Friedman believes changes are coming to Sabres Front Office; UPL Available?

[Pimlach]

23 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Reality check: the NHL is a business, for the fans it's entertainment.

Standing pat hurts both sides, perhaps very badly (@Sabres Fan in NS).

You promote Lindy to POHO. You hire Sullivan. Karmanos is fine, he's just the git er done guy. Lindy and Mike hold the power and have The Talk with TP. KA can be special envoy to Pucks and Caicos. Then you shake up the roster.

It would be more than enough to rejuvenate the fans, at least for awhile. Probably enough to at least kick this can one inch over the playoff line.

Again I implore: save us, Guelli!

Why do you think Guelli can save this?  please explain.  

[dudacek]

1 hour ago, Brawndo said:

How would everyone feel if Adams is moved out of day to day operations of the GM and Karmanos is promoted to GM and Sam Ventura to Asst GM.

Along with some Assistant Coaches being moved out? 

You have brightened my day, because that is probably the best I was letting myself hope for.

Probably just deck chairs, but I can tell myself the good things that have be done, have been due to Karmanos and Ventura and the things that are crying to be done are the fault of Kevyn.

24 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Reality check: the NHL is a business, for the fans it's entertainment.

Standing pat hurts both sides, perhaps very badly (@Sabres Fan in NS).

You promote Lindy to POHO. You hire Sullivan. Karmanos is fine, he's just the git er done guy. Lindy and Mike hold the power and have The Talk with TP. KA can be special envoy to Pucks and Caicos. Then you shake up the roster.

It would be more than enough to rejuvenate the fans, at least for awhile. Probably enough to at least kick this can one inch over the playoff line.

Again I implore: save us, Guelli!

I’m glad you keep hammering this business angle.

Its the most obvious incentive for change.

[PASabreFan]

56 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Why do you think Guelli can save this?  please explain.  

Dudes picked up what I was laying down. If Terry's still in EEE mode, his CFO has to convince him that change, real change, is needed to help the bottom line. And as much as Guelli has his finger on the pulse of the fans (he's surely getting feedback from the poor staffers who have to recruit/retain STHers), he has to convince the aloof Pegula that it's also the humane thing to do for the tortured base.

Edited 23 hours ago by PASabreFan

[PASabreFan]

Anyone else think that as Brawndo went to his car this morning, a black SUV pulled up and a menacing man said, "Get in"? Brawndo did as told. Battista instructed him to get on SS ASSAP and ask the smartest and most loyal fans anywhere what they would think about the arrangement the braintrust is considering.

Folks, it's happening.

Anyone?

Edited 23 hours ago by PASabreFan

[dudacek]

2 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Anyone else think that as Brawndo went to his car this morning, a black SUV pulled up and a menacing man said, "Get in"? Brawndo did as told. Battista instructed him to get on SS ASSAP and ask the smartest and most loyal fans anywhere what they would think about the arrangement the braintrust is considering.

Folks, it's happening.

Anyone?

i've always thought @Brawndo was Sam Ventura's computer program after achieving consciousness.

But yes. The board should be celebrating.

[Mr. Allen]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Karmanos and Sullivan have history together in Pittsburgh?  
Terry seems to like to pull from the Penguins.  It makes sense. 

[Thorny]

17 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Anyone else think that as Brawndo went to his car this morning, a black SUV pulled up and a menacing man said, "Get in"? Brawndo did as told. Battista instructed him to get on SS ASSAP and ask the smartest and most loyal fans anywhere what they would think about the arrangement the braintrust is considering.

Folks, it's happening.

Anyone?

They saw my ultimatum 

[Thorny]

[The Jokeman]

12 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Karmanos and Sullivan have history together in Pittsburgh?  
Terry seems to like to pull from the Penguins.  It makes sense. 

 Karamanos joined the Penguins in June of 2014,where he served as vice president of hockey operations for three seasons, Karmanos was promoted to assistant general manager in June 2017. Sullivan was named Pittsburgh AHL head coach a year after Kramanos was hired (June of 2015) and moved up to the Penguins HC in December of the same year. So their paths did cross. 

[dudacek]

17 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Karmanos and Sullivan have history together in Pittsburgh?  
Terry seems to like to pull from the Penguins.  It makes sense. 

I don't even like Sullivan, but after listening to Friedman say the Rangers will not allow anyone else to sign him, this would be very sweet on an emotional level.

Don't see it happening even if he would entertain the idea because Lindy ain't going nowhere.

Edited 23 hours ago by dudacek

[That Aud Smell]

1 hour ago, PASabreFan said:

KA can be special envoy to Pucks and Caicos.

36 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Dudes picked up what I was laying down. If Terry's still in EEE mode, his CFO has to convince him that change, real change, is needed to help the bottom line. And as much as Guelli has his finger on the pulse of the fans (he's surely getting feedback from the poor staffers who have to recruit/retain STHers), he has to convince the aloof Pegula that it's also the humane thing to do for the tortured base.

Guelli is the COO. But your point still stands. He is clearly the chief business strategy officer of the Sabres and Bills.

Interestingly (??), I don't readily see that either the Bills or Sabres have a CFO.

I also just noticed that the Bills website now has a very skinny listing of front office people. The webpage lists Terry, Kim, Beane, McDermott, and Guelli. Nobody else.

Also, shoutout to Terry who is wearing a Sabres tie in his headshot on the Bills website.

https://www.buffalobills.com/team/front-office-roster/

 

[PASabreFan]

15 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

Guelli is the COO. But your point still stands. He is clearly the chief business strategy officer of the Sabres and Bills.

Interestingly (??), I don't readily see that either the Bills or Sabres have a CFO.

I also just noticed that the Bills website now has a very skinny listing of front office people. The webpage lists Terry, Kim, Beane, McDermott, and Guelli. Nobody else.

