According to Nick Kypreos, former NHL player and current analyst for Sportsnet, Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier is on the hot seat.
Speaking on Sportsnet, Kypreos said “the ownership group in Buffalo would have rather waited until Christmas but I’m hearing that the decision could come a lot sooner here and they ultimately will make the change. They’re feeling the heat from the fans that’s for sure.”
Now, we’ve all heard reports of changes within the Sabres organization before and little has come of it. Just last week, Bucky Gleason wrote a column speculating that John Koelmel may replace Ted Black as president of the Sabres. Immediately, Pegula laid those reports to bed by saying that he [Pegula] would leave the organization before Ted Black did.
The Pegula regime has been characterized by sticking with management, coaches and players until the last possible moment. Last season, it turns out, was the last possible moment for Lindy Ruff as the longtime coach was finally let go. Remarkably, Regier outlasted Ruff.
But is now, finally, the last possible moment for Regier?
It was at the end of last season when Regier told the fan base that some “suffering” may be required as the team begins a rebuilding process. “It may require some suffering,” Regier said. “I understand what we’re talking about here. I understand our fan base. And I would like to think that people will give up some suffering in order to win the Stanley Cup.” Of course, Regier uttered these infamous words to a fan base that had just watched the team fail to win a playoff series in over 5 years.
According to Kypreos, the two possible replacements for Regier are Jason Botterill (a former Sabre player) and Tom Fitzgerald, both of whom work in the Pittsburgh organization (the recruiting ground for Pegula).