Sabres fire GM Botterill

BUFFALO, N.Y. » On second thought, Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula weren’t pleased with general manager Jason Botterill continuing to oversee their franchise.

Citing a lack of communication and philosophical differences over the direction of a franchise in the midst of a nine-year playoff drought, the Pegulas reversed course in making the abrupt decision to fire Botterill on Tuesday.

It was a stunning move that came three weeks after Kim Pegula said Botterill would be retained.

At the same time, the Pegulas had a GM-in-waiting by promoting former player, Kevyn Adams, to succeed Botterill. The Pegulas noted they’re more comfortable with Adams, who held the role of vice president of business operations.

“We felt like we needed to be heard,” Terry Pegula during a Zoom conference call without going into detail on what the philosophical differences were.

Trudeau: Government ‘open’ to hub city

OTTAWA » Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Canadian government is “open” to the NHL operating a playoff “hub city” in Canada as long as it is allowed by local health authorities.

Trudeau said the decision will need to be made by the NHL and the provincial and municipal governments where the league wishes to operate.

If the NHL returns to play amid the coronavirus pandemic this ummer, it would start with the playoffs and with 24 teams, preferably split between two hub cities. The league has narrowed down potential sites to 10 cities, including Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver.