89- Have/ are you been in a position of management/ ownership of a business?

Pegula's have tried everything:

Buy team:

Fly on jet , convince players like Robyn regeir and family to waive to come here. Purchase leino and erroff
Keep darcy and lindy, because everyone with any advice told them they were no replaceable. Push $ to the cap and infuse money/ keep core.

Doesnt work out, fire darcy and lindy.
Hire lala and new bright up and coming gmtm
Employee/ ownership disagreement- fire lala
Looks like pegs fault, but lala did the same thing in the past.
Believe in a complete rebuid/ need a 1C if the Sabres are ever gonna win.

Tank for sam and eichel. Or eckblad/ mcdavid
Land eichel. Spend $ on okposo/ trade assets for lehner, ror and ek9 - basically go for it again.

Fire tmgm because he brought in troublemakers, and is really rough around the edges
Hire top assistant gm in botts
Top coach in housley
Dip down and guarantee dahlin, svech or brady tkachuk
Draft a kid 18 defenseman
Take a slower approach, because he's not going to be a real star for years.

Get burned again by gm trading for bums.
Vesey, tage, berglund, sobotka, ect.

Hire someone who you trust in krueger.
Trust being a huge issue
Hire another trust worthy employee in kagm.

Now your crybaby superstar is bringing down the franchise and the trustworthy coach is useless
- Boss34

Your summary is relatively accurate.
It would be improved, IMO, were you to insert the words "inexperienced" or "1st Time" before nearly every hire save Bylsma.

I believe that is the heart of criticism of Pegula's ... they constantly have hired inexperienced people at the critical management positions rather than proven NHLers.
That would be ok, IMO, IF they had someone above with a successful NHL leadership position.

Consider what their model club in Pittsburgh just did.
There is your difference that I believe most are condemning them for.

With all due respect, who would buy tickets to see him coach?

Also, didn't we kill TP for being all misty-eyed for former players?
- Slump Buster

I do not feel disrespected 🙂

Buffalo fans want to like the team. They want to like the coach. Peca was very popular and would definitely appease the "Ralph is a soccer coach" Crowd.

Do fans actually buy tickets to see the coach.

You're right, probably not.

I've never mentioned this here, but I'm a season ticket holder. Change makes me stay, when I dislike current coaches and players. ☝️

Krueger said he's not injured... If you believe him or not is another story.
- jochfr

I don't think Krueger believes he's injured, just that his capacity for synergy has been lessened by a body ailment.

Hows the guy a crybaby? Literally no one knows if hes playing with ailment or not. He's having a down year and still leading the team in points.....Aaron rogers once said his down years are most players best years.
He doesn't complain or say hes lost all interest in hockey like some guys have done here. Literally gives us nothing to complain about other than he has 2 goals so far.

This whole team has a problem and it starts and ends behind the bench.
- DirtyDan

Why would krueger specifically say eichel isnt hurt?

Oh that's right, its %100 kruegers fault 🤔

Why would krueger specifically say eichel isnt hurt?

Oh that's right, its %100 kruegers fault 🤔
- Boss34

Isn't he supposed to be the Great Motivator™️?

Your summary is relatively accurate.
It would be improved, IMO, were you to insert the words "inexperienced" or "1st Time" before nearly every hire save Bylsma.

I believe that is the heart of criticism of Pegula's ... they constantly have hired inexperienced people at the critical management positions rather than proven NHLers.
That would be ok, IMO, IF they had someone above with a successful NHL leadership position.

Consider what their model club in Pittsburgh just did.
There is your difference that I believe most are condemning them for.
- IonSabres

So. Much. This!!!! Never, Ever! Anyone experienced at the top... never! Pat, not experienced in the position. Black, slightly experienced on the business side, Kim as president is a JOKE! Absolutely 100% a joke!

And you pointing to Pittsburgh couldn’t underline it more. Mario and Ron know that they aren’t experienced enough to build and manage the on ice product and Hired TWO EXPERIENCED NHL executives to do said building and managing.

The team needs a Gillis and for Terry and Kim to play the roll of Ron and Mario...

Let Gillis run it, period.

Most people in management with that piss poor of a track record get fired. That can't happen with the Pegulas obviously.

The LaFontaine story still cracks me up 7 years later. They hired him after being so impressed with him at a concussion seminar. "Hey, Pat, we loved your talk on 'Why I'll never be right in the head again'. Come run our hockey team!"
- buffalofan19

The pegula's can't do anything right and have no clue myth has run its course.

