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

[dickiedunnwrotethis]

Who would you like ?

I don't have a specific name in mind, but someone from a quality run organization: Dallas, Washington, Florida, Winnipeg, and Montreal come to mind. Just please not some retread so we can say "experience!".

 

[Ace]

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"...

I’ll give you three reasons

1. People are already under contract
2. Terry isn’t giving up his puppet
3. They’ll run this back and hand out extensions at the first sign of a three game winning streak

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Petey and Rivet thoughts on todays updates

 

[toddkaz]

Chad Spitballin on Holland & Appert



Another interesting Holland tidbit

Buffalo isn't going to bring in an experienced senior advisor. LOL, it will make Adams look bad.

Adams will open his mouth and this will be the reaction from anyone with experience.

 

[Ace]

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.

It’s clear at this time that we will never try to be competitive during Dahlin or Tage or Tuch’s primes. They’ve decided to punt on that chance again.

Having no choice but to approach things from that perspective…I just hope when they all ask out…they do it publicly

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Buffalo isn't going to bring in an experienced senior advisor. LOL, it will make Adams look bad.

Adams will open his mouth and this will be the reaction from anyone with experience.

I’m sure he’ll find a fellow septuagenarian to accept millions of dollars to FaceTime with Kevyn from his rumpus room once a week.

 

[sabres4ever]

I’ll give you three reasons

1. People are already under contract
2. Terry isn’t giving up his puppet
3. They’ll run this back and hand out extensuons at the first sign of a three game winning streak

I'm saying that this could give TP a reason not to dump KA, that he's made earnest changes, we just have to give them all time.

Are you saying this could, or couldn't happen, I honestly don't know?

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

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.

So frustratingly predictable. They just double down on their mistakes and do the exact opposite of what should be happening with these management positions.

Appert has been inexplicably chosen years ago to be groomed for a GM or head coach and it doesn't matter how poor he is at his job. Adams job is forever secure.

Hell, maybe Staal, Adams new assistant, is being groomed to be our next zero experience GM when Adams gets promoted.

Nothing changes until Pegula is gone.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Buffalo isn't going to bring in an experienced senior advisor. LOL, it will make Adams look bad.

Adams will open his mouth and this will be the reaction from anyone with experience.

Friedman has said they are, so lets see if its true or ends up being another crony

 

[toddkaz]

I’m sure he’ll find a fellow septuagenarian to accept millions of dollars to FaceTime with Kevyn from his rumpus room once a week.

My point was its not Holland who doesn't want to help its Adams who doesn't want to look like a total ass bringing in someone with experience.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

It’s clear at this time that we will never try to be competitive during Dahlin or Tage or Tuch’s primes. They’ve decided to punt on that chance again.

Having no choice but to approach things from that perspective…I just hope when they all ask out…they do it publicly

I hope they ask out before the season starts so we can actually get value for them. Tuch walking for a rental’s return is becoming a real possibility

 

[ValJamesDuex]

So frustratingly predictable. They just double down on their mistakes and do the exact opposite of what should be happening with these management positions.

Appert has been inexplicably chosen years ago to be groomed for a GM or head coach and it doesn't matter how poor he is at his job.

Hell, maybe Staal, Adams new assistant, is being groomed to be our next zero experience GM when Adams gets promoted.

Nothing changes until Pegula is gone.

some very good points

 

[toddkaz]

Friedman has said they are, so lets see if its true or another crony

I will be shocked if it is anyone who has anyone sort of experience in this league.

This is what I picture the "advisor" doing during meetings.

 

[Ace]

I'm saying that this could give TP a reason not to dump KA, that he's made earnest changes, we just have to give them all time.

Are you saying this could, or couldn't happen, I honestly don't know?

Terry Pegula will never move on from Kevyn Adams. He can dress up what’s around him however he wants. It’s all meaningless. This is the only plan he is going with…and nothing will stop it. Not regressing two straight years. Not five years of failure. Not 14 years of failed ownership.

If they show any improvement in the standings next year…he will extent Adams. Even if he misses the playoffs for six straight years.

