5 mistakes the Buffalo Sabres and Kevyn Adams must avoid this offseason

Failing to bring in an established high-end talent

When you look at all the teams in the NHL Playoffs, they all have something in common: There is a star player, sometimes multiple star players, among them. One reason the Sabres continue to miss the playoffs is that they have zero elite players in the lineup, and that needs to change this summer. 

Yes, there are some noteworthy names wearing a blue and gold jersey like Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jeff Skinner. And there are players with the potential to join their ranks, like Jack Quinn, JJ Peterka, and Owen Power, but there isn’t a game-changer in the lineup. 

Many of those mentioned above aren’t even top-two players on many of these playoff teams, and none of them are worth building around. But they are talented nonetheless, and every single one of them will benefit from just one more high-end talent in Buffalo. No, it won’t be an elite talent, but another player with high-end potential will help immensely.

This summer, Adams must leverage his prospects pool, part with an early draft pick or two, and trade for a young, high-potential, yet established player. Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks is the first player who comes to mind. 

Zegras, despite registering 15 points and six goals in 31 contests, is an established 20-plus goal scorer in recent years who finished second for the Calder two years ago, and there is a chance the 23-year-old climbs a rung or two on the ladder if he has an adequate team surrounding him. At this point, there is no other team better equipped with prospects and picks to make such a trade to the rebuilding Ducks.