Chris Johnston: The Sabres yearly struggles are "a concern at the league level"

[LabattBlue]

5 hours ago, SwampD said:

I just wonder how much (if at all) TP’s influence spills over to coaching. The fact that Ruff answers directly to him is a concern.

Forget about talent on the ice, the biggest gap with the rest of the league might actually be with the talent behind the bench.

Until that gets addressed, I think the Sabres will continue to underperform.

Ruff reports directly to Pegula?

[SwampD]

4 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

Ruff reports directly to Pegula?

That is my understanding. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

[Weave]

8 hours ago, SwampD said:

That is my understanding. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

I assume the flat management structure hasn’t changed.

[Pimlach]

9 hours ago, SwampD said:

That is my understanding. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

Buffalosabres.com does not show actuall reporting structure.  No doubt that Terry hired Lindy so your understanding is probably correct.  
 

It shows Jarmo as Senior Advisor, but to who?  It should be Adams.  

[Carmel Corn]

14 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

Ruff reports directly to Pegula?

 

10 hours ago, SwampD said:

That is my understanding. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

Seems like a logical assumption….since that is how the Bills are supposedly structured (McDermott direct to Pegula).

[That Aud Smell]

1 hour ago, Weave said:

I assume the flat management structure hasn’t changed.

As would I.

I'm sure there are lots of times when Adams is speaking directly to Ruff -- without Pegula's involvement. But I don't view that as a reporting line.

[JP51]

13 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

As would I.

I'm sure there are lots of times when Adams is speaking directly to Ruff -- without Pegula's involvement. But I don't view that as a reporting line.

I agree... I also think that the fact there is not a discernable structure and we even have to speculate... (Like Literally, I have no idea what the reporting lines are... but it seems all roads go thru Pegula... ) speaks to the disorganization of the FO... 

[mjd1001]

To me I think it works something like this.. 

Ruff and Adams talk to each other frequently when Terry isn't around. But whenever Terry wants to show up... Then everyone has to talk to him and go through him. 

Ruff May report to Adams, but if Terry gives Lindy a call, then Lindy has to tell Terry everything he wants before Adams hears it.

[Forecheck]

On 7/19/2025 at 7:55 AM, Pimlach said:

One of the best hockey markets in the US is in big trouble and the problem 100% points to one person.  That Shanahan rumor, if true, tells you exactly what the problem is with this team. 

Every off season is the same, we lose better players than we gain.  No players in their prime will come here.  

I could rant about the past 14 years, but it’s useless   I am not attending any hockey game in Buffalo this year for the first time EVER.  

 

Glad to see you’ve joined the club Punch. I’ve been there for 4 or 5 years now. No more tickets. You won’t regret it for a second. 

[JustOutsideChicago]

Rolling it back with the same coaching staff speaks volumes. Or is Adams handcuffed by palm trees and taxes for them too?

[Pimlach]

25 minutes ago, JustOutsideChicago said:

Rolling it back with the same coaching staff speaks volumes. Or is Adams handcuffed by palm trees and taxes for them too?

Adam’s supports Appert.  Terry supports Ruff.  Terry does not like paying people when they are on contract. 
 

Rumor has it they could not land assistant coaches that they wanted.  
 

Edited 19 hours ago by Pimlach

[spndnchz]

Meh 

[Archie Lee]

On 7/21/2025 at 5:29 AM, Weave said:

I assume the flat management structure hasn’t changed.

I would have thought the flat mgmt structure ended when Krueger left. It seemed with Adams and Granato, that it was a pretty standard GM/HC dynamic and a typical hierarchy. Ruff’s stature and his reported relationship with Pegula, probably means things have now changed back a bit.

I don’t have any evidence, but the last couple of times that Adams has been asked in a press conference about Ruff’s presence and influence, I’ve sensed less than whole-hearted enthusiasm on Adams’s part. I don't think Ruff was Adams’s pick. I realize that for many fans (most?), Pegula wanting Ruff saved us from Adams’s choice of Appert. But it all just speaks to a very messed up situation. More and more it is just obvious that Pegula got lucky with the Bills and that our only real hope is that he gets lucky when he picks the next Sabre GM. 

[JohnC]

3 minutes ago, Archie Lee said:

I would have thought the flat mgmt structure ended when Krueger left. It seemed with Adams and Granato, that it was a pretty standard GM/HC dynamic and a typical hierarchy. Ruff’s stature and his reported relationship with Pegula, probably means things have now changed back a bit.

I don’t have any evidence, but the last couple of times that Adams has been asked in a press conference about Ruff’s presence and influence, I’ve sensed less than whole-hearted enthusiasm on Adams’s part. I don't think Ruff was Adams’s pick. I realize that for many fans (most?), Pegula wanting Ruff saved us from Adams’s choice of Appert. But it all just speaks to a very messed up situation. More and more it is just obvious that Pegula got lucky with the Bills and that our only real hope is that he gets lucky when he picks the next Sabre GM. 

When you read these accounts of how the operation functions or may not function it just demonstrates how this is such a third-rate operation. There is little clear line of authority or even internal communication system. The lack of organizational structure is so obvious that whether one is talking about a sports franchise or any enterprise for that matter, the outcome is going result in failure. 

This is a Pegula designed organization. The hiring of a GM had no order or process to it other than it was an owner hiring. To say the least he made an odd selection. The same goes for the hiring of Ruff to be the HC. There was no genuine coaching search. The hiring process was a charade that was obvious to everyone. It was a nostalgic hiring by the inscrutable owner. (I'm not debating the issue whether Ruff was a good hire or not. I'm focusing on the fraudulent process.)

If you ask me what is the role and influence of Karmonos, Jarmo and even Ruff relative to the GM, my response is I don't know? There seems to be no clear lines of authority. On top of that layer of confusion is an owner who presides over this hollow structure and interjects his thoughts whenever he desires to.  For him, it's just about what he wants to do i.e. acting on his whimsical thoughts. 

Any franchise in any sport that is operated in the same disorderly way the Sabres are run is going to be a failure. This is a Terry Pegula failed production. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. 

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, Archie Lee said:

I would have thought the flat mgmt structure ended when Krueger left. It seemed with Adams and Granato, that it was a pretty standard GM/HC dynamic and a typical hierarchy. Ruff’s stature and his reported relationship with Pegula, probably means things have now changed back a bit.

I don’t have any evidence, but the last couple of times that Adams has been asked in a press conference about Ruff’s presence and influence, I’ve sensed less than whole-hearted enthusiasm on Adams’s part. I don't think Ruff was Adams’s pick. I realize that for many fans (most?), Pegula wanting Ruff saved us from Adams’s choice of Appert. But it all just speaks to a very messed up situation. More and more it is just obvious that Pegula got lucky with the Bills and that our only real hope is that he gets lucky when he picks the next Sabre GM. 

If Pegula had any brains at all he would fire Adams and make Jarmo GM with Karmanos AGM and Jerry Forton as UE

[That Aud Smell]

34 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

If Pegula had any brains at all he would fire Adams and make Jarmo GM with Karmanos AGM and Jerry Forton as UE

UE?

(Krupp?)

[LGR4GM]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

UE?

(Krupp?)

Unemployed 

[MISabresFan]

On 7/20/2025 at 10:35 PM, SwampD said:

That is my understanding. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.

Curious minds want to know, who do you know to get that intel?  You have someone on inside?