Sabres have elected arbitration with Byram

[Weave]

13 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Right, because his father's death is connected to Buffalo how exactly? His dad couldn't live knowing Terry was the owner? I think it's fair to say athletes say anything when they make a change to make it seem like a positive change. Look at Peterka's comments in Utah. You think that isn't manufactured to fit the narrative? Yes he wanted out, but there's no way he sat back in Germany and thought, Utah, ya, that's where I want to be. 

The bottom line for me is KA botched goaltending then too. If Ullmark wasn't interested in signing why'd he protect him? Why didn't he grab one of the goalies that was free at that time? It makes no sense unless KA was sure he could sign him. So Linus lied to Adams and then told the truth about his father after? It simply makes no sense on that level. 

At the time, Boston fans were livid and thought Ullmark got grossly overpaid. Hindsight. 

It’s a brutal story and there is obvious trauma on Linus’ part. Look into it.  Don’t be a dick.

[K-9]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

OK.  

Just remember that the season the Sabres had 91 points Linus won the Vezina Trophy.  (49 games, 40 wins and only 6 losses, 1.89 GAA, 0.938 SV Pct.)  

The Sabres played with 3 goalies (UPL, Anderson, Comrie) and then played Levi 7 games at the end of the season.  

Certainly Linus would not have the same numbers playing with Buffalo but it is reasonable to assume the Sabres would have had at least 2 more points with Ullmark in the lineup.  

None of that was known at the time I would have told him to go pound sand. And after he tried playing me like that, I’d have been just as inclined to tell him, anyway. 

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, Weave said:

It’s a brutal story and there is obvious trauma on Linus’ part. Look into it.  Don’t be a dick.

I'm not and I know it. So explain to me how going to Boston helps with it?

[thewookie1]

2 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

I'm not and I know it. So explain to me how going to Boston helps with it?

It wasn't Boston per-say, it was anywhere new. He wanted a clean break and Boston offered him a contract he liked. For all we know his injury history scared most teams off but Boston and Buffalo both gave him solid offers.

[PerreaultForever]

29 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

It wasn't Boston per-say, it was anywhere new. He wanted a clean break and Boston offered him a contract he liked. For all we know his injury history scared most teams off but Boston and Buffalo both gave him solid offers.

We actually don't know what Buffalo offered him. But what are we arguing about anyway? It hardly matters. What matters is Adams did not fill that hole adequately when Ullmark left. He still hasn't. 

[Demoted]

So how long will this drag out?

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, Demoted said:

So how long will this drag out?

Between July 20 and August 6 I think. 

[JohnC]

5 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

We actually don't know what Buffalo offered him. But what are we arguing about anyway? It hardly matters. What matters is Adams did not fill that hole adequately when Ullmark left. He still hasn't. 

That's the central issue. Players elect to leave teams for a number of reasons. He was an UFA and under a contract status that allowed him to have choices. If he were determined to leave, the team had no control to keep him. What the GM didn't do is come up with a reasonable option just in case he did choose to leave. What happened shouldn't have been a surprise to the organization because he was an UFA who hadn't signed. What compounds the loss even more is that the GM hasn't adequately filled that hole since he left. (As you point out.) 

[DarthEbriate]

On 7/9/2025 at 5:34 AM, PromoTheRobot said:

Maybe current Kraken GM Jason Botterill should have been more proactive, no? Not just with Ullmark.

Botterill definitely started them down a path. His reluctance to sign numerous folks (Ullmark, Reinhart) to longer bridges and instead just giving them 1-year prove-it deals, was a mistake. Then, Adams came in with the EEE verdict, only to blow all the funds on a 1-year with NTC rental in Hall instead of preaching to his boss "no shortcuts! Lock up the #1 goalie and top-6 fixture who does everything well. And we'll add another mid-level vet forward and d-man with that 8 million instead."

Because JBott signed Ullmark to a 1-year deal after Ullmark had a "down" year -- his worst season in his career at .905 sv% --- what the Sabres wouldn't give for that to be a down year. The next season, Ullmark was great. He proved it. He also got injured, but he proved he was an up-and-coming legitimate #1 goalie. And Adams signed him to 1-year walking him right to UFA. 3x3.5 would have been there. 5x4.5-5 (at the time) would have been there. Having the team commit to him (and winning, Reinhart/Eichel), might have gone a long way to helping him through the family trauma that would later occur. 

[Thorny]

10 hours ago, Demoted said:

So how long will this drag out?

JUST long enough to claim inability to use cap space 

[PerreaultForever]

7 hours ago, JohnC said:

That's the central issue. Players elect to leave teams for a number of reasons. He was an UFA and under a contract status that allowed him to have choices. If he were determined to leave, the team had no control to keep him. What the GM didn't do is come up with a reasonable option just in case he did choose to leave. What happened shouldn't have been a surprise to the organization because he was an UFA who hadn't signed. What compounds the loss even more is that the GM hasn't adequately filled that hole since he left. (As you point out.) 

