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Buffalo Sabres: What did Kevyn Adams reveal at the pre-draft presser?

By Sion Fawkes|
OTTAWA, CANADA - FEBRUARY 05: Assistant coach Kevyn Adams of the Buffalo Sabres talks with player Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on February 5, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, CANADA - FEBRUARY 05: Assistant coach Kevyn Adams of the Buffalo Sabres talks with player Thomas Vanek #26 of the Buffalo Sabres during an NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on February 5, 2013 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
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Reading between the lines at Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams pre-draft press conference, the front office exec had a few revelations.

The Buffalo Sabres have 11 picks in next week’s 2022 NHL Draft. And it’s now the time of year where the fun begins – reading the general manager’s tea leaves to try and decipher what he plans on doing with the ninth, 16th, and 28th picks.

NHL.com listed three takeaways from Adams’ pre-draft presser. And below, I will go ahead and interpret what I believe Adams and scout Jerry Forton revealed regarding three distinct revelations pertaining to their take on the following:

  1. The overall talent pool in the draft.
  2. Their ability to scout Russian prospects.
  3. And finally, their take on the possibility of trading out of their current draft positions.
Buffalo Sabres
KITCHENER, ONTARIO – MARCH 23: Owen Beck #92 of Team White skates against Team Red in the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on March 23, 2022 in Kitchener, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

What did Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams reveal? Revelation #1 – It’s a deep draft

The Buffalo Sabres are in a unique situation, owning picks in each third of the first round. Jerry Forton, who joined Adams at the presser, noted the possibility of a consensus in the first seven picks. However, that does not mean the Sabres can’t stay home with the ninth pick and snag a viable player. Here is what he had to say:

"“But I do think there’s a group right after that there’s a chance you’re getting just as good a player at nine as you’re getting at four or five,”  – via NHL.com."

Translation: It’s a deep, deep draft. Let’s flash back to March and April 2022, when the Buffalo Sabres faithful were divided on the direction of the franchise.

One camp wanted to see the Sabres lose out to attain a higher draft position and land someone in the top seven. The other camp, one that I was personally residing in, wanted the Sabres to play hard until Rick Jeanneret signed off for the final time. This was the best way to see what the team had in their current crop and they turned out to be pretty good.

It also turns out that the Sabres were smart to keep playing hard. At ninth overall, both Forton and Adams believe they will snag a ringer. The question is: Who? 

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