Is "accountability" even possible in the Sabres organization?

[Pimlach]

On 1/7/2025 at 8:51 AM, inkman said:

Why is it an obligation?  Because of butt hurt fans?  The less I hear and see the man, the better.  

 

On 1/7/2025 at 9:08 AM, inkman said:

There is no obligation to the fans. If you don’t like it, don’t support it.  There is nothing he’ll say to make anyone feel any better.  It’s all just platitudes that mean nothing and accomplish nothing.  If it makes you feel better to hear an old man stammer on about nothing, have at it.  I have no use for owners of sports teams.  It’s funny how Terry doesn’t say ***** about ***** with the Bills and no one cares.  But because the Sabres suck we need to hear Terry say a bunch of nothingness into a microphone. Ok.  

 

On 1/7/2025 at 9:51 AM, inkman said:

I don’t care if you burn the arena to the ground.  I just don’t think listening to an old man yammer on about nothing is going to make anyone feel better.  As a matter of fact, it almost exclusively incites more fan anger and distrust.  What you want is not going to happen.  He’s not going to come out and tell everyone his grandiose plan to make it all better.  He’s done that.  It isn’t working.  What we need is action.  Not words. 

Action is most important but so is communication.  Good leaders must communicate to their customers, fans, troops, employees, shareholders, stakeholders, constituents, etc.   You do this to build trust, manage conflict, clarify, and ensure them that you are present and engaged.  

This is especially important when things are going wrong or there is a major change happening.  

This owner has not talked to us in several years.   Last time that I can recall was the "efficient, economic, and effective" speech.  Since that time there have been a few coaching and FO changes,  and since that time the performance of this team in the standings has not improved at all.   

I don't want to hear from Terry right now either.   I prefer he lets the season play out, his comments are only going to make things worse right now.  He already stated to his team that the solution is in the room.  So far it does not appear to be the case.  I can let that play out.  

But afterwards he should conduct a post season state of the union and tell us what is next.  Are we staying the course?  Are changes going to be made in an effort to improve the performance of the organization and the product on the ice?    He owes his fanbase that and he has several months to work it out.  

Fans can decide whether they want to continue buying tickets and going to games.  I decided against going, not because they are a poor team, but I hated hearing all the booing and the swearing and the complaining.  It is very toxic at the KBC.   Until a see a serious effort to try to win hockey games I will not go again.  

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Pimlach

[That Aud Smell]

52 minutes ago, LTS said:

Yes, the ultimate source of the problem is Terry. I said that. Thanks for the confirmation.

I wasn't trying to be a d1ck with my last 2 replies to you -- although I may have succeeded just the same.

I also struggled to follow what you were saying.

[LTS]

5 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

I wasn't trying to be a d1ck with my last 2 replies to you -- although I may have succeeded just the same.

I also struggled to follow what you were saying.

Fair enough.  Let me try to clarify.

In Scenario 1 - Terry Pegula is an owner who challenges his front office, they give him their actual answers, he believes them, and the team continues to suck. This is Terry's fault because he doesn't know how to hire the right people.

In Scenario 2 - Terry Pegula is an owner who likes to have major influence over the personnel decisions his front office makes. The front office acquiesces to his "suggestions" because they want to remain employed. This is Terry's fault because he is a control freak.

For me, if we have scenario 1 then there is hope that Terry might get it right one day.. or try to let someone else hire the hockey front office. In scenario 2 there is less hope because Terry is unlikely to back down on his control and let someone else make decisions. He'll only be able to hire people who are willing to add a title to their resume and hope that when it's over they get a shot somewhere else.  The fans are truly screwed.

In both cases Terry Pegula is the ultimate source of the problem. Just one allows for some hope.. albeit slim after failing so many times.

[That Aud Smell]

12 hours ago, LTS said:

Fair enough.  Let me try to clarify.

In Scenario 1 - Terry Pegula is an owner who challenges his front office, they give him their actual answers, he believes them, and the team continues to suck. This is Terry's fault because he doesn't know how to hire the right people.

In Scenario 2 - Terry Pegula is an owner who likes to have major influence over the personnel decisions his front office makes. The front office acquiesces to his "suggestions" because they want to remain employed. This is Terry's fault because he is a control freak.

For me, if we have scenario 1 then there is hope that Terry might get it right one day.. or try to let someone else hire the hockey front office. In scenario 2 there is less hope because Terry is unlikely to back down on his control and let someone else make decisions. He'll only be able to hire people who are willing to add a title to their resume and hope that when it's over they get a shot somewhere else.  The fans are truly screwed.

In both cases Terry Pegula is the ultimate source of the problem. Just one allows for some hope.. albeit slim after failing so many times.

Ah! I get it now. I got it.

Interesting.

I have concluded that -- while the Scenarios aren't binary or exclusive -- the Sabres are mostly Scenario 2.

With regard to Scenario 1, I think we more need Terry to be fortunate, not skilled, in hiring.

