The Sabres GM and Front Office Thread

[toddkaz]

Kevyn Adams to fans who think he is getting fired.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Seems like Lindy might be the new pseudo Hockey Ops guy already from the chatter ?
Something that's been mentioned around these parts that could eventually happen many times. Even though I felt he would leave hockey for retirement after this season.

Whether a 65 yr old, who looked a little frazzled & tired at times this season can handle that and be coach and stay healthy as well... ??

 

[jc17]

Adams has always been overly dependent on the coaches input, imo. Just look at all the USNTDP players that Granato was already connected with, and then Lindy gets the job, and suddenly we are trading good assets for checking line type players

Yeah even Krueger was picking guys.

I do think it makes sense to have the coach involved, but I'd almost want it to be structured where the GM facilitates scouts and analytics short listing players, informing the coach and letting them have roster control that way.

Rather than "I know this guy personally so we should get him" or " I coached a few games against this guy so we should get him". And maybe there are instances where that's ok, like Greenway but those should be the outliers.

I'd be curious to know what a normal order of operations is, between stats, pro scouting, and coach when it comes to acquisitions

 

[5 Minute Major]

Sabres fans attitude these days….

 

[Beerz]

Oh Jesus... we are going to have an entire team of Matt Ellis's with Lindy running the show

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Just to come back to something from the around the NHL thread: the Carolina Hurricanes who are one of the most structured, diligent teams in the NHL have an entire line of Sabres cast offs. In fact, I believe they have eight or nine guys who played for them this year who used to be in this organization. If we throw out Chatfield into the entire thing there’s another.

They don’t understand how to slot individuals into useful roles. I swear their idea for roster construction is the sa as a 12-year-old playing a video game.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Why? Do you realize how many people on the boards here, and in the Sabres universe wanted or "presented" Ruff for the GM position? It doesn't shock me if that is true one bit.

I have suggested Lindy as GM several times this season.

…as a joke, because it was so unrealistic and silly.

 

[jc17]

Optimism reach but what if the reason we haven't heard is because they're interested

 

[toddkaz]

Why? Do you realize how many people on the boards here, and in the Sabres universe wanted or "presented" Ruff for the GM position? It doesn't shock me if that is true one bit.

If Ruff as GM means Adams is gone as GM and we bring in someone like Sullivan or Tocchet as coach I am happy with that.

Leaving Lindy as coach and GM no thanks.

 

[Chainshot]

No coach should have final say on rosters. Similarly, no GM should abdicate responsibility for who is or is not playing. We've seen both in Buffalo and it can be ugly. Botterill's attempt to toughen up and then falling on his own sword that Housley has final say on playing time rather than taking Phil aside to say "we need some jam, give this kid a chance". Similarly, having Bowman shred the team by punishment trades to then hockey backwaters like LA to satisfy his own ego moved a team from being a Cup contender when he arrived and left it as the worst team in the league upon his departure. They need more voices in the room, not less.

 

[toddkaz]

No coach should have final say on rosters. Similarly, no GM should abdicate responsibility for who is or is not playing. We've seen both in Buffalo and it can be ugly. Botterill's attempt to toughen up and then falling on his own sword that Housley has final say on playing time rather than taking Phil aside to say "we need some jam, give this kid a chance". Similarly, having Bowman shred the team by punishment trades to then hockey backwaters like LA to satisfy his own ego moved a team from being a Cup contender when he arrived and left it as the worst team in the league upon his departure. They need more voices in the room, not less.

Whats your thoughts on Lindy becoming GM, Adams steps back and bring in someone like Sullivan or Tocchet?

I don't know Lindy's qualifications as a GM but Nashville struggled with Trotz making the switch. With Tocchet and Sullivan on the market it seems intriguing although I am not sure either coach would come here.

 

[OkimLom]

If Ruff as GM means Adams is gone as GM and we bring in someone like Sullivan or Tocchet as coach I am happy with that.

Leaving Lindy as coach and GM no thanks.

No. Lindy as GM would be a terrible route to go as GM whether he's coach or not. If you want him to have influence in player type, and listen to him for what the team needs in the room, in terms of role players and leadership purposes, then fine, let him be POHO. Lindy as GM would be just a step above on the level of hiring Adams for the GM position. It's still a terrible option and decision. It would way beyond insulting to the fans to handle the GM position like that.

 

[Chainshot]

Whats your thoughts on Lindy becoming GM, Adams steps back and bring in someone like Sullivan or Tocchet?

I don't know Lindy's qualifications as a GM but Nashville struggled with Trotz making the switch. With Tocchet and Sullivan on the market it seems intriguing although I am not sure either coach would come here.

I don't think Lindy as GM works. Lindy as a Dudley style senior advisor? Sure. Pegula knows him, he knows the team and the area. He's experienced behind the bench but not as a GM. They'd be hiring someone with limited experience for the job they're trying to fill again. Not a fan of it.

 

[May Day 10]

Lots of other NHL teams make their coach the most important person in the organization.

