Discipline. Structure. Communication. Character.
Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula stressed these important core values and ingredients to winning when he met with media this morning. Pegula Was grilled about the firing of GM Tim Murray and he'd coach Dan Bylsma.
“We have to get better,… Pegula said emphatically.
“Six years ago, I stood here and told the Buffalo Sabres fans that the reason for our existence was to win the Stanley Cup. That is still the truth. One team wins the Cup. We expected more this season.…
“Character throughout the organization, on the ice, and they have to be in a disciplined, structured environment where everybody knows what everybody’s doing and everybody’s talking. That’s how you win.…
Pegula said that he and his wife Kim did not go into their meetings earlier this week with the strategy to fire both Murray and Bylsma. Pegula said he spoke with players, coaches, and organizational employees before pulling the trigger. Pegula said he put all of the testimony together and he and his wife rendered the decision to fire Murray and Bylsma. Pegula said he now regrets not being more involved in the hiring and interview process of Nurray and Bylsma. He and Kim will be more involved in the new searches for GM and head coach.
“We as members of the Sabres’ organization are all responsible for our success,… Pegula said, “but accountability starts with me. We are not happy with our season this year, and there are no excuses"
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Pegula said his next GM will have experience. Will this eliminate NYR Rangers AGM Chris Drury and New Jersey Devils AGM Tom Fitzgerald from serious consideration? I say no. Drury and Fitzgerald are very much in consideration today.
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Pegula vehemently defended Jack Eichel and his agent Peter Fish by calling the "Eichel got Bylsma Fired" narrative a "complete fabrication"
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Pegula also denied the report that the Sabres interviewed former LA Kings GM Dean Lombardi in Buffalo yesterday.
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Pegula also denied that the Sabres tanked to get Jack
Much more to come....