Kevyn Adams GM thread

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

KA has been solid, but not great.

He did better than expected at the start.

He made a GREAT move rebuilding the analytics department.

Taking a group approach within the organization toward drafting has improved drafting.

He did a very good job trading Eichel, Risto, Reinhart.

Krueger made firing him easy. Hiring Granato might have fallen into his lap as the best of few options, but he made the choice to stick with him over old vet retreads, and it has worked out well so far.

His long term contracts so far have been very good. No anchors yet.

He has a plan and is sticking to it. I'll give him props for having a plan.


Now.....

He made a big organizational mistake not getting Ulmark signed to a long term contract. We had ZERO starting caliber choices behind him. All prospects were years out. Developing a team is made harder when the goaltending behind them is the worst in hockey. Giving him an overpay 5 year contract would have been blocking NOBODY, and would have stabilized the net.

After losing Ulmark, he has failed for two straight years to provide ANY starting caliber goaltenders for this team.

I am a fan of drafting best available vs drafting for need or pipeline balance. They seem to have done that, BUT then you have to trade some of those prospects as they pan out, to balance your pipeline and team. So far he has failed in this regard, leaving us about the worst defensive prospect pool in hockey.

I don't like part of his plan. The biggest part I do not like is I feel he is fast tracking our prospects, and holding to long to topped out assets. Argue all you want, but I would have preferred to leave JJP and Quinn in the AHL one more year, and have a few UFA or traded for journeyman or veteran wingers, because I thought giving Cozens, Mitts, Krebs support in their development was more important.

Last summer I wanted Aspland, Joker, and Olofsson traded and upgraded. They all had solid, but IMO topped out years. This was a good sell high point on three assets that didn't fit longterm. Aspland wasn't big enough, physical enough to fill a 4th line wing role, and not offensive enough to fill a third line wing role. Joker was also just a touch to small and soft to fill a top 4 spot, and not defensively good enough to fill a bottom pairing PK type role. Olofsson was showing some 2way potential, so I can see why they kept him, EXCEPT, he was clearly not going to be longterm core, and had plenty of forward prospects coming for his spot, AND was the most valuable rostered trade asset to use in acquiring a player that the team needed more.

It was clear going into last offseason that we did not have a good enough defensive core and goalie situation. It doesn't matter why they didn't get it done, or what they tried that didn't go thru. It only matter that they didn't get it done, which is his job.

IMO he should have done more this past deadline to get the team to the playoffs, even if that meant sending JJP/Quinn/UPL back down to Rochester for the remainder of the year.


He carried out his plan for this year...ok. Now the question is, can he shift the plan and his timeline to meet the current situation. Can he part with assets to fix the defensive corps, solidify goaltending, improve the bottom six. We will see.

Then you get people who go this is my plan while making no allowances for the risks of their plan

The beauty about hindsight is everyone gets to go oh this didn’t work. The beauty about the road not traveled is all it’s faults are buried in the weeds.

 

[Diaspora]

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

After taking pains to describe how entirely indistinguishable two paths were, the end of Frost's poem has the poet today understanding that -- as an old man way in the future -- he will inflate the prescience of his decisions. Today, however, in reality, it is impossible to tell where either path will lead.

You're just making a guess. So you deserve no credit for making the choice, even if your old man ego demands to be called wise because your random act just happened to work out.

In other words, your great decisions are mostly dumb luck. And second-guessing is a waste of time.

And old guys who think they know everything are full of crap.

 

[Jim Bob]

They have no reason not to be overall happy with the job he's done. You want Ralph back as GM and coach or something?

You're right on Comrie but dead wrong on Linus. He did not want to re sign here or he never would have asked for a 5x5 contract that he had no business getting. Adams absolutely did the right thing with Linus in letting him go. He didn't want to be here, ( remember that kitschy thing) and somebody else paid him that demand. Are they happy now? Not too sure.

I don't know why you are asking me if I want Ralph back as I am supporting Adams for the most part in these debates.

Overall, I am happy with Adams & Granato even if Adams is more patient than I would be.

And as far as Ullmark goes, he was talking about re-signing. So, to say that he didn't want to be here is weird. He set his price to re-sign, Adams made the choice to not give him the deal, and he has been unable to replace him in a meaningful way on the NHL roster to date.

It can be true that Linus was willing to stay and "Was a guy that wanted to be here", his contract ask was more than the Sabres should have paid him, and Adams has been unable to meaningfully address the goaltending position since Linus left.

