Who Should the New GM Be?

[inkman]

Isn't that what makes this fun?

Im just not wired that way. Probably why I'm a miserable prick. I expect futility.

[bunomatic]

I'm guessing Neil Smith or Craig Patrick president, Ruff GM and Dineen Coach.

Interesting...

[frisky]

My first choices would be craig patrick as el presidente of hockey and all hockey ops. Second would be dudley. I know question was gm but more importantly we need a leader at the very top to captain this boat.

 

As another note, if patrick is head os all hockey ops, it has been speculated that jason botterill (the same one who was in the system for a while) might be a gm candidate since he is shero's asst now. I'm not sure how'd id feel about it. Would I be excited for a fresh and up and coming pair of eyes or nervous for really young inexperienced eyes? Or would it like an ireland-tuna type thing they had going on in miami where tuna was the football czar? I think I would trust the judgment of someone like that to pick. The right people. In any case its all exciting and re-energizing to think about the future.

[deluca67]

I'm guessing Neil Smith or Craig Patrick president, Ruff GM and Dineen Coach.

Do people really think Ruff could make a good GM? I just don't see it. It seems like a feel good Marv Levy type hire.

[nfreeman]

Here's a nugget from the Boston Globe, which has been on top of the TP story:

those close to Pegula say he views his acquisition as a rebranding of the franchise, which will make it difficult for general manager Darcy Regier and coach Lindy Ruff to keep their jobs.

 

linkage.

[deluca67]

Here's a nugget from the Boston Globe, which has been on top of the TP story:

 

 

linkage.

Now this is how you want to start a day. :clapping:

[Stoner]

Now this is how you want to start a day. :clapping:

 

Yeah, it SOUNDS great. But why retain Dan DiPofi? How has he escaped any criticism? He's the numbers guy. He didn't play any role in decisions that have hurt this team on the ice?

 

A culture change, but one of the previous owners sticks around?

 

Retaining him through next season (Bucky reports; Dan seems to confirm in a quote) is a hint that TP has his eye on the bottom line, too.

[nfreeman]

Yeah, it SOUNDS great. But why retain Dan DiPofi? How has he escaped any criticism? He's the numbers guy. He didn't play any role in decisions that have hurt this team on the ice?

 

A culture change, but one of the previous owners sticks around?

 

Retaining him through next season (Bucky reports; Dan seems to confirm in a quote) is a hint that TP has his eye on the bottom line, too.

Already turning your gimlet eye onto the new guy, eh?

 

I don't think there's too much to be read into this move other than wanting to keep around a senior person who is familiar with the operation. It doesn't sound like DD is retaining any ownership.

 

But if you want an ominous note about keeping an eye on the bottom line, here it is: no one, including TP, is going to run a team in a manner that loses large amounts of money every year. I would guess that TP will be less concerned than TG was about risking, say, $3MM -$5MM if they don't make the 2nd round of the playoffs. But I do not expect him to run the team in a way such that they will definitely lose $8MM- $10MM per year.

[kwalk]

Yeah, it SOUNDS great. But why retain Dan DiPofi? How has he escaped any criticism? He's the numbers guy. He didn't play any role in decisions that have hurt this team on the ice?

 

A culture change, but one of the previous owners sticks around?

 

Retaining him through next season (Bucky reports; Dan seems to confirm in a quote) is a hint that TP has his eye on the bottom line, too.

 

Seems totally rational to me.. How could you expect/think less?

[deluca67]

Yeah, it SOUNDS great. But why retain Dan DiPofi? How has he escaped any criticism? He's the numbers guy. He didn't play any role in decisions that have hurt this team on the ice?

 

A culture change, but one of the previous owners sticks around?

 

Retaining him through next season (Bucky reports; Dan seems to confirm in a quote) is a hint that TP has his eye on the bottom line, too.

Bottom line or available cap space? Quinn himself said there is an agreement where the Sabres can only bring in a certain level of financial liability if moves are made. That tells me that Pegula has an eye towards all that cap space available next off season. If DiPofi is truly just a numbers guy and has a clear understanding of the cap and the CBA why not keep him around.

