Kevyn Adams GM thread

[Tatanka]

The problem is not that we gave the Core players extensions. we cant keep overpaying guys. For example Mittlestadt cant get 6 + mil . He is a 3-4 mil good depth player . Thats the problem. One season then they get massive contracts . Stop doing this and give Extension to mitts for example for what he does over the last 2-3 seasons.

Adams need to stop rebuilding as we have the Core pieces and start building a top 12 forward group that reach the playoffs. It should not even be hard doing this. And we cant keep players like Okposo he was not good enough even 6 years ago so why are he on this team . Adressen these areas have failed. They do the same thing over and over again.

Hire a gm with experience same with coaching

Lol! Mitts is your #1 center and you think he is a depth player?

 

[May Day 10]

This organization is so reactionary and slow to act. It bleeds into every facet of the operation including on the ice. What a depressing franchise.

These patterns: falling behind in the first, uninspired at home, adversity is crippling were clear by mid November. 31 other teams would have changed the coach and/or made a trade. It's mid January now, and the patterns seem to be more ingrained. Still nothing.


bad inexperienced gm. Bad owner.

 

[Zman5778]

The problem is not that we gave the Core players extensions. we cant keep overpaying guys. For example Mittlestadt cant get 6 + mil . He is a 3-4 mil good depth player . Thats the problem. One season then they get massive contracts . Stop doing this and give Extension to mitts for example for what he does over the last 2-3 seasons.

The only guys that we've really overpaid are the depth guys -- more specifically, Erik Johnson. Anymore, a good 4th line guy will make $2M or so per year. A good 3rd pairing defenseman will make $2-3M.

Your evaluation of Mitts couldn't be more off. A legitimate top 9 (who can play anywhere in the top 9), 0.75-ish point per game guy will make $5-8M per year NOW. And once the cap goes up even more.....that number is going to push $9M per.

And with the cap going up.....the guys we've signed to long term deals will see their deals become more normal (Hell, $7M a year is normal for a 2nd line center NOW) and even values.

We're "overpaying" guys now so that we have more room to supplement the core later. Some will argue that "later" is now......but the point remains.

 

[May Day 10]

Double post

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

The only guys that we've really overpaid are the depth guys -- more specifically, Erik Johnson. Anymore, a good 4th line guy will make $2M or so per year. A good 3rd pairing defenseman will make $2-3M.

Your evaluation of Mitts couldn't be more off. A legitimate top 9 (who can play anywhere in the top 9), 0.75-ish point per game guy will make $5-8M per year NOW. And once the cap goes up even more.....that number is going to push $9M per.

And with the cap going up.....the guys we've signed to long term deals will see their deals become more normal (Hell, $7M a year is normal for a 2nd line center NOW) and even values.

We're "overpaying" guys now so that we have more room to supplement the core later. Some will argue that "later" is now......but the point remains.

Givning mitts 8 mil per year is crazy . Maybe 4-5 mil

Mitts are a upp 9 center not a top
6 . Remove Skinner greenway Girgensons robinson Jokiharju Johnson and Clifton from lineup

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

Sabres have failed. Think being a fan and the club havent been able to play good hockey for soon 1.5 decades. Its horrible

 

[Royal Thunder]

Jeff Marek was ripping the Sabres today for their handling of Levi. Very strong words from a guy who is always super nice and inoffensive. Said they’re gonna ruin his development and he’s not sure there’s another GM in the league who would be handling it as poorly as Kevyn is.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Jeff Marek was ripping the Sabres today for their handling of Levi. Very strong words from a guy who is always super nice and inoffensive. Said they’re gonna ruin his development and he’s not sure there’s another GM in the league who would be handling it as poorly as Kevyn is.

Here's some of the quotes.

 

[Zman5778]

Here's some of the quotes.

Marek is absolutely right.

 

[Chainshot]

Marek is absolutely right.

He is and he's a closet Sabre fan. He's talked about it for years - he grew up on RJ and Ted Darling. He actually cares.

 

[Zman5778]

Also -- if Ryan Johnson sits another game, I'm going to get rather irate.

I get "not changing a winning lineup"....to a point.
I get "a rookie needs to watch sometimes".....to a point.

But he hasn't played since New Year's Eve. Dude needs to ACTUALLY PLAY in order to develop. Friggin get his ass on the ice or send him (and Levi) to Rochester.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

Also -- if Ryan Johnson sits another game, I'm going to get rather irate.

