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

[flashsabre]

NHL draft in 4 weeks and free agency in 5 weeks

Where is the senior advisor?

Either waiting for Florida to get knocked out for Dudley or doing their usual move of just bringing everyone back that has failed for so many years.

Shanahan talked to the Isles but would they hire a GM in Darche before he came aboard? Maybe he is an option still.

 

[Chainshot]

NHL draft in 4 weeks and free agency in 5 weeks

Where is the senior advisor?

I doubt a senior advisor is going to be guiding them regarding their draft book on a granular level. Dudley is an exception there in how he is always watching games.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Marek mentioned in passing that people are wondering about Dudley and Buffalo.

He feels a lot less connected than before the incident but still something to chew on.

That being said I’d love Shannahan, but feels like a pipe dream. Feels like Dudley is the man if anybody at all.

 

[flashsabre]

Brendan Shanahan, New York Islanders had good conversation but ‘isn’t a fit’ at this time | TSN

Brendan Shanahan will not find a new landing spot in Long Island, as the New York Islanders have opted not to hire the former Toronto Maple Leafs president and alternate governor, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.

www.tsn.ca

Shanahan not heading to the Islanders

 

[Chainshot]

Shanny would be the bonus of having someone well established and well connected even if he failed in what he did in Toronto. That's a step, even if it isn't perfect. He had a lot more authority in Toronto though - I'm not sure he comes aboard to take that sort of drop in power.

 

[Beerz]

Marek mentioned in passing that people are wondering about Dudley and Buffalo.

He feels a lot less connected than before the incident but still something to chew on.

That being said I’d love Shannahan, but feels like a pipe dream. Feels like Dudley is the man if anybody at all.

I really don't understand why Dudley would leave Florida... the dude is 76 years old. I don't know many 76 yr olds that want to leave Florida for NY nor travel back and forth.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me to the team either other than Adams not feeling threatened by him.

This franchise is so stupid.

 

[Ehran]

I really don't understand why Dudley would leave Florida... the dude is 76 years old. I don't know many 76 yr olds that want to leave Florida for NY nor travel back and forth.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me to the team either other than Adams not feeling threatened by him.

This franchise is so stupid.

Doesn't Dudley have a home in WNY already?

From a quick Google search:

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Rick Dudley lives in Lewiston, NY, where he is considered a community figure and often shares the Stanley Cup with local residents according to NHL.com. He is a senior advisor for the Florida Panthers and also grew up in Port Credit, Ontario (now Mississauga), but currently resides in Lewiston

 

[Beerz]

Doesn't Dudley have a home in WNY already?

From a quick Google search:

I'm sure he has no problems living here in the summer.

Doesn't matter... the guy is old and would be the typical appearance over function concept this team is enamored with.

 

[Duddy]

I mean it doesn't matter for next season anyway. They bring someone in, evaluates all season, coach/gm get fired and the circle starts again. Bring someone on that has a vision, has the power to change stufd and not just bring someone in just to have him here.

 

[TehDoak]

Shanny would be the bonus of having someone well established and well connected even if he failed in what he did in Toronto. That's a step, even if it isn't perfect. He had a lot more authority in Toronto though - I'm not sure he comes aboard to take that sort of drop in power

Yeah. I'd love the Sabres to bring him in, but it doesn't line up with what they said they wanted.

He's not going to go to president of the most prestigious team in the league to reporting to Kevyn Adams.

 

[MOGlLNY]

I really don't understand why Dudley would leave Florida... the dude is 76 years old. I don't know many 76 yr olds that want to leave Florida for NY nor travel back and forth.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me to the team either other than Adams not feeling threatened by him.

This franchise is so stupid.

He lives in Buffalo/Lewiston full time. He is at nearly every Sabres game scouting other teams for Florida.

 

[Ehran]

Rick Dudley's experience (which is extensive), knowledge of hockey (and how to win in the NHL), and connections / respect around the league would be exactly what this organization needs.

I'll give the team high cred if they pull it off and sign him.

 

[Chainshot]

I'm sure he has no problems living here in the summer.

Doesn't matter... the guy is old and would be the typical appearance over function concept this team is enamored with.

Dudley is thought of us a very strong scout and directional individual. He has his fingerprints on the depth pieces for a couple of Stanley Cup winning teams in this century. He seems to understand players who play stylistically a playoff winning method. Chicago’s depth and Florida’s depth and reclamation are things he’s been parts of. I don’t think this is a bad thing in the least.

Now if they bring him in and don’t listen to what he has to say, that would suck.

 

[Beerz]

Dudley is thought of us a very strong scout and directional individual. He has his fingerprints on the depth pieces for a couple of Stanley Cup winning teams in this century. He seems to understand players who play stylistically a playoff winning method. Chicago’s depth and Florida’s depth and reclamation are things he’s been parts of. I don’t think this is a bad thing in the least.

Now if they bring him in and don’t listen to what he has to say, that would suck.

I know he is respected and has good track record. He is still 76 years old..A season or two of Dudley isn't going to change the course of this team.

