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

[KrakenSabresMike]

are we sure we want to take atw's word for it? not that it would be surprising if he is back but not sure i trust those two to be the source on it.

I agree with you… We should wait for a second source to confirm this because besides one time when they had the eichel trade because Peter’s knows the Tuch family - they have never broken anything else. Including Terry selling the team rumors that they’ve pushed that have obviously not been proven true

That being said… It’s completely possible that this is correct although mind bending dumb by the team, but I wouldn’t have changed the title heading based on just their report.

 

[Dreakon13]

Unpopular opinion, but not firing Adams doesn't necessarily mean these players can't have a good season. I'm still interested in what on-ice changes get made.

We're way past the point of firing coaches (not counting assistants; they need to go) or GM's to shake things up, our options are either try and make it work with this group or a whole nother rebuild/tear down. Organizationally they probably need/deserve the latter, and the fans deserve the bloodletting, but after the last 4-5 tear downs I can't sit here and actually think the grass is greener at this point.

Moving Cozens was a good start IMO. Find a new home for Samuelsson and bring in another Zucker and McLeod (preferably defenseman versions) and I think we're cooking.

 

[Jim Bob]

Unpopular opinion, but not firing Adams doesn't necessarily mean these players can't have a good season. I'm still interested in what on-ice changes get made.

We're way past the point of firing coaches (not counting assistants; they need to go) or GM's to shake things up, our options are either try and make it work with this group or a whole nother rebuild/tear down. Organizationally they probably need/deserve the latter, and the fans deserve the bloodletting, but after the last 4-5 tear downs I can't sit here and actually think the grass is greener at this point.

Moving Cozens was a good start IMO. Find a new home for Samuelsson and bring in another Zucker and McLeod (preferably defenseman versions) and I think we're cooking.

I don't think they need to enter a new rebuild.

The roster for next season, pre-FA, has around 12 players that are under 25yo on it and only 3 guys that are 30+. The sooner this roster gets more mature vets on it, the better. And that doesn't happen through a tear down rebuild generally.

 

[Dreakon13]

I don't think they need to enter a new rebuild.

The roster for next season, pre-FA, has around 12 players that are under 25yo on it and only 3 guys that are 30+. The sooner this roster gets more mature vets on it, the better. And that doesn't happen through a tear down rebuild generally.

I don't think they need to either, I just think it's more likely to happen as a new GM gets a fresh look at this 14 year drought roster of perennial underachieving assets lol. I think Adams is capable of bringing in older players, it's basically all he did last offseason, especially now that he's officially given up on the plan in the form of moving Cozens.

 

[enthusiast]

I suppose if they keep giving him additional shots they’ll still make the playoffs by mistake eventually

 

[May Day 10]

Unpopular opinion, but not firing Adams doesn't necessarily mean these players can't have a good season. I'm still interested in what on-ice changes get made.

We're way past the point of firing coaches (not counting assistants; they need to go) or GM's to shake things up, our options are either try and make it work with this group or a whole nother rebuild/tear down. Organizationally they probably need/deserve the latter, and the fans deserve the bloodletting, but after the last 4-5 tear downs I can't sit here and actually think the grass is greener at this point.

Moving Cozens was a good start IMO. Find a new home for Samuelsson and bring in another Zucker and McLeod (preferably defenseman versions) and I think we're cooking.

Florida and Toronto are in a different, higher league. It looks like a different sport. Tampa probably too. Montreal and Ottawa have both gotten with the program and their front offices and teams look primed for the future. I am confident Boston wont dwell at the bottom of the Division for long.

Maybe the Sabres can nip out Detroit, Boston will be down 1 more year, and either Montreal or Ottawa will disappoint... AND the Sabres players can have a great year and the Sabres can nip a WC2 spot and get swept in the first round.

I want an organization built to compete with Florida and Toronto. That means the thing needs to be demolished. I am completely fine with building the organization the right way.

 

[WeDislikeEich]

If they bring back the entire coaching staff too I’ll puke.

