Matthew Fairburn Latest Article regarding Terry Pegula and Adams

[spndnchz]

3 hours ago, Timonthy 76 said:

Buffalo has never brought in any kind of significant money into the NHL, one of the main reason they continue to complain privately to the NHL and Canadian CRTC to get games in Canada (this always nowhere since CRTC never listens to any person/company outside of Canada especially people from the the US)

Spoken like a Toronto fan. Yes?

[Brawndo]

56 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

No doubt the early days of Adams tenure was under very tight financial constraints.  The discussion was focused on the past few seasons and his inability to do enough to improve the 91 point roster.   

Adams is still under very tight financial constraints.  The 91 point season the Sabres led the league in available cap space with a whopping 17.2 million available. The following season 2023-24 season they were 4th with 10.6 million available. This was also the first season that the Thompson and Cozens Extensions kicked in. The past season they were 7th with 8.4 million available. Couple this with the fact that Granato is the only person in the organization who was fired with term remaining on his deal, there is no doubt the organization is still under a do not spend philosophy. (Particularly since this was shared by a member of the Sabres Front Office)
 

Adams absolutely sucks at his job, it takes a GM like Regier to successfully build a team under financial constraints. If Pegula will not upgrade on Adams, Assistant Coaches or allow the team to spend to the cap, that’s on him. 
 

The biggest worry is the players know what is going on, see  all the unused cap space and lack of commitment to winning. Peterka was the latest example. Tage has  had Podcast interviews this summer and has mentioned the lack of winning.  If we get to the beginning of the season and Tuch hasn’t extended that’s the latest version of the canary in the coal mine.        

[Pimlach]

10 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

Adams is still under very tight financial constraints.  The 91 point season the Sabres led the league in available cap space with a whopping 17.2 million available. The following season 2023-24 season they were 4th with 10.6 million available. This was also the first season that the Thompson and Cozens Extensions kicked in. The past season they were 7th with 8.4 million available. Couple this with the fact that Granato is the only person in the organization who was fired with term remaining on his deal, there is no doubt the organization is still under a do not spend philosophy. (Particularly since this was shared by a member of the Sabres Front Office)
 

Adams absolutely sucks at his job, it takes a GM like Regier to successfully build a team under financial constraints. If Pegula will not upgrade on Adams, Assistant Coaches or allow the team to spend to the cap, that’s on him. 
 

The biggest worry is the players know what is going on, see  all the unused cap space and lack of commitment to winning. Peterka was the latest example. Tage has  had Podcast interviews this summer and has mentioned the lack of winning.  If we get to the beginning of the season and Tuch hasn’t extended that’s the latest version of the canary in the coal mine.        

I agree.  

I take it you won’t be having Adams over for dinner anytime soon?  

[Brawndo]

Just now, Pimlach said:

I agree.  

I take it you won’t be having Adams over for dinner anytime soon?  

Actually I would. 
 

From all accounts Kevyn Adams is a terrific person  ( I have a close relative who knows the family personally) and I would love to talk hockey with him. 
 

He is a terrible NHL GM though, whether that be from his lack of experience, the financial restraints he operates under or a combination of both. 

[Carmel Corn]

15 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

I agree.  

I take it you won’t be having Adams over for dinner anytime soon?  

He’ll only come over if you tell him that he doesn’t have to spend any money to buy a bottle of wine to bring with him to dinner.

[PerreaultForever]

9 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

I think Terry wants to get to know Jarmo. Adams is still his friend.  Kevyn didn't do great on the last group project but he's still gonna get his name on the next one. 

No doubt. And Terry probably also wants to make sure Jarmo will say "yes" to him if he wants something different and that's just not how you build or run a winning organization. 

The thing is people talk about how players have NTCs and don't want to come there and then they talk about the small market and the weather and that's just not it. Players and their agents are not all idiots. They know it's a badly run Mickey Mouse organization. 