They proved you wrong with the Buffalo Bill's.

Who is running a better organization right now?
Maybe 2 or 3 teams.


Lala was a likeable, "face of the franchise "
He was confused, which could be a result of the concussions.

He was a smiley likeable ex player , not hired to actually be in charge of anything.
That's why he was upset, they traded miller without his say so. They didnt need it. He wasnt in charge of anything .....😉

They haven't done the one thing that they should have done on day 1: hire somebody competent to run their business. Rule of life - never assume that because someone is rich that they are any smarter than you are.
- Slump Buster

Clearly you have never owned/run a business.

Rule #1 : you do not hand over the key's.
Keep current management and learn from them.

How would they even know who to properly hire?
They someone were gonna magically hire the "right" person to run everything.

Its YOUR business and they are not silent investors.

They probably are smarter than most of the population.
Money = intelligence

I bet the smarter posters are making more money than the dumb posters

The pegula's can't do anything right and have no clue myth has run its course.

They proved you wrong with the Buffalo Bill's.

Who is running a better organization right now?
Maybe 2 or 3 teams.


Lala was a likeable, "face of the franchise "
He was confused, which could be a result of the concussions.

He was a smiley likeable ex player , not hired to actually be in charge of anything.
That's why he was upset, they traded miller without his say so. They didnt need it. He wasnt in charge of anything .....😉
- Boss34

They got McDermott and Beane right, after whiffing with Rex Ryan. Was that because of good evaluation or luck? Suppose both of them end up leaving, either by necessity or desire. Do you really trust that the replacements they hire would be anywhere near as good? Given their track record on the hockey side, where even mere mediocrity gets you into the postseason, I sure don't.

Isn't he supposed to be the Great Motivator™️?
- jcragcrumple

Cant wait to get rid of Larsson and girgs.

Those Larry's were at fault. Risto and McCabe. Jbotts, shoot them to the moon ...

Oh , 30th place ....

Man, i was suckered in again and thought we would be somewhat better, especially on the offensive side of things...

But alas, we SUCK AGAIN...

Cant wait to get rid of Larsson and girgs.

Those Larry's were at fault. Risto and McCabe. Jbotts, shoot them to the moon ...

Oh , 30th place ....
- Boss34

And fast forward to today, and the 4th line is still our best line... What a dumpster fire.

Cant wait to get rid of Larsson and girgs.

Those Larry's were at fault. Risto and McCabe. Jbotts, shoot them to the moon ...

Oh , 30th place ....
- Boss34

They're no better or worse with or without any of those guys.

The pegula's can't do anything right and have no clue myth has run its course.

They proved you wrong with the Buffalo Bill's.

Who is running a better organization right now?
Maybe 2 or 3 teams.


Lala was a likeable, "face of the franchise "
He was confused, which could be a result of the concussions.

He was a smiley likeable ex player , not hired to actually be in charge of anything.
That's why he was upset, they traded miller without his say so. They didnt need it. He wasnt in charge of anything .....😉
- Boss34

They can do a couple things right....

1- maybe not act like they know all when talking with a guy who just did, in Carolina, what they are trying to do in buffalo.

2- hire someone with experience and success at the top of the franchise. They have NEVER hired experience at the top! Never ever ever... they have hired experience at the head coach level, once!

You have 2 jack Adams winning coaches on the sidelines who’s career statistics make Ralph look like a joke!

I have given Ralph his shot, he’s a joke...

Cant wait to get rid of Larsson and girgs.

Those Larry's were at fault. Risto and McCabe. Jbotts, shoot them to the moon ...

Oh , 30th place ....
- Boss34

Yeah, we're for sure in 2nd place in this division with Larsson and his 1 point and -5 in 15 games. Good call

So. Much. This!!!! Never, Ever! Anyone experienced at the top... never! Pat, not experienced in the position. Black, slightly experienced on the business side, Kim as president is a JOKE! Absolutely 100% a joke!

And you pointing to Pittsburgh couldn’t underline it more. Mario and Ron know that they aren’t experienced enough to build and manage the on ice product and Hired TWO EXPERIENCED NHL executives to do said building and managing.

The team needs a Gillis and for Terry and Kim to play the roll of Ron and Mario...

Let Gillis run it, period.
- Gr8daygo

How many years of professional team "presidential " management did russ brandon have? They hired him for pegulas one buffalo inc.

Bill's sucked for most of Brandon's tenure
Sabres too

Terry hires 1st time head coach in McDermott
Kim hires 1st time gm in Beane.

