The Seattle Kraken upheaval had a decidedly Buffalo feel to it, as the club dismissed former Sabres head coach Dan Bylsma after just one season on Monday. On Tuesday, the Kraken completed a reshuffle of their management structure, promoting GM Ron Francis to President of Hockey Operations, and named former Buffalo GM Jason Botterill as their Executive Vice President & General Manager.
Botterill was an assistant GM in Pittsburgh when he replaced Tim Murray as Sabres GM. He served in that role from 2017 to 2020 and drafted current Sabres team captain Rasmus Dahlin, centers Dylan Cozens and Casey Mittelstadt, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. After three seasons, he was fired by owner Terry Pegula and replaced by current GM Kevyn Adams. He then joined the Kraken as an assistant to Francis in 2021.
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Ironically, the move made by Seattle to create an additional layer in their management structure between ownership and the GM is something that the Sabres have resisted in recent years, and perhaps to their own detriment. Adams lack of managerial experience has to be considered part of the cause of Buffalo's stumbling and not making the postseason in the last five years, while clubs like Montreal have benefited by having an experienced hand like former NY Rangers GM Jeff Gorton as Executive VP of Hockey Operations to oversee GM Kent Hughes.
It is unknown what decisions will be made with the Sabres current management structure, but Adams and head coach Lindy Ruff are expected to meet with Pegula to discuss potential changes to help facilitate an end to the club’s 14-year playoff drought.
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