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

[jc17]

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.

No one else cares but I'd love to hear more details on what specific changes the VP demanded

 

[Jim Bob]

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

Dudley is a senior advisor with the Panthers and the proposed opening in Buffalo is a senior advisor. So, it wouldn't be a promotion.

 

[Jim Bob]

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

I doubt anyone listed on a NHL team's staff directory is a handshake deal. Especially since if there are no contractual obligations, you could get someone flip to a rival mid-season. And they won't allow that to happen.

 

[TehDoak]

I doubt anyone listed on a NHL team's staff directory is a handshake deal. Especially since if there are no contractual obligations, you could get someone flip to a rival mid-season. And they won't allow that to happen.

I mean, on payroll with some exclusivity agreement, sure. They aren't going to get guaranteed contracts or even multi year agreements, etc. Sr Advisor is almost always a former GM who is just waiting for the next gig to come up or a former GM who doesn't want to do the full time work anymore but wants to be around the game. Dudley is a former. Probably just likes being on calls and going to games for free.

 

[TageGod]

Dudley is a senior advisor with the Panthers and the proposed opening in Buffalo is a senior advisor. So, it wouldn't be a promotion.

So he can come here as a GM right? Or a Senior Senior advisor?

 

[Jim Bob]

I mean, on payroll with some exclusivity agreement, sure. They aren't going to get guaranteed contracts or even multi year agreements, etc. Sr Advisor is almost always a former GM who is just waiting for the next gig to come up or a former GM who doesn't want to do the full time work anymore but wants to be around the game. Dudley is a former. Probably just likes being on calls and going to games for free.

If it that minimal, what is he bringing to the Sabres?

 

[Chainshot]

I mean, on payroll with some exclusivity agreement, sure. They aren't going to get guaranteed contracts or even multi year agreements, etc. Sr Advisor is almost always a former GM who is just waiting for the next gig to come up or a former GM who doesn't want to do the full time work anymore but wants to be around the game. Dudley is a former. Probably just likes being on calls and going to games for free.

Clearly you don't know anything about Duds.

 

[TehDoak]

If it that minimal, what is he bringing to the Sabres?

The illusion of the front office doing something.

The longer this has dragged on, the less of an impact anyone they hire will have.

 

[TehDoak]

Clearly you don't know anything about Duds.

I don't. But the reality is, he's 76. He's not going to come in and sit through day long scouting meetings.

 

[Chainshot]

Not to get political but the current POTUS is 78 years old and he seems pretty energetic and in lots of meetings.

(like him or hate him, he IS pretty damned active)

Let's not go there.

 

[Jim Bob]

The illusion of the front office doing something.

The longer this has dragged on, the less of an impact anyone they hire will have.

If the Sabres need illusions, they should see what David Blaine is up to.

 

[Ace]

If the Sabres need illusions, they should see what David Blaine is up to.

He’s an amateur magician compared to Terry. Terry made an entire hockey market disappear

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

The illusion of the front office doing something.

The longer this has dragged on, the less of an impact anyone they hire will have.

If Terry Pegula gave a shit about the on ice product and wanted to make an impact he wouldn't have brought Kevyn back.

But he doesn't. That's maybe, MAYBE his second priority. His first priority is playing dress up and having a good time with his best buds Forton and Adams.

 

[jc17]

 

[Dubi Doo]

So...he's staying?

 

[Chainshot]

So...he's staying?

That's what it sounds like. The person who reported it is now covering the Bills...

 

[Beerz]

Hahahahahaha

 

[JLewyB]

That's what it sounds like. The person who reported it is now covering the Bills...

Did anybody ask him where he stays during the season? The Pittsburgh thing was a lance special too

 

[Zman5778]

Well that's some damned good news.

Who initially reported that Karmanos was leaving?

 

[OkimLom]

I would hope with information like this, that the need to post every single unverified social media opinion thought, or whatever, because of who posted it would give people pause and allow us to grow patience with situations, but I know that’s not stopping anytime soon.

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

2 things:

1. "I'm under contract and nobody has fired me" isn't exactly an awesome endorsement of the org or his wanting to stay here.

2. Technically Karmanos has been a GM, even if only for an AHL team. Based on th b statement released he would qualify to be th "Senior Advisor" that also rolls up to Adams. And the best thing he was going for him is that already reports to Adams.

 

[OkimLom]

2 things:

1. "I'm under contract and nobody has fired me" isn't exactly an awesome endorsement of the org or his wanting to stay here.

2. Technically Karmanos has been a GM, even if only for an AHL team. Based on th b statement released he would qualify to be th "Senior Advisor" that also rolls up to Adams. And the best thing he was going for him is that already reports to Adams.

Wasn’t Karmanos hired to be specifically that person to help Adams during his time as GM in the first place? Maybe I’m remembering differently but I felt when he was hired, they are trying to paint that relationship that way.

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

Wasn’t Karmanos hired to be specifically that person to help Adams during his time as GM in the first place? Maybe I’m remembering differently but I felt when he was hired, they are trying to paint that relationship that way.

Doing the same job but with a different title and selling to the fan base as a positive change would be VERY on brand.

Ugh. I really hate this version of the simulation.

 

[Chainshot]

Well that's some damned good news.

Who initially reported that Karmanos was leaving?

One of Lance's last comments on the way out.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Well that's some damned good news.

Who initially reported that Karmanos was leaving?

Perhaps the initial plan was to bring in someone like Gilman to be SA and Amerks GM ?, and that "may" of changed with the speculation of Dudley who I would not think would be interested in running the farm. Someone will need to ask Lance if that has changed now.

Could also be they just have not told Karmanos yet ?