SabresBeat

'Now Pegula has to actually deliver a winner. He's appeared in over his head with both franchises at times. Maybe he's starting to learn some lessons along the way. He's certainly leaning on discipline, structure and communication as his new buzz words.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo Bills and Sabres owner Terry Pegula seems to have learned from Rex Ryan mess

'"I don't want to talk about the past," Pegula said. "A lot of teams go through rebuilds. Hope to lose? We do not hope to lose. We went through a rebuild. I don't understand why I've read an article by one of you gentleman about how Cleveland (Browns) is going through a rebuild but the Sabres tanked. One city can rebuild? You can't have it both ways."' … [Read more...] about Terry Pegula insists the Buffalo Sabres didn’t ‘tank’ for Jack Eichel

'Without disclosing specifics on this search, we are going to find the best candidates that we will bring into our organization to achieve our goals. The structure will land depending on the first person that we bring in, what his attitude is and how we should work together.' … [Read more...] about What Terry Pegula had to say about firing Sabres coach, GM (transcript)

'The next front office of the Sabres is going to need to restock the system and know how to work in a salary-cap era when very few players at the top of the roster take up so much of the team’s payroll. Nowadays in the NHL, young players are essential to fill out the third and fourth lines.' … [Read more...] about Ownership Right To Go In Different Direction

'The bottom line here: Pegula has shown an outstanding ability to refurbish the neighbourhoods surrounding the KeyBank Center. Now let’s see if he can do the same with the product inside the building.' … [Read more...] about Pegula takes ownership for Sabres’ futility, promises culture change

'None of what Pegula did in the last few days is particularly surprising. This is what billionaire owners do when they’re not happy.' … [Read more...] about Sabres should have been hiring instead of firing

'If the Sabres want Lombardi, they'll have to move fast. His name is at the top of the list among desired front office executives in the NHL.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo Sabres: Who will replace Dan Bylsma and Tim Murray?

'The Pegulas have their own timeline, but Murray's fate may have been sealed with his inaction at the trade deadline. The Sabres could've used some help and were in the playoff hunt. Murray didn't make any moves and the Sabres fell fast from there.' … [Read more...] about Buffalo Sabres make right decision by firing Bylsma, Murray

'If living in Yorkville, being paid $6 million US a year — which is, give or take a dollar, $8 million in Canadian funds — coaching the Leafs in the playoffs and probably being up for coach of the year is “just surviving,” then the rest of us have a whole lot to worry about. But Buffalo and kidding aside, the decision made by Mr. and Mrs. Babcock has truly worked out in their … [Read more...] about Babcock’s last-minute choice — Toronto over Buffalo — looking genius in hindsight

'After decades of the Leafs being plagued by meddling ownership, the hiring of Brendan Shanahan as team president in April 2014 changed the outlook forever. A Hall of Fame player who had gone on to spend time working at the NHL’s head office in New York, Shanahan was given the keys to the franchise.' … [Read more...] about Sabres should take page out of Maple Leafs’ blueprint

'Bylsma, who had three years and $9 million left on his contract, was let go along with general manager Tim Murray in a surprising sweep of the Sabres' front office.' … [Read more...] about Dan Bylsma fired in sweeping housecleaning by Buffalo Sabres

'A disconnect between Bylsma and players was evident. In the modern game, communication is the currency of coaching. Success doesn’t happen unless players buy in. Players don’t have to like the coach, but they have to believe in him.' … [Read more...] about For the Sabres, dysfunction starts with ownership

'Murray, who met with Pegula on Wednesday, has been Buffalo's general manager since January 2014. The 53-year-old said last week that the team's players failed to embrace Bylsma's style and connect with the coach on a personal level, according to the Buffalo News.' … [Read more...] about Bylsma, GM Murray fired by Sabres

'Eichel, via his representatives, denied that was the case. But even if the report was largely untrue, it made sense. Why would Eichel -- or any young prospect in the Sabres organization, for that matter -- want to wallow in the perennial disappointment that has clouded Buffalo for more than half a decade? That's not to say Bylsma or Murray were directly responsible for every … [Read more...] about Buffalo Sabres fire GM Tim Murray, coach Dan Bylsma: Three things to know

'The decision comes following a disappointing season in which the Sabres finished with just 78 points in the standings, worst in the Atlantic division. Sabres owner Terry Pegula released a statement shortly after the official announcement and will be available to the media at KeyBank Center on Friday morning.' … [Read more...] about The Buffalo Sabres clean house, fire coach Dan Bylsma and GM Tim Murray