It's been a turbulent week for the Buffalo Sabres. The team's GM and coach were shown the door and in the turmoil WGR Sabres beat reporter Paul Hamilton went on record saying Jack Eichel, the team's rising star, had "no desire" to talk about a contract extension after his rookie contract expired if coach Dan Blysma remained. According to The Buffalo News, the Sabres and Eichel's agent Peter Fish immediately denied the reports. Fish stated that such reports are "ridiculous in a word."
Sabres owner Terry Pegula was more emphatic in his Friday (4/21) press conference. When asked about a coaching search, Pegula responded, "we haven't talked to anybody," and seemed to bristle when he added, "put that in the 'Jack (Eichel) demanded his coach be fired' category."
To be clear, Hamilton didn't report that Eichel wanted Blysma fired, but that Eichel had "no desire" to talk about a contract extension if Blysma stayed. That may be a semantic defense, but the interpretation was clear. Eichel wasn't fond of Blysma, and his words could have been construed as a "it's-him-or-me" statement. Either way, Pegula was emphatic in calling it "a pure fabrication." Hamilton would have been on solid ground if he had audio of Eichel making such a comment, but it appears Hamilton's comments were interpretive speculation based on reliable sources. In his defense, it happens in politics and sports. This might serve as a basis for commentary, but it's a poor foundation for actual reporting. Fake sports?
Now here's WGR, the Sabres radio partner for many years, and Hamilton in particular, who's been covering the Sabres for WGR for more than 20 years. One wonders how much turmoil has been created inside 500 Corporate Parkway. The Sabres under Pegula don't appeared to be vindictive when it comes to the media coverage, but who'd be surprised if the team enacted retribution of some sort. Hamilton suspended, or out? Sabres radio broadcast rights altered or terminated? It would be extreme, but other professional sports teams have exacted a pound of flesh in similar situations.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula was more emphatic in his Friday (4/21) press conference. When asked about a coaching search, Pegula responded, "we haven't talked to anybody," and seemed to bristle when he added, "put that in the 'Jack (Eichel) demanded his coach be fired' category."
To be clear, Hamilton didn't report that Eichel wanted Blysma fired, but that Eichel had "no desire" to talk about a contract extension if Blysma stayed. That may be a semantic defense, but the interpretation was clear. Eichel wasn't fond of Blysma, and his words could have been construed as a "it's-him-or-me" statement. Either way, Pegula was emphatic in calling it "a pure fabrication." Hamilton would have been on solid ground if he had audio of Eichel making such a comment, but it appears Hamilton's comments were interpretive speculation based on reliable sources. In his defense, it happens in politics and sports. This might serve as a basis for commentary, but it's a poor foundation for actual reporting. Fake sports?
Now here's WGR, the Sabres radio partner for many years, and Hamilton in particular, who's been covering the Sabres for WGR for more than 20 years. One wonders how much turmoil has been created inside 500 Corporate Parkway. The Sabres under Pegula don't appeared to be vindictive when it comes to the media coverage, but who'd be surprised if the team enacted retribution of some sort. Hamilton suspended, or out? Sabres radio broadcast rights altered or terminated? It would be extreme, but other professional sports teams have exacted a pound of flesh in similar situations.
