WGR

'The next time this team hits the ice, if they’re rolling along with terrible special teams again, the wins aren’t coming, and the head coach is talking about how much everyone is getting along, who steps in to say “this isn’t working”?' … [Read more...] about A lack of panic

'"It would not surprise me within 24 months that Ralph Krueger is the President of Hockey Operations. It would not. He has a strong suit in that management. I also think, he has the ability to maybe solve a bit of those morale issues that the organization has right now. I do think there's a bigger role for Krueger than just being the head coach."' … [Read more...] about Shannon: Wouldn’t surprise me if Krueger is named President

'The Sabres entered the National Hockey League in the 1970-71 season with the royal blue and gold colors as part of their logo and jerseys. After the team made the switch to black, red and silver from 1996-2006, the Sabres returned to wearing blue and gold on the ice, but it was a navy blue color instead of the lighter royal blue color.' … [Read more...] about Linus Ullmark showcases new pads with Sabres’ change to royal blue

'The Boston College-product became exactly what the team, media, and fans embracing the tank thought he would be as a star forward. Each year, Eichel has improved in virtually every area, while it feels like the team has regressed since his first season.' … [Read more...] about Jack Eichel is the lone top-10 scorer to miss the playoffs

'According to the staff directory page at the Sabres' website, only four amateur scouts and two pro scouts remain on staff at this time...'. … [Read more...] about Sabres let go of 22 hockey department staff members

'"There's a lot of things to unpack. I just think that the more I look at it, the more I think that ever since Kevyn Adams was brought in, the Pegulas know him, they trust him. If you look back at Tim Graham's article from The Athletic in April, someone sent me a quote from there and it's one where [Kim Pegula] basically says that they trusted some people and it didn't work out … [Read more...] about Friedman: ‘The days were numbered for Jason Botterill’

'In the nine years of the Pegula ownership, the Sabres have the lowest points percentage of any team in the NHL. The nine-year playoff drought is the longest in the league. The next longest active drought is just four years for the Detroit Red Wings. If the Sabres miss out on the playoffs again next season, they will equal the NHL record for the longest postseason drought in … [Read more...] about The more things change…

'It is sad the top moment in nine years was Buffalo clinching last place in the 2014-2015 NHL standings but it is. April 10th, 2015 is probably the most excited the fanbase has been since the Sabres made back to back conference finals from 2005 to 2007.' … [Read more...] about The five most memorable moments of the Sabres drought

'"Many of you know that I grew up in Western New York. I wore No. 11 when I started playing hockey because of watching Gilbert Perreault. This is a very special day for me and my family," Adams said Tuesday afternoon during his introductory Zoom conference call along with the Pegulas and Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger. "I am so excited to start this job, learn from Ralph … [Read more...] about Adams looking forward to the challenge ahead of him as general manager in Buffalo

'Ownership has been streamlining the operation for more than a year now. The way they handled their game night part-time employees, as well as people who worked full-time in the organization for 20 or 30 years, in the face of a global pandemic the likes of which we’ve never experienced, was an embarrassment.' … [Read more...] about An all-time bad day

'Adams becomes the ninth general manager in franchise history, and the fourth general manager of the Sabres since the Pegulas bought the franchise back in 2011. The Clarence, New York native has been part of the Sabres organization since 2011 as a development coach after retiring from the NHL in 2009 after a 13-year career in professional hockey. The 45-year-old has also spent … [Read more...] about Sabres fire general manager Jason Botterill

'"We certainly had this conversation three weeks ago... certainly that was our intent that Jason was going to continue [as the general manager>," Kim said on Tuesday in a Zoom conference call with the Buffalo media. "If you recall at that time, we had just found out that the regular season had ended. And then in the next three weeks, especially with the announcement of the … [Read more...] about Pegulas: Familiarity was a big factor in the hiring of Adams as general manager

'Not only do the Sabres have the longest active playoff drought in the NHL, missing the postseason every season since 2011, but they have also seen organizational turnover at a rate similar to the biggest basement dwellers across professional sports.' … [Read more...] about The Sabres are in rare, unwanted company in the sports world

'The 20-year-old has spent the past three seasons playing professionally for Ilves in the Finnish Liiga, appearing in 113 games while scoring five goals and registering 35 assists for 40 points. His best season came in the 2018-19 season, where he scored three goals and put up 21 assists for 24 points in 46 games. This past season, Laaksonen dealt with some injuries throughout … [Read more...] about Sabres sign Laaksonen to three-year entry-level contract

'In his final 32 games played this season, Lazar established himself as a very reliable depth player on the Buffalo roster, while also scoring four goals and registering five assists for nine points. He ended up becoming one of their more efficient faceoff guys, and found himself playing in other key roles like on the penalty kill.' … [Read more...] about Lazar named Sabres’ nominee for Masterton Memorial Trophy