Sure bring him in... but he can't be the answer. If he is brought in as the answer than it tells me they aren't serious about getting the answer... only kicking the can down the road again and picking a familiar name that is nostalgic and is zero threat to Kevyn.

 

[MOGlLNY]

I know he is respected and has good track record. He is still 76 years old..A season or two of Dudley isn't going to change the course of this team.

Sure bring him in... but he can't be the answer. If he is brought in as the answer than it tells me they aren't serious about getting the answer... only kicking the can down the road again and picking a familiar name that is nostalgic and is zero threat to Kevyn.

No one thing is going to be “the answer” that’s the whole reason you’re bringing Dudley in.. an outside voice to help and see what can be done and how to go about it.

 

[Beerz]

No one thing is going to be “the answer” that’s the whole reason you’re bringing Dudley in.. an outside voice to help and see what can be done and how to go about it.

Meh. I think it is more of the same. Easiest and "safest" path possible...and will not change a thing...while gaining initial bump in good press.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Meh. I think it is more of the same. Easiest and "safest" path possible...and will not change a thing...while gaining initial bump in good press.

I’d love to bring on Shanny but unfortunately I don’t see it as realistic. With how often Dudley watches the Sabres I’m sure he’s pretty opinionated on what they need to do.

He’s a good realistic option imo.

 

[May Day 10]

While I like dudley a great deal, that move to me would seem optical in nature.

The pegula and adams want to have their cake and eat it too. They don't want to change anything at all. No matter what happens, adams is the gm, Ruff still employed, and appert is hc for '26-27 and beyond. Jakubowski, forton, nightingale, crowe, etc will still enjoy their perpetual promotions.

How much influence would dudley really have? They still have Francis buxton as the owner who wants to play with everything, and kevyn adams gm for lyfe.

 

[TehDoak]

It really feels like the only possibility is that we are waiting out Florida to be eliminated so we can hire Dudley.

I don't believe there are any open GM jobs pending, so that means people like Jarmo, Burke, etc aren't waiting to interview elsewhere.

There are no rumors of them talking to anyone really. The only thing we've heard is that the Sabres approached a few folks (note: it doesn't say WHO on the Sabres approached them) and they said no (I believe Lou Lam and Burke, if I recall correctly)

I am curious WHO is actually reaching out to folks. I think the most "optimal" thing is that the Senior Advisor is hired by the Pegulas. And while they might "report" to Adams is whatever weird structure Kevyn insisted on, The Pegula having someone they trust that can take over the role immediately when Adams f***s up again is important. Its stupid Adams is getting a 6th bite at offseason planning given his failures, however.

 

[Jim Bob]

I’d love to bring on Shanny but unfortunately I don’t see it as realistic. With how often Dudley watches the Sabres I’m sure he’s pretty opinionated on what they need to do.

He’s a good realistic option imo.

If Dudley is under contract with Florida beyond this season, it might not be that realistic.

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

Shanny would be the bonus of having someone well established and well connected even if he failed in what he did in Toronto. That's a step, even if it isn't perfect. He had a lot more authority in Toronto though - I'm not sure he comes aboard to take that sort of drop in power.

It isn't even about dealing with a drop in power, it is about resume management.

I lived at the Olympic Training Center for a while and bounced around as coach for a couple of universities, rowing clubs etc. Anyways I took over a reclamation projected in Buffalo and midway through the BoD elected a new VP of rowing. The former was also a former Olympian so that was easy. We were in lock step. We had both also coached a couple of National Championship teams. The new guy was a bottom tier economy coach who didn't know his ass from his elbow.

We butted heads and he demanded that we rapidly change course from what we were doing. I went to the BoD and explained that none of this is standard practice and it is going to tank the program. I laid out the fact that this was likely not my last career stop, and I could not put my name on the results. The President of the rowing club told me to just tell other programs that they made me do it and I disagreed with the BoD. I laughed and told him that isn't a reasonable strategy for anybody's career.

Fast forward 4 months to the end of the season and I resigned and went back working with the USNT. The club still sucks, actually way worse.

This is basically the Buffalo Sabres. These aren't serious people.

 

[TageGod]

If Dudley is under contract with Florida beyond this season, it might not be that realistic.

Doesn't the league allow movement to different teams if it is a promotion?

 

[TehDoak]

If Dudley is under contract with Florida beyond this season, it might not be that realistic.

I've always thought the senior advisor roles are year to year handshake style deals rather than formal contracts, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Beerz]

Terry: Damnit Kevyn we missed playoffs again... what are we going to do?

Kevyn: I know. But I have a plan. First step is definitely don't fire me. Second step is hire someone to do the work for me but he reports to me and I am still in charge. Preferably a guy that hasn't been a GM since our playoff drought started..so I don't have to worry about him taking my job. Step 3... profit.


Terry: Never tried that. Could work. Let's do it. Where would I be without you Kevyn.

Kevyn as he is leaving office mumbles under his breath: "Playoffs"

Terry: What did you say?

Kevyn: "uh oh..I said I hope that new gas well pays off"

Terry: oh..haha Thanks

 

[Ehran]

Doesn't the league allow movement to different teams if it is a promotion?

Is going to work for the Sabres really a promotion though?