I can't remember didn't he have Pat LaFontaine and everyone two days after they fired ruff I can't remember..
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Not sure, but if he did...how did that work out?

Yes, but my point is that today sounded so bad because it is clear that he doesn't know what he is doing. That's the part that is making everyone cringe.
- Slump Buster

How?

It's basically this -

I didn't hire Murray or Bylsma, Pat Lafontaine hired our GM who hired our coach. Lafontaine was a disaster, I'll be more involved with the next GM hire.

Our team is a mess that lacks character, structure etc.

End of press conference

Chicago lost yesterday...I'd give it more than 10 hours before we cross anyone off that list.
- Whatnot78

I wouldn't mind Phil Housley for something I think he be pretty interesting for VP

Sure, that's what he said. He said it years ago with the Bills too. Saying it and having a plan to do it are two very different things. If he had a plan all of the organizational fiascos with both teams wouldn't have happened.
- Slump Buster

Disagree.

He had a plan with the Sabres, albeit a bad one. It was still a plan, it failed. Move to the next one.

Not having a guy today is not an indication that he does not have a plan.

Everything he said, everything that's happened in the last 6 years is an indication that he doesn't have a plan.

I wouldn't mind Phil Housley for something I think he be pretty interesting for VP
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Don't care who it is, as long as he gets it right. And I won't know that for a while.

Not sure but if he did...how did that work out?
- Whatnot78

When that day happened I was thinking cups I was like yep we're going to win a cup lol

Oh well lol

Disagree.

He had a plan with the Sabres, albeit a bad one. It was still a plan, it failed. Move to the next one.
- ImThatGuy

You're going by the fact that he said "we have a plan". Sure, who is going to say that they don't have one?

Scotty Bowman for president
Steal Stan Bowman from Chicago to be the GM.
Hire Housley to coach.

You're going by the fact that he said "we have a plan". Sure, who is going to say that they don't have one?
- Slump Buster

He interviewed Murray who by reports had 0 answers for how to proceed going forward.

Keeping a man with no plan, is also not having a plan

When that day happened I was thinking cups I was like yep we're going to win a cup lol

Oh well lol
- GERBE!!!75PTS

right now I'd be happy with a playoff team...once that happens I'll want more

You're going by the fact that he said "we have a plan". Sure, who is going to say that they don't have one?
- Slump Buster

NO I'm going by the fact the hired Lafontaine as President.
Gave him the power to hire a GM
Gave the GM and President power to hire a HC.

A plan, again it failed, it was a bad plan. You move on.

He interviewed Murray who by reports had 0 answers for how to proceed going forward.

Keeping a man with no plan, is also not having a plan
- sbroads24

Very true

NO I'm going by the fact the hired Lafontaine as President.
Gave him the power to hire a GM
Gave the GM and President power to hire a HC.

A plan, again it failed, it was a bad plan. You move on.
- ImThatGuy

If that was plan/organizational structure he would have hired a new President. He's throwing darts at the wall hoping something stuck. Not having a plan is the plan.

Very true
- Slump Buster

People are reporting that they think the way McDermott has handled himself has influenced what TP wants in his front office.

If that's the case, that could be very good, or very bad.

Unfortunately the owner can't be fired. Have to have faith

If that was plan/organizational structure he would have hired a new President. He's throwing darts at the wall hoping something stuck. Not having a plan is the plan.
- Slump Buster

OK, well i see you are still in freak out mode considering it has been roughly 24 hours since this happened.

I'm going to sit back and let the process happen. if there is no GM in a month then sure, lets all freak out a little.

People are reporting that they think the way McDermott has handled himself has influenced what TP wants in his front office.

If that's the case, that could be very good, or very bad.

Unfortunately the owner can't be fired. Have to have faith
- sbroads24

not a big football guy, what did mcdermott do and why is very good/bad?

OK, well i see you are still in freak out mode considering it has been roughly 24 hours since this happened.

I'm going to sit back and let the process happen. if there is no GM in a month then sure, lets all freak out a little.
- ImThatGuy

i didnt see anything about the ass. gm getting fired so i can only assume hes taking care of this stuff on the day to day till a permanent guy is hired.

The blame starts at the top. The Pegulas are not going to fire themselves, so there's that. But at least they took action and removed the incompetent GM. TM was in over his head, he made many bad deals, overpayed on many contracts, and was grossly negligent in addressing obvious needs on the roster. The way he dealt with the defense in itself was reason enough to merit his departure. And his lack of belief in leadership and character was downright criminal.

