Kevyn Adams GM thread

[CaliSabresfan24]

 

[pigpen65]

Adams has completely shit his diaper concerning goaltending. From letting the best goalie in the league who was just entering his prime walk for absolutely no return, to the cluster f*** of the 3 AHL goalie rotation on the roster now. The Sabres need to hire an assistant GM who has a clue about goaltending this offseason because Adams is a dolt

 

[Ace]

Adams has completely shit his diaper concerning goaltending. From letting the best goalie in the league who was just entering his prime walk for absolutely no return, to the cluster f*** of the 3 AHL goalie rotation on the roster now. The Sabres need to hire an assistant GM who has a clue about goaltending this offseason because Adams is a dolt

Can we get one for defense too? Because his contribution was his team finishing last in a year where the consensus #1 was a D. And inheriting another one.

Then paying a lot of bad Dmen.

Empty pipeline. Bums everywhere.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Adams has completely shit his diaper concerning goaltending. From letting the best goalie in the league who was just entering his prime walk for absolutely no return, to the cluster f*** of the 3 AHL goalie rotation on the roster now. The Sabres need to hire an assistant GM who has a clue about goaltending this offseason because Adams is a dolt

In all fairness their current assistant gm came from an organization that had Fluery (Mutiple Cups), Matt Murray (Cup), Jarry/DeSmith and then was part of the office that traded for Levi here. Thats about as good as it gets. Has that interpreted here ?... We will never probably know who goofed the Ulmark situation and proceeding goalie clown show. But hopefully Levi signs.

 

[old kummelweck]

Adams has completely shit his diaper concerning goaltending. From letting the best goalie in the league who was just entering his prime walk for absolutely no return, to the cluster f*** of the 3 AHL goalie rotation on the roster now. The Sabres need to hire an assistant GM who has a clue about goaltending this offseason because Adams is a dolt

The Sabres went through the same growing pains with Ullmark.

 

[Jim Bob]

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Adams make a significant goalie move in the off season. I think part of his calculus for both Johnson and Levi was to not make any huge moves that could be seen as blocking the path.

I think it’s crazy to go all in at the franchise level on a collegiate goalie. I like Levi but he’s still only in the NCAA. It’s going to take time.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Adams signed both Johnson and Levi, then pulled the trigger in the off season on a goalie like Saros.

I won't be surprised if Adams does that. I also won't be surprised if he goes with Comrie and UPL in Buffalo and Levi in Rochester because the ask in trade is more than he wants to give up.

 

[joshjull]

Adams has completely shit his diaper concerning goaltending. From letting the best goalie in the league who was just entering his prime walk for absolutely no return, to the cluster f*** of the 3 AHL goalie rotation on the roster now. The Sabres need to hire an assistant GM who has a clue about goaltending this offseason because Adams is a dolt

But…..

He planned ahead and wore a diaper. That’s got to count for something…..

 

[TehDoak]

I mean, Tuch has done well here. However, the idea that Tuch was someone he sought out or insisted be in the deal isn't anything we know either way. Given the circumstances of the Eichel trade, it feels like Tuch was one of two potential options

Considering that:

A) Vegas was the only team in on Eichel when he was traded
B) Vegas had to send salary back (it rumored that the Sabres wanted to take minimal salary back in the deal)
C) All the players in Vegas of significant salary had NTC/NMCs other than:

Tuch
Riley Smith

Tuch was coming off of a major shoulder surgery at the time as well. Smith was a pending UFA.

I'm certain of those two players, he preferred Tuch due to his local ties (many people pointed him out when Vegas was listed as an Eichel suitor early on). However, Adams most certainly had painted himself into a corner by waiting as long as he did on Eichel. And it took the threat of Eichel doing a tell all interview with Friedman to push the Eichel deal across the finish line. The fact that the Sabres front office likely burned any bridges with Calgary by leaking names to Weekes in a hamfisted gambit to get Vegas to raise their price really shows the level of desperation Adams had to get the deal done that night.

Tuch's strong play and Kreb's development have really made the Eichel deal look better as time wears on (and the fact Eichel has been merely good, not great with Vegas). But the idea that Tuch was explicitly targeted really seems like revisionist history a bit.

 

[TehDoak]

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Adams make a significant goalie move in the off season. I think part of his calculus for both Johnson and Levi was to not make any huge moves that could be seen as blocking the path.

I think it’s crazy to go all in at the franchise level on a collegiate goalie. I like Levi but he’s still only in the NCAA. It’s going to take time.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Adams signed both Johnson and Levi, then pulled the trigger in the off season on a goalie like Saros.

I won't be surprised if Adams does that. I also won't be surprised if he goes with Comrie and UPL in Buffalo and Levi in Rochester because the ask in trade is more than he wants to give up.

