Buffalo Sabres fans are taking in the news that Jason Botterill is out as the team’s general manager.

“I was surprised that it happened today, I thought it would have happened a couple of weeks ago," said Matthew Dibble, who lives in the Town of Tonawanda.

There's mixed reaction over the firing.

“We knew it was going to happen because it’s just a never-ending cycle in Buffalo. They tend to always go backwards and backtrack, there’s never any progress," said Skyler Newvine, who lives in Kenmore.

Botterill will be succeeded by Kevyn Adams, a former NHL player and the franchise’s senior vice president of business administration.

Dibble said, “I’m excited for him. From what I remember, he was a hard-working, defensive-minded player.”

“He paid his dues, he’s well respected in the community, he’s a great person, an honest person and a hard-working person and I think he’ll do a great job," said Brian Kavanaugh of North Buffalo.

Some fans rather the team do a little more digging next time they consider a managerial change.

“I’d like them to actually hire somebody that has a history of being a GM, not no in-house stuff, get somebody new in here, get the ball rolling," said Newvine.

All this comes as the Sabres failed to make the playoffs for a ninth season in a row, leaving Western New Yorkers hungry for a playoff run and championship.

Kavanaugh said, “Everybody wants them to win a Stanley Cup, we want to win a Super Bowl, we want to win a Stanley Cup before we all die.”

“I think they’re baby steps, that’s what I think. I think things are still going to be a while. I think they’re going to get another head coach by the time that anything changes, they’ll probably get another GM too," said Newvine.