Paul Hamilton’s Thoughts On The Sabres Firing Kevyn Adams| Schopp and Bulldog

Paul Hamilton’s Thoughts On The Sabres Firing Kevyn Adams| Schopp and Bulldog

We have an 11-point lead in fantasy. Uh, everything is settled except the team we’re playing has Wadd. >> That’s close, I think. >> So, I I agree. So, of course, I went to, oh, he’s going to he’ll ruin my fantasy. I I’ll get I’ll I’ll I’ll bet him to score two touchdowns because I again, I like to lose these bets. So, I have that with Miami and the money line and an Ali Gordon touchdown. >> I think I’d rather be your opponent. >> Yeah. >> Needing 11. But man, he gets hurt, leaves games, and comes back and it’s super cold. >> It’s cold is the biggest thing to me with two of them. You never know. I think I think it’s close. >> You’re not playing Paul, right? Paul. >> No, it’s not Paul. >> Would you rather have the 11-point lead or waddle going? >> I’d rather have the 11-point lead with the way Miami plays. >> Okay, maybe here’s that side action you want, >> right? With Paul. >> Bulldog’s going to pull off what I did last year. I was seven and seven last year and I won the league. Um, and Bulldog wasn’t, you know, he had the his record wasn’t as good as everybody else. He >> knows he knew it. >> You know, Mike, he snuck in at the end of the year and he’s going to win. He’s going to he’s going to take the whole thing. >> Paul, you’re aware of the fact that I’ve got Rasheed Shahed playing in a quarterback two spot moving into the playoffs here, assuming I’m going to be playing good teams. I I I don’t know. >> But you may win tonight. >> I know. I know. >> Well, somebody might have had Momes and somebody might have had >> the the guy Devonte Adams. team I’m playing had Mahomes. >> Adams is not sure to miss, but he has a hamstring >> injury and they play Thursday. >> Yeah. >> All right, Paul. Well, um I’m guessing you’re not shocked by today’s news. >> No, not at all. I mean, we talked about it on the air. I’ve been talking about it probably since last Monday when I first kind of got wind of it that it was a possibility. And and even without getting wind of it, I I just felt that the time had come. The time had come last year when they went 010 and three. Uh but it didn’t come and it’s just you know when it really struck me is I was in Philadelphia for that game in Philly and the Savers didn’t do well and went in a locker room and the players are just beside themselves. Now they can blame themselves too and they should because they’re not playing well enough but still they’re just like I could just see it. It’s like they’re they’re there. to that point where they can’t take this anymore. And I’ve been waiting to see it. And that was probably the first time I’ve really seen it in there. And I thought, this is just going to fall. And that’s when I started saying last week, this has to end. I’ve said it to you guys. I said it all over the place that this absolutely has to end otherwise it’s going to be back to square one. And um they finally uh finally did. But quite honestly, I I thought it should have ended last year when the Buffalo Sabres were in third place in the Atlantic Division and then went 010 and three. And by the time they were done with those 13 games, now what is the percentage of that of an 82 game schedule? By the time they were done with that 13 games, they were basically out of it. And we hadn’t even hit Christmas yet, >> right? >> And the GM just did absolutely nothing. He didn’t even like get somebody from Rochester. Nothing. Total inactivity. And I that’s when I thought it should have happened right then and there. >> Right. Obviously, it didn’t and it took until now. Um Paul, I don’t I don’t know. I don’t think you’re exactly suggesting that that it might have been a breaking point for the players in your observations there. Do you think that could correlate to what broke Terry Pagula’s will on this? because like you’re like you’re saying it it had been there had been a lot ample evidence over the years and ample opportunity for him to act. I wonder if it just got to a point where maybe maybe even Lindy went to him and said like these players are are going to be broken if we don’t do something here. I just I wonder what was the impetus to get Pagoula to finally do something that you know could have been arguably done three years ago. I don’t remember which home game. Could have been the New Jersey game, the five nothing game. It was one of them. Pugula was there and it was the loudest I have ever heard of Fire Adams >> and sell the team. I It was pretty loud in there both chance and I hadn’t heard it that loud before. >> The owner was there for that and he can get his feelings hurt rather quickly and that might have might have made an impression on him. I you know I don’t know why it would take that but it was it was one of those recent home games and I