At this point, we'll see. The UFA market seems to have some names that could act as a stop gap (F. Anderson, Talbot, Jarry, Raanta, Hill) and the volume of buyers seems to be lower than previous years. Is there anyone in the trade market. Saros likely isn't available, Gibson has a NTC. The only name that would be a true show stopper is Hellebuyck, and they'd likely have to sign him to a 7 or 8 year deal immediately given the price they would pay. Hart from Philly sounds like he'll be on the market as well, but again, Buffalo would have to make a long term decision on him the next year as he'd be a Arb eligible RFA.

If I had to guess, our best case scenario is a short term UFA like Talbot. It's likely either that or nothing at all.

 

[Jim Bob]

At this point, we'll see. The UFA market seems to have some names that could act as a stop gap (F. Anderson, Talbot, Jarry, Raanta, Hill) and the volume of buyers seems to be lower than previous years. Is there anyone in the trade market. Saros likely isn't available, Gibson has a NTC. The only name that would be a true show stopper is Hellebuyck, and they'd likely have to sign him to a 7 or 8 year deal immediately given the price they would pay. Hart from Philly sounds like he'll be on the market as well, but again, Buffalo would have to make a long term decision on him the next year as he'd be a Arb eligible RFA.

If I had to guess, our best case scenario is a short term UFA like Talbot. It's likely either that or nothing at all.

I think a guy like Talbot is a coin flip to be better than Comrie and less than 50/50 to be better than UPL for the Sabres next season.

I think trading for a guy like Gibson would be a huge mistake. Thankfully, I doubt Adams is willing to give up what Anaheim would want in trade.

And I do not believe that even if guys like Saros, Helly, or Demko were on the trade market that Adams pays that price, either.

But, we shall see...

 

[old kummelweck]

I mean, Tuch has done well here. However, the idea that Tuch was someone he sought out or insisted be in the deal isn't anything we know either way. Given the circumstances of the Eichel trade, it feels like Tuch was one of two potential options

Considering that:

A) Vegas was the only team in on Eichel when he was traded
B) Vegas had to send salary back (it rumored that the Sabres wanted to take minimal salary back in the deal)
C) All the players in Vegas of significant salary had NTC/NMCs other than:

Tuch
Riley Smith

Tuch was coming off of a major shoulder surgery at the time as well. Smith was a pending UFA.

I'm certain of those two players, he preferred Tuch due to his local ties (many people pointed him out when Vegas was listed as an Eichel suitor early on). However, Adams most certainly had painted himself into a corner by waiting as long as he did on Eichel. And it took the threat of Eichel doing a tell all interview with Friedman to push the Eichel deal across the finish line. The fact that the Sabres front office likely burned any bridges with Calgary by leaking names to Weekes in a hamfisted gambit to get Vegas to raise their price really shows the level of desperation Adams had to get the deal done that night.

Tuch's strong play and Kreb's development have really made the Eichel deal look better as time wears on (and the fact Eichel has been merely good, not great with Vegas). But the idea that Tuch was explicitly targeted really seems like revisionist history a bit.

It's all revisionist. if we are going to blame Adams for things that have gone wrong, he gets credit for those that have gone right.

 

[Bendium]

The Sabres went through the same growing pains with Ullmark.

And then let him walk. Morons.

 

[BUCKSHOT]

It's all revisionist. if we are going to blame Adams for things that have gone wrong, he gets credit for those that have gone right.

that isn't how it works for the KA haters though

He does nothing correctly, they love to make stuff up

The fact that the Sabres front office likely burned any bridges with Calgary by leaking names to Weekes

The Sabres front office is tighter than Fort Knox, except when it fits their (KA haters) agenda

 

[Dubi Doo]

Misread a post.

 

[Bendium]

It's all revisionist. if we are going to blame Adams for things that have gone wrong, he gets credit for those that have gone right.

I agree......but we CAN blame him for things gone wrong, and letting Ulmark walk and not replacing him with any NHL caliber goaltenders since is a failure. Not fielding NHL defenseman in the 4-8 slots when there is no developmental excuse in the pipeline is also a failure. He did a solid job trading out the last core, a solid job drafting we think, and given some solid long term contracts.

He has not yet shown ANY ability to build a team. There is no balance to the team or pipeline. He has not been able to part with excess assets to bring in better players that fill needs. That makes me wonder if he has a full plan. What kind of team is he building? or is he just winging it with all his hope in Granato.

To me it is very clear where we have excess, and where we have massive holes. It looks to me like he got schooled by other GM's at this past deadline. He has this offseason to show me he is ready to handle the big boy job, or I am going to be getting on the fire KA train. It will be sad because it would be just another turn on the mediocrity screw for Buffalo fans.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

The Sabres went through the same growing pains with Ullmark.