[deluca67]

Already turning your gimlet eye onto the new guy, eh?

 

I don't think there's too much to be read into this move other than wanting to keep around a senior person who is familiar with the operation. It doesn't sound like DD is retaining any ownership.

 

But if you want an ominous note about keeping an eye on the bottom line, here it is: no one, including TP, is going to run a team in a manner that loses large amounts of money every year. I would guess that TP will be less concerned than TG was about risking, say, $3MM -$5MM if they don't make the 2nd round of the playoffs. But I do not expect him to run the team in a way such that they will definitely lose $8MM- $10MM per year.

There is no reason why the Sabres can't make money and turn into a Cup contender. They are not mutually exclusive. Pegula just needs to get the right people to make the right decisions. Money spent has never been a issue under Golisano. Who the money has been spent is the problem. Pegula is coming in at a great time. A big chunk of the poorly spent money is coming off the books after this season.

[Stoner]

There is no reason why the Sabres can't make money and turn into a Cup contender. They are not mutually exclusive. Pegula just needs to get the right people to make the right decisions. Money spent has never been a issue under Golisano. Who the money has been spent is the problem. Pegula is coming in at a great time. A big chunk of the poorly spent money is coming off the books after this season.

 

Remember there's no cap on spending on your organization. You don't think $$$ was behind video scouting? Lots of top franchises have several assistant GMs. And so on. (And I would quibble that money wasn't an issue this season; they knew they were selling the team and let the Sabres rot on the vine. That's what the Kennedy decision was all about.)

 

Sure, the Sabres can make money. Just as former ownership was obsessed with the bottom line, new ownership might not care a hill of beans. We just don't know yet.

[Stoner]

Seems totally rational to me.. How could you expect/think less?

 

You don't think Pegula is going to spend more on this team (both on players and on organization) than Golisano did? And this won't affect the bottom line when revenues can't keep up in a small market? Do you think Pegula should really care?

 

Yes, I'm speaking for Pegula and his values. I shouldn't. Again, nobody really knows.

[Stoner]

Already turning your gimlet eye onto the new guy, eh?

 

I don't think there's too much to be read into this move other than wanting to keep around a senior person who is familiar with the operation. It doesn't sound like DD is retaining any ownership.

 

But if you want an ominous note about keeping an eye on the bottom line, here it is: no one, including TP, is going to run a team in a manner that loses large amounts of money every year. I would guess that TP will be less concerned than TG was about risking, say, $3MM -$5MM if they don't make the 2nd round of the playoffs. But I do not expect him to run the team in a way such that they will definitely lose $8MM- $10MM per year.

 

Yes, I'm evaluating him as more information comes in. That's what fans will do. Is there a honeymoon period where none of his decisions are questioned? If he retains Regier, you don't think he's already in the shitter?

 

I'll repeat my point from up-thread: I can't say he won't care about the bottom line, and you can't say he will.

 

I'm looking at a "diehard" Sabre fan who is filthy, filthy rich (and he's going to get filthier in the years to come as there's no end in sight to the Marcellus Shale money pit). I draw my own conclusions.

 

It's pretty laughable to think someone with that much money is going to sweat a million here or there. It's really hard to put in context. Say you win the Mega Millions and want to fulfill your dream of owning a Mickey D's. Would you be nervous if it lost 10 grand a year?

 

Here's the thing though. The man is a businessman and an entrepreneur. Came from hard times, scraped together the money to start the company. He might respect money so much he would never want to lose a penny. He might love the sport of business so much that the reason he bought the team is to see if he's smart enough to destroy the conventional wisdom that a hockey team in Buffalo can't make lots of money. (And at his presser, this is really what I want to find out, and probably won't: why did he really buy the team?)

 

We just don't know. I know I'm repeating myself.

[Stoner]

BTW, I had to look up "gimlet eye." "A sharp or piercing look." Thank you. At first I thought it was a slam.

[deluca67]

Remember there's no cap on spending on your organization. You don't think $$$ was behind video scouting? Lots of top franchises have several assistant GMs. And so on. (And I would quibble that money wasn't an issue this season; they knew they were selling the team and let the Sabres rot on the vine. That's what the Kennedy decision was all about.)

