Buffalo Sabres & NHL 2020-2021

[BillsFan4]

https://www.nbcsports.com/video/buffalo-sabres-fire-ralph-krueger-jack-eichel-out-foreseeable-future?ls=social-vid
 

Bob McKenzie on the Sabres coaching search. ^

It doesn’t inspire much hope (for me, anyway). Kevyn Adams plans to do an exhaustive search including NHL assistant coaches, AHL coaches, college coaches, junior hockey coaches, etc. which may sound good in theory but for me, it just screams “I have no idea who the top candidates are or who I want”.

 

But he’s probably never put together a list of coaches before. Most GMs and asst. GM’s have a short list of coaches that they think are the top guys and/or meet their criteria. Adams wouldn’t have ever had a reason to put together a list like that and he has no NHL front office experience so he wouldn’t really know who the top candidates are.

 

ugh.

[BillsVet]

12 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

Listening to Paul Hamilton a couple weeks ago.........he said that the Pegula's turned over full control of the Bills to McD and Beane..........and even though its working they regret giving up all of that control.........so don't look for them to do the same with the Sabres.     Hockey was the sport Terry Pegula was more familiar with.........it makes sense that he feels like he knows more about it and wants to have more control.    The problem is that it's not working and the dysfunction has actually gotten worse despite having much more talent than the "tank" years.   It's unfortunate that they've turned out to be SO bad at this.......I'm sure it takes a lot of the fun out of it when you think you are too rich to fail at it.........and then instead you are so bad at the job that you just have to turn over full control and your primary contribution is just to sign the checks.  

 

I heard that as well and it aligns with those personalities that have had control of their private business.  They buy a pro sports team and delegate authority to people they hired.  Ralph couldn't do it and he had years of bad Bills teams. 

 

The irony is the Pegula's hockey knowledge is more limited than they're willing to acknowledge.  Something anecdotal, but a friend of mine covers the Sabres and once remarked that Terry frowned on Russian prospects at draft time because one (I think Grigorenko) didn't work out.  It was part of the reason they passed on a Russian defenseman in a later draft who's pretty good now in favor of a forward they traded. 

 

The Pegula's have created a vicious circle in management. They make bad hires, progressively get more insulated from the hockey world, and the results get worse.  They respond with the Ralph strategy of hiring strictly insiders like Adams who has no experience.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  

 

I really wonder how they'll handle getting a trade demand from Eichel.  Will they blame him to cover their own butts?  I don't know, but at this point it's an emperor has no clothes sort of situation.  They just don't know how bad they are and don't seem willing to look in the mirror.

[BillsFan4]

9 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

Its not just amateur scouting.  You can argue that at this time amateur scouting isnt needed as a lot of leagues are delayed or not allowing people in.

 

Pro scouting is absolutely critical.  You need boots on the ground there to scout the other players for upcoming UFA, trades.  get a feel for their mental state, rub elbows around the league.  Not to mention watching and analyzing other teams for a competitive and schematic advantage.

 

Leagues are starting back up though and the Sabres don’t have any scouts there (see the article + quote I linked at the bottom). 
 

But I agree 100% with you about the pro scouts. I know the Sabres only had a few pro scouts even before all the firings (and shockingly, I don’t think any of their pro scouts were fired even after having horrible luck identifying pro talent (see ROR trade)). Their pro scouting dept. has been an issue for years. 
 

I just looked at their staff directory and they don’t even have separate pro and amateur scouts listed anymore. They have 7 scouts to cover the entire ******* globe! 🤦‍♂️

 

https://www.nhl.com/sabres/team/staff

[May Day 10]

9 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

I heard that as well and it aligns with those personalities that have had control of their private business.  They buy a pro sports team and delegate authority to people they hired.  Ralph couldn't do it and he had years of bad Bills teams. 

 

The irony is the Pegula's hockey knowledge is more limited than they're willing to acknowledge.  Something anecdotal, but a friend of mine covers the Sabres and once remarked that Terry frowned on Russian prospects at draft time because one (I think Grigorenko) didn't work out.  It was part of the reason they passed on a Russian defenseman in a later draft who's pretty good now in favor of a forward they traded. 

 

The Pegula's have created a vicious circle in management. They make bad hires, progressively get more insulated from the hockey world, and the results get worse.  They respond with the Ralph strategy of hiring strictly insiders like Adams who has no experience.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  

 

I really wonder how they'll handle getting a trade demand from Eichel.  Will they blame him to cover their own butts?  I don't know, but at this point it's an emperor has no clothes sort of situation.  They just don't know how bad they are and don't seem willing to look in the mirror.