[PerreaultForever]

3 hours ago, JohnC said:

Did the owner order KA to hire an experienced hockey person to help him? And was Jarmo the GM's personal selection?

idk and I suspect we never know but remember the shot of Lou Lamorello in the Buffalo airport? So one assumes he interviewed/talked with Terry before Jarmo was hired. Did he say no thanks after seeing the financial constraints and owner oversight or did owner decide he wasn't the right guy and wouldn't say yes enough? Did anyone else say no? Did Shanahan actually call and ask? 

I have no idea on any of it but I think one thing we can conclude is there are experienced hockey people who are or were interested in coming here but either they sour on it or the owner is an impediment to it. That is almost certain. 

[LTS]

23 hours ago, Taro T said:

In fairness to Peters, even if he was an individual of average intelligence in his youth, in his late adolescence / early adulthood he became a hard core user of andro (since banned for NHLers) and his job description included taking haymakers to the melon on a fairly regular basis.  Of course he isn't even remotely the smartest guy in whatever room he's in presuming he isn't the only guy in the room (and even then it's debatable).

I've met my fair share of athletes. I had one run in with Andrew Peters and it's easily the most obnoxious and inconsiderate run-in I had ever had. He's a buffoon who is hanging on to whatever money he can scrabble from his brief moments in professional hockey.

Not a chance in hell I would ever willingly choose to be in the same room with him again.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, PerreaultForever said:

idk and I suspect we never know but remember the shot of Lou Lamorello in the Buffalo airport? So one assumes he interviewed/talked with Terry before Jarmo was hired. Did he say no thanks after seeing the financial constraints and owner oversight or did owner decide he wasn't the right guy and wouldn't say yes enough? Did anyone else say no? Did Shanahan actually call and ask? 

I have no idea on any of it but I think one thing we can conclude is there are experienced hockey people who are or were interested in coming here but either they sour on it or the owner is an impediment to it. That is almost certain. 

There are no secrets about this franchise, owner and how business is done. When one has better options it’s not a surprise that an alternative pathway is preferred by players and potential staff. No one likes living in the ghetto when one can instead live in an upscale suburb. 

[Timonthy 76]

3 hours ago, spndnchz said:

Spoken like a Toronto fan. Yes?

I couldn’t care less, but if you think Buffalo brings in significant money go right ahead and think that, I’m not stopping you 

Edited yesterday at 07:50 PM by Timonthy 76

[irregularly irregular]

4 hours ago, Brawndo said:

 

The biggest worry is the players know what is going on, see  all the unused cap space and lack of commitment to winning. Peterka was the latest example. Tage has  had Podcast interviews this summer and has mentioned the lack of winning.  If we get to the beginning of the season and Tuch hasn’t extended that’s the latest version of the canary in the coal mine.        

The exact terminology and scenario that I've used when talking to myself about this team. 

Luckily for all of you, I keep most of my conversations with myself to myself. 

[gilbert11]

On 7/12/2025 at 2:41 PM, kas23 said:

If a team like the Sabres are recipients of revenue sharing, at what point does the NHL step in and encourage him to sell the team. The NHL did so with Alex Meruelo and the Coyotes, found him a nice buyer, and eventually tripled his money in less than 5 years. This had a lot to do with the Coyotes not having an NHL arena to play in. But, I wonder if there are any by-laws stipulating revenue generation as requisite for ownership? This is likely why there is a new stadium for the Bills being built. The Sabres revenue growth over the past 10 years must be negative. 
 

ChatGPT says the owners must be in the bottom half of revenue, have a small market, the owner must not have too much personal wealth, and lastly, this:

 

Effort to Improve Revenue

Teams must also show that ownership is making “best efforts” to increase revenue (e.g., through ticket sales, sponsorships, arena improvements).

The NHL can withhold funds if the league believes the team isn’t trying hard enough to improve financially.

 

Would be interesting to see if withholding revenue sharing could lead to an ownership change. 

Went thru this with my Oakland A’s.  Somehow their A-hole owner convinced the other owners he was in a small market in a city in the SF Bay Area and continued to get  revenue sharing until they saw he wasn’t spending any on the team.

Then for some reason they started giving it to him again.  Now, they’re playing in a Triple A stadium here in the Sacramento area rent free and they have the highest average ticket price in MLB.