 

Sure, the Sabres can make money. Just as former ownership was obsessed with the bottom line, new ownership might not care a hill of beans. We just don't know yet.

Seriously, "just break even" is being obsessed with the bottom line? That sounds a lot more like indifference to the bottom line to me.

 

Detroit has a GM, Assistant GM and they have Chris Chelios as an adviser to the GM. I count 14 people on the Wings scouting staff and 11 on the Sabres. That not a huge difference.

[deluca67]

Yes, I'm evaluating him as more information comes in. That's what fans will do. Is there a honeymoon period where none of his decisions are questioned? If he retains Regier, you don't think he's already in the shitter?

 

I'll repeat my point from up-thread: I can't say he won't care about the bottom line, and you can't say he will.

 

I'm looking at a "diehard" Sabre fan who is filthy, filthy rich (and he's going to get filthier in the years to come as there's no end in sight to the Marcellus Shale money pit). I draw my own conclusions.

 

It's pretty laughable to think someone with that much money is going to sweat a million here or there. It's really hard to put in context. Say you win the Mega Millions and want to fulfill your dream of owning a Mickey D's. Would you be nervous if it lost 10 grand a year?

 

Here's the thing though. The man is a businessman and an entrepreneur. Came from hard times, scraped together the money to start the company. He might respect money so much he would never want to lose a penny. He might love the sport of business so much that the reason he bought the team is to see if he's smart enough to destroy the conventional wisdom that a hockey team in Buffalo can't make lots of money. (And at his presser, this is really what I want to find out, and probably won't: why did he really buy the team?)

 

We just don't know. I know I'm repeating myself.

I said before that the day Pegula announces Regier will return next season will be the official end of the Pegula honeymoon period with the fans.

 

I want Pegula to make money on the Sabres. The last thing I want is to see the Sabres return to the state in which Golisano bought the team.

[Kelly the Dog]

A nice quote from this morning's News article on DiPofi... This is the first time I have seen something from a person with direct first hand knowledge of what to expect from TP: " "I haven't sat down with Terry to talk about what his philosophy is, but I agree with [the assumption] that he wants to do things on the hockey side where money won't be an issue."

 

DiPofi is preparing for a different philosophy under Pegula, who is expected to be more concerned with building a winner than breaking even, which is how the organization worked under Golisano. It should be only a minor adjustment for DiPofi, who plans to stick to the numbers game without getting involved in hockey decisions.

 

"Never. I'm not qualified, obviously," DiPofi said. "I haven't sat down with Terry to talk about what his philosophy is, but I agree with [the assumption] that he wants to do things on the hockey side where money won't be an issue. But you have to remember there's only so much money.

 

"Right now, another $3 million or $4 million and we're at the cap. The key is how you spend your money. It's been said and written a million times. How do you spend your money? You can only spend so much. It really comes down to making the right decisions. That's what it's all about."

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/sabres-nhl/inside-the-nhl/article333326.ece

[bob_sauve28]

Keep Darcy.

[spndnchz]

Hope the OP doesn't mind. I've added a poll. DeLuca seems to think the day Pegula announces Regier will return next season will be the official end of the Pegula honeymoon period with the fans.

 

So is it Regier for GM or just anyone besides him?

[Eleven]

Hope the OP doesn't mind. I've added a poll. DeLuca seems to think the day Pegula announces Regier will return next season will be the official end of the Pegula honeymoon period with the fans.

 

So is it Regier for GM or just anyone besides him?

 

It doesn't matter if it's Regier or someone else who is good, as long as Quinn is gone. It had better be someone good, though.

[nfreeman]

There is no reason why the Sabres can't make money and turn into a Cup contender. They are not mutually exclusive. Pegula just needs to get the right people to make the right decisions. Money spent has never been a issue under Golisano. Who the money has been spent is the problem. Pegula is coming in at a great time. A big chunk of the poorly spent money is coming off the books after this season.

