Since taking over as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres, Kevyn Adams made the on-ice product better, so it’s imperative to let him see his plan through.
First and foremost, I get it. Trust me, I get it. Waiting for something great to happen for years on end is beyond frustrating. It’s agonizing. And there are days, weeks, months, where you’re just angry, and not even the brightest ray of light will change your feelings.
But if there’s wisdom that I’ve personally learned from successful people, it’s this: Embrace the journey and stick to your plan. And for Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams, his plan, though long-term, has worked.
When he took over for Jason Botterill in June 2020, the Blue and Gold were a laughingstock. When the COVID pandemic ended the Sabres season in March 2020, they were sixth in the Atlantic, 13th in the East, and their record sat at 30-31-8 (68 points).
Not long after, Adams’ plan began. He drafted Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka, both of whom happen to be on the roster now. Quinn especially is getting better game in and game out. He also drafted Owen Power first overall in 2021, and Power is also part of the Sabres dynamic 2022-23 rookie class.
Buffalo Sabres general manager deserves zero criticism
Know what’s impressed me the most about Adams? He didn’t sell players and prospects from the Botterill Era, something he easily could have done. Adams held onto the likes of Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, Dylan Cozens, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He saw value in these young players and they’re all part of this young core that has the Sabres in wild card contention.
Oh, and he also made a few blockbuster trades. Because if my memory serves me correctly, didn’t he ship Jack Eichel out of town for Alex Tuch and Peyton Krebs, plus a few picks? One of whom happened to be Noah Ostlund, who’s looking pretty good in Sweden at the moment. Tuch and Krebs are also regulars who figure to be in Buffalo for a long time.
Want another blockbuster trade? What about Sam Reinhart? Adams sent the former second overall pick to Florida for Devon Levi and what became the 28th overall pick. That pick turned into Jiri Kulich, who by the way, has been dominating over in Rochester and may end up with a roster spot next season – yet another regular coming to town, courtesy of Kevyn Adams.
And finally, given how poorly Tage Thompson played once upon a time, Adams could have easily shipped him out of town, probably for something as measly as a late-round pick. But he didn’t, and now Tage could wind up with 100 points this season.
Sabres aren’t perfect, but….
Last night, the Sabres looked like the NHL’s most dysfunctional hockey team, and they have several times this season. But thanks to Adams building this young roster the way he has, a young roster that’s developed a lot of chemistry since March 2022. And now, they’re on the outside and looking in for the second wild card spot.
Something not a single NHL expert saw coming. They’re also third in goals scored, yet another aspect of their game no one would have predicted.
So why not make a trade and go for it? There are several reasons why, but the main reason involves rightfully worrying about your team’s core first. Adams already signed Tage to a long-term deal, and so far, it’s paid dividends.
The Sabres often win with Mattias Samuelsson on the ice, and he’s another one that signed an extension. Dylan Cozens signed his last month, and just a couple weeks later, he scored a hat trick. Tuch will be here for a while, and so will Jeff Skinner.
Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power will get their respective paydays once they’re eligible. Quinn is another one trending north, and when eligible, he’ll likely receive his extension. Expect Krebs to get his next year, too.
The Buffalo Sabres are winning with a young core that Kevyn Adams constructed. No, they’re not a perfect team. Far from it. But they’re winning games and signing puzzle piece after puzzle piece to long-term deals.
So instead of trading for a power forward who may or may not even want anything to do with Buffalo (Meier), or an injury-prone defenseman (Chychrun), or an aging winger (Kane), none of whom would have been guaranteed to stay long and I don’t care what their trade compensation was, why not worry about the players who are producing (and winning) first? Kevyn Adams understands this, and his plan has your team in playoff contention when no one else thought they’d be here.
(Contract information provided by Cap Friendly. Roster transactions provided by Hockey-Reference)
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