Jim Bob
RIP RJ
No.
Given the state of the team he took over and how close he is to the owners, I have zero sense that they look at things like you do.
Kevyn Adams GM thread
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Given the state of the team he took over and how close he is to the owners, I have zero sense that they look at things like you do.
My guess is it would have to be a special kind of collapse next year for Adams to get on the hot seat.
The Pegula's didn't hire Adams for his resume, they hired him because they trust him.
And considering he just got an extension with no actual success on his resume other than improvement from bottom of the league to middle of the league.
If anything, I could see Adams getting 'promoted' away from Hockey operational decisions and to a psuedo team president kind of role, which I honestly think would probably suit him better. He seems to be more of a "big ideas" guy rather than a functional NHL GM.
toddkaz
Registered User
- Nov 25, 2022
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If Fans stop showing up the Pegulas might sing a different tune. Its seems like its the only thing they listen to.
Attendance has improved from last year for sure.
Still down quite a bit from the 2020 season.
Like I said, assuming we miss the playoffs this year, for him to be on the hot seat NEXT year would take a total collapse. Like, bottom 5 finish, Dahlin wanting out, having to fire Granato kind of implosion.
Basically a repeat of the last days of Krueger kind of bad.
Of course, with that, would come the fan exodus.
Ace
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- Oct 29, 2015
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Given that his best players are all having career years…and other teams actually improve their rosters…
a special kind of collapse is well within the range of outcomes.
HOOats
born Ruffian
I believe this is already sort of the case honestly, with Karmanos and Ventura's analytics team having major say in decisions even if Adams has the final sign off. It seems to work well at the draft and contract negotiation tables, but TBD on big trades and FA.
No, he doing a very good job. Playoff team this season. Better then islanders . If not in this season we are a playoff team next season latest.
jd1970
Registered User
I mean, this summer will probably be make it or break it for a good bit of the fanbase with Adams.
If there is minimal changes and we are near the bottom of the league in spending again, I think there will start to be some real doubt on his ability as a GM. The 'trust the process' thing only goes so far when there hasn't been much evidence of a process other than 'sell sell sell, draft draft draft'. I'm encouraged by the Greenway pick up because it seems to be a recognition that he has to go outside the org to fill some needs. However, I'd like to see some hard choices being made this summer and some real roster shaping moves made. However, my expectations are low for what will actually happen.
OkimLom
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- May 3, 2010
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Positives:
- locked down three young players to team friendly deals.
- built up a nice collection of forward prospects with skill, talent
- not handcuffed by cap
- Hired Granato for the kids to not have their talent taught out of them early in their careers
- Nice replenishment of talent trading away Eichel, Reinhart, Ristolainen assets.
Negatives:
- the defensive depth in general. We have 3 decent to great defenseman. We are placeholding spots for 3 others playing at an AHL level, which he has decided that he couldn’t acquire a veteran defenseman to help the 3 young quality defenseman and help take the burden off of them.
- the goaltending position is literally built on hopes and dreams. There’s nothing of solid substance in the crease.
- Adams team, while having more edge than more recent rosters, still don’t have that character in their players that will push the hell back. There are teams built with that in their players DNA that they target. Buffalo has Cozens, Peterka, and Krebs that has that edge to their game.
For me the defenseman issues and how he’s handled that is his biggest mark for me in general. But there’s a lot to look forward to, no pun intended.
I think this upcoming offseason or the next one, Donny needs to reviewed. If there’s not a massive increase in their play defensively or the team kind of plateaus in their competitiveness, or even shows the same inconsistency with their ebb and flows throughout the season, then Donny’s job needs to be up for change. If things regress or even stay the same, and Adams doesn’t have the guts to make a necessary move, then his seat needs to warm up.
As of today, I’d say the work he’s done so far, give him 3 more years to see what he can do.
- locked down three young players to team friendly deals.
- built up a nice collection of forward prospects with skill, talent
- not handcuffed by cap
- Hired Granato for the kids to not have their talent taught out of them early in their careers
- Nice replenishment of talent trading away Eichel, Reinhart, Ristolainen assets.
Negatives:
- the defensive depth in general. We have 3 decent to great defenseman. We are placeholding spots for 3 others playing at an AHL level, which he has decided that he couldn’t acquire a veteran defenseman to help the 3 young quality defenseman and help take the burden off of them.
- the goaltending position is literally built on hopes and dreams. There’s nothing of solid substance in the crease.
- Adams team, while having more edge than more recent rosters, still don’t have that character in their players that will push the hell back. There are teams built with that in their players DNA that they target. Buffalo has Cozens, Peterka, and Krebs that has that edge to their game.
For me the defenseman issues and how he’s handled that is his biggest mark for me in general. But there’s a lot to look forward to, no pun intended.
I think this upcoming offseason or the next one, Donny needs to reviewed. If there’s not a massive increase in their play defensively or the team kind of plateaus in their competitiveness, or even shows the same inconsistency with their ebb and flows throughout the season, then Donny’s job needs to be up for change. If things regress or even stay the same, and Adams doesn’t have the guts to make a necessary move, then his seat needs to warm up.
As of today, I’d say the work he’s done so far, give him 3 more years to see what he can do.
