The Sabres GM and Front Office Thread, Eric Staal hired as Special Asst. to the GM; Jarmo Kekäläinen hired as Senior Advisor

[Dahlicious]

That might be worse news.

Though Terry appearing on Shark Tank begging for help for the Sabres would be hilarious

I also suddenly have an urge to have Lou Lameriello based reality show called "Franchise Rescue" where Lou Lameriello comes in, verbally abuses the Sabres front office and ownership, and fixes the front office.

Do we know if Gordon Ramsay knows anything about hockey?

 

[Chainshot]

Lou doesn't seem to actually "fix" anything anymore.

 

[Jim Bob]

Blah

General complaints are:
1) Terry wanting too much control
2) Terry not willing to spend
3) kevyn too slow to make decisions
4) under qualified staff
5) inability to build a team, rather than collect players


There's debate as to the legitimacy of each, there's overlap between all of them, but I doubt lou solves any of it.

1-4 aren't a lack of knowledge, they're choices. 5 could be lack of knowledge but Lou isn't the one who's got it.

The only thing I can think of is that he'd have a bigger network so our employee pool expands beyond people who went to kindergarten together.

I just don't think Lou makes the sabres the Islanders, I think he makes them an even crappier sabres

3, 4, and 5 are why they are looking to add a Senior Advisor in all likelihood.

And I think people are assuming that whomever the Senior Advisor is that they will have more actual power than they will in all likelihood.

Lou being in the room and giving his opinion on moves along with Ventura, Forton, Appert apparently, Karmanos (or a replacement at AGM), etc. won't be a huge needle mover in all likelihood.

Lou isn't my first choice. But, I do think he'd be better than not adding a Senior Advisor, as well.

Plus, there was the report out there that they approached Lou and he turned them down, like Ken Holland. So, I think all this Lou stuff is a waste of clicks.

 

[Fezzy126]

Holy f***, so that pic was actually Lou?!?

(or Dreger is f***ing with me and it went completely over my head, haha)

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Chainshot]

That Karmanos is leaving remains a kick in the ass for the organization. He did very good work building out the minor league teams the last few years. I've liked a bunch of his depth adds - Metsa is top of that list, but Warren, Fiddler-Schultz, and Slaggert for sure have been strong contributors.

It's also the loss of one of the few people who have worked outside of this organization that bothers me.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[WeDislikeEich]

That Karmanos is leaving remains a kick in the ass for the organization. He did very good work building out the minor league teams the last few years. I've liked a bunch of his depth adds - Metsa is top of that list, but Warren, Fiddler-Schultz, and Slaggert for sure have been strong contributors.

It's also the loss of one of the few people who have worked outside of this organization that bothers me.

I’d love to know exactly why he is leaving and if it was his choice (I assume it is)

 

[Beerz]

I’d love to know exactly why he is leaving and if it was his choice (I assume it is)

Who needs him when you got Appert and Staal in your ear already

 

[Chainshot]

I’d love to know exactly why he is leaving and if it was his choice (I assume it is)

Yep, I figure he's going on his own accord. Maybe there is something where he doesn't have to travel like going back to the Pens or down to Carolina again? Or perhaps it's time to spend his dad's money?

 

[kirby11]

Fully prepared for either a terrible out of left field hire just so they can say they got someone or to hear about how the clown car of idiots "reassessed" things and decided they didn't want anyone with legitimate credentials getting involved in all the good work they're doing

 

[THUNDERBURST]

Dumpster fire

 

[BFLO]

Is this more embarrassing or less embarrassing than actually bringing Lou in to be the advisor?

I'm gonna go with more. We apparently pitched him on the role, but he turned it down.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

They could be waiting out others in line for the Isles job ie Jarmo
But the SA position not being filled seems like a distinct possibility as well for various reasons (owner, Adams on one year, pr, etc)

Not sure what was more entertaining, the Lou gag or the Bills schedule leak chaos

 

[JLewyB]

Why would he need to do this in Buffalo of all places?

 

[Ness]

So a senior advisor, who has been there and done that, has to report to Adams, who isn’t qualified to do anything and has zero track record of success. Who in their right mind would sign up for that?

 

[Jim Bob]

So a senior advisor, who has been there and done that, has to report to Adams, who isn’t qualified to do anything and has zero track record of success. Who in their right mind would sign up for that?

Someone who wants the paycheck and maybe someone that is out of the NHL today and wants to get back in...

 

[DJN21]

I must stop by the Seneca Park Zoo and make an offering of wasa crackers to the giraffes so that the Giraffe Gods may spare us from this catastrophe.

There are typically feedings at 3 or 330. I think it costs like 8 bucks. You gotta be 3 or older though...my daughter was quite disappointed in that rule....oh look a rule....must be written in the Twitter stars that lou is coming...

 

[toddkaz]

Is this more embarrassing or less embarrassing than actually bringing Lou in to be the advisor?

I'm gonna go with more. We apparently pitched him on the role, but he turned it down.

The guy is 82. Its time to put some of these guys out to pasture. The problem is the NHL keeps recycling retreads so its slim pickings out there. Its literally just musical chairs with the same 30 guys and once and a while a new guy gets lucky and gets in on it.


Can we get someone under 70? Someone who doesn't need afternoon naps and can stay up for west coast games?

 

[brian_griffin]

Whomever referenced Staal as Dwight Schrute hit the nail on the head. Even though I haven't seen too much of The Office (great show - was on at a time of my life where I wasn't watching TV series), I can totally picture Kevyn Adams as the insecure / clueless / falsely confident / feckless leader Michael Scott character asking Staal/Dwight if he (Kevyn / Michael) is doing a good job, and Staal / Dwight affirming it.

 

[Ehran]

Why would he need to do this in Buffalo of all places?

It's been nearly 30 years since I lived in WNY so my geography is a bit wonky. (absolutely NOTHING to do with my getting old! NOTHING AT ALL)

But... here is a list of the NEXUS centers in NY State.

NEXUS Enrollment Centers

It may simply have been the most convenient for him to use, especially if he was on his way to Southern Ontario.

 

[Beerz]

The guy is 82. Its time to put some of these guys out to pasture. The problem is the NHL keeps recycling retreads so its slim pickings out there. Its literally just musical chairs with the same 30 guys and once and a while a new guy gets lucky and gets in on it.


Can we get someone under 70? Someone who doesn't need afternoon naps and can stay up for west coast games?

That isn't exactly true. Someone here made a list not too long ago where it showed 15 to 20 of the 32 GMs were first time GMs

 

[toddkaz]

That isn't exactly true. Someone here made a list not too long ago where it showed 15 to 20 of the 32 GMs were first time GMs

Does Trotz count as a new GM? Conroy was the assistant GM and with Calgary for 12+ years. Tulsky with the Canes for 10 years and became GM.

Treviling, Dubas, Holland, Botterill all been there.

Holland to be named next GM of the Kings.

There is a few new guys Drury, Briere, Grier...Ex sabres

Interesting 4 of the 32 GMs were sabres players. I guess we did have smart players at one point.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Ken Holland to Kings GM official

 

[Ace]

I’m impressed by anyone who can still be surprised and disappointed in anything Sabres related. There is no floor. There is only Terry and his unqualified puppet getting a sixth year. And counting.