 

[Jim Bob]

He also imposed restrictions on the type of dman he would add. Same age as the core with term. That was an extremely limiting condition with Chychrun as the only real option. I understood it in the context of last season’s approach. But it doesn’t make sense going forward.

He doesn’t seem to be focused on that based on his comments in his recent WGR interview That said, it’s only one interview and time will tell. But if you remove that restriction, it greatly expands the options to add a top 4 Dman. That wider range of options also comes with a wider range of prices. Thus increasing the chances he finds a top 4 dman at a price he likes.

Maybe Adams will change his approach this off season.

But, I do think that the way last season went, there is a reasonable chance that it gives him confidence in the roster he has put together to date and they run it back again and bank on Levi being the difference maker.

That is not the approach I want Adams to take. But, he has been more patient than I would have been and tweaked the roster a lot less than I would have the past year or two. So, Adams being patient and not making a bunch of moves and being unwilling to trade top prospects and picks for NHL roster players would not shock me at all.

We shall see...

 

[Fjordy]

Adams being patient and not making a bunch of moves and being unwilling to trade top prospects and picks for NHL roster players would not shock me at all.

Well, you don't have to trade prospects and picks to get the parts you want. There is always UFA. After all, Adams signed Boosh for almost 3 million a year, while Boosh was never a top 4 D. So why not sign a conditional Mayfield / Clifton / Severson / Dumba or someone else?

 

[Jim Bob]

Well, you don't have to trade prospects and picks to get the parts you want. There is always UFA. After all, Adams signed Boosh for almost 3 million a year, while Boosh was never a top 4 D. So why not sign a conditional Mayfield / Clifton / Severson / Dumba or someone else?

Adams could do that. But, that would be a different approach since the Taylor Hall signing last gasp to try to make things work with the Eichel/Reinhart core.

And with Adams continuing to talk about the future cap situation with Dahlin, Power, etc needing new deals over the next few years and the history of top end UFA contracts ending poorly for teams, I would be surprised if Adams did more than sign a Boosh-level D in UFA.

Plus, with 7 D on NHL contracts for next season, I would expect the trade route being the more likely path on D.

 

[Fjordy]

Adams could do that. But, that would be a different approach since the Taylor Hall signing last gasp to try to make things work with the Eichel/Reinhart core.

And with Adams continuing to talk about the future cap situation with Dahlin, Power, etc needing new deals over the next few years and the history of top end UFA contracts ending poorly for teams, I would be surprised if Adams did more than sign a Boosh-level D in UFA.

Plus, with 7 D on NHL contracts for next season, I would expect the trade route being the more likely path on D.

Hall is a completely different story, it was not Adams' team yet.

Boosh is a very concrete example that it is possible to sign a player to the UFA and Adams is not afraid to do so. You can also trade conditional Jokiharju for pick and also sign a defender in the UFA.

I don't expect Adams to pay Severson 6 million a year for example, but I think Mayfield or Clifton could be a reasonable signing.

Bryson in general can be easily sent to the AHL, if necessary, or trade. They could also try to play Joki with Boosh and Stillman as #7, or the three players would just compete for a place in the third pair.

 

[Jim Bob]

Hall is a completely different story, it was not Adams' team yet.

Boosh is a very concrete example that it is possible to sign a player to the UFA and Adams is not afraid to do so. You can also trade conditional Jokiharju for pick and also sign a defender in the UFA.

I don't expect Adams to pay Severson 6 million a year for example, but I think Mayfield or Clifton could be a reasonable signing.

Bryson in general can be easily sent to the AHL, if necessary, or trade. They could also try to play Joki with Boosh and Stillman as #7, or the three players would just compete for a place in the third pair.

Plenty of things could happen.

I'm just looking at what could happen this off season through the lens of what Adams has done the last two off seasons.

Adams could take a different path. But, I will expect him to remain patient and then be pleasantly surprised if he does something like make a big trade for a top 4 D.

 

[toddkaz]

If Adams and Granato don't fix the defense/defensive system not even Jesus himself will be able to save all back post goals like last year.

It will be a long season for Levi. This year will be a telling year for Adams.

 

[BFLO]

Q&A: Sam Ventura, the man in charge of the Sabres' analytics department

"The goal is to bring it from where we finished last season, all the way up to the top," Ventura said.

buffalonews.com

 

[joshjull]

Maybe Adams will change his approach this off season.

