With the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery a little more than 24 hours away, it marks the beginning of a crucial and impactful offseason for the Buffalo Sabres. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has a very large task at hand over the coming months, and he will be forced to make a handful of decisions that will undoubtedly shape the foreseeable future in Buffalo.
The Sabres currently sit with the best odds to secure the number one overall pick in tomorrow night’s lottery. Buffalo has a 16.6% chance at the first overall pick, with the next highest being the Anaheim Ducks, who have a 12.1% chance at it. Buffalo cannot fall below the third overall pick because they finished last in the league this year.
Obviously, the Sabres are hoping for the number one overall pick in next month’s draft. But whether Buffalo is picking at one, two, or three, they need to target the best available player, regardless of position. This team has holes everywhere, and they cannot afford to get too picky when it comes to the draft. Take the best available, simple as that.
But there is much more on the plate of Kevyn Adams than just the draft this offseason. The Sabres will also need to hire a new head coach before next season starts. Interim head coach Don Granato looks to be an early favorite for the job as the team showed a lot of improvements once he took over partway through the season. But Buffalo has made it clear that they are in no rush to make this decision and plan to talk with multiple coaching candidates.
On top of all this, Buffalo may be faced with seeing some of their star players leave Buffalo this offseason. Jack Eichel has made it known that he is not happy with the organization. It would not surprise anyone if we have already seen the last of Eichel in Buffalo. Other names such as Sam Reinhart and Linus Ullmark could be ready to pack their things and leave depending on the Sabres’ moves over the next few months.
Kevyn Adams has his work cut out for him this offseason. The decisions that are made before the first game of next season could be the ones that help them rebuild in Buffalo or set them back even more.