Does anyone like the idea of Brendan Shanahan

[SJSabres Fan]

Coming to the Sabres front office?  I never really liked the guy.  He was a good hockey player but I don’t think that automatically makes you a good front office man.  Also in my typical “the world has it out for Buffalo” attitude I think he rooked us a few times when he was with the league office.  

[DarthEbriate]

The Concept of Shanahan?

[pi2000]

..if it means KA has a reduced role, then yes, bring him onboard.

I don't see this happening tho, a guy like Shanahan won't fit under Terry's thumb.

[JP51]

Absolutely 100%.... but I also like the idea of being able to dunk a basketball... which I am pretty sure will happen well before Shanahan comes to work under Kevyn Adams... 

[Broken Ankles]

5 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

..if it means KA has a reduced role, then yes, bring him onboard.

I don't see this happening tho, a guy like Shanahan won't fit under Terry's thumb.

This plus cost.  I saw a report that showed his resigning in Toronto was $5m/year.  What does Kev make in the 716? Maybe $1.1- 1.4m?  Definitely at the low end.  

[LabattBlue]

8 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

I don't see this happening tho, a guy like Shanahan won't fit under Terry's thumb.

I don’t think there are any experienced “senior advisors” who would tolerate the current FO hierarchy.  

[Flashsabre]

I do because I think Shanahan is good. He built a strong organization in Toronto. The players just never pushed through but they were always set up to win.

Shanahan would be a giant signal from Terry that he is ready to get serious. For Shanahan to agree to come it would mean the hierarchy would be changing in Buffalo. It would bring credibility to the franchise.

[Weave]

From what little info I bothered to pay attention to, it seems that Sha-na-na was willing and able to diagnose shortcomings with the Leafs and work to address them.  I am thinking specifically of going out and getting a coach and a few players that seemed to address past failings.  Did it work?  I think an argument can be made either way.  But he DID recognize and attack the issues.  He brought in a coach that was going to address their weaknesses.  Domi and Tanev were brought in.  Those are substantial changes to address needs.

Does anyone see KA doing that?  I think Shanananananahan would bring instant credibility to the organization.

[Archie Lee]

Under Shanahan, the Leafs made the playoffs the last 9 years.  They have averaged 105 points per season in that time.  Over the past 3 seasons, only 5 teams have won more playoff games (the 4 still playing, and Vegas).  Shanahan was fired because the expectations in Toronto are now for a Stanley Cup Victory.

There are Sabre fans who don't like the idea of Shanahan having a role with the Sabres?  

 

 

 

[irregularly irregular]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

From what little info I bothered to pay attention to, it seems that Sha-na-na was willing and able to diagnose shortcomings with the Leafs and work to address them.  I am thinking specifically of going out and getting a coach and a few players that seemed to address past failings.  Did it work?  I think an argument can be made either way.  But he DID recognize and attack the issues.  He brought in a coach that was going to address their weaknesses.  Domi and Tanev were brought in.  Those are substantial changes to address needs.

Does anyone see KA doing that?  I think Shanananananahan would bring instant credibility to the organization.

Okay, and now he will be Bowzer in my mind for the remainder of my days. 

[Night Train]

Shanny was fired because he or ownership decided 4 core guys would get paid and the players around them were good. But the big 4 wilted in the playoffs. His fault or the players choking ?  It's how you look at it

 but he should walk into KA's office with a blowtorch.  "Advise him"  he's an idiot and to get out. 

[inkman]

3 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Under Shanahan, the Leafs made the playoffs the last 9 years.  They have averaged 105 points per season in that time.  Over the past 3 seasons, only 5 teams have won more playoff games (the 4 still playing, and Vegas).  Shanahan was fired because the expectations in Toronto are now for a Stanley Cup Victory.

There are Sabre fans who don't like the idea of Shanahan having a role with the Sabres?  

 

 

 

The Sabres don’t exactly have the Leafs roster.  Maybe BS could get it there but this teams needs a huge roster turnover.  

[Broken Ankles]

3 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

Under Shanahan, the Leafs made the playoffs the last 9 years.  They have averaged 105 points per season in that time.  Over the past 3 seasons, only 5 teams have won more playoff games (the 4 still playing, and Vegas).  Shanahan was fired because the expectations in Toronto are now for a Stanley Cup Victory.