But, I do think that the way last season went, there is a reasonable chance that it gives him confidence in the roster he has put together to date and they run it back again and bank on Levi being the difference maker.

That is not the approach I want Adams to take. But, he has been more patient than I would have been and tweaked the roster a lot less than I would have the past year or two. So, Adams being patient and not making a bunch of moves and being unwilling to trade top prospects and picks for NHL roster players would not shock me at all.

We shall see...

You didn’t really address what I was talking about. Which was the age restriction for acquisitions last season. It’s why we were going to have to part with Savoie or Kulich if we wanted to acquire a top 4 dman. The pool of options was basically just Chychrun.

If the age restriction is gone, then the pool of trade options expands quite a bit and free agency is now in the mix. All of that comes with a wide range of prices. Which makes it far more likely he finds a price he likes. Which is why it being gone is more important than whether or not he’s willing to give up a Savoie/Kulich.

Removing the age restriction also doesn’t prevent Adams from doing what you suggest above. I actually expect most of what you said to be the case.

 

[MOGlLNY]

-Olofsson and 2 of Okposo, Jost, Girgensons gawn
-get Barclay Goodrow for pennies cause Chris Drury backed himself into a corner
-Kulich or Savoie in
-sign Severson + JT Compher (Compher much less vital depending on the price which may be too much)
-Open the chest and find a way to get preferably Hellebuyck but if you can squeeze a legitimate starter out of someone else do that too
-Playoffs

I wish Donskoi was still healthy because he is exactly what I’d be looking to scoop up.

 

[joshjull]

I give up. I'm not even sure what your position is, other than you hate mine.

Thats on me. I didn’t do a good enough job explaining it. I don’t hate your position, just think its wrong.

I’ll give it one more go.

When I initially quoted your post about missed opportunities with the cap (to add players) I was using your post as a jumping off point to address a wider group of posters who hold this position. Which I interpreted to mean we missed out on moves that can no longer happen because the opportunity to do so has passed. I’ve always been confused by this position because we still have a ton of cap space to do just that.

I kept asking about who did we miss out on that fit Adams plan because maybe we did miss someone. But you weren’t really talking about this. You were talking about taking a different approach to depth than Adams did. You felt it would give us a better shot at the playoffs. Which is fine but thats not really about wasting a chance to leverage cap space. It’s just Adams taking a different path than the one you wanted.

Hopefully this is makes more sense than my previous posts.

 

[Gabrielor]

Thats on me. I didn’t do a good enough job explaining it. I don’t hate your position, just think its wrong.

I’ll give it one more go.

When I initially quoted your post about missed opportunities with the cap (to add players) I was using your post as a jumping off point to address a wider group of posters who hold this position. Which I interpreted to mean we missed out on moves that can no longer happen because the opportunity to do so has passed. I’ve always been confused by this position because we still have a ton of cap space to do just that.

I kept asking about who did we miss out on that fit Adams plan because maybe we did miss someone. But you weren’t really talking about this. You were talking about taking a different approach to depth than Adams did. You felt it would give us a better shot at the playoffs. Which is fine but thats not really about wasting a chance to leverage cap space. It’s just Adams taking a different path than the one you wanted.

Hopefully this is makes more sense than my previous posts.

Yeah, for sure it does, and comes off more less like we're having a knock-down drag-out, which I wasn't really up for, since I do like most of what Adams has done.

And yeah, different approach to DEFENSIVE depth. Offensive, we were decent on injury, but let's say we weren't...Hinnestroza was here, Biro, Weissbach, Murray are experienced AHLers in a pinch; his forward plan to feed Quinn/Peterka made sense, because there was backup options.

On defense, he vet min'd 3 UFAs and ended up relying heavily on one of them. That's where some $$ could've gone, and I do see that as a wasted chance to earn 2 more points.

 

[Bendium]

And with Adams continuing to talk about the future cap situation with Dahlin, Power, etc needing new deals over the next few years and the history of top end UFA contracts ending poorly for teams, I would be surprised if Adams did more than sign a Boosh-level D in UFA.

Plus, with 7 D on NHL contracts for next season, I would expect the trade route being the more likely path on D.

7 current contracts should not be even the slightest impediment to improving this defense.

Trade Bryson and Joker. Trade, waive, or just don't sign Clague. All three will be addition by subtraction. Use assets to trade for a genuine top 4 dman with term. Sign a UFA or trade for a bottom pairing PK specialist.

