Sabres hire Eric Staal as special assistant to GM
Eric Staal is entering the management ranks. The longtime NHL forward is becoming the special assistant to Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams, the Sabres announced Wednesday.
Eric Staal is entering the management ranks.
The longtime NHL forward is becoming the special assistant to Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams, the Sabres announced Wednesday.
Staal, 40, officially retired as a player last summer after signing a one-day contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The native of Thunder Bay, Ont., joins a Sabres team that has missed the playoffs for an NHL-high 14 seasons in a row.
“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 off-season. 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.”
Staal and Adams were teammates with the Hurricanes in the early 2000s, including a Stanley Cup win in 2006. Adams also acquired Staal to play for Buffalo in a trade with the Minnesota Wild in 2020.
Staal is a six-time NHL All-Star.
