Buffalo News

'Multiple sources confirmed to The News on Thursday that Botterill had verbal agreements in place to extend the contracts of Rochester coach Chris Taylor and player development coach Krys Barch. However, neither deal was completed before Botterill's firing, and Taylor and Barch were also let go. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the agreements.' … [Read more...] about Before firings, Sabres had extended contracts for assistant GMs during season

'But deeper inside the NHL, at the GM and on-ice level, the Pegulas have been openly laughed at. And the laughter has never been louder.' … [Read more...] about Pegulas are in the crosshairs as the league reacts to Sabres’ firings

'"Personally, I'm not going to kneel," Pegula said. "But we've been listening. We've been learning to love other people and understand experiences and what they have gone through, what they've experienced, and what maybe the anthem or the flag means to them, it's truly different than what I went through.' … [Read more...] about Kim Pegula explains why she stands for anthem but supports those who kneel

'Disagreements over cost-cutting reportedly led to Botterill’s firing. When the Pegulas told Botterill that the hockey operations department would need to become “leaner,” the GM resisted. “We felt like we weren’t being heard,” Terry Pegula told reporters this week.' … [Read more...] about Adversity in Pegulaville leads to changes

'His two departments, hockey operations and player development, now consist of 15 employees. Here is some background on the employees who remain...'. … [Read more...] about Who’s left? Meet the 15 who survived Sabres’ purge

'On the first official day of what he calls his "dream job," new Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams was tasked with firing more than 20 people over the phone in an unprecedented bloodletting of a hockey operations department that was overhauled only three years earlier.' … [Read more...] about Sabres GM Kevyn Adams ‘part of the process’ before Jason Botterill’s firing

'"I believe you have to earn respect. You earn everything in life," Adams said during a conference call with The Buffalo News on Wednesday, a day after his stunning appointment to replace Jason Botterill. "For me, starting with the players and the coaching staff and the hockey operations and business staff, it's about doing things consistently the right way day after day after … [Read more...] about Job one for Kevyn Adams: Establish his credibility as an NHL GM

'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.' … [Read more...] about Jason Botterill fired by Sabres after receiving directive to cut spending

'"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 … [Read more...] about New Sabres GM Kevyn Adams’ ‘dream’ job presents unusual challenges

'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.' … [Read more...] about On another dark day for Sabres, Terry and Kim Pegula don’t offer a lot of real answers

'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.' … [Read more...] about What GM Jason Botterill’s firing could mean for Sabres coach Ralph Krueger

'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 … [Read more...] about Adams is fourth general manager of Sabres in Pegulas’ time as owners

'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."' … [Read more...] about Timeline: Jason Botterill’s days as Sabres GM

'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 … [Read more...] about Five things about new Sabres GM Kevyn Adams

'Laaksonen was taken at No. 89 overall in the draft in Chicago, the first for Jason Botterill as Sabres GM. He has attended the last three summer development camps and hit town last June coming off a gold medal in the World Junior Championships while playing with fellow Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He has grown and put on weight after being selected and the Sabres now … [Read more...] about Sabres sign 2017 pick Oskari Laaksonen to entry-level deal