feel worse, but he insists this time it will be different. But alas there is no more improvement than before. So what are you to do?

Then you remember that other doctor you went to one time when you were on vacation and thought, “you know, that person was generally concerned about my well being, I am going to give her a call.” She explains that she is a simple general practitioner and not a specialist, but would be happy to go over your symptoms and history and explore options with you. You decide that maybe the issues I am having are a bit novel and the specialist is too focused on applying a specific protocol that they are comfortable with, but doesn’t seem to be right for you. This GP is not wedded to any specific protocol and is ready to look at everything including, diet, exercise, alternative medicines, mental health.

In the end the result may be the same. But as the patient, you have the option to choose the path you think provides the best chance for success. And most important to you, you feel your physician is listening to your concerns and at least taking them into consideration before they explain to you, that you may be worrying about something insignificant while not aware of a larger problem.

Personally, I would have preferred a specialist with a better bedside manner. But ultimately it is the patient that has to a) want to get healthy and b) feel the treatment plan is best course of action based on all relevant factors or there will be no commitment to the plan. I think the Pegs realized they have a lump in a place where they didn’t have one before and were being told that Tylenol and a low fat diet should do the trick. In the end it is their life, no matter how many others fell vested in their ultimate well being. Jmho.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

We're down to luck, dumb luck, that Kevyn Adams is a hidden gem and turns into a brilliant GM. I'd settle for a very good GM. It's possible but he'll have to figure out how to do his job while keeping the owners feeling like they are getting their way.

Kevyn is going to have to surround himself with good smart people. Like any organization when you are the boss, you listen to smart people and make the final decision. He's definitely a genuine guy when you listen to him. The good thing about being a former player that has won the cup and been around a few teams. You get NHL hockey connections. I spoke of one of his best friends in hockey yesterday. Alyn McCauley, currently a scout with Philly. I am not saying he will hire former friends. But knowing people in hockey will get him the inside on surrounding himself with smart hockey minds. This may be the hires that make or break his Management career. It all starts with the front office. Player moves and drafting. It's going to be fun to see who he brings in to round out the scouting, coaching and management staff.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

We have no idea how stripped down the front office is going to be. My guess is there will be only one AGM, in charge of Rochester. Scouting staff probably half of what it was, same for development coaches. Our analytics dept seems to only have been one guy, embarrassing and it probably stays that way even though Adams says he values analytics.

and the time frame for hiring new people. this is a ghost ship right now.

 

[RazielMoshman]

Interesting to see what the next few weeks will bring. I've read a lot about people thinking Krueger should have had this job, and he certainly is everywhere the Pegula's are whenever they're talking, so I wonder how much of this is them replacing JB with a 'yes-man' and how much is Adams being little more than Krueger's assistant/GM at his command.

The 31 Thoughts podcast was excellent, as was the Locked on Sabres podcast. The interesting point I've heard is that when you look back at Darcy/Ruff they were at least a team. Maybe that's the intention here. At this point though the only thing that matters is what sort of squad he puts together.

 

[brian_griffin]

Interesting to see what the next few weeks will bring. I've read a lot about people thinking Krueger should have had this job, and he certainly is everywhere the Pegula's are whenever they're talking, so I wonder how much of this is them replacing JB with a 'yes-man' and how much is Adams being little more than Krueger's assistant/GM at his command.

The 31 Thoughts podcast was excellent, as was the Locked on Sabres podcast. The interesting point I've heard is that when you look back at Darcy/Ruff they were at least a team. Maybe that's the intention here. At this point though the only thing that matters is what sort of squad he puts together.

Pretty sure each was best man at the other's wedding.

 

[Dubi Doo]

I'm going to avoid complaining about this any further. I have my concerns, but I've said my piece. I will give Adams his chance to shine. I'm just happy I can watch Sabres hockey again. I was on the verge of boycotting the season, and yes- I know how f***ing lame that is.

 

[brian_griffin]

I'm going to avoid complaining about this any further. I have my concerns, but I've said my piece. I will give Adams his chance to shine. I'm just happy I can watch Sabres hockey again. I was on the verge of boycotting the season, and yes- I know how f***ing lame that is.

We have no idea when the next season will start, so you have another 4 to 6+ months to wait. Offseason would normally just be starting now.

 

[Jim Bob]

That is how I am now viewing what happened on Tuesday.

The thing that we will have to have way more patience than most people have in today's internet-driven society for is waiting to see how Adams re-builds the hockey ops department.

Everyone is guessing based off of Tuesday's presser about what things will look like.

I hope that if they are looking to spend less on hockey ops that the future structure is saving money on scouting and then reinvesting a large portion of that into the historically underfunded hockey analytics department.

But, we shall see...

 

[Jim Bob]

I'm glad I have an Athletic subscription today.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

"Turnstile hirings and firings in Buffalo is no way to build a winner" is a nonsensical statement. The hirings and firings are a symptom, not the cause.

