Kevyn Adams GM thread

[toddkaz]

The most concerning thing I got from the press conference is Adams did not seem like a guy with his job on the line.

 

[jc17]

. He continued to make poor decision after poor decision refusing to address the smaller issues at hand with a smirk on his face and a smugness so thick.

What?

His last handful of decisions have all been considered good, aside from maybe lafferty. Byram was the most criticized one and people have come around on it. McLeod, zucker, greenway, 4th line (all of which this conservative GM overpaid for!) have been good, they just haven't finished the puzzle.

And again judging by the recent moves they actually seem to be doing a good job at identifying the right pieces, but obviously the last few are the hardest. It might take longer than I want but I actually trust that they will acquire useful players when they do. Hell people have been talking about how good necas has been, and kudos to management for identifying him as the target. Sucks that he wanted to stay in Carolina

 

[Fezzy126]

Haven't seen this posted here yet...



I'm generally not on the flamethrower side, I like what they've done in their front office with Karmanos, Ventura, and the analytics staff. I also think the performance on the ice this season is what every other team looks like competing for the last few playoff spots and a small win streak will again flip the standings, but there is a lot of truth in this mini rant.

• I hate how they've built the defense (pretty much for the 20th year in a row)
• I have serious questions about offseason player training and development
• I hate that they continue to try and build a top 6 almost entirely of children (although somehow Minny did the same with their top line and their awesome)
• While I'm ok-to-meh with Ruff, I hate their coaching staff (again)
• And lastly, I'm miserable that everyone we get rid of because they're not good enough to be here seems to go win a cup somewhere else as a key contributor.

/end mini rant

 

[SabresNorth]

The presser was a bit ridiculous. Sure, free agency is going to be a bit tough but with the amount of cap space we could easily tip the scales on short term contracts if playoffs was the actual goal vs perpetual development.

I don't mind the development angle but we need to stop the pattern of being a farm team for the rest of the league. Players get sick of losing and the cycle repeats.

Tim Murray for all his flaws found a way to get deals done where the best player came back to Buffalo. Maybe less trade protection in those days but still, it's the GMs job to build the roster and so far it's been a failure. Plain and simple we need some more vets. Love Benson, but would it have stunted him or hurt the team had he stayed in junior last year?

I hope it's playoffs or bust for kevyn this year. Enough is enough.

 

[WeDislikeEich]

I have a hard time judging the Eichel and Reinhart situations because I think his hands were tied to a large extent by the medical staff (Eichel) and to some extent by Botts bridging Reinhart for 2 years instead of locking him up.

Yeah, but Adams also bridged Reinhart too. Reinhart was up for a new deal when Adams took over as GM and he was open about wanting his long term contract. At that point he still wanted to sign here long term. Adam’s chose to give him a 1yr deal.

 

[TehDoak]

Even the NHL network is piling on

 

[Jim Bob]

No, I know that, why rebuild, look for hockey deals.

Reportedly, they tried a hockey trade around Eichlel for Matthew Tkachuk and Tkachuk made it clear he didn’t want to be in Buffalo and wouldn’t sign long term here.

Vegas wasn’t giving up Stone for Eichel.

Philly wasn’t giving up a top line F for Risto.

 

[WeDislikeEich]

I think the hard truth is that this team is not going anywhere until Terry Pegula changes how he runs things. Until he stops prioritizing communication with him as the #1 hiring criteria over actually having experience and being good at your job, nothing is going to change.

I don’t even have much hope for the next GM hired. I feel like the best we can hope for is either Terry to blindly luck into a good GM hire or maybe for Lindy to have enough influence to convince him to bring in an actual experienced GM or team president who’s good at his job.

I remember reading a couple/few years ago that in order to hire McDermott/Beane, Pegula had to put a clause in their contract that they had total control over football ops. and it was reported that was something he regretted giving them. Even after all the success they’ve had. That was an eye opener.

 

[Fjordsen]

Reportedly, they tried a hockey trade around Eichlel for Matthew Tkachuk and Tkachuk made it clear he didn’t want to be in Buffalo and wouldn’t sign long term here.