Well, maybe not

 

[sabremike]

No coach should have final say on rosters. Similarly, no GM should abdicate responsibility for who is or is not playing. We've seen both in Buffalo and it can be ugly. Botterill's attempt to toughen up and then falling on his own sword that Housley has final say on playing time rather than taking Phil aside to say "we need some jam, give this kid a chance". Similarly, having Bowman shred the team by punishment trades to then hockey backwaters like LA to satisfy his own ego moved a team from being a Cup contender when he arrived and left it as the worst team in the league upon his departure. They need more voices in the room, not less.

Anytime some clown tells me Bowman was the greatest coach ever I just want to punch them right in their stupid buck teeth. He's the NHL Phil Jackson whose success was entirely down to having loaded rosters with multiple generational players. Pat Riley is easily the best NBA coach because with the Knicks he showed the ability to adapt to the talent he had and tailor a strategy around it instead of run them like the Showtime Lakers (man could the Sabres use a coach capable of doing that).

 

[TehDoak]

To me, this is the structure of a hockey organization:

Owner says: These are why I want a hockey team (To make money, to win championships, to build long term success, etc)
Team President says: This is how I can accomplish those goals, by doing this and this and building a team this way. Team president builds out front office.
GM's Job is to take the team presidents vision and translate it into a roster. He's also in charge of finding a coach to that roster, managing prospects, etc.
Coach's job is to win as many games as possible every year with the roster

Now, its not strict one way communication. Coach has a say in the roster, GM has a say in the style of team/how player issues are handled. The team president, Gm, and coach all work together, but there is a clear deliniation of duties. Coaches typically will change every few years, GMs will change much less, and team presidents can stay on decades.

In the Sabres, Owner and Gm both have the team president role. Who says HOW to build the team? Well, the owner and the GM. And the coach and the GM both have the team GM role. And the owner takes queues from the coach in terms of how to build a team. And every time you swap a coach, the GM is getting a new set of marching orders on how to build the team because the coach is in the Owners ear. It's just chaos. So you are changing how the ship steers every time one part of the front office is changed. Terry wants so badly to have to have for the Sabres what he has for the Bills where the coach and GM work together great and are on the same page.

I think the issue is.....for the Bills, I don't think he's part of the decision making process. I think he's kept aware of what is happening.....but I doubt he rarely vetos anything Beane/McDermott want. They know, for better or worse, how to manage him. And they've earned his trust. He feels part of the team and his input is listened to.

For the Sabres....he's part of the decision making process. Kevyn is calling him after he talks to another GM. Terry is approving the trades. We saw as much in the last embedded. The issue comes from up top here and a wind that changes every time one part of the front office changes. Nobody has a plan and everyone is just making it up as they go.

 

[toddkaz]

I don't think Lindy as GM works. Lindy as a Dudley style senior advisor? Sure. Pegula knows him, he knows the team and the area. He's experienced behind the bench but not as a GM. They'd be hiring someone with limited experience for the job they're trying to fill again. Not a fan of it.

Ya, seeing Trotz trying to make the jump he did some terrible moves including signing Stamkos who is cooked and has 3 more years to go

 

[sabremike]

Making Lindy the GM is as sensible as making Alex Tuch our goalie. Lindy is a coach with no experience as an executive. Being a coach and being a GM are two separate things and being competent at one does not suggest being competent at the other (Trotz being a perfect example).

 

[Ace]

Making Lindy the GM is as sensible as making Alex Tuch our goalie. Lindy is a coach with no experience as an executive. Being a coach and being a GM are two separate things and being competent at one does not suggest being competent at the other (Trotz being a perfect example).

The current GM ran a pretzel cart

 

[joshjull]

Adams has always been overly dependent on the coaches input, imo. Just look at all the USNTDP players that Granato was already connected with, and then Lindy gets the job, and suddenly we are trading good assets for checking line type players

The Granato/Adams relationship was the normal collaborative type. Most coaches work directly with their GM to shape a roster.

Whereas after Botts left, Krueger was the McDermott for the Sabres and Adams equal in the org chart. That was the ridiculous “flat management” structure Pegula was so giddy about in the 2020 offseason. Krueger answered directly to Pegula, not Adams, and they were both on the same management level with the owners. All one big happy clusterf***.

Ruff was more of the collaborative mold last year. No idea what these rumors mean for this upcoming season. Maybe another Krueger situation.

 

[Ehran]

Lindy, as primary decision maker on the roster, isn't optimal. But its sure as hell better than what is happening now.

 

[slip]

The rumored ideas being floated -- if true -- are indicative of a franchise that's all out of ideas.

 

[toddkaz]

The rumored ideas being floated -- if true -- are indicative of a franchise that's all out of ideas.

It was Lance saying Lindy controls roster moves.

But dont forget Kevyn Adams also went to Okposo for roster moves and when we had 3 goalies Adams said he would ask the team if thats ok.

Adams is pure trash with zero leadership.....asking everyone else how to do his job

 

[Ace]

The rumored ideas being floated -- if true -- are indicative of a franchise that's all out of ideas.

We’ve tried

Unqualified
Inexperienced
Cheap
And Nothing

What other options are even out there?

 

[Ace]

It was Lance saying Lindy controls roster moves.

But dont forget Kevyn Adams also went to Okposo for roster moves and when we had 3 goalies Adams said he would ask the team if thats ok.

Adams is pure trash with zero leadership.....asking everyone else how to do his job

It’s almost as if he wasn’t qualified for the job and everything that’s happened since has been completely predictable