Michael Pachla: Trying to read the Pegula's tea leaves Experience or "new blood?" What are the Pegula's looking for in the Sabres front office and who will fit the bill?

This whole past week has felt so haphazard. Its kind hard to feel like the Sabres haven't moved backwards. To be honest, I have no idea who I'm rooting for to be the new GM and HC, I just want it to be a lot better.

This whole past week has felt so haphazard. Its kind hard to feel like the Sabres haven't moved backwards. To be honest, I have no idea who I'm rooting for to be the new GM and HC, I just want it to be a lot better.
- PrinceChill

the dust is just beginning to settle...Pegula's dropped a moab on Sabreland

The Kim Pegula is starting to concern me. Her name is mentioned in virtually everything that occurs with the Bills and the Sabre's but yet no one knows exactly what she does and how she does it. If this whole Bills and Sabre's reorg don't go as planned as they haven't before will anyone want to approach the topic, or do you think she will be spared. There are recent articles in local papers and even on NFL.com touting her as a symbol of achievement but is it politically incorrect to ask what exactly she has achieved. I mean facts are facts she met Terry in a restaurant where she was a waitress. He is 20 years her elder. So with all that said, does at some point if this doesn't turn around will anyone be willing to ask. What exactly does she do as it pertains to the Bills and the Sabre's? I just hope both teams turn it around because if the Carolina Hurricanes make the playoffs and neither Buffalo teams do, Buffalo will have the longest steaks in both leagues for not making the playoffs and that kind of failure is almost legendary.

Answering Gerbe's question on last post about why Antipin can't sign yet but other KHL players can.

Think it has something to do with his contract and when he can get out of it. Believe he has technically a year left in his deal which is basically an opt in or out and that can't dealt with till April 30th and eligible for NHL by May 1st

The Kim Pegula is starting to concern me. Her name is mentioned in virtually everything that occurs with the Bills and the Sabre's but yet no one knows exactly what she does and how she does it. If this whole Bills and Sabre's reorg don't go as planned as they haven't before will anyone want to approach the topic, or do you think she will be spared. There are recent articles in local papers and even on NFL.com touting her as a symbol of achievement but is it politically incorrect to ask what exactly she has achieved. I mean facts are facts she met Terry in a restaurant where she was a waitress. He is 20 years her elder. So with all that said, does at some point if this doesn't turn around will anyone be willing to ask. What exactly does she do as it pertains to the Bills and the Sabre's? I just hope both teams turn it around because if the Carolina Hurricanes make the playoffs and neither Buffalo teams do, Buffalo will have the longest steaks in both leagues for not making the playoffs and that kind of failure is almost legendary.
- richc111

No one wants to say it because its politically incorrect to do so

Kim, no doubt an attractive young waitress in a restaurant meets a wealthy older gentleman and yada, yada, yada, she apparently plays some prominent roles in his multi million dollar empire, drawing on her vast experience of waiting and clearing tables

And it was true love.... And it definitely WASN'T nepotism all those years and prominent management positions that she earned, and was not "appointed to" thereafter

And the media loves it.... They literally (especially the NFL) go out of their way to write "Terry and Kim Pegula" in every article they write about Bills and Sabres ownership

The Kim Pegula is starting to concern me. Her name is mentioned in virtually everything that occurs with the Bills and the Sabre's but yet no one knows exactly what she does and how she does it. If this whole Bills and Sabre's reorg don't go as planned as they haven't before will anyone want to approach the topic, or do you think she will be spared. There are recent articles in local papers and even on NFL.com touting her as a symbol of achievement but is it politically incorrect to ask what exactly she has achieved. I mean facts are facts she met Terry in a restaurant where she was a waitress. He is 20 years her elder. So with all that said, does at some point if this doesn't turn around will anyone be willing to ask. What exactly does she do as it pertains to the Bills and the Sabre's? I just hope both teams turn it around because if the Carolina Hurricanes make the playoffs and neither Buffalo teams do, Buffalo will have the longest steaks in both leagues for not making the playoffs and that kind of failure is almost legendary.
- richc111

I would stay away from these type of comments!

Answering Gerbe's question on last post about why Antipin can't sign yet but other KHL players can.

Think it has something to do with his contract and when he can get out of it. Believe he has technically a year left in his deal which is basically an opt in or out and that can't dealt with till April 30th and eligible for NHL by May 1st
- bluengold12

I thank you for the reply.. that makes sense

I would stay away from these type of comments!
- Irish 14

Damn you Irish you took my player today

That was a smooth pick up with Henrik Lundqvist that paid off

No one wants to say it because its politically incorrect to do so

Kim, no doubt an attractive young waitress in a restaurant meets a wealthy older gentleman and yada, yada, yada, she apparently plays some prominent roles in his multi million dollar empire, drawing on her vast experience of waiting and clearing tables

And it was true love.... And it definitely WASN'T nepotism all those years and prominent management positions that she earned, and was not "appointed to" thereafter

And the media loves it.... They literally (especially the NFL) go out of their way to write "Terry and Kim Pegula" in every article they write about Bills and Sabres ownership
- RoloTahmasee

Yeah I'm going to stay out of this one. ...

the dust is just beginning to settle...Pegula's dropped a moab on Sabreland
- Michael Pachla

What I fear is the clock resetting on everything Sabres. "Well, it's only year one of GM--, and HC--. Lets give them a few years before judging the results."

"They need a chance for their plan to unfold."

