Buffalo Sabres: Adams will be more aggressive in 2023 offseason

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has seen a share of criticism from fans due to his lack of making aggressive moves regarding the roster. 

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has a plan in place and he is rightfully sticking to it. Making a major move, or moves, regarding long-term contracts via free agency and trades rarely live up to their billing (see 2022-23 Ottawa Senators and 2022-23 Detroit Red Wings), but once a team gets a young core in place, their respective general manager has more leeway.

This is becoming the case for the Sabres. Sure, they’re playing their worst hockey of the season, and arguably their worst of this entire playoff drought. But in Games 1 through 58, they were in the thick of the playoff race. And that says a lot regarding the league’s youngest team from a development standpoint.

Therefore, it should show us that the Blue and Gold are only a few puzzle pieces away from playing meaningful games in April. Knowing this, don’t be surprised if Adams is more aggressive in the offseason than he has been in years’ past.

Buffalo Sabres general manager will be more aggressive to an extent

We can all agree that the Sabres need a legitimate Top Four defenseman to pair with Owen Power. In my first of many lineup predictions, I outlined this, with Vladislav Gavrikov serving as my initial projection. Someone like Gavrikov, however, may be looking for a lucrative, long-term deal.

And if that’s the case, chances are that Adams will go in a different direction. But his new signee would be an upgrade over the incumbent Henri Jokiharju.

You can also expect Adams to be in the market for a goaltender, assuming Devon Levi is in Rochester next season. There is a chance Levi can snag the starting job in training camp, but realistically, he’s going to the AHL, which would leave the Sabres in need of a starting goaltender, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen penciled in as the backup.

This time last season, Adams looked to free agency to snag a goaltender, and Buffalo ended up with the uninspiring Eric Comrie. For 2023, unfortunately, the free agency class for goaltenders is even more uninspiring, full of aging players and cast-offs.

Therefore, odds are greater that Adams will be willing to wheel and deal for a netminder capable of manning the net as the starter. We saw a more aggressive Kevyn Adams at the trade deadline when he acquired the likes of Riley Stillman and Jordan Greenway, and it’s safe to expect him to try and trade for a more serviceable piece at the position than Comrie.

Overall, I’m projecting the Buffalo Sabres lineup to remain pretty much the same. But Adams will aggressively pursue a Top Four defenseman to improve the porous unit. He will also do all he can to land a serviceable goaltender, assuming the odds are greater for Devon Levi to begin the bulk of his professional hockey career in Rochester.

Source: Sabres Mailbag: How should GM Kevyn Adams react to the recent struggles? by Lance Lysowski, BuffaloNews.com