It's like saying, "fevers and a cough are no way to get over the flu."

Actually, it's worse than that, because hirings and firings are actually the way to get the "pathogens" out. So actually he's saying, "getting the pathogens out and trying to replenish your body's nutrients and infrastructure is no way to get healthy."

The problem has never been a lack of continuity. It's the lack of good hires that requires the firing. And getting the right people in place isn't easy, or everyone would be a winner. The LeBrun article just comes off to me as piling on.

 

[Jim Bob]

"Turnstile hirings and firings in Buffalo is no way to build a winner" is a nonsensical statement. The hirings and firings are a symptom, not the cause.

It's like saying, "fevers and a cough are no way to get over the flu."

Actually, it's worse than that, because hirings and firings are actually the way to get the "pathogens" out. So actually he's saying, "getting the pathogens out and trying to replenish your body's nutrients and infrastructure is no way to get healthy."

The problem has never been a lack of continuity. It's the lack of good hires that requires the firing. And getting the right people in place isn't easy, or everyone would be a winner. The LeBrun article just comes off to me as piling on.

I don't believe it is a nonsensical statement. I believe that your view of it is slightly different than what PLB was trying to get across.

An analogy I like to use is that judging a GM after three years is like taking a cake or bread out of the oven 75% of the way through the total cooking time, tasting it, and judging it then.

Plus, it isn't like the Pegulas fired either Murray or Botterill for the on ice results. They fired both of them for off ice issues they had with the way that they ran things.

Botterill didn't get fired for the ROR trade or missing the playoffs in a season when 24 teams advanced to post-season play. He was fired for not being on board with a massive leaning out of the hockey operations department.

The one plus to the Adams hiring is that he has worked for the Pegulas for a long time and they shouldn't be surprised about how he does things and vice versa.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

This really feels like a group who is trying to improve their financial books to prepare for a sale. Make the bottom line look as appealing as possible by removing expenditures. It wouldn't surprise me to see them ice a team in the 70m range, with lots of Rochester graduations filling roster holes. They can show potential buyers, "Look, we made about 1.4m in the pandemic-shortened season, but then we made 12m the season after," all on the back of firing employees and limiting team salary.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

I don't believe it is a nonsensical statement. I believe that your view of it is slightly different than what PLB was trying to get across.

An analogy I like to use is that judging a GM after three years is like taking a cake or bread out of the oven 75% of the way through the total cooking time, tasting it, and then judging it then.

Plus, it isn't like the Pegulas fired either Murray or Botterill for the on ice results. They fired both of them for off ice issues they had with the way that they ran things.

Botterill didn't get fired for the ROR trade or missing the playoffs in a season when 24 teams advanced to post-season play. He was fired for not being on board with a massive leaning out of the hockey operations department.

The one plus to the Adams hiring is that he has worked for the Pegulas for a long time and they shouldn't be surprised about how he does things and vice versa.

I don't know how we can say the Pegulas didn't fire Murray or Botterill for on ice results. You're telling me if the Sabres were good this year and made the playoffs, they would have still fired Botterill and made all these other cuts?

I will admit that's certainly not the narrative around these changes, but I think the narrative that this is solely about cost-cutting is over-simplified. That's not what they are actually saying. Efficiency does not mean cheap, but that's the common leap people are taking, for example. Hiring someone they are familiar with and believe in doesn't equal "yes man," but that's the narrative.

If the argument against these changes is that they've already made changes within the last few years and 3 years isn't enough to evaluate a GM, I just don't agree with that. We've seen a ton of decisions from Botterill and heard him explain those decisions many times. Plenty enough to see the direction of the team and evaluate his judgment and communication, etc. The Pegulas will have had many more private convos with him and the other people involved and have a much clearer view of the reality of the situation. (yes, I 100% agree with Kim that they know more than we do. to say otherwise is kind of hilarious to me)

If the bread hasn't risen at all after 75% of the cooking time, you should know there's a problem without having to wait until it's done.

Now, one thing I would agree with is that we shouldn't judge the Adams hire yet because the oven hasn't even been turned on. Experience matters, but not that much. Put a smart, hard-working, emotionally intelligent person in charge, they will figure it out. I have never met Adams or talked to him, so to assume I know better than the Pegulas how good of a job he will do would be ridiculous. If it doesn't work then they deserve criticism, just like they deserve criticism for the Botterill hire. He wasn't good. It didn't work. The team has not progressed in the standings at all.

Having said that though, in my opinion, the roster isn't that far away from success. There are a couple of big holes that need to be filled, but if you can find a legit 2c, the team turns the corner right away. I have a lot more hope that Adams will make the good move than I did for Botterill.

 

[hizzoner]

I don't believe it is a nonsensical statement. I believe that your view of it is slightly different than what PLB was trying to get across.