I want to say maybe New Jersey but I can’t be sure >> and it just I think that might have been the time where maybe he got to thinking and maybe talked to the people around him like what are we doing here? I mean are we really improving? I mean basically the Kevin Adams era has been a straight line. you know, the highest they ever got was 20th place and they were closer to the bottom of the league, 31st or 32nd depending on how many teams were in the league at the time uh than they were to 20th. And um you know, so it’s just been a straight line no matter what trades are made. I mean, they’ve they’ve you know, they’ve changed over the team somewhat with the trades or whatever. At the time, the trade looks Yeah, that might be pretty good, but it doesn’t work out that way. and it just was a straight line of I I’ll say yuck if you’re a Saber fan and uh it just never improved. >> So speaking again of like how you’re what you were sensing from the being in the locker room with players, what would the change of the GM necessarily do to the players? Like is this what they would consider it’s a sign of life in the organization which would make you feel better? They’ve also won three straight. At one point last week, you joked, “Now watch, they’ll go and win these last three games.” And you know, they did do that. It’s it’s it’s not quite a coaching change, is it? >> No, but it’s a it’s it’s a refresher. It’s like, okay, now let’s see what this guy has been a general manager in the league before for with the Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s a new direction. It kind of energizes you a little bit if you were down and couldn’t see the hope at the end of the tunnel. It’s like this guy’s actually done the job. I think I’ve said this to you guys before that this Yarmmo is only the third GM hired in the history of the Buffalo Sabres that had an NHL GM’s job before the Buffalo Sabres. And the first one was the first GM ever, Punch Immlac, with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And the second one was Scotty Bowman, okay, who was the GM with the St. Louis Blues during expansion. That’s it. They’re the only >> We were debating this debating this came up earlier and I I said I didn’t think Scotty qualified because I’m thinking about Montreal and of course there was Sam Pollock there with him but it it predates his Montreal time. All right. >> Yeah, that’s it. I mean, so you just keep bringing inexperienced guys in and inexperienced guys in, inexperienced guys here and this is what you get. >> Coaching is not >> So anyway, the players I think can be energized by that. >> Yeah. that here’s a guy that’s done this before who has been bold. You know, nobody was talking about the Columbus Blue Jackets when the late Johnny Goodro was a free agent and next thing you know he signs with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Don’t forget Paneran played there, you know. So, he’s not afraid to take a swing. >> Yeah. >> You know, and the players might like that. >> What should he want to do in your opinion? Like what where does this team need the most help? >> The f this team right now needs to sign Alex Tuck. They have to figure that out because if you don’t then he becomes a trading piece at the trade deadline and I think that’s an absolute disaster for this franchise even with a new GM. So I think they have to find common ground with Alex Tuck. Get off the fact that you think you have leverage because you have none and get the guy signed. Is it a contract? Do you want to sign a guy for eight years who’s 30 will be 30 years old when the contract starts? No. But I think you’ve got to do it. I mean, the fans love Alex Tuck and and it’s it’s just something that you’ve you’ve got a salary cap that’s going to keep going up. So, I think you’ll easily be able to fit this under the salary cap, even if you quote overpay him. But, I think that has to be job number one before you start moving on to the trade deadline and figuring out what you’re going to do because if you don’t get Alex Tuck signed, you I think you’ve got problems in this organization. >> Yeah. Well, that that I I that really need it be said will bear some very close watching cuz I I I myself highly doubt that Kevin Adams was the one who had final say on what they were doing with Alex Tuck, right? Ownership’s got to get the appetite to pay him $11 million or or thereabouts if that’s what it’s going to take. And >> probably 103 104 somewhere in there. >> May maybe that’s been the stumbling block all along. So, I don’t know. The skeptic in me here, Paul, feels a little bit like, well, maybe the new guy can. So, like he he can present the the counterargument like you just did. He’s going to be 30 years old, all this money. It’s not a smart contract. I’m not saying it’ll go over well. I I just I I I wonder if if they’re that far around the bend on