Hiring former NHL center Eric Staal as his special assistant marks the second time Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has turned to his friend and former teammate.
In his first trade as GM in 2020, Adams acquired a graying Staal from the Minnesota Wild. The move, of course, did not work out, and Adams traded the respected veteran months later in the midst of an 18-game winless skid.
Still, perhaps the roughest stretch of Staal’s decorated 18-year career did not sour their relationship.
So Adams, who won the Stanley Cup alongside Staal with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, has brought him back as the Sabres begin a critical offseason.
Staal, 40, will report directly to Adams and be used in all aspects of the hockey department, including scouting and work with players and prospects.
His arrival could be the first of many moves as the Sabres work to end their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought. It would also appear to indicate Adams will keep operating in his current role.
During his end-of-season news conference April 19, Adams said he hadn’t received any assurances from owner Terry Pegula he would remain as GM.
The Sabres have reportedly examined revamping their front office, according to DailyFaceoff.com.
They recently held “exploratory conversations” with several experienced NHL executives, the site reported. They also internally discussed three other options: adding executives above and below Adams; hiring a senior advisor; elevating Adams to president and hiring a new GM.
For now, Staal, who retired after spending 2022-23 with the Florida Panthers, is the only addition.
“As I looked for ways to enhance our existing staff, I wanted to add somebody to our group that has a fresh perspective and the direct experience of winning at all levels of hockey,” Adams said in a statement. “Eric was one of the first people I thought of when I originally became general manager, so it is fitting that he is the first addition to our organization this offseason.
“He has done it all as a player and I know his experience and knowledge will be invaluable to our team as we look to take the next step.”
When Staal played 32 games for the Sabres in 2020-21, they were looking to make that next step. His acquisition appeared to give the Sabres a No. 2 center they sorely needed.
But the Sabres and Staal both struggled, and he played just 32 games before they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens on March 26, 2021.
He left Buffalo 16 losses into their stunning streak of futility and with a personal 23-game goal drought.
“Although it was short, I loved my time in Buffalo and as a player I was lucky to get a small glimpse of what makes the city such a special place and a terrific sports town,” Staal said in a statement. “Throughout my career I was fortunate to be on so many successful teams and I hope I can lean on some of those experiences to help the organization moving forward. I’m thankful to Kevyn for giving me this opportunity and I’m eager to lend my experience to help in any way that I can.”
Staal, the second overall pick in 2003, compiled 455 goals and 1,063 points in 1,365 career NHL games. After leaving Montreal, he represented Team Canada at the 2022 Olympics before playing for the Panthers in his final season.
He’s one of 30 players to have won a Cup, an Olympic gold medal (in 2010) and a World Championship.
He served as Carolina’s captain for seven seasons. The franchise retired his No. 12 on Jan. 12.
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The AHL has announced the Rochester Americans’ best-of-five North Division final series against the Laval Rocket will begin next Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena.
The Amerks haven’t played since last Thursday, when they completed a first-round sweep of the Syracuse Crunch in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The complete schedule for the second-round series is below.
Game 1, May 14, Laval at Rochester, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2, May 16, Laval at Rochester, 7:05 p.m.
Game 3, May 21, Rochester at Laval, 7:00 p.m.
*Game 4, May 23, Rochester at Laval, 7:00 p.m.
*Game 5, May 25, Rochester at Laval, 4:30 p.m.
*if necessary