[News] Sabres fire GM Jason Botterill. Kevyn Adams named GM

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

IMO Eichel is going to get traded.

Nah. I feel it's the exact opposite. If we know anything it's that owners nearly always fall in love with their franchise players. Happened here with Iginla and I don't see any scenario where the Sabres part ways with a franchise player like Eichel. I imaging the philosophical differences centered around getting Eichel immediate help vs staying the course.

[ForeverFlameFan]

What a gong show.

Literally the Edmonton Oilers of the East.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Y'know, there are some curiosities about this change...
I think it must be a disagreement about what to do with the best player on the roster. No other event has really surfaced hard in the last three weeks to drive them apart so dramatically. The O'reilly trade wasn't great but I don't think that was the death knell.

What really strikes me is that they handed the keys to someone internal (they trust), someone with very little GM experience but agent/player experience, and someone without a big name behind them or a reputation to uphold.

IMO Eichel is going to get traded.

Maybe I'm wrong, but this seems like they're keeping Eichel as the fixed variable. Doesn't happen often, but it seems like they want to give more power to that player and coach Kruger, since the GM role has been inept to get things done. The hiring is a bit strange though... You'd think it was an interim hire, but it's not.

[kyuss275]

They fired both agm also. Coach and new GM conference at 2pm. Sounds like Kruger is going g to have some say in the new order.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

What a gong show.

Literally the Edmonton Oilers of the East.

Who are the Ottawa Senators of the West?

[dammage79]

This seems more like they're going to go all in and get Eichel help. They've got assets to actually acquire players for Eichel so I think Botterill wanted to build through the draft and the Sabers didn't. Speculative of course.

But it is a good time to make changes, their roster is mostly unsigned.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by dammage79

This seems more like they're going to go all in and get Eichel help. They've got assets to actually acquire players for Eichel so I think Botterill wanted to build through the draft and the Sabers didn't. Speculative of course.

But it is a good time to make changes, their roster is mostly unsigned.

This is my take too.
This signals that Eichel is not on the market at all. They are bringing in a GM to get him help.

[Vinny01]

There are a couple of key RFA deals coming up with Montour and Reinhart it will be interesting if these guys are part of the future or not?

I agree with those that this was a move to make Eichel happy and I also think a key reason it was an internal promotion is they have a guy that knows everyone in the organization and doesn’t need to evaluate the players before making moves.

[MrMike]

My guess is the owner is in win now keep Eichel happy mode. I’d be going for their first round pick and prospects.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Anybody know anything about the new gm?

I think he was on the Penguins in NHL98

[Sylvanfan]

The Sabres have turned into a complete Gong show that rivals Edmonton for fallacy. On ice they have been as bad or worse...and they suck at lotteries. I have never liked the Sabres for no good reason probably because the Flames usually got beat in Bufalo over the years, but I feel for the fans.

Despite years of high draft picks, they really don't seem to have any depth, and their top end talent after Eichel also seems to lack.

I can't see anyway in which trading Eichel is the solution for them. But for all the laughing we do at Edmonton for wasting McDavid...Eichel is likely quite jealous of what McDavid has.

Oh well at least he's not the Adams who played 82 games and scored 0 goals on 70 plus shots as a forward.

[Monahammer]

I knew my take would be in the minority, hence my Bag head.

That being said, the biggest ? in my opinion is the choice of hire. If they were trying to give eichel confidence in building a winning roster, don't you think they would target an experienced GM with a lot of Panash who has a record of building winners? That is the type of move that instills confidence in a young 20s dynamo.

Picking a relative nobody screams to me that they are getting ready to make an intensely unpopular decision for their fan base.

I am totally fine with the alternative, which is us being able to take advantage of their desperation in a trade for one of our core players.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I knew my take would be in the minority, hence my Bag head.

That being said, the biggest ? in my opinion is the choice of hire. If they were trying to give eichel confidence in building a winning roster, don't you think they would target an experienced GM with a lot of Panash who has a record of building winners? That is the type of move that instills confidence in a young 20s dynamo.

Picking a relative nobody screams to me that they are getting ready to make an intensely unpopular decision for their fan base.

I am totally fine with the alternative, which is us being able to take advantage of their desperation in a trade for one of our core players.

Who besides Lou and Rutherford in Pitts are, or were, experienced GM's in the league? All those guys are gone or no good (Edmonton).

[Yamer]

Jesus, it's the purge in Buffalo:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1272995641451589632

https://twitter.com/user/status/1272998233132929024

https://twitter.com/user/status/1272989898237190146

[Monahammer]

What a fall from grace for the Pegulas. When they bought the team I remember the common sentiment being that the league had just gained a premier new owner.

Not at all worthy of the same hate as a Melnyk or that #### head in Boston, but getting close to Katz level now...

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

Who besides Lou and Rutherford in Pitts are, or were, experienced GM's in the league? All those guys are gone or no good (Edmonton).

This is a fair counterpoint, but the decision is baffling beyond just experience as an actual GM. The guy they chose has player experience, minor agent experience, and then front office experience at a facilities operation/ finance level. But no real GM table experience (never an assistant GM, unknown participation in trade negotiations or draft decisions, etc.)

It's not even an experienced GM thing, they picked a relative GM Virgin.

[devo22]

yikes. Have to wonder whether they keep Krueger, but at this rate, he'll soon be the only member of staff left.

They really haven't gotten anywhere under Pegula, have they? I remember when he came in and they immediately signed Ehrhoff and Leino to ridiculous deals, and it doesn't seem like a lot has improved since then. No wonder Eichel is pissed.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Lack of stability within key executive positions is one of the real hallmarks of badly run franchises (in my view). That's certainly the case with the Sabres.
But their scouting department has also dropped the ball. THN ranked them #28 in terms of draft performance relative to results - with Detroit, Minny, and Edmonton following them

Buffalo's inconsistent drafting has been an issue for a very long time.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Conroy went deep on their interview process last time. I wonder if he gets consideration?

I see Craig as a people person who the players love.

I don’t see him as a GM.


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[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I see Craig as a people person who the players love.

I don’t see him as a GM.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

He was a pretty great hockey player, but I think his true calling was as the public face of some enormous international corporation, making everyone feel alright about the latest disaster lol. Deepwater Horizon incident? Wait until you hear Craig explain it, then it will be water under the bridge.