on paying the money or not because we’re hearing all the time following the NHL with the cap going up and up and up. There’s a lot of noise out there that a lot of teams won’t spend to the cap even though it’s available to them because the cap is just almost too high for their liking. So, I don’t know. I’ll believe they get there when they when I see it. I’m all for it. I I I think we could regret it in a few years, but I agree. It’s it’s it’s something that could just if they were to get hot here, capitalize on the three they’ve just won and get on a run. The thing that could undo it is what happens with Alex Tuck, you know, like whether they sign him or not. He’s projected it was only it’s a one one Olympic projection. He’s ahead of he’s like on a line and I see Thompson listed as an extra. Now, you know, we’ll see what Bill Garren ultimately does, but you know, according to one person following this, Tuck outranks Thompson for the Olympic team right now. That’s who you’re trying to >> in my mind. He does in my mind, too, because he’s a more complete player, >> right? >> Um, you can use him in more situations. So, I I would agree with that assessment. >> And um the thing is, too, I think you could look at it this way also. Tage Thompson is a bargain at 7.1 or 7.2, 2, whichever one it is, he’s a bargain. So, you know, yeah, maybe you got to pay Alex Tuck, let’s say, you got to pay him 10.3 and you and if you’re Terry Pagula, you think that’s two two million too much. Well, look at what you got T Thompson for. You’re lucky you signed got him signed to that contract because it would be a heck of a lot more if uh he had started scoring 40 goals before you signed that. So, I mean, you can also look at it that way that, “Hey, we got we got a bargain here in Thompson, but let’s get Tuck done and let’s live with it.” >> Yeah. You get the two of them for 9 million each. I think you just put your head down and say, “Thanks for coming.” Like, good deal forever. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> Well, that’ll come up tomorrow morning. And I also think not sure what ultimately the role of the GM is in that. Uh, unless just one is a much better negotiator or can talker his agent into a new position or something like that. Uh, >> well, I think Bulldog has it right. Talk Piggula into maybe changing his position. >> Yeah, right. Maybe Kalini can talk about it. >> You’d like to think maybe all of this has already been discussed, >> right? I mean, it’s >> it’s the Saturday night massacre and President Nixon has Richardson. He’s not going to fire Archer Bald Cox. So, Richardson just quits and he brings in somebody else. He fires that guy. Like, just Pagula must have a position on Let’s hope, right? >> He has a position on Tuck. And maybe it changes. Uh, maybe maybe it doesn’t. Kalin and Paul, you have a particular opinion of him or thought on him. It’s interesting and maybe weird that he was brought in I mean many months ago as an assistant and this kind of probably seemed to many like just ultimately what was going to happen. >> I think his title was senior adviser is what they they and they made it sound like he wasn’t gonna be around like well he’s gonna be out at Columbus. I’ll tell you what, he’s almost at every game, if not every game. I see him on the road. I see him at home. So, he’s been around. I don’t know how much he’s been in Columbus because I’ve seen Eric Stall. I haven’t seen him yet. I I I’ve heard one person that told me they saw Eric Stall once. So, I don’t know what he’s doing or where he’s hanging out or whatever, but uh Kolina and I have seen a lot. So, he’s he’s been engaged. He’s been on top of this. So, and he’s been around. Plus, he has been in Rochester to see some of the the games down there, too, to get an idea of what’s going on down there. Something uh now I I think Kevin Adams watches the games, you know, on his computer and stuff, but Kevin Adams really doesn’t spend a whole lot of time in Rochester except during the playoffs. >> All right. So, that’s probably all good. Um, is he in your mind well respected? Like thinking of his Columbus years? Yes. >> Yes, he is. I’ve I’ve talked to people. There are a lot of scouts in the press box that you see and hear regularly. And um I’ve gotten a lot of people said he is very well respected around the league. And uh he also is a nononsense let’s talk let’s tell it like it is. Let’s not sit here in a meeting and have everybody tell me what I want to hear. Let’s let’s talk turkey here, you know. And that’s what he wants to hear. He wants to talk about a player and maybe hear an opposing view of what he might have on a player. He doesn’t want everybody Well, that’s good, Yarmmo. That’s really good idea. No problem, Yarmmo. You know, so he’s he’s one of those guys that All right, let’s sit down here and let’s let’s have some real talk. >> Well, I really