I get "not changing a winning lineup"....to a point.
I get "a rookie needs to watch sometimes".....to a point.

But he hasn't played since New Year's Eve. Dude needs to ACTUALLY PLAY in order to develop. Friggin get his ass on the ice or send him (and Levi) to Rochester.

Yeah I haven't posted about this. The only thing worse than keeping a prospect up on the big club that might not be ready, is keeping a prospect up on the big club and sitting him games on end.

 

[Ness]

Scott Pioli on NFL Network now talking about Belichick and the Patriots parting ways: “Bill says you only have the emotional capacity for 2 rebuilds at most, it’s exhausting and draining.” My thought immediately went to the Sabres and the never ending rebuild. Obviously two different sports, but that just goes to show the different mentalities of a winner and the Sabres organization. At what point does Pegula just give up and either sell the team or bring in a proven winner to lead the ship?

 

[May Day 10]

Scott Pioli on NFL Network now talking about Belichick and the Patriots parting ways: “Bill says you only have the emotional capacity for 2 rebuilds at most, it’s exhausting and draining.” My thought immediately went to the Sabres and the never ending rebuild. Obviously two different sports, but that just goes to show the different mentalities of a winner and the Sabres organization. At what point does Pegula just give up and either sell the team or bring in a proven winner to lead the ship?

I think Pegula is so dug in that we will never see it change. At least until 2026 when Adams' contract is up.

This is what Pegula has always wanted if you listen to his public comments over the years. He has people in place that he trusts. People who will entertain his ideas on how to run the team. If you look at the state of the organization through a few different lenses you can delude yourself into thinking that we are stacked and the future is very bright.

At every juncture there is some sort of excuse, whether it is injuries, or youth, or shot percentage, or hard division. Also there are the kicking the can loser buzz phrases like 'growth opportunities', 'figuring things out', 'learning how to compete', 'decision making' etc.


The fact is, that building is emptying out fast. I was suckered into re-upping for season tickets 2 seasons ago. I have been to 1 games this season, and I cant cancel those suckers fast enough the day the season ends.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I think Pegula is so dug in that we will never see it change. At least until 2026 when Adams' contract is up.

This is what Pegula has always wanted if you listen to his public comments over the years. He has people in place that he trusts. People who will entertain his ideas on how to run the team. If you look at the state of the organization through a few different lenses you can delude yourself into thinking that we are stacked and the future is very bright.

At every juncture there is some sort of excuse, whether it is injuries, or youth, or shot percentage, or hard division. Also there are the kicking the can loser buzz phrases like 'growth opportunities', 'figuring things out', 'learning how to compete', 'decision making' etc.


The fact is, that building is emptying out fast. I was suckered into re-upping for season tickets 2 seasons ago. I have been to 1 games this season, and I cant cancel those suckers fast enough the day the season ends.

Great post. Yeah, they've permanently become a franchise that you can take kids to to see a hockey game, or go see a game or two a year just to watch live hockey, but that you can't follow over a full season with any kind of pleasure.

 

[Chainshot]

At some point, he unzips the mask to reveal he's Darcy Regier who then unzips his mask to reveal he's Gerry Meehan?

 

[TehDoak]

At some point, he unzips the mask to reveal he's Darcy Regier who then unzips his mask to reveal he's Gerry Meehan?

It would not shock me at all of Regier has been doing some consulting time with Adams.

Lots of the same fingerprints:

1. Ignoring obvious needs every summer and go to the bargain bin for solutions
2. Fall in love with your own players and 'keep the band together' even if the band has been terrible.
3. Rush an elite college goalie to the NHL

 

[KeyserSoze81]

Here's some of the quotes.

I try not to think about the decisions made by this brain trust for too long (for fear of a stroke), but the Levi decision goes so wildly against NHL convention AND their supposed raison d'etre of prospect development. They will let the myriad forward prospects sit in the AHL forever, and goalies traditionally take longer to develop, but sure, let's throw our only hope in goal to the wolves behind a team that cannot play defense.

If this is truly something that was negotiated by Levi and his agent, I don't get it. There is betting on yourself, and then there is just reckless, short sighted behavior that could ruin your career. As for Adams, it is a stunning indictment either way. Either he cowed to their contract demands and kneecapped the team, or he is just a moron who cannot admit his mistake.