"They're just doing it with GMTM's picks. They don't deserve credit for these guys."

Seems like everyone gets two years in Pegullaville. Lets hope whoever is hired, results are immediate.

Dancing around the other Kim talk on here it annoys me that she didn't like Tim. Unless of course Tim did something inappropriate which would be another story. But if she didn't like his personality so what? I loved his personality it was a breath of fresh air and I really wanted him to work out here. He obviously didn't but it's neither here nor there.

Also I hate the idea of getting a boring "character" guy who doesn't take risks. We'll sign Gionta and Gorges to 5 year 25 million dollar extensions if that's the case...

It better not be pushed on new GM to trade Kane at all costs because of what hey did. That would not be smart management. Nor do I want the new GM to be the Pegula's puppet like Russ and Ted Black are and were.

Dancing around the other Kim talk on here it annoys me that she didn't like Tim. Unless of course Tim did something inappropriate which would be another story. But if she didn't like his personality so what? I loved his personality it was a breath of fresh air and I really wanted him to work out here. He obviously didn't but it's neither here nor there.

Also I hate the idea of getting a boring "character" guy who doesn't take risks. We'll sign Gionta and Gorges to 5 year 25 million dollar extensions if that's the case...

It better not be pushed on new GM to trade Kane at all costs because of what hey did. That would not be smart management. Nor do I want the new GM to be the Pegula's puppet like Russ and Ted Black are and were.
- bluengold12

Agreed on everything in your post but Kane it depends who the GM is but I think he's gone

And ted black was not a puppet .

New blood. Get rid of all old farts. It's Jacks team. He is a top 5 talent in the league. All the old people showed us is how to be old and uninteresting. Josh gorges thinks he's big league. He's just old, slow, and tired. Give this team to the kids.

What I fear is the clock resetting on everything Sabres. "Well, it's only year one of GM--, and HC--. Lets give them a few years before judging the results."

"They need a chance for their plan to unfold."

"They're just doing it with GMTM's picks. They don't deserve credit for these guys."

Seems like everyone gets two years in Pegullaville. Lets hope whoever is hired, results are immediate.
- PrinceChill

question is, if the new gm can solidify d, which is no easy task, will the team be able to take a big step forward?

i'm of the opinion that they have some pretty impressive top-six talent that will (should?) improve next season and whether lehner or ullmark gets the start in net, I think it will (should?) be decent

question is, if the new gm can solidify d, which is no easy task, will the team be able to take a big step forward?

i'm of the opinion that they have some pretty impressive top-six talent that will (should?) improve next season and whether lehner or ullmark gets the start in net, I think it will (should?) be decent
- Michael Pachla

D is by far the most glaring problem. Even though the goal numbers are far from impressive, I feel like that is a function of crappy D and playing so much in our own end, as opposed to bad O talent.

Goalie is going to be a big question going forward. Lehner, Ullmark and Peterson will all be interesting to see how they are evaluated.

D is by far the most glaring problem. Even though the goal numbers are far from impressive, I feel like that is a function of crappy D and playing so much in our own end, as opposed to bad O talent.

Goalie is going to be a big question going forward. Lehner, Ullmark and Peterson will all be interesting to see how they are evaluated.
- PrinceChill

new gm has no ties to lehner, reinhart and kane, amongst others...that could be interesting

new gm has no ties to lehner, reinhart and kane, amongst others...that could be interesting
- Michael Pachla

It will certainly be that. But if the rest of the league thinks those guys suck as much as some on this board think, be prepared to be underwhelmed by their returns.

Thanks again Mike, for shepherding one of the most active boards on this site, despite the pitiful team we root for; no easy task.

It will certainly be that. But if the rest of the league thinks those guys suck as much as some on this board think, be prepared to be underwhelmed by their returns.

Thanks again Mike, for shepherding one of the most active boards on this site, despite the pitiful team we root for; no easy task.
- PrinceChill

thx, chillmaster

The Kim Pegula is starting to concern me. Her name is mentioned in virtually everything that occurs with the Bills and the Sabre's but yet no one knows exactly what she does and how she does it. If this whole Bills and Sabre's reorg don't go as planned as they haven't before will anyone want to approach the topic, or do you think she will be spared. There are recent articles in local papers and even on NFL.com touting her as a symbol of achievement but is it politically incorrect to ask what exactly she has achieved. I mean facts are facts she met Terry in a restaurant where she was a waitress. He is 20 years her elder. So with all that said, does at some point if this doesn't turn around will anyone be willing to ask. What exactly does she do as it pertains to the Bills and the Sabre's? I just hope both teams turn it around because if the Carolina Hurricanes make the playoffs and neither Buffalo teams do, Buffalo will have the longest steaks in both leagues for not making the playoffs and that kind of failure is almost legendary.
- richc111

Spot on. These are her teams, basically.

....so, do we get a draft pick if someone hires Murray or Bylsma?

Black was supposed to be Pegula's friend. Mystery departures in this organization, Why couldn't they just say Lafontaine was fired for Philosophical differences. They were probably afraid of Backlash from saber fans.

....so, do we get a draft pick if someone hires Murray or Bylsma?
- seedy

I believe that rule was done away with, at about the same time we were paying up with our 3rd round pick.

....so, do we get a draft pick if someone hires Murray or Bylsma?
- seedy

I think we would get a 3rd

....so, do we get a draft pick if someone hires Murray or Bylsma?
- seedy

We didn't get one for Ruff .. I still don't understand that draft pick situation