Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres cleaned house after missing the playoffs for the ninth straight season and leaving one of its stars, Jack Eichel, “fed up.”
We knew the team fired General Manager Jason Botterill, members of the Sabres’ hockey operations staff, and the coaches and GM of its AHL team. But the full scope of the firings wasn’t realized until today.
According to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, 22 members of the organization were fired in total. Seravalli described it as “a bloodletting that may be unprecedented in NHL history.”
Final head count in #Sabres' Tuesday house cleaning appears to be 22. It's a bloodletting that may be unprecedented in #NHL history – certainly in one day by one franchise.
If Terry Pegula wanted lean, he's got it now. Scouting staff of 21 has been reduced to 7. pic.twitter.com/q5HyJUoJL3
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 17, 2020
The full list includes General Manager Jason Botterill, Assistant GM Randy Sexton, Assistant GM Steve Greeley, Director of Amateur Scouting Ryan Jankowski, Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting Jeff Crisp, Amateur Scout Cory Banika, Amateur Scout Steve Cocker, Amateur Scout Mark Ferner, Amateur Scout Marcus Fingal, Amateur Scout Scott Halpenny, Amateur Scout Randy Hansch, Amateur Scout Tom O’Connor, Amateur Scout Ron Pyette, Amateur Scout Matt Tiesling, Amateur Scout Magnus Welin, Pro Scout John Van Boxmeer, Player Development Coach Krys Barch, Player Development Coach Mike Komisarek, Rehab and Development Dennis Miller, Rochester Americans Head Coach Chris Taylor, Rochester Americans Assistant Coach Good Dineen, and Rochester Americans Assistant Coach Toby Petersen.
Seravalli added that the firings could embolden other NHL teams, who are losing money due to the coronavirus pandemic, to fire some of their staff.
Here's the concerning part other teams' staffers have mentioned: Will more #NHL teams now attempt to follow given uncertainty surrounding Covid?
Not limited to 7 teams who might not play again until Jan. Some worried others will take notice – w/ most scouting work already done.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 17, 2020
Recently, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Capitals, Wizards, and Mystics, announced a 20 percent base salary reduction for employees making more than $75,000. The salary reduction will begin on July 12 and last until the end of the year.
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