Another year, another huge personnel change within the Buffalo Sabres organization.
On Tuesday morning, the team announced it had relieved former general manager Jason Botterill of his duties. Botterill leads a huge list of notable members released by the club that also included their AHL affiliate Rochester Americans' former general manager Randy Sexton, head coach Chris Taylor, and assistant coaches Gord Dineen and Toby Petersen.
But let's focus our attention back on the Sabres for a moment.
2020 marked the ninth straight season that Buffalo missed the playoffs; the longest current drought in the NHL, and there have been A LOT of firings made over that span. As TSN's Frank Seravalli pointed out, owners Terry and Kim Pegula have now gone through six head coaches, four team presidents, and three general managers since purchasing the team in 2011.
The couple appointed senior vice president of business administration Kevyn Adams as the team's new GM.
Anyone else's head a little dizzy after reading that?!
Just three weeks ago, the Pegulas informed Botterill he would be returning as general manager. A few days later, team captain Jack Eichel voiced his frustration to reporters about not making the playoffs for his fifth consecutive season in the league. It's been a rollercoaster of a few months in Buffalo, to say the least.
Some fans may have gotten their wish with this decision but firing GMs hasn't seemed to be the answer. Time will tell if Adams can finally lead Eichel and his teammates to the postseason.
(H/T Frank Seravalli)