Sammy - Dahlin
Power - Trade
UFA/Trade - Boosh
Stillman.

Much improved. Any qualified GM should be able to get that done.

 

[Dubi Doo]

He's certainly made the Amerks a spot for our rookies to develop their game. Quinn, Peterka, Rosen, and Kulich's development down there should not be overlooked. The kids are learning how to play some intense games in the playoffs.

That's a far cry from what Rochester has been for nearly two decades since the 05-06 core graduated. Good to see!

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Yeah, for sure it does, and comes off more less like we're having a knock-down drag-out, which I wasn't really up for, since I do like most of what Adams has done.

And yeah, different approach to DEFENSIVE depth. Offensive, we were decent on injury, but let's say we weren't...Hinnestroza was here, Biro, Weissbach, Murray are experienced AHLers in a pinch; his forward plan to feed Quinn/Peterka made sense, because there was backup options.

On defense, he vet min'd 3 UFAs and ended up relying heavily on one of them. That's where some $$ could've gone, and I do see that as a wasted chance to earn 2 more points.

Love it when posters try to understand each other instead of assuming the other person is crazy.

 

[joshjull]

Yeah, for sure it does, and comes off more less like we're having a knock-down drag-out, which I wasn't really up for, since I do like most of what Adams has done.

Yeah, I wasn’t trying to start a brawl. Though I can understand why someone would assume I might be

Glad my last post clarified things.

And yeah, different approach to DEFENSIVE depth. Offensive, we were decent on injury, but let's say we weren't...Hinnestroza was here, Biro, Weissbach, Murray are experienced AHLers in a pinch; his forward plan to feed Quinn/Peterka made sense, because there was backup options.

The forwards weren’t in any better shape with their depth. They were just lucky with injuries and lucky to land bottom 6 help (Jost) right when they needed it. Bottom 6 help that also helped properly structure the lines and helped the growth that came after.

You referenced the 8gm losing streak earlier. If they forwards better players and proven NHL depth got hammered with injuries to the same level the defense did at that time. They would be just as big of a mess.

On defense, he vet min'd 3 UFAs and ended up relying heavily on one of them. That's where some $$ could've gone, and I do see that as a wasted chance to earn 2 more points.

He signed those guys to fill 3 of the 8-11 spots on the defensive depth chart. Thats what those types get paid. I think what you wanted was money spent on vets to flesh out the 7 defensive roster spots. Instead of making sure spots were held for Bryson/Fitzgerald. But that wasn’t going to happen with their focus this past season. A focus that didn’t include worrying about the playoffs or the “2pts” you mention.

In know you disgree with that focus. But IMO, the only fair way to evaluate Adams is through the prism of what he was trying to accomplish last year (or the year before). Not through the prism of what you wanted him to do. I think posters might be less frustrated if they did.

 

[Ace]

Can I look at it as a problem due to what the GM of the team wasn‘t trying to accomplish? Or is that not allowed either?

He underestimated his team, threw away goaltending completely and preaches development while letting his key rookie drag a terrible partner around with him and being completely overused.

You can look at it how you want. I’ll deal with reality. The reality of what he was trying to accomplish last year. All 17 plus million dollars saved of it.

 

[beerme1]

The Pegulas came in and talked about "One Buffalo", emphasis on the city and fans being a big family, and have used that in marketing for both the Bills and the Sabres.

The Pegulas have more money than they can ever spend. A quick google search shows the Pegulas are worth 6.7 Billion dollars currently

I have zero issues with them firing people for performance reasons. I don't expect them to be a capped out team every season. However, when the entire country, especially sports/entertainment outlets, are not hiring, for them to lay people off is cruel. The Sabres/PSE are not a small business that simply cannot pay people anymore. They could have ate the salaries of the people they fired in perpetuity, and certainly through the end of the pandemic with absolutely no impact on their lifestyle or any real sacrifice to them personally other than a slight blip in bank account.

But they didn't. They refused to pay hourly staff for cancelled games. They laid people off, furloughed workers, and then razed the front office to sustenance levels.

The Pegulas showed us who they were during the pandemic. Kevyn Adams did too, when he was their hatchet man and was rewarded for his fealty, putting advancing his career ahead of peoples livelihoods. And the city and people and fans of Buffalo should never, ever forget it.

Do you think super rich Tom Golisano would not have done the same thing? Or do you truly believe billionaires operate out of the goodness of they're hearts? No he would likely have done the same thing as it was the right call for the business. Sabres are not the Bills when it comes to generating money.