 

This is so similar to the 00s Wilson/Brandon Bills it is scary.  This is actually worse though because IMO, a hockey organization is a bit more complex than an NFL team.  At least as far as the element of drafting 18 year olds from all over the world, developing, and signing long term contracts that could potentially cripple your payroll for 8 years.  The immediacy of the NFL draft helps, as do non-guaranteed contracts.

 

The Bills never came close to bottoming out like the Sabres have done a handful of times in the past 7 years.

[Greg S]

18 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

I heard that as well and it aligns with those personalities that have had control of their private business.  They buy a pro sports team and delegate authority to people they hired.  Ralph couldn't do it and he had years of bad Bills teams. 

 

The irony is the Pegula's hockey knowledge is more limited than they're willing to acknowledge.  Something anecdotal, but a friend of mine covers the Sabres and once remarked that Terry frowned on Russian prospects at draft time because one (I think Grigorenko) didn't work out.  It was part of the reason they passed on a Russian defenseman in a later draft who's pretty good now in favor of a forward they traded. 

 

The Pegula's have created a vicious circle in management. They make bad hires, progressively get more insulated from the hockey world, and the results get worse.  They respond with the Ralph strategy of hiring strictly insiders like Adams who has no experience.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  

 

I really wonder how they'll handle getting a trade demand from Eichel.  Will they blame him to cover their own butts?  I don't know, but at this point it's an emperor has no clothes sort of situation.  They just don't know how bad they are and don't seem willing to look in the mirror.

 

It's amazing that they were able to get it right with the Bills. I just hope they leave Beane and McDermott alone and don't "F" things up with the Bills. I am not a Sabres fan (Isles fan here) but I really hope they can get it right for the Sabres fans sakes. For the longest time the Isles were run like a **** show and it sucks for the fans to deal with.

[Rockpile233]

12 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Listening to Paul Hamilton a couple weeks ago.........he said that the Pegula's turned over full control of the Bills to McD and Beane..........and even though its working they regret giving up all of that control.........so don't look for them to do the same with the Sabres.     Hockey was the sport Terry Pegula was more familiar with.........it makes sense that he feels like he knows more about it and wants to have more control.    The problem is that it's not working and the dysfunction has actually gotten worse despite having much more talent than the "tank" years.   It's unfortunate that they've turned out to be SO bad at this.......I'm sure it takes a lot of the fun out of it when you think you are too rich to fail at it.........and then instead you are so bad at the job that you just have to turn over full control and your primary contribution is just to sign the checks.  

I didn’t hear that interview. The Bills have never been in better shape since I was a little kid and they REGRET giving up that much control? 
 

The smartest people know what they know and know what they don’t know. Unfortunately I’m very skeptical that anything will change.

[May Day 10]

The part that stuck with me was when they fired Murray/Bylsma.  During the PC, one of Pegula's answers were that he really regretted not making the decisions on GM and coach and how that would not happen again.

 

The owner having a hand in picking the coach is poison in the NHL.  It makes a toxic well for any prospective general manager.  Thats just not how it works.  In the NHL you arent looking for a life-partner coach.  If it happens and you stumble on a unicorn coach who has 10 years of staying power, great.  But they are the exception to the rule.  

[BillsFan4]

1 hour ago, BillsFan4 said:

just a reminder that almost none of these people were ever replaced. They just promoted some totally inexperienced people from within to the head amateur & pro jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, scratch one more name off that list...

 

 

[May Day 10]

That reeks of a Ralph Kruger position.  A lot of this downsizing/efficiency reeks of Kruger.  Hopefully.  

 

 

Man, imagine being a billionaire and so gullible as these Pegulas.

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

[Buffalo Barbarian]

14 hours ago, BillsVet said:

 

The NHL and the NFL are apples and oranges.  In one, fellow owners essentially help others and finding good management is not as challenging.  There's a massive television contract to divide. 

 

In the other, well, it's run by Bettman and a lot of clowns and owners tend to look out for their own interests.  As a result, the Pegula's are now making decisions more based on money than anything else.  This, compared to the Bills who are guaranteed a 300M yearly share of television revenue.  

 

 

 

so they never are going to win, great

 

 

[BillsVet]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

 

so they never are going to win, great

 

 

 

How did it come to pass that people acclimated to beginning sentences with, "so?"  Grammar is becoming a lost art, as is handwriting. 

 

[BillsFan4]

 

[BillsFan4]

gee, good thing the NHL said contact tracing came back fine before last night’s game and NHL doctors said they could play.

