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

[Jim Bob]

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.

I think that is more hopium that really isn't hopium, if you think about it.

 

[Jim Bob]

So Fairburn named Dudley, Holland and Regier. Baker added Blake and Jarmo.

The important thing in this whole situation is that this man obeys not Adams, but Terry, and that Terry actually listens to him, otherwise little will change.

What is worse, taking direction from Terry on hockey matters or Adams?

 

[Jim Bob]

I have no idea where to throw this, but Brijesh Patel is a guy that I would LOVE to see get the S&C job.

He is a Mike Boyle guy and has been the S&C guy at Quinnipiac for a long time. He is one of the reasons why they have developed into a top tier hockey program.

And BTW, that podcast is by Kevin Neeld, who is the S&C coach for the Boston Bruins.

 

[THUNDERBURST]

What is worse, taking direction from Terry on hockey matters or Adams?

What difference does it make if they both make decisions and Adams is a "yes" man. You need an experienced voice in the room that Adams is afraid of and Terry will listen to. I don't see how a guy like Holland or Jarmo would agree to work in Buffalo and report to Adams. I just don't see it.

 

[Jim Bob]

What difference does it make if they both make decisions and Adams is a "yes" man. You need an experienced voice in the room that Adams is afraid of and Terry will listen to. I don't see how a guy like Holland or Jarmo would agree to work in Buffalo and report to Adams. I just don't see it.

Terry having more influence on hockey decisions is a bad idea.

And I have zero expectation that you get a guy like Holland to take a job reporting to Adams.

Jarmo only makes sense if this is a part time gig that he does while remaining in his Senior Advisor role with HIFK in Liiga.

My expectation is that this Senior Advisor to be named later is just the replacement voice with Karmanos leaving when they have their staff discussions about moves. Good teams have lots of experienced voices in the room when making decisions. The Sabres have not had enough experienced voices in the room.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Terry having more influence on hockey decisions is a bad idea.

And I have zero expectation that you get a guy like Holland to take a job reporting to Adams.

Jarmo only makes sense if this is a part time gig that he does while remaining in his Senior Advisor role with HIFK in Liiga.

My expectation is that this Senior Advisor to be named later is just the replacement voice with Karmanos leaving when they have their staff discussions about moves. Good teams have lots of experienced voices in the room when making decisions. The Sabres have not had enough experienced voices in the room.

Exactly. I alluded to this earlier. What respectable hockey mind would want to join this club in a senior advisor role only to still have to report to a GM that seems in over his head? Why would any respectable voice join a franchise that has been freefalling for over a decade unless theyre given a ton of control to right the ship? Seems like it'd negatively impact their career.

 

[BFLO]

My feeling is Appert is the heir apparent coach, and I suspect year 2 is the final year for Lindy as HC. So this is a small step in him 'shaping' the roster he wants to coach. . .

Yep. Appert is getting "roster shaping" responsibilities because he is still being groomed to be HC in 2026.

Terry wants the same HC/GM hierarchy as with McDermott and Beane, and that he tried with Kreuger and Botterill/Adams.

In 2026 it's going to be HC Appert telling Adams how to shape his roster.

 

[BFLO]

We were 4th in the NHL in goals and 2nd in S%. Of all the problems this team has, finishing is near the very bottom of the list.

Not to bash creative fan fiction, but the past tense is deployed a couple months prematurely here. It goes without saying, but Adams hasn't had the chance to "fix the pieces in the locker room" yet this summer (it's May 8th).

Pessimism certainly abounds (is there a word that means really abounds?), but this is Adams' last chance at making this work. And I imagine he enjoys making millions of dollars as an NHL GM, so there's some incentive in play.

Last summer, he showed some understanding that maturity and responsibility were needed with Zucker, McLeod, and Malenstyn/Lafferty/NAK. Two smashing successes, one meh, two busts.

Who knows what the offseason holds, but I can guarantee that giving Eric Staal a front office internship will not be our only move.

Responding to the underlined/bolded:
Isn't that the exact same thing you homers all said last year about Adams? And then we regressed further and now he's back for year 6 anyway?

 

[Jim Bob]

Exactly. I alluded to this earlier. What respectable hockey mind would want to join this club in a senior advisor role only to still have to report to a GM that seems in over his head? Why would any respectable voice join a franchise that has been freefalling for over a decade unless theyre given a ton of control to right the ship? Seems like it'd negatively impact their career.