Remember there's no cap on spending on your organization. You don't think $$ was behind video scouting? Lots of top franchises have several assistant GMs. And so on. (And I would quibble that money wasn't an issue this season; they knew they were selling the team and let the Sabres rot on the vine. That's what the Kennedy decision was all about.)

 

Sure, the Sabres can make money. Just as former ownership was obsessed with the bottom line, new ownership might not care a hill of beans. We just don't know yet.

I largely agree with DeLuca's point above, but I think PAFan is right about spending within the organization as well. Since TG's directive was that the organization as a whole (i.e. including non-player costs) break even, it stands to reason that non-player costs have been managed pretty tightly as well. Many of those items (cushy locker rooms, high-end training facilities and medical staff, etc. can affect the quality of play on the ice, not to mention the attractiveness of the team to FAs. And I have to believe that money was a big factor in the implementation of video scouting (although I also think much of the to-do about it has been overblown).

 

I will again disagree with the use of "obsessed with the bottom line." "Obsessed" implies an unhealthy or whacked-out prioritization. It's not unreasonable to want the team to break even.

 

Yes, I'm evaluating him as more information comes in. That's what fans will do. Is there a honeymoon period where none of his decisions are questioned? If he retains Regier, you don't think he's already in the shitter?

 

I'll repeat my point from up-thread: I can't say he won't care about the bottom line, and you can't say he will.

 

I'm looking at a "diehard" Sabre fan who is filthy, filthy rich (and he's going to get filthier in the years to come as there's no end in sight to the Marcellus Shale money pit). I draw my own conclusions.

 

It's pretty laughable to think someone with that much money is going to sweat a million here or there. It's really hard to put in context. Say you win the Mega Millions and want to fulfill your dream of owning a Mickey D's. Would you be nervous if it lost 10 grand a year?

 

Here's the thing though. The man is a businessman and an entrepreneur. Came from hard times, scraped together the money to start the company. He might respect money so much he would never want to lose a penny. He might love the sport of business so much that the reason he bought the team is to see if he's smart enough to destroy the conventional wisdom that a hockey team in Buffalo can't make lots of money. (And at his presser, this is really what I want to find out, and probably won't: why did he really buy the team?)

 

We just don't know. I know I'm repeating myself.

Good use of "up-thread."

 

It's not "a million here or there." If they spend another $2MM per year on non-player costs and another $5MM per year on players, suddenly that's another $7MM in revenue they need to find somewhere to avoid losses.

 

You are right that no one here can know right now whether TP will care about losing money, whether it's $1 or $10MM. But most people -- including most stinking rich people -- would care, so I'm not sure the odds in favor of not caring are the same as those in favor of caring.

 

OTOH, it's not impossible that he could put together some kind of structure in which operating losses at the Sabres are netted against gains from one of his other businesses -- so the amount he would care could drop substantially. That would be pretty sweet.

 

BTW, I had to look up "gimlet eye." "A sharp or piercing look." Thank you. At first I thought it was a slam.

I only slam you when you're really begging for it.

 

Hope the OP doesn't mind. I've added a poll.

I'm sure you have many wonderful qualities, but this made me a bit concerned for your future husband/BF.

[bob_sauve28]

It doesn't matter if it's Regier or someone else who is good, as long as Quinn is gone. It had better be someone good, though.

I won't cry if they fire him, but he has done a pretty good job of adding talent. I love this corps of new players comming up through the system. True, he hasn't produced a cup and that is a big knock against him, though it's hardly his fault alone. I'm more interested in a new coach myself.

[Stoner]

I only slam you when you're really begging for it.

 

:pirate:

[deluca67]

Hope the OP doesn't mind. I've added a poll. DeLuca seems to think the day Pegula announces Regier will return next season will be the official end of the Pegula honeymoon period with the fans.

 

So is it Regier for GM or just anyone besides him?

Status Quo is a dirty word in Sabres nation. No one represents Status Quo more than Regier. If Pegula wants to keep Ruff around and get him a GM to build a team for him to coach? I can understand that and would be willing to see where it goes. Regier is a different story. This year alone the $56 million he has spent to put this roster together should be enough for change. He's just not a very good general manager. The Sabres can do much better.