Curt

So, is Ralph saving his job in this game?

I don’t think this how the NHL works though. There aren’t bad teams that blow everything up and are then cup contenders after a couple years. It’s much more common that decent teams make slight improvements to be good teams, and good teams make slight improvements to become cup contenders. It’s generally a league of incremental improvements. I’m not saying that all the players on the Sabres’ roster are fine, I’m sure there will be changes. I don’t think that all on the top talent needs to be shipped out before the team can find success though.

This is embarrassing obviously, but embarrassment seems like the only thing that the Pegulas truly respond to. I hope that they feel embarrassed enough to find some humility, take a step back, and act on that other rumor floating around. They need help running this team, and I hope that they do bring in a very experienced FO person to oversee the hockey department and be the conduit between owners and everyone below.

Nah, he’s mellowed a bit. Also, he is tough, not dumb.

He wasn’t really drafted that high. #51 overall, mid-late 2nd rounder. If that guy becomes an NHLer at all it’s a good pick. His prospect status did get pretty pumped up for a while though, at least in the public sphere. Seems like Botterill sold high on him.

I gave the press conference a close 2nd listen and here is my breakdown of most of the answers Adams gave, and my inferences regarding them. First, anyone who was expecting to get dramatic answers, inside information or blatant throwing of individuals under the bus should not expect that from a GM press conference. My Press Conference Notes: -He is not happy and it’s not acceptable, sounds like he is near the end of his rope with the team, pissed even. -He has full authority to make decisions regarding players and coaches. -Team doesn’t show enough compete or passion. -He and coaches thought the team wasn’t too far away this offseason, so he took a short term approach. They focused on 5-on-5 scoring, special teams, and character. -How do you justify keeping Ralph on? He has to look at everything both big and small picture, do what’s best for team long term. -Eichel has not requested a trade. -Adams doesn’t believe in a full fledged rebuild. Sounds like he is more looking for opportunities for incremental improvement as opposed to a tear down for futures. -Asked about how Pegulas and he value continuity within organization vs. the cycle of firings every couple years. He says you hope for continuity, but that continuity only happens if there is success. -On Skinner benching. Had long honest talk with Jeff’s agent. He didn’t say that it was a joint decision. He said it was Ralph’s call. Praised Jeff for positive attitude through it. -Asked what has gone wrong, specifically. Not enough compete, battle, not enough good scoring chances and too many against. Goaltending has been solid. Said Linus had been playing at a very high level, omitted mentioning Hutton. -On Rasmus Dahlin’s struggles. He is amazing with the puck, players will have ups and downs, have to work through it. Brought it back to talking about having a team identity, and everyone needing to raise their level. -Covid, injuries, adversity are not excuses for how things have gone. No excuses. -Culture means having a team spirit with everyone working together for the greater good, and accountability to each other. Team isn’t there yet, they need to do more, aren’t driving each other enough internally. -What’s wrong with Jack??? Not going to talk about what’s going on with a player day-to-day. They will give updates when they have them. -Is Krueger being too inflexible with his system. A system needs everyone to really buy in. Sees times when not all players are playing system the same way. -How much are you looking to tweak the roster at this point? Looking for solutions every day. Having conversations all the time. -Team needs to be grittier. It’s both an issue of current roster construction and how you draft and develop long term. -Because of Covid, he is actually around the team a lot more. Talking with team/players all the time, building relationships with them. Players know it hasn’t been good enough, it needs to turn into action. -Why know goalie move? Looking everyday. Asking is there an upgrade over what we have? Goaltending has been solid. Not the reason we are where we are. Ullmark had been great. Again conspicuously omitted mentioning Hutton. So, also, some things he did not say. He did not say that Krueger has that infamous vote of confidence. In fact it sounded like things really need to improve in a major way (or else), and soon! He did not say that the he is comfortable with the current goaltending situation. Yes, he said the goaltending has been solid, but he also praised Ullmark and conspicuously avoided mentioning Hutton. He also said that he is looking for an upgrade every day. He did not say Jack is injured, but also didn’t say that he was healthy. Not going to talk about it. He did not give one single excuse for any of the teams failings. He did not say that he had any part of the decision to bench Skinner. To the contrary, he said that Krueger makes the decisions regarding who will play and what their roles are. My big take away is that Krueger is on thin ice. While Krueger has a good relationship with both players and Adams, the team is not playing together enough, or for each other enough. That needs to change, or Krueger is out.

What hurt feelings?

John Tortorella?

There is absolutely no precedent for the tank that Buffalo went through. Go look at the records and goal differentials. Toronto did nothing close. I don’t think anyone ever has.

Is this true? OMG. Pegulas better get that help that we were hearing about today. Sooner rather than later!

Maybe it’s because the Sabres have lost 10 of their last 12 games (including this one). That could be a reason that no one is defending the coach right now. Maybe.

If Guhle passes waivers he will be with the Anaheim AHL team.

You think the Sabres have too much upper management right now???

Probably not. It seems short on elite talent.

I don’t think there is any way that Adams gets fired. He has a long, positive relationship with the Pegulas. Maybe roles could be shifted around though, and Adams ends up handling mostly business stuff and a new GM takes over. Perhaps after firing Botterill, they weren’t sure what to do on short notice (and during a pandemic), so they handed it to the guy close to them who they trusted. Could be more of a care taker type situation than a long term setup. Just speculation. Who knows.

I wonder, if a organization restructuring is going to happen, if the most likely thing is for Kevin Adams, someone they know and trust, to be PoHO, being the be the day to day representative of ownership and the go between from owners to organization. Then hire a new GM. I have a hard time believing that Pegulas would bring someone fresh into the organization and place them on top in a PoHO role. Seems unlikely.

I think they impose their opinions into the decision making process of hockey decisions. And that they expect a lot of those opinions to carry considerable weight. I think they are consistently an active part of the decision making process. I don’t think they are making the majority of the hockey decisions, but that they require almost all decisions to be approved through them. Even small ones.

At this point, I would say that this is beyond speculation, into the range of high probability, if not certainty.

Need more info on this! What does everyone think this means? Are they looking for an experienced right hand man Assistant/Associate GM for Adams? A guy to come take over as GM with Adams moving to a Pres of Hockey type role? A guy to come into a Pres of Hockey type role? Honestly, it’s probably a good development either way.

This could happen.

In one game, UPL gave up 7 goals. Other than that, he has been pretty good, no? Being a 21 year old goalie in the AHL and all.

I was watching too. Literally looked like a different league from watching a Sabres game. Seriously, if you put them all in random jerseys, and told everyone “this is a pro game” (Caps-Bruins), “and this is a minor league/AHL game.” (Sabres-NJ/NY), I don’t think anyone would bat an eye.

This does not necessarily exclude all of Sabres management and ownership..

What vintage is this? 2016 2%? Or is it a 2018 Skim?

Get out of here! What are you trying to do to us?! Have some common courtesy, would ya?