Jim Bob
RIP RJ
Sabres exec on Pegulas' engagement, jersey misspellings, fan concerns
It was a pretty good Q&A even if the answers aren't exactly what all fans will want to hear.
General Manager Jason Botterill hasn't deviated from his plan to get the Buffalo Sabres back to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Botterill has emphasized the importance of patience while building the Sabres through drafting and developing young players. However, fan unrest is growing, as illustrated by the peaceful protest held in KeyBank Center's Alumni Plaza last Saturday and average attendance that has fallen to its lowest levels since 2005-06.
Though Botterill spoke recently about his plan for on-ice improvement, he wasn't in a position to address fans' anger about misspellings on alumni jerseys, why the red-and-black goat head jerseys weren't worn by current Sabres for on-ice warmups for a 1990s celebration Jan. 4 or potential improvements to the experience in KeyBank Center.
Kevyn Adams, the Sabres' vice president of business administration and a former NHL player, spoke to The Buffalo News about those topics and several others during a sit-down interview Thursday.
Q: Why haven’t Terry and Kim Pegula addressed fans’ concerns publicly?
KA: Last week, Jason spoke on behalf of Terry and Kim about the hockey side. Obviously, I’m here today talking about the business side on behalf of Terry and Kim. I think at the appropriate time Terry and Kim will talk. The most important part of this that I want to make sure I get across is just because they haven’t spoken publicly doesn’t mean they aren’t engaged. They are completely engaged. No one has committed more resources to the Sabres organization and the city than Terry and Kim Pegula. They care. They’re passionate. They want this to be better and they’re working hard across every area of the organization to find solutions. I just think that’s a really important part of this.
It was a pretty good Q&A even if the answers aren't exactly what all fans will want to hear.