Absolute nonsense. Ullmark's numbers were better all along the way with his major problem injuries. If he would only sign for 6 x $6 M I guess that's a different discussion. I find it hard to believe one team gave him $20 M but he wanted $36 M from Sabres. That seems like BS. But he probably wanted more term and money than he took from Bruins and Sabres should have given it to him

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

that isn't how it works for the KA haters though

He does nothing correctly, they love to make stuff up

The Sabres front office is tighter than Fort Knox, except when it fits their (KA haters) agenda

People have to stop blaming GMKA and remember Sabres are $17.2 M under the cap. Thrown in Bishop contract and it's worse. For sure, he continued the lie of not wanting to "block guys" so he couldn't get some depth guys. That's all nonsense. Bryson is not blocked. He stinks. A depth 6th d-man could have been signed or even a spare guy better than Clague. And a centre who could take draws could have been had instead of Vinny.

The Sabres chose a course of not spending money this year. Their cap crunch is not until 2024-25 so one and two years deals could have been folded into lineup without losing prospects and still leaving plenty of time youngsters to grow.

At some time the GM debate needs to be the ownership debate.

 

[TehDoak]

that isn't how it works for the KA haters though

He does nothing correctly, they love to make stuff up

The Sabres front office is tighter than Fort Knox, except when it fits their (KA haters) agenda

Ok. So, it was Calgary who leaked the names of their own players hours before the Eichel deal was complete and Eichel was scheduled to do an tell all interview?

That was 100% Adams trying (poorly) to leverage Vegas by creating urgency. He likely burned a bridge in Calgary by doing so. No other scenario makes any sense for those specific names to get out when they did when specifics on any potential Eichel deal were vague.

And no, the Sabres ship isn't tighter than any other org. It simply hasn't been the case. Not sure where that myth came from, but it hasn't been close to accurate. Everyone knew they were in in Chycrun, they were connected to Greenway before the trade, we know specifics on what is going on in the org with regard to Levi. Is the GM going out in front of the media essentially playing 'guess who' with players they are after like Murray was with O'Reilly? No. But it's pretty much the same level of information we got under Botterill. We aren't at Lamerillo levels of lockdown here.

 

[Jim Bob]

Absolute nonsense. Ullmark's numbers were better all along the way with his major problem injuries. If he would only sign for 6 x $6 M I guess that's a different discussion. I find it hard to believe one team gave him $20 M but he wanted $36 M from Sabres. That seems like BS. But he probably wanted more term and money than he took from Bruins and Sabres should have given it to him

People were not saying that last season when Swayman was starting ahead of him.

People were saying thank goodness KA let him walk.

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

I believe there are two reasons for the bolded.

1st - it was not in the plan. The plan was to tank. The absolute insane steps Thompson and Tuch took, combined with Skinner's resurgence put this team in a position that no one could have anticipated. I have to think that Adams and Granato where anticipating another bottom 5 finish and a lot more time to slowly mold and build the team the way they had planned. ( and a chance at one of the top defenders in last year's draft would have also put the farm in a very different spot moving forward.)

2nd - You are blaming Adams for not utilizing any of the extra cap, but all signs point to Adams having a very limited spending leash. The move and willingness to bring in Bishop's large cap-hit with a fraction of actual dollars due for a 7th round pick a month before the UFA market opened is a clear indicator that Adams had cutting costs as a top priority. Those types of moves are Owner dictated, and not the moves of a GM trying to build the strongest roster for the upcoming season.

For the record I don't think Adams is a great GM. I think he lucked into the Levi and Tuch returns, making the Eichel and Reinhart trades look much better than they probably should have been, and I think he has made a lot of missteps. His drafting, while looking solid, has the farm looking very homogeneous, and not really in a good way.

But his negotiating contract skills have been excellent. He's created a good locker-room environment, and as I posted before, it could be so much worse. So while I was initially very down on the hire and blasted his early moves, I am being patient now and waiting to see if things won't continue to improve. He has proven me wrong a few times already, so I feel l have to eat some crow and give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he is just a lucky idiot, but as long as his luck holds and things are getting better, I am alright staying the course.

I dont think you can review Adam and saying that he got lucky. You review him based on what he Done in terms of outcome. If its luck or skills dosent matter as the outcome been positive . the trade returns look good. Contracts are great, drafting looks good, coach hire and development looks good .

Soon having 6 first round picks drafted players are amazing , tell me anyone having this other then sabres ? Thats like 6 years of normal drafting . When 6 players enters the sabres that something you cant trade for.

Rosen
Savoie
Kulich
Ostlund
Johnson
This year first pick
Thats 6 players in first round

Thompson and cozens 1-2 centers
A new second line in Peterka cozens quinn and all of them we have drafted.