As bad as you guys may think Terry is, John Fisher is definitely one of the worst sports owners of all time.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, gilbert11 said:

Went thru this with my Oakland A’s.  Somehow their A-hole owner convinced the other owners he was in a small market in a city in the SF Bay Area and continued to get  revenue sharing until they saw he wasn’t spending any on the team.

Then for some reason they started giving it to him again.  Now, they’re playing in a Triple A stadium here in the Sacramento area rent free and they have the highest average ticket price in MLB.

As bad as you guys may think Terry is, John Fisher is definitely one of the worst sports owners of all time.

Isn't the Sacramento stadium a temporary situation until the Vegas stadium is built? 

When you get to the point where you are comparing your owner with the worst owner in sports (as you describe it), then you are at a bad point. 

The sad, if not ironic, thing about the Sabres and its financial situation is that if the owner had a serious team, the cash/flow and revenue return would put him in a healthier financial position. Penny wise and dollar foolish. Buffalo and the surrounding area are a terrific hockey market. The owner squashed it by how he has mangled this franchise. 

[JohnC]

20 hours ago, spndnchz said:

Spoken like a Toronto fan. Yes?

I understand why you feel like you do when smugness is exhibited by outsiders. However, what's more upsetting is not the smugness directed toward this puny franchise as to why it happens. It's embarrassing that when Toronto plays Buffalo in our home arena that there are more Toronto fans. They literally have taken over the building so much so that if you were watching the game and didn't know where it was played you would assume that it was in Toronto. Our franchise has been degraded. And it was done by its own regime. 

[JoeSchmoe]

23 hours ago, Timonthy 76 said:

Buffalo has never brought in any kind of significant money into the NHL, one of the main reason they continue to complain privately to the NHL and Canadian CRTC to get games in Canada (this always nowhere since CRTC never listens to any person/company outside of Canada especially people from the the US)

Buffalo has the most hockey viewers per capita and best TV ratings out of any US market. 

Even factoring in population size (viewers * ratings), they're still pretty high (though I don't have recent numbers on this). 

Growing the TV contract is Bettman's job #1. The league needs Buffalo and it's viewers, along with all the Buffalo ex-pats across the US. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, JoeSchmoe said:

Buffalo has the most hockey viewers per capita and best TV ratings out of any US market. 

Even factoring in population size (viewers * ratings), they're still pretty high (though I don't have recent numbers on this). 

Growing the TV contract is Bettman's job #1. The league needs Buffalo and it's viewers, along with all the Buffalo ex-pats across the US. 

Yep.  There's a reason that, as bad as the Sabres have been, that ESPN & TNT keep wanting Sabres games.

[triumph_communes]

They brought in Jarmo and the entire roster philosophy changed overnight. First offseason with Ruff too so it’s hard to pinpoint which move is Ruff or Jarmo; but either way. I get that the masses want to see heads roll, but change just happened in a big way. 
 

Very few teams had a big UFA day that isn’t a sign of much

Edited 8 hours ago by triumph_communes

[inkman]

38 minutes ago, triumph_communes said:

They brought in Jarmo and the entire roster philosophy changed overnight. First offseason with Ruff too so it’s hard to pinpoint which move is Ruff or Jarmo; but either way. I get that the masses want to see heads roll, but change just happened in a big way. 
 

Very few teams had a big UFA day that isn’t a sign of much

To the bolded, did it?  Kesselring, Doan, Danforth and Timmons are decent players but I don’t know if it’s the culmination of an organization’s offseason philosophy.  They brought in a handful of players that play more like actual NHL players than the guys they replaced.  Not sure if it moves the needle much overall.  
 

Real change would be moving Power in a Turgeon/LaFontaine type swap.  Get another highly touted player in return. If you want to look a defenseman trades, think Pronger for Shanahan.  I like Owen Power but I think the team needs their version of Tkachuk or Bennett.  Get that nasty power forward leader. 
 