The paycheck would seem to be the #1 reason. Getting back into the game would be the #2 reason.

Two names that I wonder about because they have been in the big seat and out of sight and out of mind since losing their GM gig are Regier and Chayka.

 

[Jim Bob]

Responding to the underlined/bolded:
Isn't that the exact same thing you homers all said last year about Adams? And then we regressed further and now he's back for year 6 anyway?

They said it the last two years, realistically.

After missing the playoffs by a point, it was win or else.

Then it was repeated again before last season after they regressed and Adams was brought back.

And we are hearing it again after another regression and we are seeing some tweaks to the front office.

The only reason this time might be different is if Adams really is on an expiring contract and if he doesn't get an extension making it easy for Pegula to walk away if they are a gongshow yet again.

 

[THUNDERBURST]

Terry having more influence on hockey decisions is a bad idea.

And I have zero expectation that you get a guy like Holland to take a job reporting to Adams.

Jarmo only makes sense if this is a part time gig that he does while remaining in his Senior Advisor role with HIFK in Liiga.

My expectation is that this Senior Advisor to be named later is just the replacement voice with Karmanos leaving when they have their staff discussions about moves. Good teams have lots of experienced voices in the room when making decisions. The Sabres have not had enough experienced voices in the room.

Terry shouldn't be making any hockey decisions. All I'm saying is that they need an experienced voice in the room from the outside who reports to Terry, not Adams. A guy Terry will listen to, and who can, if necessary, remove Adams and take his place or find a competent GM to replace him. I don't see any other way to win here.

 

[Jim Bob]

Terry shouldn't be making any hockey decisions. All I'm saying is that they need an experienced voice in the room from the outside who reports to Terry, not Adams. A guy Terry will listen to, and who can, if necessary, remove Adams and take his place or find a competent GM to replace him. I don't see any other way to win here.

This sums it up for me.

Adams is the guy that Terry will listen to because they have a long relationship. Given how the LaFontaine, Murray, and Botterill situations played out, I doubt you get a person to come in from the outside and immediately have Terry's trust more than Adams who has a decade+ long relationship with Pegula.

 

[Dubi Doo]

The paycheck would seem to be the #1 reason. Getting back into the game would be the #2 reason.

Two names that I wonder about because they have been in the big seat and out of sight and out of mind since losing their GM gig are Regier and Chayka.

That makes sense, and I never really thought of someone coming out of retirement for that role. I can't see anyone who is currently in a smaller role on a team or has just been let go- taking the chance with this franchise.

Boy, it really does feel like this is all going to blow up in their faces in a year or two when Dahlin wants out and we have to rebuild again. Let's just hope by some miracle Adams is feeling the pressure, makes moves, and somehow learns to find players that can fill roles on this squad. McLeod was a step in the right direction, and maybe Ruff can help right the ship a bit. I have my doubts, unfortunately.

 

[BFLO]

To anyone who forgot how well Eric Staal's last stint in Buffalo started off.

This was the first game of the season.




The Stall hire feels like Adams getting a nice cushy, borderline no-show job for his old pal. It'll be just like Staal's last stint with the Sabres when he was a no show as a player under Adams.

 

[THUNDERBURST]

This sums it up for me.

Adams is the guy that Terry will listen to because they have a long relationship. Given how the LaFontaine, Murray, and Botterill situations played out, I doubt you get a person to come in from the outside and immediately have Terry's trust more than Adams who has a decade+ long relationship with Pegula.

I think it depends on the person, like Baker said, Terry already had that with the Bills. He can also listen to Ruff or trust the new guy. Either way, Adams is in the last year of his contract and changes are coming.

 

[Jim Bob]

I think it depends on the person, like Baker said, Terry already had that with the Bills. He can also listen to Ruff or trust the new guy. Either way, Adams is in the last year of his contract and changes are coming.

Terry didn't have the long list of misses with the Bills before getting McBeane in place.

There are obvious trust issues there as exhibited in the comments made when Adams was hired and how long Adams has been allowed to remain GM despite five more lottery finishes and regressions each of the past two seasons.

And the only change we have so far is Adams hiring a former teammate into his first ever FO job since retiring as a player.

