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Sabres Interested In Little Ball Of Hate? https://t.co/TQb66mbCqK pic.twitter.com/gEUp1qb5gS
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 1, 2017
I've been telling you since last week that Pat Verbeek has been on Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula's radar. Verbeek is AGM for the Tampa Lightning.
According to Darren Dreger, Tampa Lightning have given their AGM Pat Verbeek permission to interview with other NHL clubs. Verbeek is a smart, intense, driven and highly competitive hockey man who has earned serious consideration for a GM job. The Sabres are the only team in the 31 team NHL without a GM today.
Will "The Little Ball of Hate" be the next GM of the Buffalo Sabres?
Maybe. Just maybe.
Verbeek has in hand a hot head coaching candidate in Syracuse bench boss Benoit Groulx.
A Verbeek-Groulx ticket may be coming to Buffalo.
Verbeek is in his seventh season with the Tampa Bay Lightning and sixth as Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel, where he oversees all of the team’s professional scouting operations, aids in player procurement and reports directly to GM Steve Yzerman.
The Sarnia, Ontario, native served on the management team for Hockey Canada at the 2015 World Championship, which earned the gold medal.
Verbeek played for five different teams during a 20-year NHL career, appearing in 1,424 games with the New Jersey Devils, Hartford Whalers, Rangers, Dallas Stars and Red Wings, compiling 522 goals and 1,063 points and winning the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999. Verbeek represented Canada at the 1983 World Junior Championship, the World Championship in 1989 and 1994 and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
For the past seven seasons, I have seen Verbeek out on the road scouting in AHL and NHL rinks. He is a road warrior's road warrior. Verbeek is respected in NHL circles as being a tireless, demanding, driven executive who hates to lose.
If you are wondering if Verbeek is qualified to be an NHL GM take a minute to look at Verbeek's fingerprints all over the current rosters of the Tampa Lightning and Syracuse Crunch.
Verbeek works closely with GM Steve Yzerman, AGM Julien Brisebois, and senior advisor to GM Tom Kurvers.
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Conroy interviewed in Buffalo today https://t.co/gNHpnFCn0Q
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 1, 2017
The Calgary Flames announced have signed General Manager Brad Treliving to a contract extension. Treliving will not be a candidate for the Buffalo gM job.
Their AGM Craig Conroy is now free to interview with the Buffalo Sabres for their vacant GM job. If he so chooses to. According to Calgary Sun Herald writer, Conroy interviewed in Buffalobtoday.
Conroy has been linked to the Buffalo GM interview process via media reports. Convoy is not one of the six candidates to interview with the Pegulas.
Conroy just completed his third season as AGM. Conroy joined the Flames front office in 2011 as a special assistant to the GM.
"We are striving to create a level of continuity and stability, as all successful teams do," said Flames President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke. "Today's announcement is another step forward for our organization on that path. Under Brad's leadership, we have seen progress over the past three seasons and look forward to building on that growth in the coming years."
Treliving has served as Flames GM since April 28, 2014 and under his leadership, the club has amassed a 125-103-18 record over the last three seasons including playoff appearances in both 2014-15 and 2016-17.
"Brad has done a good job in leading our club and has clearly earned this reward," said Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation President Ken King. "We have great faith in our hockey operations structure and we look forward to continued and improved results."
Prior to his role with the Flames, Treliving spent seven seasons with the Arizona Coyotes as Vice President of Hockey Operations & Assistant General Manager. In that capacity, Treliving worked closely with Phoenix General Manager Don Maloney on the day-to-day administration of the Coyotes' hockey operations. Treliving also served as General Manager of the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the Portland Pirates.
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There are tornado watch warnings posted for Western New York and the Niagara Frontier at this hour. The six years of missing playoff hockey coupled with 70 mph win gusts and torrential rain fall hasn't dampened the sense of humor of Buffalo Sabres fans.
Buffalo Sabres fans want a leader who will add two top flight defenseman and some primary goal scorers to the exciting core of veterans and kids. Sabres fans want the world and they want it now.
One fan in particular took to Wikipedia to add some zest and excitement to an otherwise dank and dreary day.
Jason Botterill is the new general manager of the Buffalo Sabres. Or so says Sabres Nation.
Sunshine on a cloudy day. Thanks, Wikipedia pic.twitter.com/QrtNpJhmIX
— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) May 1, 2017
@THNKenCampbell The edit was made in Eden, NY near Buffalo. Probably just a random fan, but you never know. pic.twitter.com/QNUep5LBmI
— Miika Arponen (@MiikaArponen) May 1, 2017
( Thanks, Ken Campbell)
Terry and Kim Pegula are in the midst of their extensive search to succeed Tim Murray as GM of the Sabres.
The Pegulas have conducted six interviews to date. They have met with Pittsburgh Associate GM Jason Botterill, and Pens AGM Bill Guerin. New Jersey devils AGM Tom Fitzgerald has been interviewed. The Pegulas have also met with LA Kings AGM Mike Futa, as well as Nashville Preds AGM Paul Fenton, and Columbus Blue Jackets AGM Bill Zito.
All six candidates are talented, passionate hockey men who have taken different routes to the NHL. Botterill, Fitzgerald , and Guerin all played the game at the highest level in the best leagues in the world: The NHL and AHL. Fenton was a scout. Zito was a former player agent. Futa was a former GM of an OHL club in Owen sound.
All Buffalo candidates have had success identifying, drafting and developing prospects in the AHL.
All men are qualified to resume the heavy rebuild lift that Tim Murray began three years ago. All come highly recommended by their current employers.
At his Sunday morning Buffalo Bills presser, Terry Pegula said that he and his wife are "close to having the final answer" regarding the hiring of the next general manager of the Sabres. I expect a final decision by the end of this week.
Pegula's ideal GM candidate will bring discipline, structure, communication and character to the Buffalo organization.
I'm told that Pegula has been impressed with the six men he and his wife have interviewed. Each similar but very unique in their own right. However, Pegula is not ready to render his final decision and name his new GM yet.
I don't see the Pegulas getting one call closed by their next GM. History suggests that the Pegulas like first and second round interviews with prospective members of their executive team.
The Pegulas have been methodical in their approach to finding their new Sabres GM. They hhave had to be flexible and pump the brakes because so much of their time last week was dedicated to preparing and executing their plan for the Buffalo Bills at the NFL Draft. Now that the NFL Draft has ended, I see the Pegulas moving ahead all systems go on their Sabres GM search.
I'm told the Pegulas are holding the door open for any last minute candidates to walk through. Pegula will not wait long. Other candidates I'm told the Sabres are interested in speaking with are Tampa Lightning AGM Pat Verbeek and Anaheim Ducks AGM Dave Baseggio.
There have been several reports regarding an interest in Toronto's Kyle Dubas. Personally, I do not see a snow ball's chance in hell that Lou Lamoriello, Kyle Shanahan, and Mark Hunter allow their bright, young executive to interview with Toronto's hated division rival.
More to come.....