Also, shoutout to Terry who is wearing a Sabres tie in his headshot on the Bills website.

https://www.buffalobills.com/team/front-office-roster/

 

I kinda suspected CFO was wrong but got lazy. You complete me.

[DarthEbriate]

So... any changes today? Or, if you won't be needing me, sir, I'll just shut down for a while.

[HumanSlinky39]

4 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

So... any changes today? Or, if you won't be needing me, sir, I'll just shut down for a while.

Go ahead and shut down until October. Nothing significant is going to happen.

[LGR4GM]

3 hours ago, Brawndo said:

How would everyone feel if Adams is moved out of day to day operations of the GM and Karmanos is promoted to GM and Sam Ventura to Asst GM.

Along with some Assistant Coaches being moved out? 

Anything, for the love of God just do something to show the status quo isn't acceptable. 

[Taro T]

55 minutes ago, Mr. Allen said:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Karmanos and Sullivan have history together in Pittsburgh?  
Terry seems to like to pull from the Penguins.  It makes sense. 

 

40 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

 Karamanos joined the Penguins in June of 2014,where he served as vice president of hockey operations for three seasons, Karmanos was promoted to assistant general manager in June 2017. Sullivan was named Pittsburgh AHL head coach a year after Kramanos was hired (June of 2015) and moved up to the Penguins HC in December of the same year. So their paths did cross. 

And Karmanos could have in person discussions with Sullivan without either of them having to hop on a plane.  "Fancy meeting you here at the Steel City Timmy Ho's; care for a cup of joe and a discussion on what would fix the Sabres PP (besides sending Appert into the sun)?

So the airport watchers and other tea leaf readers wouldn't even have to have an inkling anything was going on.

[LGR4GM]

How good is Sullivan? Honestly curious on ppls take on him. He's had Crosby forever so that helps but also, he seems pretty decent. 

[Flashsabre]

This is lining up as a Friday afternoon news dump isn’t it.

I highly doubt Sullivan is coming to Buffalo when Boston and the Rags have a high interest.

TB got rolled. Any chance Cooper could shake loose? I know it’s highly unlikely but we need hope of something good happening😁

Edited 22 hours ago by Flashsabre

[Taro T]

5 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

How good is Sullivan? Honestly curious on ppls take on him. He's had Crosby forever so that helps but also, he seems pretty decent. 

He seems decent.  Except for 2 SC Championship runs he's had limited playoff success at the NHL level.  (But did we mention his teams won 2 SC's.)  He was a HC in the AHL twice and both times he got promoted to the parent team before the season was completed as his teams were killing it at the AHL level.

The fact he's had success at the NHL level and at the AHL level would indicate that he could be the right coach for this team.  As the Pens got longer in the tooth, his success dwindled and his Bruin squad coming out of THE lockout was attrocious but that was another one that was old and absolutely not built for the "new" NHL.

Of reasonably realistic options, he's probably the best of the experienced coaches that would possibly be willing to come here.  (They aren't hiring Gallant and Boudreau was already rebuffed a few years back.  And didn't Tocchet tell them to pound salt a long time ago as well?)

1 minute ago, Flashsabre said:

This is lining up as a Friday afternoon news dump isn’t it.

I highly doubt Sullivan is coming to Buffalo when Boston and the Rags have a high interest.

TB got rolled. Any chance Cooper could shake loose? I know it’s highly unlikely but we need hope of something good happening😁

IMHO TB overperformed this year.  They're getting very long in the tooth even with the couple of veteran swapouts they made this year.

Can't see any way they'd be dumb enough to cut Cooper loose.

[dudacek]

39 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

How good is Sullivan? Honestly curious on ppls take on him. He's had Crosby forever so that helps but also, he seems pretty decent. 

Sure talked him up on Friedman’s podcast. As in “there are employed coaches worried they might get shoved aside”. And “he’s not leaving the east but if he could Jim Rutherford would stuff him in a trunk and smuggle him into Vancouver.”

As far as they were concerned, it was the Rangers unless for some reason he was not interested. Runner-up Boston because that's where he’s from.

Also said his contract would set the new bar.

[Flashsabre]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

i've always thought @Brawndo was Sam Ventura's computer program after achieving consciousness.

But yes. The board should be celebrating.

What am I missing? Does Brawndo have a connection inside the Sabres or something?

[Porous Five Hole]

Kevyn’s biggest problem has always been his patience with his young group. No blockers. 
 

Unless Karmanos is going to drink from the flask of the ghost of Tim Murray, it is not going to matter. JK would just be another first timer who needs patience with his young group.

 

[LGR4GM]

Just now, Porous Five Hole said:

Kevyn’s biggest problem has always been his patience with his young group. No blockers. 
 

Unless Karmanos is going to drink from the flask of the ghost of Tim Murray, it is not going to matter. JK would just be another first timer who needs patience with his young group.

 

I disagree. Karmanos has a lot of front office experience between Buffalo and Pittsburgh. He's been here and helped draft most of the young guys while also knowing Rochester and Buffalo players. I don't think he would need patience as he should know the team and org well. Whether or not he would act decisively is another matter. 

[shrader]

It’s not like hiring a cup winning coach from Pittsburgh has ever bit us in the ass before. But hey, at least it doesn’t cost a draft pick this time. 

[Porous Five Hole]

23 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I disagree. Karmanos has a lot of front office experience between Buffalo and Pittsburgh. He's been here and helped draft most of the young guys while also knowing Rochester and Buffalo players. I don't think he would need patience as he should know the team and org well. Whether or not he would act decisively is another matter. 

To the bolded, you nailed my concern.  I don’t necessarily think the job is too big for him.  But just because he’s already here doesn’t make him the best choice.