Vegas wasn’t giving up Stone for Eichel.

Philly wasn’t giving up a top line F for Risto.

I don't remember anything like that, but it still doesn't make any sense to rebuild for almost five years.

 

[Jim Bob]

Listened to ATW, Marek, and Chad D do podcasts reacting to the presser.

My biggest takeaway is that this whole thing lies at the feet of Terry Pegula. Adams was the guy he chose to be GM without a real search. Adams is the GM that Pegula has hamstrung from day one and Terry is in his ear every day.

Firing Adams changes nothing of significance if Pegula continues to run things the way he has for the last decade.

 

[Fjordsen]

What?

His last handful of decisions have all been considered good, aside from maybe lafferty. Byram was the most criticized one and people have come around on it. McLeod, zucker, greenway, 4th line (all of which this conservative GM overpaid for!) have been good, they just haven't finished the puzzle.

And again judging by the recent moves they actually seem to be doing a good job at identifying the right pieces, but obviously the last few are the hardest. It might take longer than I want but I actually trust that they will acquire useful players when they do. Hell people have been talking about how good necas has been, and kudos to management for identifying him as the target. Sucks that he wanted to stay in Carolina

LOL our defense sucks and is horribly composed. He didn't get a top 4 RD, two top 4 RDs because Dahlin needed a mentor four years ago too, He put the youngest team on the ice, top 6 mostly kids.

Dude you lost me on this one, he just screwed up, just admit it and don't lie to yourself.

 

[Fjordsen]

Listened to ATW, Marek, and Chad D do podcasts reacting to the presser.

My biggest takeaway is that this whole thing lies at the feet of Terry Pegula. Adams was the guy he chose to be GM without a real search. Adams is the GM that Pegula has hamstrung from day one and Terry is in his ear every day.

Firing Adams changes nothing of significance if Pegula continues to run things the way he has for the last decade.

I don't understand why this idiot doesn't interfere with the Bills affairs, why the hell is he so weird. Adams deserves to be fired anyway and we need an experienced person for the leadership position, and for Terry to stay out of the team. Adams can lie to the press all he wants.

 

[jc17]

Even the NHL network is piling on

I mean, she even jokes about getting 6 feet of snow. Its the reputation

And of course the big "gotcha" is that edmonton and winnipeg are good. Edmonton attracted who in free agency, Hyman, Perry and Kane? Will go out on a limb and say McDavid/Draisaitl has an awful lot to do with that.

Who has winnipeg gotten as a UFA, Colin miller?

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[HaNotsri]

PSA: Scotland has palm trees. If they can do it, so can Buffalo!

 

[joshjull]

Listened to ATW, Marek, and Chad D do podcasts reacting to the presser.

My biggest takeaway is that this whole thing lies at the feet of Terry Pegula. Adams was the guy he chose to be GM without a real search. Adams is the GM that Pegula has hamstrung from day one and Terry is in his ear every day.

Firing Adams changes nothing of significance if Pegula continues to run things the way he has for the last decade.

Other than Adams first season as GM as part of the flat management structure, how did Pegula hamstring him? I can see an argument for limiting the size of the front office but thats about it.

 

[sabremike]

PSA: Scotland has palm trees. If they can do it, so can Buffalo!

And you can thank this guy for that:

 

[EichHart]

95% of hockey players grow up in cold places. Adams is an IDIOT.

 

[stealth1]

95% of hockey players grow up in cold places. Adams is an IDIOT.

Those players aren't what this team needs. What this team needs to get to the next level is top 6 forward and a top 4 defenseman. The problem is most of them have a NTC or a NMC.

Before @Fjordy says there is a lot of guys that don't have a NTC or NMC, IMO most of them don't move the needle or will push this team to the next level. This team needs guys like Necas and guys on his level. The Rangers trade yesterday with Trouba I wanted no part of.

The Sabres best hope is teams start falling off soon and start wanting to move players.