As far as the rest of roster, it’s inexplicable that Samuelsson wasn’t bought out (it screams cash poor franchise), and Bryson was resigned (because he likes being here despite the diminished role).  We have Ryan Johnson for that who is absolutely a better NHL player than Jacob.  
 

Even without the Power move, getting Bryson & Mattias out of Buffalo should have been a priority.  Instead of prioritizing getting good hockey players, Adams is working with a different agenda.  One that MUST incorporate finances (like avoiding buyouts) or guys that want to be here (so what if they are garbage like Bryson).   
 

The team still needs more snarl. They’ll still get pushed around even if god forbid Mason Geertsen is somehow are part of the roster.  They need at least one, preferable two crease clearing D and another forward that plays hockey and enjoys the physical aspect of the game. 
 

I seem to recall the org’s insistence on paving the way with skill over Braun. Unfortunately the rest of the league didn’t.  Physical intimidation is still a large part of sports and life.  Guys that are bigger, tougher and meaner than you are going to have an easier time retrieving that puck out of the corner because our skill guys are too worried about getting their heads put through the boards. 

[Mango]

2 hours ago, JoeSchmoe said:

Buffalo has the most hockey viewers per capita and best TV ratings out of any US market. 

Even factoring in population size (viewers * ratings), they're still pretty high (though I don't have recent numbers on this). 

Growing the TV contract is Bettman's job #1. The league needs Buffalo and it's viewers, along with all the Buffalo ex-pats across the US. 

I think that Terry Pegula has proven that the NHL doesn't need a team in Buffalo for Buffalonians to take in the NHL.

56 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Yep.  There's a reason that, as bad as the Sabres have been, that ESPN & TNT keep wanting Sabres games.

My tinfoil hat is that Sabres viewership is dropping quite a bit and that there are a measurable part of the reason that MSG Networks threatened to declare bankruptcy recently.

The Sabres were a steady and reliable viewership/revenue stream, and their dip causes loads of instability for a regional network.

I have literally no data to back this up other than knowing that Buffalo is a major NHL TV rating for the NHL but attendance and fandom is way way down. I'm assuming that has started to leak into engaging in the teams on air games.

I wouldn't be shocked to hear that Buffalo is watching a lot of hockey, just not Buffalo Sabres hockey.

[Taro T]

14 minutes ago, inkman said:

To the bolded, did it?  Kesselring, Doan, Danforth and Timmons are decent players but I don’t know if it’s the culmination of an organization’s offseason philosophy.  They brought in a handful of players that play more like actual NHL players than the guys they replaced.  Not sure if it moves the needle much overall.  
 

Real change would be moving Power in a Turgeon/LaFontaine type swap.  Get another highly touted player in return. If you want to look a defenseman trades, think Pronger for Shanahan.  I like Owen Power but I think the team needs their version of Tkachuk or Bennett.  Get that nasty power forward leader. 
 

As far as the rest of roster, it’s inexplicable that Samuelsson wasn’t bought out (it screams cash poor franchise), and Bryson was resigned (because he likes being here despite the diminished role).  We have Ryan Johnson for that who is absolutely a better NHL player than Jacob.  
 

Even without the Power move, getting Bryson & Mattias out of Buffalo should have been a priority.  Instead of prioritizing getting good hockey players, Adams is working with a different agenda.  One that MUST incorporate finances (like avoiding buyouts) or guys that want to be here (so what if they are garbage like Bryson).   
 

The team still needs more snarl. They’ll still get pushed around even if god forbid Mason Geertsen is somehow are part of the roster.  They need at least one, preferable two crease clearing D and another forward that plays hockey and enjoys the physical aspect of the game. 
 

I seem to recall the org’s insistence on paving the way with skill over Braun. Unfortunately the rest of the league didn’t.  Physical intimidation is still a large part of sports and life.  Guys that are bigger, tougher and meaner than you are going to have an easier time retrieving that puck out of the corner because our skill guys are too worried about getting their heads put through the boards. 

To the bit about the D, yes, the Sabres would be well served to have guys that would clear the crease.  They'd ALSO be served by having a coach running the D that actually emphasizes/encourages that skill.  The Sabres could have the 2nd coming of Scott Stevens on the roster and they still wouldn't box guys out away from the crease as long as Wilford is gainfully employed by this organization.

