MORE Changes Coming for Sabres? w/ Paul Hamilton | The Jeremy and Joe Show

MORE Changes Coming for Sabres? w/ Paul Hamilton | The Jeremy and Joe Show

Paul Hamilton joining us. He’s on the uh Western Hotline. Sabres and Flyers tonight. 7:30 game, the first in the uh Yarmmo Keolin era. Paul’s appearance brought to you by Ray Laxand. Railax, we got this. Paul, good morning. >> Hello, guys. How are you? >> How was the tone at practice yesterday? I uh I mean, was it overly obvious? People are refreshed. Is it just a normal day where people are talking about the change? What was your read of the room? It >> was kind of like a normal day. I mean, the players that we spoke with, which are the leadership group, the captains were uh kind of down with the by saying, you know, it’s our fault that we got this guy fired. I mean, that means we didn’t do the job and that’s on us. And um you know, Tuck or Tuck thanked Adams for like bringing him to Buffalo and bringing him to the Sabres. and uh Thompson thanked him for his contract and he said you know he believed in him when others didn’t uh and uh you know allowed him to kind of grow into what he is right now uh in in the NHL and uh you know even said look at GMs can only do so much but you know he goes it’s on us we’re the ones on the ice not them and you know they all just kind of felt bad that they thought they let Kevin Kevin Adams down. >> Well, taking that personally, I mean, now they have a chance, I guess, to kind of start fresh with a with a new GM. And, you know, Paul, I wonder how many players have the whatever they do they go to Yarmmo and meet with him individually, right? You have exit meetings with a GM. Do you have entrance meetings? Would he would he want to sit down with each guy just kind of talk about their game? >> Well, he’s been around uh you know, so it’s it’s not like he hasn’t been in the room chatting with people before. or as Lindy Ruff said, uh, he was in the coach’s office every day, you know, with him and Adams and, you know, they would all talk hockey and talk about the players and talk about this and talk about that. So, he said it’s not really, you know, strange to have him around anyway. So, uh, you know, and Ruff said he didn’t know him before that, but now he knows him really well. uh you know and and you know knows knows what he likes about hockey, what he doesn’t uh about you know part of the game and he said it it was good to have him around because it was just another set of eyes and another voice to talk about you know what he sees and and what he doesn’t and um but as far as the players Darling said it was very short you know he came in he he addressed the team it wasn’t individually it was kind of quick and and he let them know and as Delene said, he goes, “I heard what he told you guys yesterday.” He goes, “That’s that was basically it.” You know, he he came into the room and and and said that. And um you know, now Dene being the captain, I think they’ll talk a little bit more as as needed or as things go on. um you know because I think Adams met with Dallene not a lot but I think you know when when needed and talked to the captain. So I think uh Yarmmo would probably be the same way. >> Paul, do you think there’s anything to read from tonight’s starting goalie? They’ve had time off, right? They can kind of reset the rotation if they want to if it’s going to be UPPL and Alex Lion. And I know Kalinan he he’s he said he leaves lineups to the coaches, but he might he did say with us he might tell them what he’s thinking or give some input. Is there anything more to read based on who starts tonight, do you think? >> No, the only thing you can read into it is he’s won three in a row and so he’s on a roll so that Lindy Ruff feels he’s the best guy to get a win. I mean uh I mean he he let him kind of get on a roll. He played in four straight games. didn’t start them all but played in them and and Lion hadn’t won a game since October, the Toronto game if you remember. >> Yeah. >> And then all of a sudden he wins three in a row. So I think Lindy Ruff would be insane not to put him in net and and keep going with him. So uh you know that’s that’s where that decision lies. I don’t think it has anything to do with GM or Kolan or Adams or anybody else. >> Lion the goalie for both the uh all three Edmonton Vancouver Seattle. The Savers come in on a three-game win streak over the Western Conference. It’s right after giving up seven to Calgary uh for the Savers, right? Like, you know, he was uh he went into that game in relief. Paul, with regard to where they are on the three goalie rotation, they don’t have to answer this question yet because Colton Ellis is hurt. What is the latest timeline for when that might become a problem again? >> Uh they don’t give timelines, but I mean, Kalinan did say we’re going to have to make a decision here. Yeah. >> You know, that that’s coming up. So, um, because he had mentioned just what you did. Well, right now Ellis is injured and, uh, the update with him is he’s still in concussion protocol and he’ll be re-evaluated on Friday, tomorrow. So, we’ll we’ll see where that goes. But he did admit that that they have to make a decision and they have to figure this out. So, um, that the timeline didn’t come, but it’s coming. I mean, I would say sooner than later. Paul Hamilton, his appearance brought to you by Ray Laconda. And finally, Paul, like the Yarmmo side of things, Lindy’s take on all of