The real irritant at that moment is that was the expansion year and there were several teams unloading goalies cheap since they could only protect one. If Ullmark didn't sign (which he didn't) why on earth do you protect him and not make a deal for one of those goalies and protect them instead? Seattle wasn't going to take a UFA unless they could sign him so why didn't Adams know? Ullmark either lied to him behind closed doors or Adams just arrogantly was sure he'd take his offer. It was ridiculous. All he's done since then was trade for a prospect who is now the future savior in his mind. A thing which may or may not happen. We have prospects in the system, but that's all we ever have. 

[Turbo44]

Botterill was a disaster choice by Pegula - esp when he could have had zito. Pegula lucked into Beane but screwed the pooch on this one

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

The real irritant at that moment is that was the expansion year and there were several teams unloading goalies cheap since they could only protect one. If Ullmark didn't sign (which he didn't) why on earth do you protect him and not make a deal for one of those goalies and protect them instead? Seattle wasn't going to take a UFA unless they could sign him so why didn't Adams know? Ullmark either lied to him behind closed doors or Adams just arrogantly was sure he'd take his offer. It was ridiculous. All he's done since then was trade for a prospect who is now the future savior in his mind. A thing which may or may not happen. We have prospects in the system, but that's all we ever have. 

Personally, don't believe Ullmark lied to Adams.  Pretty sure that Ullmark told him that if nobody would beat the deal that Adams offered, that he would sign with the Sabres.  It also seems that Ullmark told Adams that he'd let the Sabres top an offer if somebody made a better one and either Adams misunderstood and thought he'd said that he'd let the Sabres match or Adams understood but lied after the fact when his offer to match was rebuffed.

Considering that 18 game losing streak would STILL be ongoing if not for Ullmark coming back from injury (ok, slight exaggeration, but not by much 😉 ) am very frustrated that Adams didn't make sure Linus didn't pack up and walk out on the Sabres.

[PerreaultForever]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

Personally, don't believe Ullmark lied to Adams.  Pretty sure that Ullmark told him that if nobody would beat the deal that Adams offered, that he would sign with the Sabres.  It also seems that Ullmark told Adams that he'd let the Sabres top an offer if somebody made a better one and either Adams misunderstood and thought he'd said that he'd let the Sabres match or Adams understood but lied after the fact when his offer to match was rebuffed.

Considering that 18 game losing streak would STILL be ongoing if not for Ullmark coming back from injury (ok, slight exaggeration, but not by much 😉 ) am very frustrated that Adams didn't make sure Linus didn't pack up and walk out on the Sabres.

Ya that's possible. We shall never know if anybody lied or not. Adams blew it that much is certain.

I like Linus and I think overall he's a good person and good team mate but I also think he could have lied for his own self interest. There is a belief/rumor in Boston that he had told Sweeney he was okay to go to L.A. at the deadline and there was a deal and then he backed out at the last minute and so they moved him for much less in the off season to a team not on his list (Ottawa). Again, behind closed doors so who knows.

[Flashsabre]

2 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

Botterill was a disaster choice by Pegula - esp when he could have had zito. Pegula lucked into Beane but screwed the pooch on this one

Pegula was guided to Botterill by the league. Same with Murray. That’s why we got Adams because Pegula doesn’t trust NHL people anymore.

[LabattBlue]

22 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Pegula was guided to Botterill by the league. Same with Murray. That’s why we got Adams because Pegula doesn’t trust NHL people anymore.

Yes!!   He showed the NHL bigwigs who is smarter!   😂

[Taro T]

22 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

Pegula was guided to Botterill by the league. Same with Murray. That’s why we got Adams because Pegula doesn’t trust NHL people anymore.

He was also guided to Zito by the league.  HIS advisors helped him make the final decision on that one.

The NFL guided him to McDermott and Ryan.  HIS advisors helped him make the final decision on that one too.  He punted HIS advisor (along with Ryan) and went with who the league had recommended in the 1st place.  THAT guy recommended Beane and look at how THAT worked out.

Pegula had an opportunity to go with the other guy the league suggested for the Sabres as well and AFTER he'd gotten rid of his advisors that helped him make the earlier decision.  Rather than going back to the 2nd choice; he decided to listen to "Chauncey Gardiner."  It worked out a lot better in the book and the movie.

[Flashsabre]

1 minute ago, Taro T said:

He was also guided to Zito by the league.  HIS advisors helped him make the final decision on that one.

The NFL guided him to McDermott and Ryan.  HIS advisors helped him make the final decision on that one too.  He punted HIS advisor (along with Ryan) and went with who the league had recommended in the 1st place.  THAT guy recommended Beane and look at how THAT worked out.

Pegula had an opportunity to go with the other guy the league suggested for the Sabres as well and AFTER he'd gotten rid of his advisors that helped him make the earlier decision.  Rather than going back to the 2nd choice; he decided to listen to "Chauncey Gardiner."  It worked out a lot better in the book and the movie.

The Pittsburgh connection was always going to put Botterill over the top.

Man if we only had a flux capacitor 😁

[Taro T]

2 minutes ago, Flashsabre said:

The Pittsburgh connection was always going to put Botterill over the top.

Man if we only had a flux capacitor 😁

Absolutely.

But Zito was still in C-Bus as the AGM the day Botterill got canned and would stay in that role for about 4 more months.  Follow the plan they used for the Bills and go back to the 2nd choice.