 

[Dreakon13]

Florida and Toronto are in a different, higher league. It looks like a different sport. Tampa probably too. Montreal and Ottawa have both gotten with the program and their front offices and teams look primed for the future. I am confident Boston wont dwell at the bottom of the Division for long.

Maybe the Sabres can nip out Detroit, Boston will be down 1 more year, and either Montreal or Ottawa will disappoint... AND the Sabres players can have a great year and the Sabres can nip a WC2 spot and get swept in the first round.

I want an organization built to compete with Florida and Toronto. That means the thing needs to be demolished. I am completely fine with building the organization the right way.

Blame Pegula or whomever you like, but I can't really picture a scenario where starting over again actually accomplishes that. I think snapping the drought is probably more realistic and arguably important for the future.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

With todays announcement of the fitness coach being fired and by trading cozens, Stanley cup next year?

 

[Dubi Doo]

I don't think they need to enter a new rebuild.

The roster for next season, pre-FA, has around 12 players that are under 25yo on it and only 3 guys that are 30+. The sooner this roster gets more mature vets on it, the better. And that doesn't happen through a tear down rebuild generally.

Yup. There's talent here, and we have an elite #1 D. There's no reason this team cant be retooled, and make the playoffs. It'll take a revamped top-6 and top-4, but no need to tear it down for futures.

Who knows? Maybe Dahlin's comments will light a new fire under Adams ass. If that's the case, then I'll give them my annual- let's see we're theyre at by Dec. I have my doubts, and assume I won't be watching. Ill still linger around here, though. Y'all are my internet homies haha.

 

[Chainshot]

I don't think they need to enter a new rebuild.

The roster for next season, pre-FA, has around 12 players that are under 25yo on it and only 3 guys that are 30+. The sooner this roster gets more mature vets on it, the better. And that doesn't happen through a tear down rebuild generally.

That has remained their biggest issue for some time - not enough guys to show the way and lean on, too much youth who get into bad habits. Also, most new GMs have the ability to walk and chew gum at the same time. They don't need to gut a new team or sit around "assessing". They can step in and mold a roster pretty quickly, even if they have a meddlesome owner. Allvin and Tulsky both get work done on their rosters despite having others vigorously leaning over their shoulders.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

I am curious to know how the players feel about Adams coming back...

Like at what point (if they haven't already) do they give up on this organization and request trades?

I just hope that Tage, Dahls and Tuch are putting pressure on upper management

 

[CrazyWayne]

If it's true that Adams is back. if I was tage and dahlin. I have my agent ask for a trade asap

 

[KrakenSabresMike]

sooo had anyone else confirmed this or are we still just accepting this one report from ATW as gospel?

 

[OkimLom]

Unpopular opinion, but not firing Adams doesn't necessarily mean these players can't have a good season. I'm still interested in what on-ice changes get made.

We're way past the point of firing coaches (not counting assistants; they need to go) or GM's to shake things up, our options are either try and make it work with this group or a whole nother rebuild/tear down. Organizationally they probably need/deserve the latter, and the fans deserve the bloodletting, but after the last 4-5 tear downs I can't sit here and actually think the grass is greener at this point.

Moving Cozens was a good start IMO. Find a new home for Samuelsson and bring in another Zucker and McLeod (preferably defenseman versions) and I think we're cooking.

Are we just looking at this next season? With GMs, I would think the long term outlook is much more important than the short term looking at the next season. Even if Buffalo made the playoffs next year, I still wouldn't feel that Adams has done enough to make one feel comfortable of the organization being left in his hands. He seems to be very slow to respond to weaknesses in his team, and his "type of team" is shaping up to not look like a team that would progress far in the playoffs.

I understand the hesitation in firing Adams with the fear of any change may not mean anything, but that fear is exactly why a team stays mediocre for long periods of time as one convinces themselves that the devil they know, (that doesn't work), is better than the devil they don't know. Unfortunately, when you let that devil you know continue to make decisions the deeper the hole gets. Adams has shown signs throughout his tenure he's not someone you should trust with handling your organization if you want to win.

There's one obvious decision that needs to be made, and that's Adams needs to be fired. We can cross the bridge with the consequences of bringing someone else in and the unknown in that when we get there.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I believe Rivet’s and Peters source is the same as all of ours……that being seeing Adams at the lottery last night.

