Sabres fans should be happy to hear that GM Kevyn Adams is finally getting the gears in motion. On Wednesday, he re-signed Jordan Greenway to a two-year contract extension. This move is not the one that Sabres fans or myself expected, just a few days before the Trade Deadline.
The deal is worth about four million per season and will keep Greenway signed through the 2027 season. As someone who thought they should let Jordan Greenway walk in free agency, I’m not sure how much I like this move, especially for more money.
When Greenway got to Buffalo at the end of the 2022-2023 season, he was able to display some scoring skill with four goals in 17 games. Greenway missed about 20+ games in total that season with injuries. Last season, Greenway was impressive as he tallied 10 goals, 18 assists, and a plus-minus of +11, which is exactly what the Sabres bargained for when they acquired him. He was also able to play in 67 games, only missing slightly over 10 due to injury.
However, this season has been rough for Greenway, he has only played in 26 games, missing 34 games due to surgery on a mid-body injury. His stats have been non-existent, with just three goals and five assists this season and only one point in six games since returning from his injury.
Now I think Greenway is a guy that the Sabres need, in terms of his physicality and toughness as he has 80 hits on the year. He can forecheck, and force turnovers at times, but most importantly sets the tone for the game with all the hits he accumulates. The only thing that I question is whether or not Greenway can stay healthy.
Adams sure thinks he can stay healthy by giving him four million per season. However, that is the scary part, besides his one solid season in Buffalo, in the other 40+ games he's played, he's barely accumulated 10 points.
I think if Greenway would be willing to take a pay cut, and maybe re-sign for two million considering the injury problems he's had since coming over from Minnesota, I think it's a decent signing. Four million for a guy that's going to simply be in your lineup for physicality makes no sense, at that point signing a guy like Ryan Reaves or Pat Maroon would be more beneficial as you get an enforcer for less money who is going to protect your star players.
Time will tell how this deal works out going forward for the Sabres, I think Kevyn Adams overpaid on this one, considering Greenway has missed 70+ games the last three seasons. Greenway, however, could be a viable option moving forward for the Sabres and could be the spark they need.