it. And I saw he expressed the same kind of thing, like disappointment. He felt like he’d let Kevin Adams down, but there’s been plenty of speculation about Lindy Ruff’s future, and that will continue for a little while here. So, um, what’s Lindy’s tone on any sort of conversation around that? >> And he was asked if it was brought up, uh, with Terry Pagula because, you know, he had a conversation with him. He said, “Nope. that wasn’t brought it up at all. Uh it was just, you know, when Terry Pagula had made this decision, which Lindy Ruff was not part of, uh he let Lindy Ruff know about his decision and he said that was that was their the point of their conversation. And uh you know, as far as what what he talking with Kolin, Kolinan just said, “Keep doing what you’re doing.” >> Yeah. >> You know, type of a type of a scenario. So um he he said it had not been brought up with either either Pigoula or with Kekalin. >> Do you either share the opinion or at least respect the reality of the idea that for Koline and he says he has full autonomy that for people to truly believe that that more things have to come. Do do you you don’t have to share it but do do you understand how people might say that? >> Yeah. I mean, and more things. I mean, you may see him start filling out the hockey department with maybe some people he worked with in Columbus, you know, people he trusts and uh and I wouldn’t know who we’re who we’re talking about here, but whether we’re talking about scouting or or things like that. Uh you may see some because you know in any sport when somebody takes over, they like to have their own people around them. So, who are those people? who are people that he really trusts and that that he liked being around last time he was a GM. So, I think those are the types of moves that uh we might see start trickling into the organization uh as we move forward here. >> Only additions though, not like changes. >> Oh, no. You could see you could see some subtraction. Sure. I mean, uh cuz he he’s gotten to know people. I mean, he’s been in in meetings and uh with the hockey department, things like that. So he he has seen people. So no, absolutely. Now whether he would do that in the middle of a season, I’m not sure. I don’t know. I don’t know if he would or he wouldn’t. Uh you know, if he was thinking of making those types of changes, he might wait till the end of the year. Uh so uh that I don’t know, but uh yeah, I think you could expect uh additions and subtractions. >> Paul Hamilton on the uh Western Hotline tonight. Savers and Flyers from Key Bank Center, a 7:30 puck drop and the playoffs. You know, Kolina, one thing he did say is he firmly believes this team can make the playoffs this year. Do you feel like it would be worth pointing to a you know, small goal like Lindy had been doing the six out of 10 points? Could I get to uh get to New Year’s and you know you’ve made up I don’t know half the distance that may be tough like it’s it’s a it’s a long road when you climb over everybody Paul they are seven points out of the final spot that is a playoff spot that’s wild card and the division third place is also 39 points so I don’t know can I get within five points in a month like I feel like with Kalinan what I would want without saying anything about like tanking but I’d want once they decide ide if they’re going to think they can make it or not. I’d want a bold move in one way or the other. >> Yeah. And well, the thing is too, we we’ve talked about the three-game winning streak and you’ve taken six out of six points and here you are still in last place in the conference. They’ve also won nine out of 15, which isn’t a bad record. >> Yeah. >> You know, and what where has it gotten them? They have not passed one team and they’ve won nine out of 15 games. So that just shows you how difficult it is just to pass one team, you know, and it so it’s not necessarily, well, they’re four points behind the Rangers who are, you know, four four notches up in the standings and that’s all fine and good and you might catch the Rangers, but did you catch Columbus, Ottawa, and Toronto, too? You know, so that’s just shows you how difficult it is to pass teams when you’re this far down in the standings. not the point total behind. They were seven points behind the Devils and they were in ninth place, I’d say they’re okay. They can make up seven points on the Devils and get into the playoffs. But, uh, you know, when they’re seven points behind the Devils and you get behind get past eight teams and it just I I think it just shows you. I think nine nine out of 15 games for wins is is good, but it’s not good enough to even pass one team yet. >> We’ll be listening tonight, Paul. 7:30 puck drop from uh Key Bank Center and maybe, you know, maybe a little bit extra of uh juice in the arena tonight for the start of a new regime. We’ll see. >> Yeah, we’ll see how the fans are and you know, see, you know, how the team is and how they come out on the ice. It’ll be interesting. >> Thanks, Paul. >> Take care. Flyers tonight.

Jeremy White and Nate Geary are joined by Sabres beat reporter Paul Hamilton for a discussion on the Sabres ahead of their 7:30pm matchup with the Flyers. They discuss the mood in the locker room as it will be the first game under new GM Jarmo Kekäläinen. The guys also touch on the teams 3-goalie situation, and the hole they find themselves in for the playoffs.

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