 

What a ****** joke.

[BillsFan4]

Lots of good Sabres related talk here:

 

https://podcast.sportsnet.ca/31-thoughts/crossroads-with-kaleb-dahlgren/

 

Some interesting Bills/Sabres related info right around 13mins in.

 

Friedman says that it’s believed Beane & McDermott came to some sort of written agreement with the Pegulas on exactly what they’re allowed to do and it prohibits the Pegulas from interfering too much. But with the Sabres there’s never been that type of agreement.

 

worth a listen. 
 

some terrifying scouting talk info around 19mins.

 

They're saying the Sabres might be scouting 90% by video.

90%!! 😯
 

ans they’re not even scouting entire countries like Finland and Russia, or entire leagues in juniors. Crazy.

 

edit - here’s part of what I was talking about:

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by BillsFan4

[K-9]

Just happened to catch a snippet of an interview with Risto about today’s practice. He was impressed and grateful that the SPEED of the practice was actually like a REAL game. Said they never did that. I couldn’t believe my ears. 
 

It’s long been said that you play like you practice and I’ve always added “And you practice like you’re coached.” Risto’s comments are a testament to the total amateurish ability of Krueger. Unbelievable!

[BillsFan4]

5 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Just happened to catch a snippet of an interview with Risto about today’s practice. He was impressed and grateful that the SPEED of the practice was actually like a REAL game. Said they never did that. I couldn’t believe my ears. 
 

It’s long been said that you play like you practice and I’ve always added “And you practice like you’re coached.” Risto’s comments are a testament to the total amateurish ability of Krueger. Unbelievable!

Paul Hamilton went off about this the other day. He said they practice slow. No pace. They never stop drills when they miss a pass or go Offside, even when it happens over and over.

 

He said it’s been that way with every coach. Bylsma. Housley. Krueger. The last coach who stopped practice for mistakes and demanded the execute it right was Lindy ruff. 
 

 

Go watch the first interview with Don Granato. I thought he threw some shade at Krueger. Said practices will be run much differently (and he emphasized MUCH).

 

 

just one more example of how desperately they need a competent coach, and why I want someone proven like Boudreau or my dream that’ll never happen, Brind’amor. 
 

I remember when Marcus Foligno was traded to Minnesota when Boudreau was there. He said it was like a different world. How they practiced and played. How they were coached. How much Boudreau demanded of them. etc.

 

Edited March 19, 2021 by BillsFan4

[BADOLBILZ]

8 hours ago, BillsVet said:

 

I heard that as well and it aligns with those personalities that have had control of their private business.  They buy a pro sports team and delegate authority to people they hired.  Ralph couldn't do it and he had years of bad Bills teams. 

 

The irony is the Pegula's hockey knowledge is more limited than they're willing to acknowledge.  Something anecdotal, but a friend of mine covers the Sabres and once remarked that Terry frowned on Russian prospects at draft time because one (I think Grigorenko) didn't work out.  It was part of the reason they passed on a Russian defenseman in a later draft who's pretty good now in favor of a forward they traded. 

 

The Pegula's have created a vicious circle in management. They make bad hires, progressively get more insulated from the hockey world, and the results get worse.  They respond with the Ralph strategy of hiring strictly insiders like Adams who has no experience.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  

 

I really wonder how they'll handle getting a trade demand from Eichel.  Will they blame him to cover their own butts?  I don't know, but at this point it's an emperor has no clothes sort of situation.  They just don't know how bad they are and don't seem willing to look in the mirror.

 

 

On the bright side at least Eichel hasn't had 20 masseuses join in a civil suit against him yet so it's actually not at rock bottom. 

[BADOLBILZ]

8 hours ago, Rockpile233 said:

I didn’t hear that interview. The Bills have never been in better shape since I was a little kid and they REGRET giving up that much control? 
 

The smartest people know what they know and know what they don’t know. Unfortunately I’m very skeptical that anything will change.

 

 

It's possible that it's just no fun for a self-made billionaire to be hands-off.   Not talking about a guy who inherited his money.       

 

[May Day 10]

47 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

It's possible that it's just no fun for a self-made billionaire to be hands-off.   Not talking about a guy who inherited his money.       

 

 

I get that, but this has to be less than fun.  It's been an embarrassing endeavor for 10 years.

 

There is a happy medium between feeling involved and choosing your nhl coaches over your gm's head and funding his wife's Senate campaign.

 

I remember he was in on bills stuff and the search for qbs.  Give him a stopwatch and throw him in a corner.