Losing culture is a thing. These are people, not just numbers and robots. Going in to somewhere highly stressful that you hate day after day with no expectation or desire to improve is a real thing. It's why companies, including the Sabres, spend millions on culture activities.
Is it the only thing, or the cause of everything? Of course not. But it's a hurdle to overcome nonetheless. We can't completely dismiss it because it's not the most important aspect or driving factor behind our issues.