[GASabresIUFAN]

21 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

With regard to Scenario 1, I think we more need Terry to be fortunate, not skilled, in hiring.

When you hire LaFontaine (no experience), Tim Murray (1st time GM), Jbot (1st time GM), & Kevyn Adams (no experience and 1st time GM) to run your organization, I'd say hiring judgement is significantly lacking.  

TP got lucky with McD and Beane.  Maybe it's time to invest in real experienced leadership and remove your self from the equation.  No guarantee that will work either, but it stands a better chance than the mess he already created. 

[sabremike]

2 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

When you hire LaFontaine (no experience), Tim Murray (1st time GM), Jbot (1st time GM), & Kevyn Adams (no experience and 1st time GM) to run your organization, I'd say hiring judgement is significantly lacking.  

TP got lucky with McD and Beane.  Maybe it's time to invest in real experienced leadership and remove your self from the equation.  No guarantee that will work either, but it stands a better chance than the mess he already created. 

There is such irony in the fact there has never been an owner in hockey history more in need of a "Come to Jesus" moment than Terry Pegula.

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 minute ago, sabremike said:

There is such irony in the fact there has never been an owner in hockey history more in need of a "Come to Jesus" moment than Terry Pegula.

what do shrinks say; that you have to first acknowledge a problem before you can fix a problem.  Terry still doesn't acknowledge that he is the problem.  

The funny thing is that despite my very negative attitude towards the team, the coaches, Pegula, Adams and many of the players, I actually think this version of the Sabres, with a core of UPL, Thompson and Dahlin, can be saved. 

[LTS]

1 hour ago, That Aud Smell said:

Ah! I get it now. I got it.

Interesting.

I have concluded that -- while the Scenarios aren't binary or exclusive -- the Sabres are mostly Scenario 2.

With regard to Scenario 1, I think we more need Terry to be fortunate, not skilled, in hiring.

Yeah.. Pegula needs to recognize that he should not make any decisions on the operations of the hockey club and put someone in charge who has demonstrated success in running a hockey organization.  Specifically phrased that way to put the position as a POHO and NOT a GM.  The GM just runs the team.  All of their hockey operations needs an overhaul.

[That Aud Smell]

9 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

When you hire LaFontaine (no experience), Tim Murray (1st time GM), Jbot (1st time GM), & Kevyn Adams (no experience and 1st time GM) to run your organization, I'd say hiring judgement is significantly lacking.  

For sure. Which is why I'm just hoping that he'll just get lucky at some point. Because he's not hire-skillzing his way into good leadership.

As I've said: Lindy for POHO.

41 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I actually think this version of the Sabres, with a core of UPL, Thompson and Dahlin, can be saved. 

I do agree: Let's figure out a way to salvage and support 26 and 72. Those guys are top tier NHLers.

[mjd1001]

47 minutes ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

 

The funny thing is that despite my very negative attitude towards the team, the coaches, Pegula, Adams and many of the players, I actually think this version of the Sabres, with a core of UPL, Thompson and Dahlin, can be saved. 

I'm with you almost 100% there.  UPL has shaken my confidence a bit with his play this year, but that is the nature of goalies. 

[sabremike]

33 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

For sure. Which is why I'm just hoping that he'll just get lucky at some point. Because he's not hire-skillzing his way into good leadership.

As I've said: Lindy for POHO.

I do agree: Let's figure out a way to salvage and support 26 and 72. Those guys are top tier NHLers.

I don't think people realize that unless you are at best in the world tier goaltending performance is almost entirely dependent on team defense and besides Dahlin we are absolutely shambling (and as Igor Shetserken shows even being at that tier isn't enough if everything else is a clown show).

[GASabresIUFAN]

32 minutes ago, mjd1001 said:

I'm with you almost 100% there.  UPL has shaken my confidence a bit with his play this year, but that is the nature of goalies. 

I'm not going to lie and say UPL has been good this season.  He hasn't.  His been average and certainly not as good as last season.  What I will say is that I don't think it's all his fault.  I think he is actually playing his heart out. The problem is the defense.  We simply give up way to many high danger chances.   We also don't block shots at a high rate.  

I put UPL in the "core" because we have committed to him and I think with a better defense he is good enough.  I also think Levi will figure out the NHL and the team will have good goaltending between the two of them.  Call me an optimist.

If I was the GM, my Sabres core would be JJP, Benson, TNT, Tuch, and possibly Quinn up front, Dahlin and Byram on defense and the UPL/Levi combo.  I'd look to keep Zucker and possibly Greenway.  We are also probably stuck with Samuelsson, but as a 3rd pairing guy, he might be salvageable.  Everyone else, I'm not interested in keeping.  Power and Cozen top my trade list. 

My add list includes 2 top 4 defensive D.  I'm also looking to add two experienced centers with one proven playmaker for the top 6.  

From a prospect standpoint, I like Kulich, Helenius and Novikov.  I think they'll be able to help the team over the next few years.  I can see Kozak being a medium term player on the 4th line.  

Edited 1 hour ago by GASabresIUFAN