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

[May Day 10]

So would this be a fair recap for the mornimg (for those of us that were working) ?

Adams staying as GM confirmed by Friedman
Eric Stahl hired as special advisor to Kevin Adams (no front office experience ?)
Senior Advisor with front office experience expected to be hired
Karmanos leaving at end of AHL season (Chad)
Appert staying on and given MORE responsibility in the hockey department

The first 2 are official.

The last 3 are kind of speculation/rumors/might or might not happen. Speculation with Appert is that he has had influence on personnel decisions and scouting. The guy should be coaching SUNY Oswego.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Plan the f***ing parade

 

[Fly Boy]

Yup, this franchise is done. I'm convinced.

Tuch is gone
Another basement finish
Dahlin and Tage will ask out in the next year or two
Team relocated in the next 5.

Spicy meatball wish on top; Sabres win the lottery next year and McKenna refuses to play for them. That would be such a kick in the knads for Terry and I'm here for it.

 

[Jim Bob]

So would this be a fair recap for the morning (for those of us that were working) ?

Adams staying as GM confirmed by Friedman
Eric Staal hired as special advisor to Kevin Adams (no front office experience ?)
Senior Advisor with front office experience expected to be hired
Karmanos leaving at end of AHL season (Chad)
Appert staying on and given MORE responsibility in the hockey department

It wasn't from Chad. It was from Lance.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

I hope Staal is better assistant here than he was as a player.

 

[Beerz]

It wasn't from Chad. It was from Lance.

Yeah but Chad has heard it before he is just too ethical to announce such things.

Never seen a guy try so hard to be an insider without actually ever committing to anything.

C5

 

[Tatanka]

Everybody has to start somewhere. I don't begrudge us hiring him to be that start.

I WILL begrudge the organization if this is the ONLY front office hire/move this offseason.

It was an unnecessary hire. We need oversight of Adams and a voice that in two weeks says to Terry, “I diagnosed your problem. Adams is a clown and you are no better. Thank you for the cool million, call me if you need me.”

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Candidates for Senior Advisor. Who you going with ?

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[tsujimoto74]

Oh good, another former player with no front office experience. That should do the trick.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[old kummelweck]

This is someone who can assess KA, they can keep KA on a short leash and have this person as backup, and then they can also help bring in a new GM if they part with KA quickly.

I'd prefer a clean slate, but better than nothing I supposed.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

So do the Petey/Rivet Skeptic/Axe grinders need another confirmation of their news or we good now ?

 

[Tatanka]

Just got an email from the Chicago Steel ticket sales office to become a sth again. I think it is time.

 

[brian_griffin]

Eric Staal has zero coaching or scouting or managerial experience.

Of course we hired him.

That's what gives him "special" in his title.

 

[Ace]

Well…at least I have a new funniest moment in the drought now.

Adams not only stays…but gets to hire his buddy with zero experience

 

[Sabre the Win]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over.

 

[Zman5778]

Did something come out that Karmanos is leaving?

 

[Beerz]

Did something come out that Karmanos is leaving?

Lance reported.

 

[Reddawg]

I hope Staal is better assistant here than he was as a player.

If he knows how to work the Starbucks app that's mission accomplished there.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

I was hoping for the Hansen brothers

I think we ended up with the smuthers brothers

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Appert will probably running the PP and GMing the Amerks too.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

That's what gives him "special" in his title.

Here is how I see it went down/going

Kevin hired a respected "name" and someone that can try to help recruit (waiver of NMC's and no trade lists etc) that he has found difficult and scout players to Buffalo. Staal is a trusted friend and will not throw KA under the bus. Problem is that player has very little experience.

Karmanos did a very good job of building a team in Rochester and will now be looking for a NHL GM job (expansion perhaps ?) but also prefers to work from his home in Pittsburgh. OR he could be inline for open GM job now ?

Forton, Jakubowski, Ventura, Crow, Nightengale will all stay in their roles for now

The Senior advisor will be a tricky one to predict. The Kekalainen smoke seems possible ?

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Did something come out that Karmanos is leaving?

Someone mentioned Lance said he will leave when the Amerks season is over. Chad commented on it.

 

[OkimLom]

Lucic for goalie coach. Leino for team psychologist.

Right, as if this organization would put people into roles where they can flex their strengths.