The Sabres GM and Front Office Thread

[Zman5778]

The #1 job for a POHO of the Buffalo Sabres will be to make Terry "feel heard." That is not something that I could imagine Lou doing.

That is one reason why the idea of Kevyn Adams to the POHO role could make sense. I think he could be a solid buffer that allows the GM to focus on building the roster and then KA is the person that makes Terry "feel heard."

I would be shocked if it happened, but Jarmo as GM and Kevyn as the "Terry whisperer" POHO wouldn't be the worst FO "shakeup" that gets an outside voice and an experienced GM in here.

That also assumes that Kevyn would be OK going outside the organization for his GM. Given that he was offered the chance to get an outside POHO when he was hired and declined.............I am rather pessimistic that he would look outside the organization for a GM.

If Kevyn fails upward, I'd place REAL good money on Karmanos or Forton being named GM. MAYBE possibly Ventura. No one from outside though.

 

[TehDoak]

In terms of "ideal" is that Pegula hires a experienced hockey person to come in as a senior advisor to help build out a front office. Ken Holland is my initial thought, but John Davidson, even Lou (not as a GM, but rather as a guy to come in a just say "this is how you structure your front office for success")

From there, you have them assist with GM interviews. Let Terry pick his guy (from a curated list by the senior advisor) and the GM and senior advisor work to build out the front office, filling roles and getting processes in place. How decisions are made are clearly defined. The owner will still have a voice, but it'll be more in the planning rather than on individual transactions. Unless its a franchise altering move, the GM should have a reasonable amount of autonomy.

If Adams being around makes the Pegulas feel warm and cozy, let him be there as a non GM. President of Hockey Operations, VP of Hockey, Good Vibes commander, Minister of Information. His role is to keep the Pegulas in the loop and be Terry's texting buddy. But nothing more than that.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Lou... ??

I'm starting to think Pegula is completely out of touch from reality and/or is getting senile.

 

[Der Jaeger]

The #1 job for a POHO of the Buffalo Sabres will be to make Terry "feel heard." That is not something that I could imagine Lou doing.

That is one reason why the idea of Kevyn Adams to the POHO role could make sense. I think he could be a solid buffer that allows the GM to focus on building the roster and then KA is the person that makes Terry "feel heard."

I would be shocked if it happened, but Jarmo as GM and Kevyn as the "Terry whisperer" POHO wouldn't be the worst FO "shakeup" that gets an outside voice and an experienced GM in here.

Agreed. Adams as POHO makes a lot of sense for me, and what you wrote was a big reason.

 

[enthusiast]

I’d be shocked if Forton got promoted to replace Adams. He’s a smart guy with connections to Pegula and has scouting experience, but even for this franchise he’d be underprepared for the role

 

[Archie Lee]

I can't see Lou as GM at his age. I also deeply question his ability regarding contracts. Those deals for the Islanders, all that trade protection... so many unmoveable players.

EF mentioning Trotz though... the guy had just fallen out after taking the Caps to the Cup. He was a free asset. Remember someone around here wanting a certain team to throw the bag of cash at him and ditch the overmatched doofus HC after 1 year which had people defending retaining Phil because it was only one season. Opportunity costs - imagine Trotz installing some semblance of defensively responsible play and squeezing more out of their goaltending? All because of a lot of "oh hey, let's keep the bumble because maybe, kinda, he might one day be better".

My recollection is that there was a report that Trotz had been approached by the Sabres and he politely declined due to his relationship with Housley (Trotz hired Housley for his 1st NHL coaching job).

 

[SharkInABoloTie]

Fire someone.

 

[Ace]

I can’t think of anything more absurd than an owner who wants to be heard (which has almost always meant about money) hiring Lou in any capacity. Lou sucks, yes…so he fits what Pegula has looked for in people to lead his hockey department…but he also isn’t going to want to hear a f***ing thing an out of his league 14 years and counting bum thinks about the state of a hockey team he’s had the biggest hand in destroying. Go tell Lou he doesn’t get pro scouts, a full staff, has to keep everyone under contract regardless of their qualification and success, and show off your analytics department and video work. Just make sure you’re filming for the most entertaining Beyond Blue and Gold we’ll ever have.

