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

[That Aud Smell]

13 hours ago, sabremike said:

I went to GG before the home finale and thought the wings were excellent.

Thanks for posting this. I love The Gate. 

My sense is that there’s inconsistency there because it’s difficult to get and keep good help.

We had several out of town wing visits over a 5 year period — 2 were traditional Gate excellence and the others were meh. (Our guests didn’t seem to notice any deficiency.)

[SwampD]

Aaaah! Spring is in the air.

It wouldn’t be playoffs in Buffalo if there wasn’t an offseason thread interlaced with a wing discussion.

[Mr Peabody]

[Archie Lee]

Maybe they wait until after the draft lottery.  Let Adams be the embarrassed face of the franchise at the lottery (again), and then Karmanos takes over later in the week.

At this stage, I would accept Adams to POHO and Karmanos to GM, if only because I would have some hope that Karmanos having a larger influence might make a difference. I have no idea if Karmanos will work, but his background and experience makes him a legit candidate.

What I don't like is saddling Karmanos with Ruff as HC. It echoes last year and Ruff accepting a two year deal as HC and agreeing to keep the existing assistants. It reaffirms that the first priority of Pegula and Adams is not hiring the person who will bring meaningful change, but rather the person who will accept the existing flawed structure.

It won't happen, but the best combination of maximum change with minimal firing, would be Adams to POHO, Ruff to Senior Advisor, Karmanos to GM, Appert to GM Rochester, Ellis back to development, Wilford fired.  With one firing, space is opened up for an entirely new coaching staff (save for Bales, who I could take or leave at this point).

[Pimlach]

Was hoping to see some action.  It’s Saturday, the NFL draft is long over.  The Twitter world says Terry and Kevyn have met. 
 

Now what?   
 

[PASabreFan]

I believe changes are coming to the thread title, one way or t'other.

I miss Rick.

[dudacek]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

They're going to run it back. Sign their rfas and run the same team back with Norris instead of Cozens and Levi instead of Reimer.

They lack imagination and vision. Terry Pegula is just white toast with butter while everyone else can at minimum cook some eggs and bacon. 

Regardless of what happens off the ice, I am still expecting some more change on the ice.

Too much smoke about Lindy discovering what his guys really are for that to just be Cozens and Jokiharju. If this braintrust is back they will be moving out more parts he didn’t like.

I strongly doubt Samuelsson is back and I think there’s a good chance Quinn follows him. I buy the smoke about UPL. Reimer is a UFA and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back with a better veteran, pair him with Levi, and see where that goes. Lindy certainly didn’t treat Clifton and Lafferty like his guys. 

I think the contract situations mean one of Tuch, Byram and Peterka is gone as well. I think Byram is the one the Sabres would choose to move, but what the player brings to negotiating table in terms of contract demands will pay a big role. We aren’t paying enough attention to the bomb Tuch might be ready to drop.

Most of the above is about housecleaning, but there’s also the possibility that they may actually go shopping for what they think they are missing, and that puts everyone except Ras and Tage on the table.

The Cozens and Savoie trades I think are templates we could see more of if Adams is still in charge, and I think that if he returns he will be under pressure (or even under orders) to make moves.

I also think there are as many business reasons for a significant trade as there are hockey reasons, so there’s that too.

 

Edited 12 hours ago by dudacek

[Archie Lee]

Perhaps a potential holdup, if there is going to be the change mostly speculated, is working out contracts with Adams and Karmanos. I mean, this wouldn’t be quite as simple as Pegula promoting Adams and Adams promoting Karmanos. Both Adams and Karmanos would need contracts (presumably, at least the minimum standard of 3 years I would think). Perhaps the decision has been made and it is the details that are still being ironed out.  

[Archie Lee]

4 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Regardless of what happens off the ice, I am still expecting some more change off the ice.

Too much smoke about Lindy discovering what his guys really are for that to just be Cozens and Jokiharju. If this braintrust is back they will be moving out more parts he didn’t like.

