Just last month, I wanted to think the Sabres hit a home run when they traded the ineffective Dylan Cozens and fan favorite Dennis Gilbert for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. Norris was the ‘prize’ in this entire thing, but so far, it looks like the relatively obscure Bernard-Docker was the real winner.
Bernard-Docker, so far, has three points and a goal in seven games, plus 14 blocks. Not bad for a defenseman who looked more like glorified organizational depth or, at best, a seventh blueliner. As for Norris, the injury-prone center has two points and a goal in three games and, you guessed it, he landed on injured reserve.
While Dennis Gilbert has appeared in just one game so far in Ottawa, he’s been a part-time player even during his stint with the Sabres. As for Cozens, he’s got nine points and three goals in 14 games, and an incredible 36 shots on goal. He’s averaging three hits per game, and has a 52.8 face-off win percentage.
Norris-Cozens trade hasn’t yielded great short-term results…
Maybe things will change regarding what so far looks like a lopsided deal, but it’s not like Kevyn Adams hasn’t made bad decisions recently. Last year, when the Sabres needed help scoring, he went out and flipped a late-round pick for Eric Robinson, who’s now long gone from the Sabres.
At the 2024 trade deadline, he acquired Bowen Byram in a trade involving Casey Mittelstadt. While Byram has yielded good returns, there’s also a chance Adams didn’t use much foresight when he traded for the young blueliner, given his near-future price tag.
Maybe Adams will find a way to keep Byram in town, but right now, there’s no guarantee he’ll go one way or the other. That said, don’t be surprised if you see the Sabres playing against Byram at least twice next season. And let’s hope they don’t regret not extending him should they make that decision.
Kevyn Adams never yielded much luck when the Sabres made a playoff run
Back in 2023, the Sabres found themselves in the playoff race and they hung around until the 80th game of the season. Yeah, that’s a “record” the team won’t break this year. To try and bolster the Sabres into the playoffs, Adams traded for Riley Stillman and Jordan Greenway.
Stillman never made much of an impact outside his very first period with the team in which he recorded five hits. While I wasn’t opposed to acquiring Greenway or seeing the Sabres extend him, he also hasn’t given the team returns they would’ve liked.
Greenway produced just eight points and three goals this season in 34 games. And while he gave the Blue and Gold yet another physical presence, Greenway still hasn’t lasted a full regular season since 2020-21, in which the NHL played in just 56 games. So, overall, Greenway’s fallen well short of expectations and 2025-26 could be the make-or-break year.
You look at Kevyn Adams’ trade record in recent seasons, and is it any wonder that the Sabres are still among the worst teams in the conference? No, they may not look as bad as some think they are, but if you’re wondering why they can’t get over an obstacle and earn a spot in the postseason, maybe you should check out some of what Adams has done…or hasn’t done.