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]

Every decision they make seems to be based off of the Office Space “actually, I’m being promoted” joke.

Appert failed miserably, and the Amerks improved in every way once he was out, and he’s….gotten more power?

Staal has no experience and seemed to hate his time here, and he’s….here to help recruit players?

If the senior advisor isn’t Kevyn Adams in a fake mustache I’ll be stunned.

The Appert thing is so odd to me. He came in as a very average to below average NCAA coach. The Amerks had a lot of promise in his time and always seemed to underperform. What this Leone is getting out of them this season is what we should have seen all along.

He gets gifted an assistant coaching job here, becomes unfireable even with a new HC. Sabres float through their media that this clown would actually get looks as an NHL head coach if he wasnt with the Sabres. He runs the special teams, which fail spectacularly. He also seems to do all the coaching during games.

And now we find out he is very influential with the roster and scouting. Like, why? This guy is a nobody. If the Sabres fired him today, he would have trouble finding employment anywhere in the NHL.

 

[Beerz]

He was literally the GM of the team that just lost in the cup finals last year.

I'm not a Ken Holland fan, but my god would he be light years ahead of what we have here.

Ya.. I think he can build a team. I wouldn't want him handing out contracts tho.

 

[OkimLom]

Berglund, Leino, and Hall must've all had prior engagements

Seeing as Hall is currently playing in the playoffs...

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

The Staal hiring is just the sort of wtf move I expect from Adams at this point. Such a clown show.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Chad Spitballin on Holland & Appert



Another interesting Holland tidbit

 

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Ya.. I think he can build a team. I wouldn't want him handing out contracts tho.

I don't see any recent evidence that he can build a team. Other than the Ekholm trade - which was a steal - I think his tenure with the Oilers was marked by failure and missed opportunities. Five years of prime McDavid and Draisaitl and nothing to show for it. Not good.

 

[Meichel Kane]

The Staal hiring is just the sort of wtf move I expect from Adams at this point. Such a clown show.

Sabres front office, summarized:

 

[THUNDERBURST]

The Staal hiring is just the sort of wtf move I expect from Adams at this point. Such a clown show.

And what is Appert's promotion to the front office called then?

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

And what is Appert's promotion to the front office called then?

Another turd in the shit stew the Sabres are dishing up for us.

 

[slip]

I don't see any recent evidence that he can build a team. Other than the Ekholm trade - which was a steal - I think his tenure with the Oilers was marked by failure and missed opportunities. Five years of prime McDavid and Draisaitl and nothing to show for it. Not good.

Have you seen the taxes in Alberta? And definitely no palm trees.

 

[Beerz]

I don't see any recent evidence that he can build a team. Other than the Ekholm trade - which was a steal - I think his tenure with the Oilers was marked by failure and missed opportunities. Five years of prime McDavid and Draisaitl and nothing to show for it. Not good.

He brought in McLeod Foegle, Halloway, Perry ect ..

He really only failed in the goaltending spot I'd say

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I don't see any recent evidence that he can build a team. Other than the Ekholm trade - which was a steal - I think his tenure with the Oilers was marked by failure and missed opportunities. Five years of prime McDavid and Draisaitl and nothing to show for it. Not good.

Who would you like ?

 

[Jim Bob]

That would be the obvious choice with this team...

 

[CowbellConray]

He was literally the GM of the team that just lost in the cup finals last year.

I'm not a Ken Holland fan, but my god would he be light years ahead of what we have here.

Holland inherited two of the top 10 players in the league, including the best player in McDavid. He proceeded to make one good deadline move for Ekholm, and otherwise has surrounded those two with poor talent.

McDavid dragging them to a finals last year is not a reason as to why Ken Holland is a good GM. He doesnt draft well, he team building is poor, and he can't develop young talent.

How that is a good fit for buffalo I will never know. He would be an awful choice for this team. I'd rather go with a rookie GM like Darche from tampa over Ken.

 

[sabres4ever]

Perhaps we can add this gem for an advisor role:

 

[jd1970]

Who would you like ?

I would like anyone who can build an actual NHL team that does NHL things.
It's been a long time since we had a real NHL team.

 

[Buffalowing1988]

Who would you like ?

That's no fun, it's easier just so crap on every suggestion ad nauseam.

 

[jd1970]

Bills and Sabres...Carolina north.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the Sabres 1975 Cup final…..

Punch Imlach took an expansion team (when building an expansion team was very difficult) and had it in the Finals in 5 season.

Adams in his 5 seasons as GM? Gong show and to be continued.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Here is a current list of updates from today with sources.

UPDATES From 5-7

-Adams staying as GM originally reported by Peters/Rivet 5-6, confirmed by Friedman today
-Eric Staal hired as Special Assistant to Kevin Adams per Sabres
-Senior Advisor with front office/GM experience expected to be hired (Friedman)
-Karmanos leaving at end of AHL season (Lance)
-Appert staying on and given MORE responsibility in the hockey department (Seravalli)
-Strength and conditioning Coach Ed Gannon has been let go. A replacement is to follow (Lance)

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I would like anyone who can build an actual NHL team that does NHL things.
It's been a long time since we had a real NHL team.

A experienced Roster builder would be a good choice, no one here now seems to have a clue how to do that. But having a name would help your argument against Holland. As a Senior advisor I would be open to just about anyone, Kekalainen, Holland, Blake, Dudley, etc

 

[sabres4ever]

Could a reason to delay replacing the front office altogether.

Sabres extend their playoff drought to 15 seasons -

"Well, the new front office is only 1 year old, we have to give them ample time"...

 

[billsandsabres]

What kind of Senior Advisor is going to want to work under Kevyn Adams?

my suspicion is somebody who thinks they can take his job in a year. suffer the indignity for one year and sit in the throne the following. but aside from that, i totally agree with your sentiment.

 

[DapperCam]

I don’t mean to overreact, but the Sabres will finish in the bottom 5 next season, Tuch, Thompson and Dahlin will demand out and everything is terrible.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Holland inherited two of the top 10 players in the league, including the best player in McDavid. He proceeded to make one good deadline move for Ekholm, and otherwise has surrounded those two with poor talent.

McDavid dragging them to a finals last year is not a reason as to why Ken Holland is a good GM. He doesnt draft well, he team building is poor, and he can't develop young talent.

How that is a good fit for buffalo I will never know. He would be an awful choice for this team. I'd rather go with a rookie GM like Darche from tampa over Ken.

He’s only good for one thing - to stop other GMs from laughing when they see lil Kevy calling. That’s enough for me.

Any person with GM experience is better than just Kevyn alone. Holland sucks for 31 teams but he’d be the most competent guy in the org if he was hired here.