Michael Ghofrani: Sabres fire Jason Botterill, Promote Kevyn Adams To General Manager

About damn time

Who knows about KA tho

I thought LeBrun reported there was no interim tag..?

Thanks for Wayne Simmonds and Michael Frolik.

Those additions were absolutely necessary.

"Ultimately I think what really sealed Botterill's fate was his unwillingness to or fear of making changes to the core. Most of the moves he made, even the best ones, were simply window dressing. Two seasons have passed since the O'Reilly deal and the best options for replacing him were a way in over his head Casey Mittelstadt and a winger in Marcus Johansson, the results were about what you would expect. He also held onto Rasmus Ristolainen for his entire tenure, watching his trade value plummet during that time. Ristolainen represented the quickest and perhaps easiest opportunity for Botterill to add value to the Sabres, as the defeseman's reputation far exceeded his actual on-ice results. If he sells high two or three years ago, there's a decent chance he still has a job right now."

Completely agree with all of the above sir.

Ehhh (frank) it. Bring back Darcy

This organization is a s__t show. While I am fine with firing Botts, for the life of me - hiring another inexperienced guy is brutal. A no experience GM reporting into a waitress is a joke. If the Pegula's would have at least named a seasoned Pres of Hockey Operations above Adams, at least it would have taken the edge off the Adams hire.

I have been supporting them since 1970. I live in BC. I am closing to switching my allegiance to the Canucks.

When will this s__t show end?

The Sabres are a mess

Terry Pegula: "Kevyn is that right Kevyn?"
Kevyn Adams: "Yes sir."
Terry: "Great, great. So, uh listen, we're getting a lot of flack about this anniversary fiasco. I don't see the big deal, we put a lot of money into this. But anyway, it's kinda bad so... Do you think you could speak on our behave about this?"
Kevyn: "Mr. Pegula, I don't know, I'm not really responsible for this and I haven't done one of these before."
Pegula: "Listen Vyn, if you do this for us, we can build a relationship and maybe when the time comes, we'll make you the next gm of the Buffalo Sabres. How does that sound?"
Kevyn: "Wow! Sir that's really generous. I've never been part of the front office but I'm up for the challenge."
Pegula: No, no no.... You'll be GM but you'll just be doing what we tell you. Okay? The kids have been playing armchair GM. You hear of that thing? It's kinda neat. You can make trades and stuff. Well, I figured I'd give them a shot at it. You'll just be the face."

This organization is a s__t show. While I am fine with firing Botts, for the life of me - hiring another inexperienced guy is brutal. A no experience GM reporting into a waitress is a joke. If the Pegula's would have at least named a seasoned Pres of Hockey Operations above Adams, at least it would have taken the edge off the Adams hire.

I have been supporting them since 1970. I live in BC. I am closing to switching my allegiance to the Canucks.

When will this s__t show end?
- SabreWest

It can get worse. I’ve never been less optimistic about this franchise

They need to get super lucky and have a draft pick become a superstar

I thought LeBrun reported there was no interim tag..?
- SyrSabreFan

You are correct, I didn't catch it as I was writing. Updated the blog at the bottom.

Well he doesn't make those trades if are prospect pool had anything in it. Botts should have been using Murray's picks to fill out the roster, unfortunately there weren't many to use.
- Buff36

If he had ponied up sufficiently for Trochek at the TDL instead of doing his cheapo moves, they probably would have won one more game. Then they'd be in the tournament and he'd have a job. All of this was his doing. He dug his own grave through chronic procrastination combined with baffling panic moves and flat-out unnecessary trades while simultaneously neglecting the 2C position for 2 years.

Ultimately his inability or unwillingness to address a chronic problem cost him his job.

The Sabres are undoubtedly better off now that Botterill is gone. It's a great day to be a Sabres fan.

Agree with all, but KA doesn't seem like he's going to be some great GM. We fired Botts to replace him with a guy that has even less GM experience. Disconcerting.

