Although longtime General Manager Lou Lamoriello was spotted at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, it’s unrelated to any rumors of him joining the Buffalo Sabres organization. However, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Sabres would be interested in adding the veteran front office magnate in some capacity.
Lamoriello has spent his entire professional career in the New York/Niagara area, starting as the New Jersey Devils’ President and General Manager in the 1987-88 NHL season. He spent the next 27 years in that role before becoming the Toronto Maple Leafs’ General Manager in 2014-15. Lamoriello only spent three years in Toronto before joining the New York Islanders organization in 2018-19 as the team’s President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.
It’s improbable that the Sabres will dismiss Kevyn Adams as General Manager, particularly with the 2025 NHL Draft and free agency approaching. Still, the team doesn’t have a President of Hockey Operations, meaning Lamoriello could be interested in that role.
Other evening notes:
- In a long-ranging interview with Sergey Demidov of Responsible Gambling, Columbus Blue Jackets’ winger Kirill Marchenko reaffirmed his commitment to the organization. Now, Marchenko is a few years away from contemplating a move, as he just completed the first season of a three-year, $11.55MM contract. Still, given his responses in the interview, which our readers are encouraged to read, Marchenko makes clear that he has no intentions of leaving Columbus even when his current contract expires after the 2026-27 season.
- Vancouver Canucks winger Conor Garland believes this year was a fluke, and thinks the Canucks will compete for a playoff spot next season (Article Link). Garland tied for first with Brock Boeser in scoring among Vancouver forwards with 19 goals and 50 points in 81 games. In his view, the Canucks should add a few forwards this offseason, saying, “We need some additions up front; we were thin. We had a hard time scoring down the stretch.“
- The Tampa Bay Lightning are leaving the FanDuel Sports Network after only one season. In an article from Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times, he explains that the Lightning have signed a new broadcast agreement with E. W. Scripps Company through Scripps Sports. The broadcast firm allows Lightning games to be broadcast directly to any consumer with an antenna, with other viewing options available via the Scripps app.
I get that Lou is very “old-school” and considered a “dinosaur”. But, sometimes that’s what a team with zero direction needs. I’m not thinking he should be the GM, but I’d get him on the payroll to vet the organization to try and determine how they’re so incompetent.
Yea Right. The Sabres after year 10 had to do another rebuild. After Adams 1st year as GM he had to trade away the “franchise” players from the first 2 GMs. I feel the Sabres after their 0-10-3 skid responded well. They finished out of past place in the conference, went about 9 games over .500 after that winless skid & started to accept Ruff’s system. Adams has done a good job building out the lines (something the previous 2 GMs did not do) & Adams has the prospects (McLeod trade) and even the #9 pick to do another hockey trade. Byram is a nice trade chip to have (or keep) that Adams can use. Patience.
@lifesabeach- remember, grandpa Lou only won with Brodeur as goalie and was never able to really put together competent offensive teams
I think it’s exceedingly difficult for anyone to teach themselves their craft at an elite level. That is predicated on having a tutor that’s been around and knows the ropes. Lou has obviously been around for a long time and has learned some lessons – both good and bad.
Some have repeated the mantra that “the game has passed him by”. Perhaps there’s truth to that in terms of the day-to-day grind of being a GM. But his knowledge would probably be invaluable for a 50 year old former bottom six player (smart and good; just not good enough) like Kevyn Adams. He might be an ideal candidate for the empty chair of PoHO for the Sabres.
It’s funny you say that because I also here Brodeur only won because he had Stevens, Niedermayer, and a defense-first forward group.
Yes. Love Brodeur but he wasn’t implementing the neutral zone trap that preventing tons of scoring chances. Give Lou a little more credit than that. And how he stole Stevens from the Caps just solidified that team for a decade. Solid roster management , system and coaching. Not saying he should get a job with BUF or any team but he has a huge track record of success of the last 30+ years.
How much success did he have on Long Island? He consistently made poor roster decisions by not drafting well and then by not signing draft picks to develop in Bridgeport. By signing marginal minor leaguers to major league contracts to fill out the roster. Signing players to albatross contracts that kept him from improving the roster. If you consider that part of his track record of success I would say you’re wrong. Remember Grandpa Lou once gave Ilya Kovalchuk a seventeen year contract. A contract that if it had been played out to completion would be expiring this year.
Is Lou having more or less success than the Sabres are? What currently available GMs are out there that have had success? How many great GMs total are there? Why would they want to go to Buffalo with meddling ownership?
Lou didn’t steal Stevens from the Caps. Stevens signed with St.Louis as a free agent. Lou took Stevens as compensation for St.Louis signing Brendan Shanahan as a tier one free agent.
His teams only won when they had good players? Thanks for unlocking that mystery.
Maybe he wouldn’t be speeding and driving on the shoulder if he were still under contract?