 

[Zman5778]

If this is truly something that was negotiated by Levi and his agent, I don't get it. There is betting on yourself, and then there is just reckless, short sighted behavior that could ruin your career. As for Adams, it is a stunning indictment either way. Either he cowed to their contract demands and kneecapped the team, or he is just a moron who cannot admit his mistake.

The staggering thing to me is this:

1.) Levi has been on record stating that he spent an extra year in the CCHL instead of going to the NCAAs because he didn't feel he was ready.
2.) Levi has been on record stating that he spent an extra year in the NCAAs to develop further AND "feel the pressure of being THE guy".

............and now he's the one behind him staying in the NHL????

I don't buy it. I absolutely buy that there was some agreement to not block his path to the NHL should he show he's ready......but I absolutely DO NOT buy that he's demanding that he stays up. I think Adams got caught with his pants down here......I think that Adams genuinely believed that Levi would be ready this year.

 

[Ehran]

General Manager Kevyn Adams... the King of Future Considerations

 

[The Red Helmet]

It would not shock me at all of Regier has been doing some consulting time with Adams.

Lots of the same fingerprints:

1. Ignoring obvious needs every summer and go to the bargain bin for solutions
2. Fall in love with your own players and 'keep the band together' even if the band has been terrible.
3. Rush an elite college goalie to the NHL

Darcy Regier is the best GM the Sabres ever had. With no real resources, he built a team around Hasek that went to the Cup and with even less resources built a team a few years later that could have easily won it if not for injuries. That Sabres team would have likely been successful for quite awhile had Golisano been willing to spend enough to keep guys like Briere, Drury and Campbell. It's not Regier's fault he got saddled with cheap owners.

Then when Regier is finally given the green light to spend, he gets mandated to over pay for free agents in a weak free agency year when the obvious move at that time was to start the re-build then. If Pegula had just left Regier alone and let him do his thing for 3-4 years this team would probably have had a great decade.

 

[sabremike]

I try not to think about the decisions made by this brain trust for too long (for fear of a stroke), but the Levi decision goes so wildly against NHL convention AND their supposed raison d'etre of prospect development. They will let the myriad forward prospects sit in the AHL forever, and goalies traditionally take longer to develop, but sure, let's throw our only hope in goal to the wolves behind a team that cannot play defense.

If this is truly something that was negotiated by Levi and his agent, I don't get it. There is betting on yourself, and then there is just reckless, short sighted behavior that could ruin your career. As for Adams, it is a stunning indictment either way. Either he cowed to their contract demands and kneecapped the team, or he is just a moron who cannot admit his mistake.

That worked out so well for the career of the shitty Nylander.

 

[Irie]

It would not shock me at all of Regier has been doing some consulting time with Adams.

Lots of the same fingerprints:

1. Ignoring obvious needs every summer and go to the bargain bin for solutions
2. Fall in love with your own players and 'keep the band together' even if the band has been terrible.
3. Rush an elite college goalie to the NHL

I think you grossly underestimate the free agent handicap Buffalo's GMs face decade to decade.

The moves look similar because they are more often than not the only free agent moves available to small market teams.

The UFA moves available are mostly "grossly overpay for midranged UFAs" or "mildly overpay for lower quality guys". That's it.

 

[TehDoak]

I think you grossly underestimate the free agent handicap Buffalo's GMs face decade to decade.

The moves look similar because they are more often than not the only free agent moves available to small market teams.

The UFA moves available are mostly "grossly overpay for midranged UFAs" or "mildly overpay for lower quality guys". That's it.

Yes, Buffalo has a real problem attracting talent. But its location is only part of the problem.

They told their star player to pound sand when he disagreed with them on a medical procedure and then held his career hostage for 1/2 a season.

They haven't made the playoffs in 13 years.

That is the reason nobody wants to sign here.

It's because our management is bad.

The Bills have no problems attracting free agents.

 

[Irie]

NFL and NHL are completely different beasts and trying to compare destination desirability of how the NFL should correlate to the NHL is completely misguided.

Football season is short. Less than half a year. 8 or 9 home games and often over at the start of January. Players on the NFL are either chasing money or a chance to win. Location is less of a concern. Contracts are not guaranteed, so most stints with teams players sign with only last a couple of years, max (often even less).

A strong team in a small football market makes a much bigger difference on the recruiting bottom line than a strong team in a small hockey market.

The Sabres with high taxes and extreme weather is a tough sell, no matter how good they are.