Can follow the "underpants gnomes" plan and even have an answer for step 2 rather than ???

1.  Go with the guy the league recommends that YOUR advisors wants, find out he sucks, & can him.

2.  Take the free do-over and hire Zito.

3.  PROFIT!!!!

[Scottysabres]

17 hours ago, Flashsabre said:

The Pittsburgh connection was always going to put Botterill over the top.

Man if we only had a flux capacitor 😁

FOUND 1 !!!!!!

 

[kas23]

I’m not convinced having Zito would’ve made any difference. Botts was fired because he didn’t want to follow EEE. Zito wouldn’t picked the same fate. 

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, kas23 said:

I’m not convinced having Zito would’ve made any difference. Botts was fired because he didn’t want to follow EEE. Zito wouldn’t picked the same fate. 

THAT is a truly depressing  thought.

But even if in taking the job he'd've been expected to make the same hockey department moves that Adams was brought in for there is NO reason to expect he'd've made the same personnel moves that Adams made.  Don't forget, Adams didn't sell off all the talent until setting up for his SECOND season as GM.  Adams was the one that brought in Staal and Hall and Irwin Oh, my!  Any reason to believe/expect that Zito wouldn't have made better moves?

And if they don't do as poorly that year as they actually did, well, they most likely don't get Power but they also don't necessarily lose Reinhart, Ullmark, Eichel and the rest.  How does Zito go about in that 2nd season with the guys in house knowing that they AREN'T doing another rebuild; they're just continuing the BUILD?

[Pimlach]

4 hours ago, kas23 said:

I’m not convinced having Zito would’ve made any difference. Botts was fired because he didn’t want to follow EEE. Zito wouldn’t picked the same fate. 

But Zito might have made better moves to build a team.  It’s reasonable to think that Zito would have done better, he is better.  Zito would have had a very nice Core with Eichel and Reinhart.  

Edited 10 hours ago by Pimlach

[Darryl Shannon's +/-]

6 hours ago, kas23 said:

I’m not convinced having Zito would’ve made any difference. Botts was fired because he didn’t want to follow EEE. Zito wouldn’t picked the same fate. 

He was fired due to performance.   Let's not pretend that he was doing a great job and wanted to make sure he had the resources to continue. If memory serves his walking papers were probably being drafted on kids day at the arena where the camera was on him throwing water bottles and paper.

[kas23]

46 minutes ago, Darryl Shannon's +/- said:

He was fired due to performance.   Let's not pretend that he was doing a great job and wanted to make sure he had the resources to continue. If memory serves his walking papers were probably being drafted on kids day at the arena where the camera was on him throwing water bottles and paper.

ChatGPT on why Terry Pegula fired Jason Botterill:

 

Terry and Kim Pegula dismissed Jason Botterill as Sabres GM on June 16, 2020, citing several key reasons:

🔍 Key Reasons for Botterill’s Firing

Philosophical & Communication Breakdown

Pegula stated they had "too many differences in opinion" about the direction of the franchise and felt Botterill's vision did not align with theirs going forward Reddit+15NHL+15AP News+15AP News+7WIVB+7Reddit+7.

He added, “we felt like we weren’t being heard,” emphasizing that Botterill hadn’t embraced their new efficiency-focused philosophy NHL+5AP News+5Reddit+5.

Sharpened Focus on Cost Efficiencies

The pandemic forced the team to reevaluate expenses. Terry Pegula emphasized the need to run an "effectively, efficiently and economically" operation, declaring, “We’re going to get leaner”buffalohockeybeat.com+4AP News+4iNFOnews+4.

Botterill clashed with ownership over implementing austerity measures—especially across scouting and hockey operations NHL+15Buffalo News+15Reddit+15.

Rapid Change of Heart in 3 Weeks

Just three weeks after co-owner Kim Pegula publicly said Botterill would remain, a deeper evaluation (especially with the delayed draft) revealed misalignments. Ownership decided that Botterill didn’t match their evolving vision WIVB+1AP News+1Reddit+15NHL+15AP News+15.

📋 Summary

In short, Botterill’s dismissal stemmed from a philosophical split with team owners over the bullpen’s hockey vision and strategic approach, compounded by his reluctance to enact the strict cost-cutting measures demanded due to the pandemic. As Pegula noted, it wasn’t just about wins and losses—it was about alignment of vision and operational efficiency.

Ownership quickly replaced him with Kevyn Adams, who they felt was more in tune with their vision for a leaner, more collaborative structure Reddit+9AP News+9WIVB+9.

 

But, I agree  He wasn’t killing it on the ice. But this isn’t how Terry measures success  If you remember, he had given Botts the vote of confidence and said he was he was going to continue 3 weeks before his firing. Then suddenly it was:

 

“We need to make adjustments in the business side of our operations that we provide that foresight to the operation. And we felt like we weren’t being heard,” he added. “I’m not going to sit here and dish on Jason Botterill, but we have a vision and we want to see our vision succeed.”

 

https://apnews.com/article/9e7f7c5302fec2382c8046cdfcf39057?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Edited 8 hours ago by kas23