If he had ponied up sufficiently for Trochek at the TDL instead of doing his cheapo moves, they probably would have won one more game. Then they'd be in the tournament and he'd have a job. All of this was his doing. He dug his own grave through chronic procrastination combined with baffling panic moves and flat-out unnecessary trades while simultaneously neglecting the 2C position for 2 years.

Ultimately his inability or unwillingness to address a chronic problem cost him his job.

The Sabres are undoubtedly better off now that Botterill is gone. It's a great day to be a Sabres fan.
- jcragcrumple

I certainly hope so....unfortunately I can’t find a track record for Kevyn Adams to base this off of.

I’m sure the Pegula’s nailed this former-Sabre-no experience-hire this time though!

This is brutal.

I literally have no expectations of this team's success in the near future or even distant one at this point.

I'm mostly a positive guy, I hate this team right now.

And I fully agree with the move. Botterill was a well spoken train wreck.

If he had ponied up sufficiently for Trochek at the TDL instead of doing his cheapo moves, they probably would have won one more game. Then they'd be in the tournament and he'd have a job. All of this was his doing. He dug his own grave through chronic procrastination combined with baffling panic moves and flat-out unnecessary trades while simultaneously neglecting the 2C position for 2 years.

Ultimately his inability or unwillingness to address a chronic problem cost him his job.

The Sabres are undoubtedly better off now that Botterill is gone. It's a great day to be a Sabres fan.
- jcragcrumple

He didn't neglect the 2C, he pegged the wrong guy for it and didn't realize it until shortly before the season pause.

This is brutal.

I literally have no expectations of this team's success in the near future or even distant one at this point.

I'm mostly a positive guy, I hate this team right now.

And I fully agree with the move. Botterill was a well spoken train wreck.
- gcomella34

I love the “we didn’t interview anyone” approach to hiring a GM.

Super successful tactic

I certainly hope so....unfortunately I can’t find a track record for Kevyn Adams to base this off of.

I’m sure the Pegula’s nailed this former-Sabre-no experience-hire this time though!
- sbroads24

Botterill was a dumpster fire who lacked a coherent vision and consistency. It will not be difficult for Adams to be a better GM. The bar is very, very low

I love the “we didn’t interview anyone” approach to hiring a GM.

Super successful tactic
- sbroads24

The interviews didn't work for crap before so why the heck not. Sorry, venting.

This time the no experience/ no interview GM is going to work well. Certainly this one has to be different.

If he immediately trades a 6 this year for a 6 next year...I don't know what I will do. At least we don't have to hear about Adams MBA right? He doesn't have one, right?

Picked the wrong week to quit sniffin' glue.

Botterill was a dumpster fire who lacked a coherent vision and consistency. It will not be difficult for Adams to be a better GM. The bar is very, very low
- jcragcrumple

Botterill being bad does not equal Adams being remotely competent.

Wake me up when our expectations pass “not being a dumpster fire”. Because not even trying to interview candidates is another hilariously inept move by the great owners we have.

Expect little to change. They got their Yes man again

He didn't neglect the 2C, he pegged the wrong guy for it and didn't realize it until shortly before the season pause.
- gcomella34

Huh? Out of curiosity, who was the guy he pegged for the 2C role?

Huh? Out of curiosity, who was the guy he pegged for the 2C role?
- kingcong39

CM

I love the “we didn’t interview anyone” approach to hiring a GM.

Super successful tactic
- sbroads24

I mean, it's not like fully interviewing candidates has worked the past 2 times either...

I love the “we didn’t interview anyone” approach to hiring a GM.

Super successful tactic
- sbroads24

Hey it worked when the flames hired Bill Peters!

Botterill was a dumpster fire who lacked a coherent vision and consistency. It will not be difficult for Adams to be a better GM. The bar is very, very low
- jcragcrumple

The issue is we say that EVERY GM switch.



At this point it's not even a bar, it's a hole, no it's a bottomless chasm. Don't fall in Kevyn.