The other rumored changes (Karmanos out and the Sr Advisor) are TBD. But, they may not be the "changes are coming" moves that really move the needle in a positive direction or point to any increase in the sense of urgency with the team.

 

[THUNDERBURST]

Terry didn't have the long list of misses with the Bills before getting McBeane in place.

There are obvious trust issues there as exhibited in the comments made when Adams was hired and how long Adams has been allowed to remain GM despite five more lottery finishes and regressions each of the past two seasons.

And the only change we have so far is Adams hiring a former teammate into his first ever FO job since retiring as a player.

The other rumored changes (Karmanos out and the Sr Advisor) are TBD. But, they may not be the "changes are coming" moves that really move the needle in a positive direction or point to any increase in the sense of urgency with the team.

I'll wait for the name, if they hire an advisor, then it will be clear where they are going and if there will be optimism. All this Karmanos/Staal/Appert movement does nothing for me.

 

[Jim Bob]

I'll wait for the name, if they hire an advisor, then it will be clear where they are going and if there will be optimism. All this Karmanos/Staal/Appert movement does nothing for me.

I highly doubt the senior advisor hire will move the needle in a massively positive direction.

It will be another, "Really?!?!? THAT's the hire?!?!!?" nothingburger in all likelihood.

 

[HOOats]

Responding to the underlined/bolded:
Isn't that the exact same thing you homers all said last year about Adams? And then we regressed further and now he's back for year 6 anyway?

It's been pretty clear that Lindy and Adams' contracts expiring simultaneously in 2026 makes that the decision point.

He certainly had pressure last year, but to me it's disingenuous to say last year felt as last chance-y as this does. But the trauma of the doomer kind of muds up everything.

Point remains, he'll be acting this summer as if his job depends on it.

 

[Jim Bob]

It's been pretty clear that Lindy and Adams' contracts expiring simultaneously in 2026 makes that the decision point.

He certainly had pressure last year, but to me it's disingenuous to say last year felt as last chance-y as this does. But the trauma of the doomer kind of muds up everything.

Point remains, he'll be acting this summer as if his job depends on it.

I've said it the last two offseasons when people said this, "I'll believe it when I see it."

Pegula and Adams have been more patient than any fan has liked. I'll believe that they will shift gears and be more proactive when I see it.

And there is also a very real chance that Adams wants to get a lot more impactful stuff done than he actually gets done. He has a history of not getting deals over the finish line.

 

[joshjull]

What is worse, taking direction from Terry on hockey matters or Adams?

Yes

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

We were 4th in the NHL in goals and 2nd in S%. Of all the problems this team has, finishing is near the very bottom of the list.

Not to bash creative fan fiction, but the past tense is deployed a couple months prematurely here. It goes without saying, but Adams hasn't had the chance to "fix the pieces in the locker room" yet this summer (it's May 8th).

Pessimism certainly abounds (is there a word that means really abounds?), but this is Adams' last chance at making this work. And I imagine he enjoys making millions of dollars as an NHL GM, so there's some incentive in play.

Last summer, he showed some understanding that maturity and responsibility were needed with Zucker, McLeod, and Malenstyn/Lafferty/NAK. Two smashing successes, one meh, two busts.

Who knows what the offseason holds, but I can guarantee that giving Eric Staal a front office internship will not be our only move.

The Sabres had the third most blown leads in the NHL last season.

Being one of the highest scoring teams in the league while also blowing the most leads is like the very definition of a team that cannot finish. Lol

 

[MOGlLNY]

Getting rid of the only guy who is good at his job in Karmanos and bringing in a guy who has never been in any front office role ever. Well done!

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

It's been pretty clear that Lindy and Adams' contracts expiring simultaneously in 2026 makes that the decision point.

He certainly had pressure last year, but to me it's disingenuous to say last year felt as last chance-y as this does. But the trauma of the doomer kind of muds up everything.

Point remains, he'll be acting this summer as if his job depends on it.

The lease was on the KBC center was also set to run out in 2026.

Then Erie County said, actually we're done now.

I wouldn't be shocked if 2026 was circled on the calendar as a possible sell by date for Ter Bear.

 

[Sabre the Win]

I'm confused at what even are the positions in management with the Sabres.. what is a special assistant and what is his job duties? What is a senior advisor? Is that a new term for team President?

I'm still trying to figure out what Adams duties are after 5 years and now there are more names and titles being added.