The thought of “One Buffalo” took a whole new life once Terry and Kim Pegula, first owners of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, took over the Buffalo Bills. So when the hockey club has some big headlines surrounding it, the football team is certainly aware of that.
Recently the Sabres made wholesale changing causing a lot of speculation. Many members of the organization were revealed of their duties recently. Most notably, Sabres general manager Jason Botterill was let go, just weeks after co-owner Kim Pegula backed his return.
But that’s just scratching the surface as changes were even made even all the way down at the minor league level of the hockey club.
Playing a part there for the hockey team is certainly the club now not playing a game until the start of next season after it missed out on the playoffs once again. So far, the Bills aren’t in such a situation as the NFL is planning on a status quo start to the year.
But even if it doesn’t, Buffalo’s football head coach in Sean McDermott isn’t overly concerned that the Pegulas will have to make changes on the Bills front office.
“We’re all human and it’s unfortunate it happened,” McDermott reflected upon with the Sabres. “As much as I’m focused over here, I support what’s going on over there and root for the Sabres.”
“Terry and Kim have modeled to me that they’re committed to winning,” McDermott added. “All I can go off is my experience and what they’ve communicated with me first hand.”
With the much bigger business the NFL is as opposed to the NHL, it might be awhile until the Pegulas make any wholesale changes. But the big factor here is the comparison between the two leagues currently. Hockey has had a massive makeover and creation of a 24-team playoff (which the Sabres missed out on) to help bring the sport back after it was postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus.
With that in mind, many folks at the hockey team lost their responsibilities, and combined with loss of revenues from actually playing games, led to their unfortunate removals. Or at least that likely played a part. For the football club, everything and everyone’s jobs are still happening, albeit remotely.
McDermott is likely a ways away from needing to worry about any sort of similar changes.
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