If they regress next year…he will do the same.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

My point was its not Holland who doesn't want to help its Adams who doesn't want to look like a total ass bringing in someone with experience.

Well I don’t think Pegula gave him a choice. His punishment for 5 years of pure failure is finally being forced to accept help.

 

[sabres4ever]

Terry Pegula will never move on from Kevyn Adams. He can dress up what’s around him however he wants. It’s all meaningless. This is the only plan he is going with…and nothing will stop it. Not regressing two straight years. Not five years of failure. Not 14 years of failed ownership.

If they show any improvement in the standings next year…he will extent Adams. Even if he misses the playoffs for six straight years.

If they regress next year…he will do the same.

Ok, thanks for clarifying.

 

[toddkaz]

Well I don’t think Pegula gave him a choice. His punishment for 5 years of pure failure is finally being forced to accept help.

Dress up a pig its still a pig. As long as Adams has final say its just window dressing.

 

[toddkaz]

Terry Pegula will never move on from Kevyn Adams. He can dress up what’s around him however he wants. It’s all meaningless. This is the only plan he is going with…and nothing will stop it. Not regressing two straight years. Not five years of failure. Not 14 years of failed ownership.

If they show any improvement in the standings next year…he will extent Adams. Even if he misses the playoffs for six straight years.

If they regress next year…he will do the same.

This is pretty much spot on. Bringing in anyone with any experience is irrelevant because Kevyn Adams will still be the man.

 

[toddkaz]

All you need to know. This is what a scam looks like.

 

[TehDoak]

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
-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)

The only good thing is the senior advisor. And I found it odd that Friedman made a point to say "reporting to Adams" with the Sr Advisor. That means that Adams made sure to frame it that way.

I'm curious who (if anyone) they actually hire. The kind of role they are talking about is typical of older guys who don't want to work full time anymore but still want to be connected to hockey. My guess is they hire someone semi retired who won't make Kevyn look bad by being competent.

 

[Ace]

If you piece together things we heard from various outlets today…and what Lance said on Marek’s show where he was about as detailed on the Adams regime as anyone has been…

You end up at Kevyn Adams turning down experienced people around him and failing for five years…and the only repercussion of that failure is that he told Terry he will hire an experienced person…who probably reports to him anyway. And he got to bring in a friend too.

Not a serious organization. Not an owner worth an ounce of respect. Not a GM worth a shit. And it’s not changing any time soon.

 

[old kummelweck]

The special advisor will report to Adams and Adams will continue to report to Pegula.

So, I don't think this advisor will be keeping Adams on a short leash. With Karmanos leaving, it may just be a replacement for Karmanos when it comes to voices in the decision making process.

Pegula will keep Adams on a short leash, not the special advisor doing so. That role will be there for continuity purposes if they axe KA. The reporting chain doesn't matter all that much at that level.

 

[toddkaz]

If you piece together things we heard from various outlets today…and what Lance said on Marek’s show where he was about as detailed on the Adams regime as anyone has been…

You end up at Kevyn Adams turning down experienced people around him and failing for five years…and the only repercussion of that failure is that he told Terry he will hire an experienced person…who probably reports to him anyway. And he got to bring in a friend too.

Not a serious organization. Not an owner worth an ounce of respect. Not a GM worth a shit. And it’s not changing any time soon.

How long before players start jumping ship? If this team goes on a losing streak at the beginning at the season it will be a dumpster fire.

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

The only good thing is the senior advisor. And I found it odd that Friedman made a point to say "reporting to Adams" with the Sr Advisor. That means that Adams made sure to frame it that way.

I'm curious who (if anyone) they actually hire. The kind of role they are talking about is typical of older guys who don't want to work full time anymore but still want to be connected to hockey. My guess is they hire someone semi retired who won't make Kevyn look bad by being competent.

The senior advisor thing is Pegula's attempt at appeasing the fans calling for Adams head. Adams will still have final say.

 

[BFLO]

Well, I remember a great post from a week or two ago by I forget who about how too much of the Sabres organization is internal hires and promotions. I welcome Staal to get someone who has been outside the stench of 14 years of losing in the room

Staal literally played here in the 2020-21 season. He is part of the stench.