[triumph_communes]

41 minutes ago, inkman said:

To the bolded, did it?  Kesselring, Doan, Danforth and Timmons are decent players but I don’t know if it’s the culmination of an organization’s offseason philosophy.  They brought in a handful of players that play more like actual NHL players than the guys they replaced.  Not sure if it moves the needle much overall.  
 

Real change would be moving Power in a Turgeon/LaFontaine type swap.  Get another highly touted player in return. If you want to look a defenseman trades, think Pronger for Shanahan.  I like Owen Power but I think the team needs their version of Tkachuk or Bennett.  Get that nasty power forward leader. 
 

As far as the rest of roster, it’s inexplicable that Samuelsson wasn’t bought out (it screams cash poor franchise), and Bryson was resigned (because he likes being here despite the diminished role).  We have Ryan Johnson for that who is absolutely a better NHL player than Jacob.  
 

Even without the Power move, getting Bryson & Mattias out of Buffalo should have been a priority.  Instead of prioritizing getting good hockey players, Adams is working with a different agenda.  One that MUST incorporate finances (like avoiding buyouts) or guys that want to be here (so what if they are garbage like Bryson).   
 

The team still needs more snarl. They’ll still get pushed around even if god forbid Mason Geertsen is somehow are part of the roster.  They need at least one, preferable two crease clearing D and another forward that plays hockey and enjoys the physical aspect of the game. 
 

I seem to recall the org’s insistence on paving the way with skill over Braun. Unfortunately the rest of the league didn’t.  Physical intimidation is still a large part of sports and life.  Guys that are bigger, tougher and meaner than you are going to have an easier time retrieving that puck out of the corner because our skill guys are too worried about getting their heads put through the boards. 

They drafted only tall folks as well as big and tall elsewhere. You’re asking for even more trades but those are kinda pushing it. I don’t like Power but I don’t force a trade with him, I surround him with players who cover his weakness like we finally are. 

[LGR4GM]

46 minutes ago, inkman said:

I seem to recall the org’s insistence on paving the way with skill over Braun. Unfortunately the rest of the league didn’t.  Physical intimidation is still a large part of sports and life.  Guys that are bigger, tougher and meaner than you are going to have an easier time retrieving that puck out of the corner because our skill guys are too worried about getting their heads put through the boards. 

I don't believe this at all because I never see it. What I see is guys that are tougher/meaner/grittier, putting forth more energy into getting those pucks so they come away with it. I don't believe for 1 second that Power is thinking "oh man, Sam Bennett might hurt me, better shy away" when instead it is just Bennett is harder, more aggressive, and comes out of the corner with the puck because of it. You are arguing intimidation, I am arguing it is hard work and play style. Zach Benson doesn't win board battles because ppl are intimidated by him, he uses the checking skills he has and works to win those battles while Owen Power goes in stick first with no plan. Dylan Cozens was terrible at board battles because he had no idea how to win them and didn't exert the needed battle to win them. What I am saying is it is less about intimidation by opponents and more about lack of a certain character in our skaters. 

32 minutes ago, Taro T said:

To the bit about the D, yes, the Sabres would be well served to have guys that would clear the crease.  They'd ALSO be served by having a coach running the D that actually emphasizes/encourages that skill.  The Sabres could have the 2nd coming of Scott Stevens on the roster and they still wouldn't box guys out away from the crease as long as Wilford is gainfully employed by this organization.

Wilford coming back after how atrocious his defensive units have played in 3 out of 4 of his years is just the most disappointing part of the offseason for me so far. They need an adult back there. Listen to Prospal talk in Rochester, they need him.