I strongly doubt Samuelsson is back and I think there’s a good chance Quinn follows him. I buy the smoke about UPL. Reimer is a UFA and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back with a better veteran, pair him with Levi, and see where that goes. Lindy certainly didn’t treat Clifton and Lafferty like his guys. 

I think the contract situations mean one of Tuch, Byram and Peterka is gone as well. I think Byram is the one the Sabres would choose to move, but what the player brings to negotiating table in terms of contract demands will pay a big role. We aren’t paying enough attention to the bomb Tuch might be ready to drop.

Most of the above is about housecleaning, but there’s also the possibility that they may actually go shopping for what they think they are missing, and that puts everyone except Ras and Tage on the table.

The Cozens and Savoie trades I think are templates we could see more of if Adams is still in charge, and I think that if he returns he will be under pressure (or even under orders) to make moves.

I also think there are as many business reasons for a significant trade as there are hockey reasons, so there’s that too.

 

The idea that the changes made in this most important of off-seasons, will be driven by the biases of a 65 year old head coach who has had two winning seasons in his last 11 and whose teams consistently finish near the bottom of the league in goals against and who has one year left on his contract, is kinda nauseating. It would be completely on brand for the Sabres though. 

[LGR4GM]

10 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Regardless of what happens off the ice, I am still expecting some more change on the ice.

Too much smoke about Lindy discovering what his guys really are for that to just be Cozens and Jokiharju. If this braintrust is back they will be moving out more parts he didn’t like.

I strongly doubt Samuelsson is back and I think there’s a good chance Quinn follows him. I buy the smoke about UPL. Reimer is a UFA and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back with a better veteran, pair him with Levi, and see where that goes. Lindy certainly didn’t treat Clifton and Lafferty like his guys. 

I think the contract situations mean one of Tuch, Byram and Peterka is gone as well. I think Byram is the one the Sabres would choose to move, but what the player brings to negotiating table in terms of contract demands will pay a big role. We aren’t paying enough attention to the bomb Tuch might be ready to drop.

Most of the above is about housecleaning, but there’s also the possibility that they may actually go shopping for what they think they are missing, and that puts everyone except Ras and Tage on the table.

The Cozens and Savoie trades I think are templates we could see more of if Adams is still in charge, and I think that if he returns he will be under pressure (or even under orders) to make moves.

I also think there are as many business reasons for a significant trade as there are hockey reasons, so there’s that too.

 

I don't believe any of this. Until proven otherwise, they're content with the status quo.

Just now, Archie Lee said:

The idea that the changes made in this most important of off-seasons, will be driven by the biases of a 65 year old head coach who has had two winning seasons in his last 11 and whose teams consistently finish near the bottom of the league in goals against and who has one year left on his contract, is kinda nauseating. It would be completely on brand for the Sabres though. 

A lot ppl still have Ruff colored glasses even though Granato had the same team get more points.

[dudacek]

1 minute ago, Archie Lee said:

Perhaps a potential holdup, if there is going to be the change mostly speculated, is working out contracts with Adams and Karmanos. I mean, this wouldn’t be quite as simple as Pegula promoting Adams and Adams promoting Karmanos. Both Adams and Karmanos would need contracts (presumably, at least the minimum standard of 3 years I would think). Perhaps the decision has been made and it is the details that are still being ironed out.  

It’s possible but they shouldn’t take more than a week.

First step is determining what Adams’ new role actually is and how he fits in the hierarchy. One would think that would largely be dictated by Terry. If there are big issues, Adams simply gets fired. So if they met Sunday, that should have been hammered out by Tuesday.

The next step is offering the job the Karmanos. This one’s a little trickier. Is Kevyn offering him the job, or is Terry? What does Pegula want from Jason? What does Jason want from Terry? Who is Jason’s direct boss? What is he in control of? What changes does he want to make? What changes is he allowed to make? Will the family move to Buffalo? What’s a fair contract? 

Given the past and the continued presence of Kevyn, there will be a few sticky points. So another 3 days there?

Get the lawyers to draw up the documents, sign and announce Monday morning?

