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Buffalo Sabres: Grading Kevyn Adams two seasons as general manager

By Sion Fawkes

Feb 23, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres assistant coach Kevyn Adams talks to left wing Thomas Vanek (26) on the bench during the game against the New York Islanders at the First Niagara Center. Islanders beat the Sabres 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2013; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres assistant coach Kevyn Adams talks to left wing Thomas Vanek (26) on the bench during the game against the New York Islanders at the First Niagara Center. Islanders beat the Sabres 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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It has been nearly two full calendar years since Kevyn Adams took over as general manager for the Buffalo Sabres in June 2020. 

For the first time in his two seasons as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres, Kevyn Adams does not need to deal with mass adversity. He has a roster full of young talent with an over-30 veteran in Kyle Okposo ready to lead the franchise, plus some fantastic up-and-coming talent in Rochester.

Over the past 23 months, Adams overhauled a roster whose core either didn’t want to be in Buffalo given the perpetual losing or sought opportunity elsewhere. Players like Jack Eichel wanted out completely, while Sam Reinhart and Rasmus Ristolainen grew impatient. Then they lost longtime goaltender Linus Ullmark to the Boston Bruins, to name a few players.

Kevyn Adams has brought youth and optimism to the Buffalo Sabres

Since his June 2020 hiring, Adams hit a ringer on Owen Power in the 2021 NHL Draft. He also seemed to have nailed it on Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka in the 2020 Draft, and both players appear to be poised to join the NHL ranks in October 2022.

Adams maximized the team’s compensation in the Jack Eichel Trade, which brought Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch over from the Vegas Golden Knights. Both players found homes in Buffalo for the foreseeable future.

And while there were some massive issues at goaltender this season, Adams made the best out of a bad situation. He brought in the proven Craig Anderson as a stopgap this past season, along with Dustin Tokarski, both of whom ended up playing admirably.

Finally, there was the hiring of Don Granato as the head coach. Granato could not have been a better hire given his experience coaching young hockey players. Something Adams knew the Sabres needed.

The Sabres, for the first time in a decade, ended their season with optimism. And you can’t help but credit the moves Adams has pulled off to get them there. Look for him, in the 2022 offseason, to wheel and deal a bit more as he continues to turn around the Buffalo Sabres.

light. Trending. Prediction: Okposo will be named Sabres captain

Grade – B: Adams made all the right moves and has given fans a reason to believe. But, they still need a playoff berth to truly show how far they have come.

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