[PerreaultForever]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't believe this at all because I never see it. What I see is guys that are tougher/meaner/grittier, putting forth more energy into getting those pucks so they come away with it. I don't believe for 1 second that Power is thinking "oh man, Sam Bennett might hurt me, better shy away" when instead it is just Bennett is harder, more aggressive, and comes out of the corner with the puck because of it. You are arguing intimidation, I am arguing it is hard work and play style. Zach Benson doesn't win board battles because ppl are intimidated by him, he uses the checking skills he has and works to win those battles while Owen Power goes in stick first with no plan. Dylan Cozens was terrible at board battles because he had no idea how to win them and didn't exert the needed battle to win them. What I am saying is it is less about intimidation by opponents and more about lack of a certain character in our skaters. 

This isn't wrong, but you take the first part to an extreme to make your point. It's not so much that they might be scared (I certainly hope that's not it) but more so that they prefer to play a relatively low contact open ice game and that's what's been encouraged by the organization. The emphasis has been on skill over brawn. Sabres have always believed (in this era) that you get enough skill you can add the brawn after but it's the skill that matters. We are all seeing that this is folly (as some of us knew it would be) and you need a balanced approach and a strong culture to insert players into rather than trying to add that later. 

The real problem for me is twofold. First, a lack of strong veteran leaders on the NHL roster, and a poor development system that stresses skill over complete game development. Thus players like Cozens, who were considered hard working battlers in junior are told to focus on their skills and they come up against "men" along those boards and they lose their puck battles and slowly degenerate rather than develop. It will be interesting to see if Ottawa can rehabilitate him or if he's permanently broken. I'm almost certain they won't work with him the same way we did here and he will be pushed to use his size and maybe develop his strength.

That's actually a third point, and maybe the one new hire in terms of conditioning will finally get this right. Put some damn muscle and weight on these kids. Cozens was still a beanpole and shouldn't have been. Quinn is a stick. Power needs more strength. Of the kids, only Benson looks like he is developing a stronger upper body and could press anything substantial relative to his weight. BEEF UP!!!!!!!!!!! Then use it. 

[inkman]

1 hour ago, LGR4GM said:

I don't believe this at all because I never see it. What I see is guys that are tougher/meaner/grittier, putting forth more energy into getting those pucks so they come away with it. I don't believe for 1 second that Power is thinking "oh man, Sam Bennett might hurt me, better shy away" when instead it is just Bennett is harder, more aggressive, and comes out of the corner with the puck because of it. You are arguing intimidation, I am arguing it is hard work and play style. Zach Benson doesn't win board battles because ppl are intimidated by him, he uses the checking skills he has and works to win those battles while Owen Power goes in stick first with no plan. Dylan Cozens was terrible at board battles because he had no idea how to win them and didn't exert the needed battle to win them. What I am saying is it is less about intimidation by opponents and more about lack of a certain character in our skaters. 

I think it’s just semantics as the same players who work hard and are more aggressive on the ice, are the same players that play more physical and are more intimidating.  Whether or not they retrieve pucks due to their aggressive style or players like Jack Quinn or Owen Power heed caution as they anticipate some type of physical interaction with those types of players, only they know for sure.  Based on the eye test, I see an abundance of caution when faced with any resistance on the ice.  

[LGR4GM]

28 minutes ago, inkman said:

I think it’s just semantics as the same players who work hard and are more aggressive on the ice, are the same players that play more physical and are more intimidating.  Whether or not they retrieve pucks due to their aggressive style or players like Jack Quinn or Owen Power heed caution as they anticipate some type of physical interaction with those types of players, only they know for sure.  Based on the eye test, I see an abundance of caution when faced with any resistance on the ice.  

I think that their is a skill to puck battles that Buffalo does not teach, does not draft, and does not value. Zach Benson, Konsta Helenius, and Brodie Zeimer are about the only players I have seen them draft that have a level of skill that goes with being a good checker. Mrtka worries me because of this and I vocally wanted someone other than Power in his draft year because of it. Checking is a skill and it is more than simple aggression or strength, or intimidation. Wilford clearly cannot coach it. Ruff appears to maybe want it. Vinny Prospal in Rochester sounds like he understands the assignment. All of it goes back to team building and the incoherent and ever changing nature of Adams supposed plan. 

I don't believe in the intimidating factor. I think it is hogwash. It is a skill deficiency IMPO.