So I applaud the Pegulas for taking this necessary step, but I am not enthusiastic about their ability to identify a quality replacement. The Pegulas track record only shows an inability to identify quality leaders for their organizations. The have a football guy running their hockey club!!! If money is not an issue why can't they afford to bring in a seperate person for this position?

The Pegulas are glorified fans who have skills running a business, not sports franchises. And it seems they are easily manipulated by sycophants who tell them what they want to hear in order to save their own jobs, not telling them what they need to hear in order to build a winning franchise.

Here is what needs to be done to fix this situation. The Pegulas need to remove themselves from the decision making process. They need to hire a GM with a backbone and ethical character. He needs to be experienced and respected among the league with networking already in place. He needs to have the ability to hire a new President of Hockey operations that he trusts and can work with. He needs to have the power to hire and replace every position in the whole organization with people he trusts and with whom he can work. No more going behind people's back to talk to the owner, no more football people working with the hockey franchise. A total new regime, with the GM having the final say on everything.

No more "working together". The Pegulas need to give him the checkbook, let him know what he is allowed to spend on management, scouting, trainers, player development, etc. And then step away and remove themselves from everything.

No offense to the Pegulas, but their involvement in their franchises decision making is only hurting things. Throw the players some parties, talk to them and support them, but leave the rest of it alone. They do not know sports!

As far as who should be hired as GM, I have no idea. But it has to be a strong character guy with lots of experience and networking already in place. If the Pegulas can do that, and then step away and let him do his job, then we have a chance to rebuild the franchise.

To do it right, we need time. The defense is in shambles, we have ignored drafting defense and have very few legitimate prospects. The farm system is a joke, Rochester is a mess. There are still a few bad contracts that need to come off the books, but in a few more years that will take care of itself.

We may be closer to making the playoffs than we were 3 or 4 years ago, but our overall situation is worse IMO. We have failed in the draft, we have not had a successful player development system in place, and defense takes longer to develop. Add to that the fact that the league is expanding so the talent is thinned out and there is more competition for the few quality players that become available. There is no quick fix.

Instead of trying to trade for a few players, or sign one or two key free agents to put a bandaid over the problems, we need to focus on setting up quality systems of development and scouting. We need to fix the system, not the players, and eventually the systemic changes will lead to the right players falling in place. TM approached things in the complete opposite way.

I am encouraged to hear so much about character in Pegula's presser. Maybe he is finally seeing the light. I don't care about making the playoffs next year, if we do I will be excited. What I really care about is creating the framework for successful drafting, player development and managerial decision making. If that all happens we will eventually have the structure to be a great franchise. This will take time and patience and we need a GM who acknowledges this and doesn't try to take shortcuts.

To be a healthy person you have to eat right, exercise, sleep well and avoid harmful behavior. Then in time a healthy person emerges, it doesn't happen overnight. A hockey franchise is much the same. You have to draft well, develop your players, hold players accountable to an ethical standard, etc. And eventually you will have a healthy hockey franchise. There are no shortcuts. I am not a religious man, but I pray the Pegulas find a GM who knows this and tells them that fixing this franchise will take time and a lot of changes.

Good Luck Kim and Terry!

i didnt see anything about the ass. gm getting fired so i can only assume hes taking care of this stuff on the day to day till a permanent guy is hired.
- Sabresfan-365

Well that would be a plan, and apparently there is just chaos and people running around like chickens so i cant believe the above

not a big football guy, what did mcdermott do and why is very good/bad?
- Sabresfan-365

Incredibly professional and genuine. The opposite of Murray.

Talks about preparation, discipline, family man. Not slapping Pee-pee's and acting like the Godfather who's owed "favors"

Incredibly professional and genuine. The opposite of Murray.

Talks about preparation, discipline, family man. Not slapping Pee-pee's and acting like the Godfather who's owed "favors"
- sbroads24

oh lol okay i see. why might that be really bad then?

OK, well i see you are still in freak out mode considering it has been roughly 24 hours since this happened.

I'm going to sit back and let the process happen. if there is no GM in a month then sure, lets all freak out a little.
- ImThatGuy

Not freaking out at all. I would have been unhappy if he rolled someone out today. My point is that he didn't have a plan in the past and I am not enocuraged for one in the future.

Scotty Bowman for president
Steal Stan Bowman from Chicago to be the GM.
Hire Housley to coach.


- adambuffalo

Well that would be a plan, and apparently there is just chaos and people running around like chickens so i cant believe the above
- ImThatGuy

its not like theyve got tough decisions to make either. Expansion draft prep is just daily prayers that someone will take bogosian.

And most 5 year old fans could identify this teams need for a defencemen, as long as its not some massive overpayment of alzner or another bogo/kulikov.