Explain how Pittsburgh has been average recently with long time professional gm's in power.

Let's also see what burke and hex do. Before crowning that a great decision

Clearly you have never owned/run a business.

Rule #1 : you do not hand over the key's.
Keep current management and learn from them.

How would they even know who to properly hire?
They someone were gonna magically hire the "right" person to run everything.

Its YOUR business and they are not silent investors.

They probably are smarter than most of the population.
Money = intelligence

I bet the smarter posters are making more money than the dumb posters
- Boss34

I have run and owned a business, thank you.

How would they know who to properly hire? How does anyone know who to properly hire? You find the person that looks best on paper and you hope it goes right.

For the record, you're advocating going against every successful sports organization's model: have a full and defined organizational structure. At some point there is a person at the top that reports to the ownership. You don't see successful teams doing it the other way and you see a ton of awful franchises doing it how the Pegulas do it.

They got McDermott and Beane right, after whiffing with Rex Ryan. Was that because of good evaluation or luck? Suppose both of them end up leaving, either by necessity or desire. Do you really trust that the replacements they hire would be anywhere near as good? Given their track record on the hockey side, where even mere mediocrity gets you into the postseason, I sure don't.
- buffalofan19

So lucky with mcbeane and bad evaluation with krueger,/ gmka

Seems about right.

They proved to be good owners. Right in front of your eyes this football season.

Good hire , bad luck with the Sabres, brought on by losing on purpose

How many years of professional team "presidential " management did russ brandon have? They hired him for pegulas one buffalo inc.

Bill's sucked for most of Brandon's tenure
Sabres too

Terry hires 1st time head coach in McDermott
Kim hires 1st time gm in Beane.

Explain how Pittsburgh has been average recently with long time professional gm's in power.

Let's also see what burke and hex do. Before crowning that a great decision
- Boss34

Pittsburgh has more Cups in the past decade than the Sabres do playoff appearances.

That's far from "average". Sure, they're in a bit of a dip, but they'll figure it out, most likely before the Sabres do.

Ten years later, and here we are.

If you'd asked me on the day of the Pegula's introductory press conference to predict the next ten years, I would've said at least one Cup.

What a joke.

They're no better or worse with or without any of those guys.
- buffalofan19

24th out of 31st last season

30th out of 31. This season. 🤔

Decent opinion.

Pittsburgh has more Cups in the past decade than the Sabres do playoff appearances.

That's far from "average". Sure, they're in a bit of a dip, but they'll figure it out, most likely before the Sabres do.
- buffalofan19

Because they mortgaged there future to keep winning. We keep picking top 8 and are in the same position we were 10yrs ago.

So lucky with mcbeane and bad evaluation with krueger,/ gmka

Seems about right.

They proved to be good owners. Right in front of your eyes this football season.

Good hire , bad luck with the Sabres, brought on by losing on purpose
- Boss34

Pat LaFontaine, Ted Nolan, Tim Murray, Rex Ryan, Dan Bylsma, Jason Botterill, Phil Housley, Sean McDermott, Brandon Beane, and Ralph Kruger.

That's 2 for 10. A quadriplegic monkey could throw at a dart board with better accuracy.

How many years of professional team "presidential " management did russ brandon have? They hired him for pegulas one buffalo inc.

Bill's sucked for most of Brandon's tenure
Sabres too

Terry hires 1st time head coach in McDermott
Kim hires 1st time gm in Beane.

Explain how Pittsburgh has been average recently with long time professional gm's in power.

Let's also see what burke and hex do. Before crowning that a great decision
- Boss34

I guess I’ll take Pittsburgh’s two cups under Rutherford. Before robbing Peter to pay Paul caught up with him. And if you believe the rumors, it was a rift between Mario/Ron and Jim on a Letang trade that pushed the relationship over the edge.

I’ll also point to the owners realizing they DONT KNOW ENOUGH to build and manage the team successfully and adding 2 people that have done it in the past. It may or may not work, you are correct. But past success shows they have at least done it once!

Terry and Kim can’t even admit that they don’t know, what they don’t know!!!! That is and will continue to make this team a laughing stock while driving some of the best talent we’ve seen in years out the door.

As for Brandon, he never had any success in his position. Never. He has the experience do to swindling a dying old man into giving him control over something he had no business running. Decent marketing guy sure. But a successful nfl executive, my ass.

They're no better or worse with or without any of those guys.
- buffalofan19

I'd take Lazar over either (just to bug boss)