He been patience and smart with not overpaid and set us up with cap hell . He have in his plan That these 6 players drafted gonna have a place on the roster and That we hav cap for all of them.

With old roster we was close to the cap and could not improve . Think having 10 mil of Eichel and 6.5 mil for reinhart thats 16.5 mil we have Two better centers now for around 14.2 mil . Long term contracts are on Core players like cozens Tage and Samuelsson , soon Dahlin and power , only 1 bad contract in Skinner that looks rather ok now. He have most points ever and only for 4 more seasons ,

Everything is good the only is that this summer get a goalie . And then looking over 4 the line and a D .

Seem like he Done a great job , think if we traded for Kane and bogosian 2 players with cap that would set us back , like Adam much , he get a B to B + from me .

 

[TehDoak]

At some time the GM debate needs to be the ownership debate.

Adams is an extension of ownership. Period. The level of autonomy can be debated, sure. But he wasn't hired for his sterling resume or a history of front office excellence. He has no experience at any level in professional front offices. He was hired very specifically because the Pegulas trust him not go do anything they don't want him to. So, I mean, it feels a bit redundant to drag the Pegula's/Adams individually. It's nigh impossible to know where Adams decision making is independent of the Pegulas or vice versa. All we know is Adams will go out of his way to deflect blame from the Pegulas and praise them at every opportunity.

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

Adams has completely shit his diaper concerning goaltending. From letting the best goalie in the league who was just entering his prime walk for absolutely no return, to the cluster f*** of the 3 AHL goalie rotation on the roster now. The Sabres need to hire an assistant GM who has a clue about goaltending this offseason because Adams is a dolt

He was not the best in Buffalo , he was rather bad or rather okey, think ullmark was very good at shootouts. think ullmark is also good now because its easier being good behind that Boston team
This moment so he isnt like that on another team. We could not Either just hand out massive contracts for unproven goalies just because they want to get paid. It was correct and happy they didnt sign him think he would not be better then upl or just slighty.

Adams is an extension of ownership. Period. The level of autonomy can be debated, sure. But he wasn't hired for his sterling resume or a history of front office excellence. He has no experience at any level in professional front offices. He was hired very specifically because the Pegulas trust him not go do anything they don't want him to. So, I mean, it feels a bit redundant to drag the Pegula's/Adams individually. It's nigh impossible to know where Adams decision making is independent of the Pegulas or vice versa. All we know is Adams will go out of his way to deflect blame from the Pegulas and praise them at every opportunity.

Dosent matter all the hires with experience before was bad. Adams Also had much experience like player, assistans coach , in the sabres organisation etc.. They had nothing to loose so they have the Guy the chance and he been the best of them all. I think many of you guys want stuff right now . Adams is what the sabres need to winn the cup

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

People were not saying that last season when Swayman was starting ahead of him.

People were saying thank goodness KA let him walk.

Swayman is a top goalie in the NHL, slipping behind him is not exactly condemning you to being crap. Ullmark's numbers were very good last year too -- just not Hasek level like this year.

 

[Jim Bob]

Swayman is a top goalie in the NHL, slipping behind him is not exactly condemning you to being crap. Ullmark's numbers were very good last year too -- just not Hasek level like this year.

They looked good by the end of the year. But, he did not look great out of the box in Boston. It took some time to adjust to the new team.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Adams is an extension of ownership. Period. The level of autonomy can be debated, sure. But he wasn't hired for his sterling resume or a history of front office excellence. He has no experience at any level in professional front offices. He was hired very specifically because the Pegulas trust him not go do anything they don't want him to. So, I mean, it feels a bit redundant to drag the Pegula's/Adams individually. It's nigh impossible to know where Adams decision making is independent of the Pegulas or vice versa. All we know is Adams will go out of his way to deflect blame from the Pegulas and praise them at every opportunity.

I agree but you can glean something from no use of cap room (and real money) to get picks. Adams cannot be a complete idiot. He could have sold some cap room. We didn't. This is before Adams, but trading Ryan O'Reilly a day before his bonus for what was almost 100% likely less of a return was very ugly.

The exception was a willingness to sign Taylor Hill for $8 M and eat half his salary to get a pick. Then again, we could have also have eaten half of Montour's salary and likely got more.

The Pegula factor is a wild card but if we see yet another team well below the cap in 2023-24, that will be very telling.

They looked good by the end of the year. But, he did not look great out of the box in Boston. It took some time to adjust to the new team.

You can pretend you are a Buffalo News reporter and pick bits and pieces to make an argument or look at the entirety of his work and it was good last year. And sorry it was very good in Buffalo on very bad teams with the caveat being his injury issues. His injury issues were always the reason to be scared of a long-term deal. The guy was always broken in Buffalo. Or very often