um I I I I wish him well. I just think there’s there’s a lot to overcome here still. Um, how do you feel about the season right now, Paul? I mean, they come home from this trip, six points out of third place in the division, right? Montreal’s got at 38, they’re at 32. The wild card is a little further away. Uh, no, it’s the same actually. The second wild card is also 38 points. Uh, Philadelphia holding that down. Washington has 40. Um, what what do you think? What kind of jump do you think they can make? Are they capable of getting in the race? I think it would take a double figure winning streak. I don’t think they’re capable of that. I said I don’t know a couple of weeks ago that uh before before Thanksgiving that they’re out of it once once they uh came back. Uh I don’t even remember which trip it was. I I just thought that’s it. They just they have two It’s not the points Bulldog. If you’re in ninth place and you’re seven points back, you’re fine. You got one team to catch. You can catch that team. But if you got to leaprog eight teams even with six points, that’s the thing. Are you going to get over all eight teams? You’re just not. I mean, because I’ve watched this almost every season now. They get down at the bottom of the thing and they can’t. Now, they almost did it the year they were a point out. They they leapfrogged um five of the teams. They got tied with Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh had the tiebreaker and they were behind Florida. So, it almost worked that year. But are eight teams going to cooperate for you to get over the top of them? They’re just not. So to me, they’re out of it and have been out of it for a while. >> On that note, uh we’ll look forward to hearing you tomorrow morning and afternoon. >> Sounds good. Take care, guys. >> There you go. That’s our Paul Hamilton on the Western Hotline. His appearances here on WGR brought to you by Equitable Advisors. Planning for your future is about more than just money. Let Equitable be your guide. And by Rayax Honda. Ray Lax, we got this. >> There was also a report as we had been leading up to this news with Adams here for about a week that he got a new contract earlier this year or in the offseason. Did you see that? Got a year. >> And yeah, and I think that that was Ma I saw Matthew Fairburn who along with Tim Graham had this news first for the Athletic on Friday late in our show. Saturday I was watching Matthew respond to people on Twitter about the story and I in the story it was mentioned I think he just wrote it that Adams had another year to go and someone asked like I thought he was up and he said no it’s addressed in the story they so I think that was correct I think he did get a year uh buffer because again they reported that his contract was not up after this season >> which is pretty incredible >> it is incredible yes it is what is the standard Sure, it’s good. Anything to inject some enthusiasm and and hope into the team. I mean, who gets this long in sports without a playoff team? Nobody. It’s like this is record-breaking historic stuff in the modern era that a team would go this long with the same management >> without even making the playoffs once. And it’s so clear and it’s been the case for so long. It’s it’s so long since they’ve sort of passed that threshold that it’s just useless to even have talked about. It’s just too obvious, you know? It’s just too >> It ends you end up more in a conversation about whether the lights are on. >> Yeah. >> Than whether this guy secretly doing a good job. >> And I’m telling you, we’ll see what happens from here. But I very much feel the weight of that with this news today cuz I’m not even like, “Oh, great. Good job.” You know, cuz it it just took way too long for it to happen. That doesn’t mean it’s not a good thing that you finally did it. But you probably did it too late in this season for it to matter. See the conversation we just had with Paul. Um, so I don’t know. I I just I don’t have the usual breath of fresh air feeling. I I just have like a still a toxicity that I’m I I just sort of feel about them in general because I don’t trust that they’re you know even though they did this it took them so long to do it. I think that they probably lost another season in the process. I do I I’m more hopeful than Paul is that they can make it interesting. All we’re talking about is getting into a race and it should not take them 10 straight wins uh to do that. I mean recognizing his point about >> climbing the log the other side of that point is that they’re so close. I mean they’re not that far behind the pack. >> They’re kind of in the pack. So I want to be hopeful.

Mike Schopp and The Bulldog talk To Paul Hamilton to get his reaction to the Sabres finally firing Kevyn Adams and what he wants to see Jarmo do to help the team.

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