[HumanSlinky39]

21 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

Perhaps a potential holdup, if there is going to be the change mostly speculated, is working out contracts with Adams and Karmanos. I mean, this wouldn’t be quite as simple as Pegula promoting Adams and Adams promoting Karmanos. Both Adams and Karmanos would need contracts (presumably, at least the minimum standard of 3 years I would think). Perhaps the decision has been made and it is the details that are still being ironed out.  

I still have a huge problem with "promoting" Adams even if it's only symbolic. He has failed as a GM, so he gets to move up? This organization was humping "accountability" all last summer and this season. They do this and that was pure intellectual dishonesty.

[dudacek]

2 minutes ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

I still have a huge problem with "promoting" Adams even if it's only symbolic. He has failed as a GM, so he gets to move up? This organization was humping "accountability" all last summer and this season. They do this and that was pure intellectual dishonesty.

Yep.

I can buy the idea of Adams getting a golden handshake for his loyalty and that the “promotion” is actually a demotion.

I can even entertain hope that Karmanos may actually be capable and able to implement changes rather quickly because there will be no learning curve. Assuming he will actually have the authority to do so.

But I can’t do anything but laugh at any talk of accountability from Terry and Kevyn.

[Carmel Corn]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

Yep.

I can buy the idea of Adams getting a golden handshake for his loyalty and that the “promotion” is actually a demotion.

I can even entertain hope that Karmanos may actually be capable and able to implement changes rather quickly because there will be no learning curve. Assuming he will actually have the authority to do so.

But I can’t do anything but laugh at any talk of accountability from Terry and Kevyn.

IMHO - what is hard to assume is Karmanos having any true authority to make decisions.  Let’s pretend that he prefers a heavy and more physical hockey team, especially on defense.  Will TP and POHO Howdy Doody actually allow him to execute a trade that moves Byram or Power in exchange for a grizzly defender?  I strongly have my doubts, hence none of any possible change will amount to a hill of beans.  It’s all a big nothing burger.

[Thorny]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

Regardless of what happens off the ice, I am still expecting some more change on the ice.

Too much smoke about Lindy discovering what his guys really are for that to just be Cozens and Jokiharju. If this braintrust is back they will be moving out more parts he didn’t like.

I strongly doubt Samuelsson is back and I think there’s a good chance Quinn follows him. I buy the smoke about UPL. Reimer is a UFA and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back with a better veteran, pair him with Levi, and see where that goes. Lindy certainly didn’t treat Clifton and Lafferty like his guys. 

I think the contract situations mean one of Tuch, Byram and Peterka is gone as well. I think Byram is the one the Sabres would choose to move, but what the player brings to negotiating table in terms of contract demands will pay a big role. We aren’t paying enough attention to the bomb Tuch might be ready to drop.

Most of the above is about housecleaning, but there’s also the possibility that they may actually go shopping for what they think they are missing, and that puts everyone except Ras and Tage on the table.

The Cozens and Savoie trades I think are templates we could see more of if Adams is still in charge, and I think that if he returns he will be under pressure (or even under orders) to make moves.

I also think there are as many business reasons for a significant trade as there are hockey reasons, so there’s that too.

 

Actually I removed the thumbs down. I don’t need to give you one because I am jealous of your resiliency that would be wrong and spiteful 

2 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Perhaps a potential holdup, if there is going to be the change mostly speculated, is working out contracts with Adams and Karmanos. I mean, this wouldn’t be quite as simple as Pegula promoting Adams and Adams promoting Karmanos. Both Adams and Karmanos would need contracts (presumably, at least the minimum standard of 3 years I would think). Perhaps the decision has been made and it is the details that are still being ironed out.  

Young fool. 

only now, at the end, do you understand 

[Thorny]

2 hours ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

I still have a huge problem with "promoting" Adams even if it's only symbolic. He has failed as a GM, so he gets to move up? This organization was humping "accountability" all last summer and this season. They do this and that was pure intellectual dishonesty.

