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Buffalo Sabres

For the Sabres, dysfunction starts with ownership

Kevin Allen
USA TODAY Sports

Shouldn't the first call by Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula be to former Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi?

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (left) and center Jack Eichel (right) are building block pieces.

In Buffalo today, some fans are thrilled with the Pegula family's housecleaning, which included the firing of general manager Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma. Some point fingers at young star Jack Eichel. Others believe the Pegulas' ownership hasn’t provided stable leadership.

Since 2011, the Pegulas have parted ways with eight team executives and coaches. Since 2012, Lombardi has won two Stanley Cup championships.

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All we know for sure is that there’s a mess in Buffalo and the job description for the new general manager should read: Clean up on aisle 26.

Only four teams had fewer points than the Sabres this season. Nobody is innocent in this case. While Murray only had three years to turn around a troubled team, the Sabres took a step backward this season.

A disconnect between Bylsma and players was evident. In the modern game, communication is the currency of coaching. Success doesn’t happen unless players buy in. Players don’t have to like the coach, but they have to believe in him.

Blaming this on Eichel is unfair. He’s 20, and still sorting out how to be a star and a leader. Eichel had ups and downs with Bylsma. But young players always go through this. Remember Joe Thornton in his early years in Boston? How about Steven Stamkos with Barry Melrose? Mike Modano years ago with Bob Gainey?

Eichel was guilty of wearing his heart on his sleeve, letting his grievances show outside the dressing room. But he didn’t get Murray and Bylsma fired.

At the start of this season, there were whispers the Pegulas had some discomfort with Murray’s style. Murray is likable guy, much appreciated by the media because he says what he’s thinking. He is refreshing in that regard.

But he can come across as unpolished. More than once, his honesty has made folks within the organization cringe.

He knows the league. He knows the game. He didn’t always know when it was best to say nothing. Perhaps that gave him a short leash.

The Pegulas bear much of the responsibility for the Sabres’ troubles.

The Sabres were a playoff team when the Pegulas bought them in 2011, but they have missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons under their stewardship. They keep hiring new people, but getting similar results. They must not be asking the right questions.

The good news for the Sabres: A long list of quality candidates for both the GM and coaching job are available.

If the Pegulas want to hire another fresh face, as they did when they hired Murray, they have a long list of quality people. That list includes Pittsburgh’s Bill Guerin (assistant GM) and Jason Botterill (associate GM), Nashville’s Paul Fenton (assistant GM), Calgary's Craig Conroy (assistant GM) and the New York Rangers’ Chris Drury (assistant GM). Drury was a captain in Buffalo.

The other positive for the Sabres is their talent. Eichel is a franchise player who will compete for the scoring championship for many years to come. Rasmus Ristolainen is a difference maker on defense. Forwards Sam Reinhart and Ryan O’Reilly will also be part of the solution.

The Sabres were headed in the right direction before becoming a dysfunctional family this season.

That’s why the Pegulas may be inclined to seek someone who has already proven they can push a team over the top. The list is topped by Lombardi, a man with a reputation of being both polished and organized. He is a complicated thinker who leaves no stone unturned when pursuing excellence.

When a team has a foundation player like Eichel, it shouldn’t take forever to become a competitive team. If you hire the is the right coach and general manager, the rebuilding process is expedited. The Toronto Maple Leafs, located 98 miles up the QEW highway from Buffalo, are proving that.

The Pegulas must understand that because they tried to hire Mike Babcock as his coach before the Maple Leafs did.

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