There are Sabre fans who don't like the idea of Shanahan having a role with the Sabres?  

 

 

 

….and won two series. Half as many as the Sabres since the Lockout* (stealing this stat from someone on SS).  You could honestly say the line up was incredibly soft until Treliving joined the organization.  And none of us know what his role was in accumulating more grit over the last two years vs Shanny.  I mean Brad still has a job so that must mean something. Dude also had an unlimited budget in terms of staffing, assistants, scouts, etc.  If the choice is binary, then easy.  Of course.  But all things factored, no thanks.  

[PerreaultForever]

No. Shanahan brought in Dubas and Dubas destroyed that team's build. Dubas may be the only GM in the last decade I can think of that might be worse than Adams. 

So many opportunities already passed over for this year. Stupid franchise with a stupid owner. 

[Carmel Corn]

Sorry, but to even think this is remotely a possibility is too hard for me to fathom.  The only way Shanny ever gets a job in this joke of an organization is if he literally BUYS the team.

[Pimlach]

Yes, I like him and he is a big upgrade. 

He will not work for Adams.   He probably not want to work with Adams, meaning he will not get the job.  

 

[Cranky old man]

Terry Pegula’s inaction, as it relates to the structure of the Sabres over the last five years, (and previous) strongly suggests he would not hire anyone above Adams. Once might even conjecture that Adams’ eager embrace of an unlikely promotion after the mass firing of 22 employees at Sabreland in 2020 earned him an invisible leash X years long. Though hiring Shanahan would immediately rehabilitate Pegula’s standing as the worst owner in the NHL, he owes Kevyon for standing in front of the cameras taking all the garbage that should be answered by an owner or team president. 

[xzy89c1]

Because he has done so well in Toronto? What gives anyone the impression he is an upgrade? He hires people. When they fail he blames them and then gets someone else. 

 

Read Chelios's book where he makes fun of shanahan. Was obsessed with his image. Always kissing up to the media.  His teammates did not like him due to that. 

Edited 21 hours ago by xzy89c1

[LGR4GM]

16 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

No. Shanahan brought in Dubas and Dubas destroyed that team's build. Dubas may be the only GM in the last decade I can think of that might be worse than Adams. 

So many opportunities already passed over for this year. Stupid franchise with a stupid owner. 

I don't understand the hockey world's love of Dubas.

[Eleven]

18 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't understand the hockey world's love of Dubas.

It's easy.  He worked for Toronto so he must be good.  Just like John Ferguson Jr.

[French Collection]

Shanahan would be better than KA, the bar is at a mouse doing the limbo height.

No way he takes a #2 job for TP after being #1 at the “real hockey heaven”. LOL.

I would take him but he has that Leafs stench on him.

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't understand the hockey world's love of Dubas.

I don't really get it either and wondered about it from day 1 but the ideological mantra from his supporters was sort of Moneyball based. He was supposed to be the young genius and he was going to be smartest man in the room for the new way of doing things. The reality is he overspent on the big 4 and let key pieces like Kadri and Hyman go. Couldn't build a good enough D with the remaining money and goaltending has been iffy all the way along. It's an unsustainable model and many people predicted that would happen way back when they signed Tavares and caved on Nylander. 

Why Pittsburgh decided to hire him is beyond me. 

[DarthEbriate]

On 5/27/2025 at 10:24 AM, Broken Ankles said:

This plus cost.  I saw a report that showed his resigning in Toronto was $5m/year.  What does Kev make in the 716? Maybe $1.1- 1.4m?  Definitely at the low end.  

Hi, Brendan. Salary? Well, you'd make 6% what you were making, but you'd report, get this, directly to the General Manager. You can't beat that!

No, not 6% less. 6% of what... what you previously earned. Brendan? Hello there?

[WhenWillItEnd66]

We are going to need a hire similar to this just to be credible again.....Very sad

[GoPuckYourself]

I'm going to guess nobody with any dignity will work under Kevyn Adams. Not 1 single firing after 5 years of failure... Oh my bad we got a new strength and conditioning coach.