Archives for June 17, 2020

‘Botterill was told his hockey operations department would need to become “leaner,” Sabres owner Terry Pegula said during a Zoom conference call Tuesday. A disconnect emerged through what Pegula called “detailed” conversations and ownership quickly decided to fire its third general manager since it purchased the team in February 2011.’

‘”I think that you have to be completely open-minded in a leadership role going into these situations, where you know you have a lot to learn,” Adams said. “You have to check any ego at the door, and you have to surround yourself with great people. So if you don’t know the answer to something, you say ‘I don’t know’ and you surround yourself with people you’d ask hard questions and you’d figure it out together. That’s my style, that’s always been my style and will continue to do that. I’m going to be very honest with media, with fans.”‘

‘With no draft, the Pegulas had plenty of time to do a deep dive on their mess of a hockey team. Terry Pegula uttered their new mantra: “Effective, Efficient and Economic.” Maybe the Sabres can hang that banner next to their advertisers’ signs foolishly placed in the rafters because they never get any banners for winning hockey games.’

‘Although the release did not disclose any details, it’s possible Krueger will have a say in how the Sabres’ roster is constructed. The 60-year-old coach built each of his rosters during his 13 years as coach of Switzerland’s national team, molding the country’s program into a global hockey power and a pipeline for NHL talent.’

‘Jason Botterill: Spent three season as the GM, and was thought to be safe for a fourth because of the coronavirus-shortened season. Team finished last in the league in 2017-18 and then won the lottery to select Rasmus Dahlin at No. 1 overall. He also signed Jack Eichel to a contract extension and acquired Jeff Skinner in a trade and then signed him to a long-term deal before last season.’

‘April 11, 2018: In end-of-season news conference two days after a 62-point season ends with Sabres 31st overall in the NHL, an angry Botterill flatly says, “this is not working” when asked about his team and admits “right now we have a losing culture.”‘

‘Adams originally joined the Sabres in 2009 as player development coach and served as assistant coach from 2011-2013. He was named vice president and director of the Academy of Hockey at LECOM Harborcenter in October 2013, a year before the facility opened. He was named general manager of HarborCenter in January 2019 and Sabres’ senior vice president of business administration last September.’