I don't know why you are asking me if I want Ralph back as I am supporting Adams for the most part in these debates.

Overall, I am happy with Adams & Granato even if Adams is more patient than I would be.

And as far as Ullmark goes, he was talking about re-signing. So, to say that he didn't want to be here is weird. He set his price to re-sign, Adams made the choice to not give him the deal, and he has been unable to replace him in a meaningful way on the NHL roster to date.

It can be true that Linus was willing to stay and "Was a guy that wanted to be here", his contract ask was more than the Sabres should have paid him, and Adams has been unable to meaningfully address the goaltending position since Linus left.

Ulmarks demand was a clear indicator (to me) he wanted out of here and I can't say I blame him. The fact that Boston stepped up and met his price is just gravy for him. It appears a decision they may want back though.
You're quite right that Adams has failed to replace him. Until now.
And my God what a winner it looks like we have in Levi. Let's hopefully put that issue to bed for the next decade +.

 

[PatLaFontaineASMR]

Ulmarks demand was a clear indicator (to me) he wanted out of here and I can't say I blame him. The fact that Boston stepped up and met his price is just gravy for him. It appears a decision they may want back though.
You're quite right that Adams has failed to replace him. Until now.
And my God what a winner it looks like we have in Levi. Let's hopefully put that issue to bed for the next decade +.

Boston didn't step up and meet his price. He just wanted more to sign here. I'm pretty sure we offered the same deal they did. Per Servs he wanted 6x6 to sign here.

 

[CowbellConray]

"Just following orders" has always been a terrible excuse for terrible people. As you stated, it was the reason they hired a guy with no management experience at any level of hockey in the first place.



I don't think he was dishonest. I think, if they use it at all, it might be more on the amatuer scouting side than the than the professional side, especially given the questionable decisions made over the last few years. What has stuck with me with regards to their analytics usage is that In the 'beyond blue and gold' video about last years offseason, they had a badly staged camera op of them 'talking' to the analytics guys about Comrie and the argument FOR was that he "got better at every year in the AHL" and that was a good indicator. Just was this forced, ham fisted way to show 'SEE WE USE ANALYTICS'.

So you are using feeling to say they don’t leverage analytics, and when Jerry Forton is expressively stating they have created a good blend of analytics and eye test you say “I think”. That’s not wanting to admit the truth by turning the other cheek. You will never hear “
(Especially for recently drafted players) the express use of specific analytical points to make a decision. We may hear the specifics of what analytics were used for a savioe/ostlund/Kulich in 5-10 years, but not now. What we will (and have) heard, is that the Sabres are integrating Sam Venturas staff into their decision making.

Which is a good thing

 

[beerme1]

Boston didn't step up and meet his price. He just wanted more to sign here. I'm pretty sure we offered the same deal they did. Per Servs he wanted 6x6 to sign here.

Ah, yes! Even better proves my point. I've forgotten the details as Linus means nothing to me. I was never impressed with him while he was here. That doesn't mean I'm saying he's garbage though.

 

[beerme1]

For an f/a i'd say Mayfield. I'd also make a trade for someone but I am firmly stating that Savoie and Kulich are untouchables if I'm Adams. Don't bother picking up the phone if that's who you're looking for.

 

[Jim Bob]

You didn’t really address what I was talking about. Which was the age restriction for acquisitions last season. It’s why we were going to have to part with Savoie or Kulich if we wanted to acquire a top 4 dman. The pool of options was basically just Chychrun.

If the age restriction is gone, then the pool of trade options expands quite a bit and free agency is now in the mix. All of that comes with a wide range of prices. Which makes it far more likely he finds a price he likes. Which is why it being gone is more important than whether or not he’s willing to give up a Savoie/Kulich.

Removing the age restriction also doesn’t prevent Adams from doing what you suggest above. I actually expect most of what you said to be the case.

Even if you remove the age restriction, there really weren't a lot of options if you also keep the team control beyond 22-23 restriction in there as well.

Adams was not in the market for pure rentals. So, if you remove age as a factor, but keep team control as one, then you go from Chychrun to Chychrun & Ekholm, right?

And while I would have loved Ekholm as a trade acquisition even more than Chychrun, topping what Edmonton gave up for him was not a price that Adams would consider giving up. And honestly, I don't know that I would have wanted the Sabres to top that package as the Oilers gave up a haul for him.