Kevyn Adams Generally Manages Buffalo Sabres Poorly
You’ll tell me the two previous Sabres coaches were a developmental guy known for guiding players who couldn’t drink legally and a soccer executive. Then you’ll tell me the general manager previously ran a hockey school. There’s now a contest to see how long one can hold the same undeserved title. Kevyn Adams proves that continued employment may not be tied to results. The tendency would be as baffling in anything else as in sports.
The question of why the disappointing worker who hires other workers with the unrelated background keeps his job while the disappointing coach with the unrelated background didn’t has defined this particular depressing offseason. Adams was presumably involved in hiring the erstwhile bench boss who got canned after another underwhelming campaign, which in turn prompts concerns about whether he knows what he’s doing, either. Everyone wonders but those in charge.
We’re waiting for Adams’s talents to transfer like the payoff for tanking. It’s theoretically inspiring to apply expertise from other jobs to a new one. But universality is not universal. Even if, say, an usher had the potential to make squad alterations, it still might be wise to go with an established hockey guru. Hiring someone who’s previously performed the actual tasks is the policy of 31 franchises.
Panic is best focused into motivation. The Sabres should be acting like they’re trying to locate a kidney. But they’re still not racing around to find the most experienced hockey officer possible. I wish Terry Pegula pursued a skilled manager like he does taxpayer money.
There’s more hockey after the regular season. The chance to keep playing seems like a dream as wild as finding the city of gold. The team of blue and gold is stuck reviewing questionable draft choices and trades. At least, they should be. A decade of ineptness was just the start.
Applying financial principles to personnel might motivate an owner who’s deeply invested in winning money. The false economy of hiring a bargain manager leads to less revenue. Seats are as easy to obtain as merchandise. Spending money to make money is one of the oldest notions in business. But Pegula can’t get past the first part.
This will also be the last time Adams is a general manager. Determine qualifications by asking how quickly he’d get a similar role if we ever got our dream of him getting fired. Imagining him ever serving as another franchise’s general manager is slightly less preposterous than the concept of ever again seeing Ralph Krueger behind a bench.
Like Adams, I’m hoping his job is saved by Lindy Ruff. It’s nice to share common ground. We also both want this team to win, although his questionable actions have made that outcome elusive. The sole source of inspiration will be able to yell about his disappointment in a cathartic release on behalf of us.
Prophets of hockey doom are hoping to be wrong. No Sabres followers who anticipate despondency are pleased with the prediction. That’d be like claiming the world will end then being glad when it happens so you can gloat. We call that the Jerry Sullivan standard. But noticing regrettable patterns does not mean those who perceive reality correctly favor those repeated lousy occurrences.
The problem of precedent has rendered hope obsolete. This continually disappointing team conditioned its followers to be exasperated. The Sabres are successful if conducting obvious scientific experiments counts.
Downcast Sabres fans aren’t negative: the team’s performance is, and they simply notice. True negativity comes from excessively optimistic fans who set themselves up for disappointment. This is the definition of an organization that needs to prove they offer an upside first. If they acquired players who picked up on tendencies as proficiently as fans do, they might make the postseason.
The cheapest option possible embodies the franchise’s brand. A manager executing the owner’s vision is great if that means making transactions that’ll lead to a parade with a trophy as the grand marshal. But trying to win sounds pricey. The Pegula way is to hire someone without proper abilities so they can spend as little as possible on someone who’ll do the same. The combination of meager qualifications and gratitude for having the job means Adams will always do his boss’s bidding. It’s not like he’s able to do more.
Exile has been unparalleled for awhile. No fan base has ever endured this. Sabres diehards who claim their woe is unique aren’t exaggerating while venting on social media: going at least four presidential elections between nabbing a playoff slot is an extended ongoing shameful league record an Eighth Amendment violation. Sisyphus had too rosy a perspective to cheer for the Sabres.
The all-time exclusion tally should inform every single discussion. Everyone’s noticed but those capable of remedying it. Staffers don’t seem too concerned. They reflect the culture created by the proprietor. A level of dreadful consistency that’s classified as historical hasn’t inspired the Sabres to make massive renovations in the present.
Actions are the important part, which is bad news for the side in question. They can claim they’re out to win and certainly mean it, but hiring decisions don’t match. Nonchalance from a team we used to enjoy decades ago is a sign they don’t care about us even if they’d plead otherwise. Incompetent indifference from the front office makes it sure seem like they don’t care. The Sabres shouldn’t feel surprised when fans offer their own version, namely apathy.