 

[Butt Ox]

Right now, at this very moment in time, Alex Tuch is willing his love for hawkey not to die.

 

[Zman5778]

I suppose if they keep giving him additional shots they’ll still make the playoffs by mistake eventually

You'd think we would have made the playoffs by mistake once in these past 14 years.

 

[SundherDome]

I don't think there was much of a chance that Adams wasn't coming back. He did some good things last off-season, he also moved out Cozens, he got vets to re-sign here. This is his make or break year (i am aware that every year should have been make or break). He needs to fix the roster holes and cannot rely on youth.

I'd love to move on from Bales and Wilford but I'm not sure if they will.

The strength and conditioning replacement will hopefully see better results, they always looked gassed or were dealing with some sort of injury, at least it felt that way

 

[Mattilaus]

The firing of the strength and conditioning coach concerns me. Not because I don't think he should have been canned, but only him being fired leads me to believe that management believes the team is fine as it is, just they weren't conditioned properly.

Like, if you thought there were issues with coaching you fire some/all of the coaches. If you think there is a problem with the roster you fire the guy who made it (KA). I am not expecting any real changes to the roster and staff now. I lasted till November this last year. I think I will just skip this next one all together.

 

[jc17]

The firing of the strength and conditioning coach concerns me. Not because I don't think he should have been canned, but only him being fired leads me to believe that management believes the team is fine as it is, just they weren't conditioned properly.

Like, if you thought there were issues with coaching you fire some/all of the coaches. If you think there is a problem with the roster you fire the guy who made it (KA). I am not expecting any real changes to the roster and staff now. I lasted till November this last year. I think I will just skip this next one all together.

Yeah we'll see if anything else happens.

Kudos if they identified a deficiency and addressed it rather than riding the local guys club we've complained about. But that can be a piece of the puzzle, not the whole thing. That's one of those things I'd pray they couldn't be that dumb about

 

[enthusiast]

The firing of the strength and conditioning coach concerns me. Not because I don't think he should have been canned, but only him being fired leads me to believe that management believes the team is fine as it is, just they weren't conditioned properly.

Like, if you thought there were issues with coaching you fire some/all of the coaches. If you think there is a problem with the roster you fire the guy who made it (KA). I am not expecting any real changes to the roster and staff now. I lasted till November this last year. I think I will just skip this next one all together.

They had to let him go after he broke down weeping when we acquired Norris

 

[SundherDome]

The firing of the strength and conditioning coach concerns me. Not because I don't think he should have been canned, but only him being fired leads me to believe that management believes the team is fine as it is, just they weren't conditioned properly.

Like, if you thought there were issues with coaching you fire some/all of the coaches. If you think there is a problem with the roster you fire the guy who made it (KA). I am not expecting any real changes to the roster and staff now. I lasted till November this last year. I think I will just skip this next one all together.

I wouldn't read into the coaching aspects yet, there are still 6+ open head coaching spots open. I imagine vet coaches have their staff pre-built and are interviewing for a spot. Then newer candidates will be trying to assemble a staff. It's just a mix of everything in the candidate pool and I would imagine, if they are looking for changes, Ruff is putting out a few feelers.

 

[sabremike]

I don't think there was much of a chance that Adams wasn't coming back. He did some good things last off-season, he also moved out Cozens, he got vets to re-sign here. This is his make or break year (i am aware that every year should have been make or break). He needs to fix the roster holes and cannot rely on youth.

I'd love to move on from Bales and Wilford but I'm not sure if they will.

The strength and conditioning replacement will hopefully see better results, they always looked gassed or were dealing with some sort of injury, at least it felt that way

The team was eliminated before Christmas.

Adams should be stocking shelfs at Topps after this catastrophe.

 

[Chainshot]

Right now, at this very moment in time, Alex Tuch is willing his love for hawkey not to die.

Hearing his about to be a dad for the 2nd time. I doubt he's worrying much about what his boss is doing with the Mrs. being close to bringing little Tuch 2.0 into the world.