Gabrielor
Registered User
The first thing in order of business I expect him to do honestly is trade this year's first, unless we miraculously win the lottery.
They need D help now, not 3 years from now.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
I highly doubt he does that unless there is a D that becomes available that surprises me.
If Rasmus Andersson becomes available...
joshjull
Registered User
Probably Tage, Tuch and Dahlin are what they’re going to be.
But Cozens is still has more to go and Power has barely scratched the surface.
I think Dahlin still has another level to hit. But otherwise, I'd agree.
Edited to add: My post was really a response to the perspective prior to TDL that if we don't make the playoffs this year, we never will. Which I think is absolutely histrionic.
Gabrielor
Registered User
I think Dahlin's best season is yet to come. I do worry on Tage/Tuch though.
HaNotsri
Regstred User
- Dec 29, 2013
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I suspect that Adams has a very different opinion compared to mine when it comes to Jokiharju and UPL.
Where I see a long term bottom pairing defenseman and backup (but hope for more) he sees a top 4 talent and starter.
That and a very strict budget are the only things that can help me understand why he didn't adress the glaring needs the last couple of years.
Where I see a long term bottom pairing defenseman and backup (but hope for more) he sees a top 4 talent and starter.
That and a very strict budget are the only things that can help me understand why he didn't adress the glaring needs the last couple of years.
Bendium
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- Oct 18, 2019
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I was fine with KA coming into this summer. I did not like the failure to adequately address goaltending and the defensive core during the offseason.
I understand given the turnaround in some players last year that he wanted to give a few forwards half a year to see what Donnie could do. However, that evaluation was done withing a couple months and should have set the table for some changes via trade. Didn't happen.
I feel like he failed the trade deadline and gave this team little help.
There is a big shift going on right now with regard to how he needs to keep building this team, and he looks like he is not ready for it. Grasping at Stillman is desperate, and trading for Greenway was clearly not a plan A.
KA is becoming reactive instead of proactive. I am very concerned.
I understand given the turnaround in some players last year that he wanted to give a few forwards half a year to see what Donnie could do. However, that evaluation was done withing a couple months and should have set the table for some changes via trade. Didn't happen.
I feel like he failed the trade deadline and gave this team little help.
There is a big shift going on right now with regard to how he needs to keep building this team, and he looks like he is not ready for it. Grasping at Stillman is desperate, and trading for Greenway was clearly not a plan A.
KA is becoming reactive instead of proactive. I am very concerned.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
I see it as Adams being more patient than fans want as opposed to being reactive.
@Gabrielor summed it up on Twitter last night when he talked about the drought's impact on the fanbase.
It is pretty obvious to me that Adams does not see things through the same drought tinted lenses that fans do. He is fully committed to a slow build through drafting and developing guys.
At the deadline he was fixated on guys that were under team control for years beyond 2022-23. That is why he dealt for Stillman and Greenway and was in on Chychrun and had no interest in adding a pending UFA.
toddkaz
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- Nov 25, 2022
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Adams should get heat next year if we miss the playoffs? Fired? Probably not but next year will be year 4 and how many GMs keep their job missing the playoffs 4 years in a row?
Thats a serious question, how many? zero?
Thats a serious question, how many? zero?
Botts was patient too and he got fired. Botts and Adams have/had the same plan.
Jim Bob
RIP RJ
Botts did not get fired because he was too patient.
He got fired because he did not keep the owners happy around non-roster decisions.
Gabrielor
Registered User
Botterill was not patient, he was just stupid.
Skinner, Wilson, Simmonds, Montour, Miller, Scandella, Pominville, Vesey, Frolik, Kahun is not patience.
Gabrielor
Registered User
When I'm calm and reasonable about it, I acknowledge the plan, I think it makes sense, but they do also have imminent important work to do.
When I watch back-to-back 1 goal losses and losing 4 of 5 to start the March race...I get incredibly pissed that we'll all be spending another summer together talking about the playoffs as something that's still a theory of what could happen.
It's been 12 years, in a league where half make it, and I'm sick of perpetually being out, all while ticket prices skyrocket, the owner stays silent, and the cap floor is something I still track to make sure we're over.
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Bendium
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- Oct 18, 2019
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Yep, still not the problem. UFA's at the deadline would solve nothing and everyone agrees. We could probably even move on from that pert of the argument.
Its good that he was focused on getting better players with term. Should have been in the offseason as well. He didn't get it done, and is slowly slipping behind the 8-ball.
The team on the ice is the one, for better or worse, that KA gave Granato to work with. It makes me question their plan, or type of team they are building, and their ability to understand and evaluate the right players. Several of the players on this team could have been replaced and upgraded last offseason that to me clearly didn't have it for a playoff team, which should be the measuring stick. Joker was never going to be the #4. He doesn't have the size of tenacity to fill that role, and as a thirdline pair is not desirable as he does not block shot, penalty kill, or play physical. Olofsson has had more value as a trade asset than player for years now. Bryson works hard, but will never have the size needed, there is no point hoping on a 1 in a 1000 chance he becomes something special.
He has done some things right, but it is starting to look like he is unsure how to proceed from here. I am very concerned.