We have to take it because we know that they know that we know it’s demotion by promotion 

we can’t get a better admittance than that from this buffoon 

I’ll take those scraps 

Edited 9 hours ago by Thorny

[dudacek]

26 minutes ago, Carmel Corn said:

IMHO - what is hard to assume is Karmanos having any true authority to make decisions.  Let’s pretend that he prefers a heavy and more physical hockey team, especially on defense.  Will TP and POHO Howdy Doody actually allow him to execute a trade that moves Byram or Power in exchange for a grizzly defender?  I strongly have my doubts, hence none of any possible change will amount to a hill of beans.  It’s all a big nothing burger.

Is Karmanos different than Adams? Will he be allowed to show that?

It's the open question in regards to this supposed change, and only time will tell.

One would hope he's not taking the job just for the money and the security, knowing full well it's just a facade an he's still just the associate GM, but there's every chance he might be.

The ironic thing is that Karmanos is far more qualified to be a GM than Adams ever was. He's been a senior hockey exec (mostly as an assistant GM) for 26 yearsand is only 50 years old. Stanley Cups with Carolina and Pittsburgh.

24 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Actually I removed the thumbs down. I don’t need to give you one because I am jealous of your resiliency that would be wrong and spiteful

You see that as resiliency? I just see it as a reading into what's been done and said over the past year-ish.

I mean I didn't say they would make good moves, only that they would make moves. 😁

[DarthEbriate]

If there is a change at GM, please for the honor of all that is right in sports, let them choose their own coach (if the organizational hierarchy is owner -> GM -> coach). Don't pull a Bears (or repeat this last season's mistake). The GM gets to choose their coach, the coach gets to choose their entire staff. Everyone re-interviews and justifies their existence. None of this holdover garbage. 

[spndnchz]

I’m tired of this thread. 

[DarthEbriate]

19 hours ago, Mr. Allen said:

Are you getting excited for Sunday? 

Not this year. I've basically completed the entirety of my Lego Star Wars galaxy. The only thing they'll get me to purchase at this point would be a Gold-5 "Pops" minifig scale Y-wing to complete my Gold Squadron. And maybe a Nebulon B re-release.

[Thorny]

32 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Is Karmanos different than Adams? Will he be allowed to show that?

It's the open question in regards to this supposed change, and only time will tell.

One would hope he's not taking the job just for the money and the security, knowing full well it's just a facade an he's still just the associate GM, but there's every chance he might be.

The ironic thing is that Karmanos is far more qualified to be a GM than Adams ever was. He's been a senior hockey exec (mostly as an assistant GM) for 26 yearsand is only 50 years old. Stanley Cups with Carolina and Pittsburgh.

You see that as resiliency? I just see it as a reading into what's been done and said over the past year-ish.

I mean I didn't say they would make good moves, only that they would make moves. 😁

Perhaps the willingness to continue discussing it at all if no management changes are made 

[PerreaultForever]

7 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

They're going to run it back. Sign their rfas and run the same team back with Norris instead of Cozens and Levi instead of Reimer.

They lack imagination and vision. Terry Pegula is just white toast with butter while everyone else can at minimum cook some eggs and bacon. 

This is what I believe as well. They might sign a mediocre D man in free agency like a Gryzelcyk or Ceci or some free agent they can overpay or nobody really wants and maybe even a fourth liner but basically just run it back and bet on Levi .

and then Dahlin will want out. 

[Thorny]

5 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

This is what I believe as well. They might sign a mediocre D man in free agency like a Gryzelcyk or Ceci or some free agent they can overpay or nobody really wants and maybe even a fourth liner but basically just run it back and bet on Levi .

and then Dahlin will want out. 

First instinct usually the most accurate, ya know? how apparent was it, very early on, that Adams was tying his entire plan to Levi? He lined him up at starter like, what, 3 years ago? Lmao. He isn’t even a starter, YET!

His plan was always a Hail Mary on a small goalie 

[Believer]

8 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Terry Pegula is just white toast with butter while everyone else can at minimum cook some eggs and bacon. 

Nice analogy. 

Pegula is not serving a Breakfast of Champions to a starving fan base, that’s for sure.

[JP51]

7 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Was hoping to see some action.  It’s Saturday, the NFL draft is long over.  The Twitter world says Terry and Kevyn have met. 
 

Now what?   
 

Lipstick/Pig rinse wash repeat lose