An analogy I like to use is that judging a GM after three years is like taking a cake or bread out of the oven 75% of the way through the total cooking time, tasting it, and judging it then.

Plus, it isn't like the Pegulas fired either Murray or Botterill for the on ice results. They fired both of them for off ice issues they had with the way that they ran things.

Botterill didn't get fired for the ROR trade or missing the playoffs in a season when 24 teams advanced to post-season play. He was fired for not being on board with a massive leaning out of the hockey operations department.

The one plus to the Adams hiring is that he has worked for the Pegulas for a long time and they shouldn't be surprised about how he does things and vice versa.

Some might say the food was in the oven too long and has no juice left. These guys were not doing their jobs and the only people who got hurt financially were the owners. Spending to the cap and throwing money at Rochester-and the Pegulas did this- got us nowhere with these guys--not as if other clubs have not climbed out of a hole. Pegulas deserve blame for who they hired. The guys they hired get the blame for not performing their duties well enough. Pegulas lost a pile of bucks and those fired get paid according to the contracts they signed even if they now not perform at home. Nobody likes to see job losses especially in these troubled times but that is why professional athletes and staff have guaranteed contracts with fixed terms at salaries many average worker would only dream about.The truly sad thing is that jobs for a great many people-including those not involved in professional sports-are going to be harder to find for a while.

 

[Jim Bob]

I don't know how we can say the Pegulas didn't fire Murray or Botterill for on ice results. You're telling me if the Sabres were good this year and made the playoffs, they would have still fired Botterill and made all these other cuts?

I am going off of what the Pegulas said on the conference call on Tuesday about why they fired Botterill. They made it clear that it was because they wanted to make sweeping changes to the hockey operations department and they didn't feel like Botterill was willing to make those changes.

So, they let him go and replaced him with someone whom they know will listen to what they want and execute their vision.

I will admit that's certainly not the narrative around these changes, but I think the narrative that this is solely about cost-cutting is over-simplified. That's not what they are actually saying. Efficiency does not mean cheap, but that's the common leap people are taking, for example. Hiring someone they are familiar with and believe in doesn't equal "yes man," but that's the narrative.

It's not a narrative. It's the reason we were given by ownership for the changes.

I don't know where you work, but where I work terms like "efficiency", "streamlining", and "lean" are code for do as much as you've always done, or more, with fewer people.

So, with the Pegulas and Adams using those types of terms over and over again over the past 48 hours, along with the massive amount of firings, that is the logical first impression that the moves that have taken place will leave on people.

Time will tell what the hockey operations department looks like in six months. But my guess is that Adams will have a smaller budget to work with than Botterill did.

If the argument against these changes is that they've already made changes within the last few years and 3 years isn't enough to evaluate a GM, I just don't agree with that. We've seen a ton of decisions from Botterill and heard him explain those decisions many times. Plenty enough to see the direction of the team and evaluate his judgment and communication, etc. The Pegulas will have had many more private convos with him and the other people involved and have a much clearer view of the reality of the situation. (yes, I 100% agree with Kim that they know more than we do. to say otherwise is kind of hilarious to me)

If the bread hasn't risen at all after 75% of the cooking time, you should know there's a problem without having to wait until it's done.

Now, one thing I would agree with is that we shouldn't judge the Adams hire yet because the oven hasn't even been turned on. Experience matters, but not that much. Put a smart, hard-working, emotionally intelligent person in charge, they will figure it out. I have never met Adams or talked to him, so to assume I know better than the Pegulas how good of a job he will do would be ridiculous. If it doesn't work then they deserve criticism, just like they deserve criticism for the Botterill hire. He wasn't good. It didn't work. The team has not progressed in the standings at all.

Having said that though, in my opinion, the roster isn't that far away from success. There are a couple of big holes that need to be filled, but if you can find a legit 2c, the team turns the corner right away. I have a lot more hope that Adams will make the good move than I did for Botterill.

I haven't been a fan of Botterill for a while. So, I am not down on the move to let him go. But, I can admit that even me wanting him go this soon into his tenure as the GM is being impatient.

I believe in the general idea that every head coach hire should get around 3 seasons and every GM should get two full head coaching hires before being let go, unless their first hire lasts 5+ years like say Regier and Ruff.

But again, this move wasn't made based on those types of things.

The good news is that unlike Murray and Botterill, the Pegulas have a previous history with Adams. So, there shouldn't be a premature firing for non-results based issues with Adams. But, we shall see.

As far as hope that Adams makes good moves, I have exactly zero basis for a guess as to how he will handle things as he has zero NHL front office experience and he hasn't hired anyone to a part of his staff.

It is way too soon for me to have any hope around Adams as the GM. But, it is too soon for me to be worried too much, either. All of my worry is merely caused by all the talk that Terry & Kim will be heavily involved with Adams and Ralph coming up with the game plan for the roster moving forward.