On November 23rd, 2024, the Sabres were 11-9-1, and 11-6-1 since starting the season 0-3-0. Optimism was high, and a contingent of fans were thinking maybe they’d see their team back in the playoffs after 13 long seasons. But less than a month later, the Blue and Gold sat at 11-19-4, and well outside of playoff contention in what has become another laughable season in so many ways.
While the Sabres played better hockey since they snapped their infamous losing streak, that alone decimated their playoff chances. And yeah, you might say that they had plenty of time to bounce back from it, but when you’re 11-19-4, you need more than a few teams out there to tank if you’re interested in a shot at the playoffs.
The Sabres never got that chance because they’d become reliant on other teams, which is the worst situation for a team to fall into so early in the campaign. But maybe they could’ve avoided the losing streak altogether if general manager Kevyn Adams had done something to mix things up.
Kevyn Adams was a do-nothing general manager when he needed to make a move
Instead of making a trade or looking to make changes to the organizational lineup, Adams basically did nothing. And now, looking back on the debacle, Adams has kind of, sort of admitted he was playing not to lose. No, he didn’t actually say that, but it was implied when he spoke at the “Blue and Gold Insights” event.
Now that a few months have passed since then, Adams said, "If I had to do it over again, I may have shook something up by making a trade. I maybe should've shook something up by bringing a couple players up from Rochester. Maybe that would've been just something to change the dynamic of our group."
By doing nothing, it shows that Adams was playing not to lose. And from what the statement said above, you can pretty much get that vibe. All Adams needed to do was try something, and he couldn’t even do that. But here he is, in hindsight, sounding like he wished he at least reassigned some players and recalled others.
Still, it’s easy to admit your mistakes in late March, when the Sabres are so nearly officially eliminated. You can lament about it all you want, Kevyn, but lamenting isn’t making the team any better. And why should we trust you to do any differently the next time this team faces adversity?
Kevyn Adams needed to be decisive and it didn’t happen
Kevyn Adams has been in this position for roughly a half decade, and other than building a decent prospects pool, has he done anything of worth? He’s never been decisive in adding marquee talent when he needed to be, and when the Sabres have been playing bad hockey, he’s either brought in low-key players or has done nothing at all.
Not to mention that the Sabres have steadily regressed since the 2022-23 season when they looked like they were reaching another high-water mark. Lamenting isn’t fixing the issue, action does. Kevyn Adams has had plenty of time to see what works and what doesn’t, and to take action and he hasn’t.
So, do I believe him when he looks back and tells season ticket holders he’d “have shook things up by making a trade?” To be generous, it’s hard to believe. And given his track record, if Adams were to have made the trade, it probably would’ve been for fourth-line talent for a late-round pick.