BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres have hired Eric Staal as special assistant to the general manager. Staal will report to general manager Kevyn Adams, who is being retained for a sixth season on the job.
Staal, who played 32 games for the Sabres during the 2020-21 season, appeared in more than 1,300 NHL games, had 1,063 points and won a Stanley Cup as a teammate of Adams with the Carolina Hurricanes. Staal was one of the first players Adams acquired after becoming general manager in 2020.
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“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. “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.”
We have hired Eric Staal as special assistant to the general manager.
Details → https://t.co/DZlESbphRF pic.twitter.com/H4gTFT1Vgo
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) May 7, 2025
Staal will assist in all aspects of the hockey department, including scouting and direct involvement with players and prospects. Staal retired in 2024; this is his first job in hockey since his playing career ended.
“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. “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.”
The Sabres are also moving on from head strength coach Ed Gannon, according to a team source. And they may not be done making changes to the front office, either. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the team has been vetting candidates for a senior adviser who has experience as a general manager and would report directly to Adams.
In five seasons with Adams as general manager, the Sabres haven’t finished higher than 20th in the NHL standings. The team also hasn’t spent to the salary-cap ceiling at any point during Adams’ tenure as general manager. Adams and coach Lindy Ruff both have time left on their contracts and will be back to try to end the team’s 14-year playoff drought. Last season, the Sabres were the youngest team in the NHL again and finished with 79 points, a step back in the standings for the second straight season.
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This offseason is a critical one for the Sabres. JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Ryan McLeod, Jack Quinn and Devon Levi are all restricted free agents. Alex Tuch is also eligible for a contract extension on July 1. Adams has a lot of decisions to make on this roster, and owner Terry Pegula has trusted him to make those decisions. But this is also the first sign that Pegula wants other voices involved in that process.
(Photo of Eric Staal with the Sabres in 2021: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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