 

[Beerz]

Lou is the Anti-Adams ... we would go from the youngest team in the league icing a bunch of rookies ..to icing a team full of cooked veterans with long term deals with NTCs..

 

[Ace]

Lou is the Anti-Adams ... we would go from the youngest team in the league icing a bunch of rookies ..to icing a team full of cooked veterans with long term deals with NTCs..

I bet it would work for exactly one year. When he can’t move out enough of the young skill immediately but he replaces half of them with unspectacular vets that know how to play boring scoreless hockey.

We’d win the cup, of course. It’s the perfect mix. But the immediate next 14 year drought will be tough too.

 

[EveryDay]

 

[BFLO]

I’d be shocked if Forton got promoted to replace Adams. He’s a smart guy with connections to Pegula and has scouting experience, but even for this franchise he’d be underprepared for the role

Forton has infinitely more front office experience than Adams had when getting the job. So it would actually be less embarrassing for this franchise than it's current GM.

(this is not an endorsement of Forton, I want him fired along with Adams, not promoted)

 

[THUNDERBURST]

Michael Futa
Evan Gold
Mathieu Darche
Brandon Pridham
Mark Janko

 

[Ace]

I feel like I’ve seen Michael Futa’s name come up since the drought started. He’s gone from hot young name to senior advisor. It’s not an opinion on any kind of candidacy…it’s just been a long 14 years.

 

[Chainshot]

I feel like I’ve seen Michael Futa’s name come up since the drought started. He’s gone from hot young name to senior advisor. It’s not an opinion on any kind of candidacy…it’s just been a long 14 years.

He's the new Jim Nill.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Lou... ??

I'm starting to think Pegula is completely out of touch from reality and/or is getting senile.

View attachment 1020851

 

[itwasaforwardpass]

Fire someone.

Preferably everyone.

And stop rewarding incompetence by promoting from within.

 

[SabresFanNorthPortFL]

How about we start a “go fund me,” to hire a billionaire to speak to Terry, and tell him that if his goal is to “win the Cup,” he needs to hire “X” to run his hockey franchise, and that what he’s doing sucks.

 

[Dahlicious]

I feel like I’ve seen Michael Futa’s name come up since the drought started. He’s gone from hot young name to senior advisor. It’s not an opinion on any kind of candidacy…it’s just been a long 14 years.

Looks like he hasn't worked for a team in three years.

 

[Professor Chaos]

I have zero expectations that any meaningful changes will be made but if, by some miracle, Terry sees the need for a senior advisor for Kevyn I'd prefer Ken Holland. Not a sexy hire and the game may have passed him by but at least he's connected and would be able to guide Kevyn and hopefully provide reasonable guidance

 

[toddkaz]

Botterill gets another shot as a GM with Francis promoted to POHO.

Now after a few days passed has anyone's feelings changed or Is that what Buffalo will do here? Promote Adams and Karmanos as GM?

Or do people see things differently? Here is management, what shifts do people see in the front office?

 

[WeDislikeEich]

Given that he (Kevyn Adams) was offered the chance to get an outside POHO when he was hired and declined.

Was this reported somewhere? Just curious where that info came from as I’ve seen it mentioned by a few people now. Thanks!

 

[toddkaz]

Was this reported somewhere? Just curious where that info came from as I’ve seen it mentioned by a few people now. Thanks!

Was what reported?

 

[sabremike]

This is proof that many people around hockey are really REALLY stupid. You would have to have severe brain damage to think Lou is anything but rat poison to any organization dumb enough to hire him, we wouldn't have a Barry Trotz to bail this ridiculous dinosaur out.

 

[toddkaz]

This is proof that many people around hockey are really REALLY stupid. You would have to have severe brain damage to think Lou is anything but rat poison to any organization dumb enough to hire him, we wouldn't have a Barry Trotz to bail this ridiculous dinosaur out.

I have no interest in Lou. 82 years old he probably takes afternoon naps.

But then again Adams and Lou probably could line up their naps together.