 

[Fjordsen]

Those players aren't what this team needs. What this team needs to get to the next level is top 6 forward and a top 4 defenseman. The problem is most of them have a NTC or a NMC.

Before @Fjordy says there is a lot of guys that don't have a NTC or NMC, IMO most of them don't move the needle or will push this team to the next level. This team needs guys like Necas and guys on his level. The Rangers trade yesterday with Trouba I wanted no part of.

The Sabres best hope is teams start falling off soon and start wanting to move players.

Of course I'm going to say that because it's true. Necas was a 50-point guy not long ago and he had a breakthrough. You can find players like that.

 

[OkimLom]

What?

His last handful of decisions have all been considered good, aside from maybe lafferty. Byram was the most criticized one and people have come around on it. McLeod, zucker, greenway, 4th line (all of which this conservative GM overpaid for!) have been good, they just haven't finished the puzzle.

And again judging by the recent moves they actually seem to be doing a good job at identifying the right pieces, but obviously the last few are the hardest. It might take longer than I want but I actually trust that they will acquire useful players when they do. Hell people have been talking about how good necas has been, and kudos to management for identifying him as the target. Sucks that he wanted to stay in Carolina

Team needed and continues to need top 6 veteran leadership, it needed a tweak in player type as well in the top 6, and he removed a goal scorer that was needed, and did nothing to address the issues the top 6 has shown since he’s been here.

The team continues to need veteran leadership in the top 4 of the D, which could’ve been the spot where Byram is. They also needed some actually sound defensive positioning defense on this team. Clifton being the only one that has shown that, is not enough.

They have the exact same holes that they’ve had since he has taken over. Sure some faces have changed but the team still struggles in the same areas. This team still lives and dies on its transition game while struggling to tread water when the game turns into a grinding game that sustains success.

His decisions have lead to the team leaning more and more on guys that weren’t and aren’t ready yet sooner and sooner. This has shown regressions in players, and I won’t be shocked that more players will be stagnant or regress further.

 

[Ace]

Other than Adams first season as GM as part of the flat management structure, how did Pegula hamstring him? I can see an argument for limiting the size of the front office but thats about it.

You think Kevyn Adams plan, as the first time GM of a team on a decade losing streak…was to spend the least amount of money in the NHL for three years? Twice with artificial contracts to reach the floor?

Your opinion on this is that Pegula hires a man to come in and gut the front office of contracts that couldn’t add up to one second line winger…but he passively sat back and watched his GM spend the least amount required by the league for YEARS? That, the one year they were close his deadline moves were Greenway and Stillman?

This is an actual position you are still taking? That there is no internal cap? From the team that said it was time to win, bought out Jeff Skinner, and then refused to spend the cap savings while artificially deflating their own cap for six years? Six years where they literally can’t spent all their cap space…but saved Pegula MILLIONS in actual cash?

This gimmick is as old as it is embarrassing

 

[Dirty Dog]

Like everything with Adams, what was the goal of the press conference? To act dismissive? To get fans even more annoyed? To make a dumb comment that everyone is making fun of?

Mission accomplished if so! But more likely, he has no thought behind his words

 

[Ace]

Like everything with Adams, what was the goal of the press conference? To act dismissive? To get fans even more annoyed? To make a dumb comment that everyone is making fun of?

Mission accomplished if so! But more likely, he has no thought behind his words

He was asked for media availability after the team hid the day after the Colorado game. It wasn’t his call to do it. And he clearly didn’t think he had anything to answer for. Which is a giant new problem.

 

[Fjordsen]

He was asked for media availability after the team hid the day after the Colorado game. It wasn’t his call to do it. And he clearly didn’t think he had anything to answer for. Which is a giant new problem.

Like everything with Adams, what was the goal of the press conference? To act dismissive? To get fans even more annoyed? To make a dumb comment that everyone is making fun of?

Mission accomplished if so! But more likely, he has no thought behind his words

The guy has been a GM for five years, he screwed up, but he thinks he's in the chocolate. He also gets sarcastic and rude to reporters. Shame!