Quinn and Peterka drafted by Adams. If you want to focus on a positive for once, prospects all look good. So drafting is looking like a big +. KA legacy will pretty much be this next offseason. If he makes a few smart trades and signings, I am fine with him. He did bring in smart analytic people too. At least the workplace isn't toxic and is no longer in the stone age.
Kevyn Adams GM thread
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jamienwalker
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- Jul 30, 2022
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Deep Blue Metallic
Bo knows hockey.
- Mar 5, 2021
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Was Nov 29 the last time Adams entertained questions? That was over 2 months ago.
Not to defend Granato, but he has to deal with the media after every game and practice. It's time Kevyn had to face the music.
Not to defend Granato, but he has to deal with the media after every game and practice. It's time Kevyn had to face the music.
Deep Blue Metallic
Bo knows hockey.
- Mar 5, 2021
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In hindsight, many of us, myself included, have been overly patient with Adams. Reality has beaten the positivity out of me.
Yes, he's drafted decently, but mostly to accumulate a slew of smallish, skilled forwards who project as mid-6 NHL wingers. He has failed to package any of them to acquire the veteran roster players this team desperately needs to improve.
When his recent off-season acquisition history is Comrie, Lyubushkin, EJ, and Clifton, why would you think he'll "make(s) a few smart trades and signings" this summer? Only Clifton will be here in 2024/25.
I keep hearing about the stellar analytics staff. Where's the payoff? Even if they're world-beaters at statistical analysis, without a savvy eye to confirm their findings with in-game viewings, it's pointless. We apparently have one, ONE, pro scout. WITAF is going on? Maybe Kevyn is staffing in proportion to the likelihood of him actually acquiring a difference maker.
And as terrible a season as this has been, Adams has actually been quite lucky. Without Mitts' ongoing improvement, Benson and R. Johnson not only making the roster, but also playing with unexpected maturity, and UPL stopping pucks at .909, this season would have been even worse. Lottery pick worse.
My litmus test at this point is the coaching staff. If Adams hasn't fired them all by season's end, he will have been a complete and utter failure afaic.
The Greenway and EJohnson additions on the PK have also been a bump that we likely weren't expecting but has helped that unit improve.
But what is the plan other than just sitting around, waiting for more prospects to get older? They need mid-20-something vets who play a 2-way game, not more guys how need to learn how to play like that as rookies or 2nd year guys.
I know he's also leaned on having tried to get certain players (Pesce probably being the biggest this past summer) yet here we are, waiting for them to actually find someone and plug them into the long-term lineup that can help them win. Waiting... and waiting...
Deep Blue Metallic
Bo knows hockey.
- Mar 5, 2021
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lol ‘plan’
So far the smartest thing he has done involves having a guy who would have passed through waivers when he got here become a #1 center for a season. After that I think he might be all out of ideas.
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- Jul 25, 2016
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Sadly what VanCity has done in a relatively short period of time with an aggressive gm, and a mandate from ownership, shows that excuses, i.e. trades are hard, ufas won’t sign here, blocking players, are simply euphemisms for the path of least resistance and cost control. Deep down KA may want to shake things up a bit ( although there is no evidence that is the case) but he sold a plan and TPegs is happy with it and the progress under it. Terry can sit on his hands and collect expansion fees for the next few years and when it looks like that creek is running dry, sell to a city who missed out.
Seeing Vancouver go from infighting and disorganization to a contender with the hiring of an experience President, a GM working in lockstep with the President and a new coaching staff is one small glimmer of hope that it can be done. It's a larger cloud though in that we know the long, dark tea time of the soul that is Pegula's ownership will continue to drag ever onward without end, nor ever with that sort of move. Aquilini is not a good person and has messed up repeatedly as owner in Vancouver, but he's at least momentarily reversed that by stumbling into a good hire. In a way, it reminds me of Wilson hiring Polian for the Bills and winding up with a winning team by accident.
- Jul 25, 2016
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Or Whaley pointing TPegs in the direction of McBeane.
VaporTrail
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- Mar 2, 2011
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Has he been interviewed at all lately ? I was wondering if he's still a happy little camper thinking he's put a Stanley Cup winner together all the while being the 2nd worst place in the East ?
To what? Average. I will give UPL the nod for some of this. EJ is slow as crap and completely overrated. He's not good.
Yeah to average. As a PKer, EJ is part of why they aren't spectacularly crap this year. Same with Greenway. Same with not having AHL guys like Fitzgerald as PK regulars.
BuzzKillington90
Registered User
He was "interviewed" last night but I haven't been able to find a video or anyone commenting on it.
Vancouver is a major hockey market with a population of 3 million (who are nearly all hockey fans).
While some American players may have the Canucks on their no-trade list(because Canada...), most European, eastern European and Canadian players view Vancouver as a quality destination.
Comparing Buffalo's real small market woes to Vancouver's situation is apples to oranges.
- Jul 25, 2016
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Sorry but that is simply more excuses. They were in disarray. It took new blood at the top to instill a sense of purpose in the organization. Once they did people wanted to be a part of it. Hell EP wasn’t sure he wanted to stick around. You can trade for players who have no ability to say no. And you can interest others if you convince them they have a chance to win. The key is convincing players that the management knows what they are doing. That is where Buffalo fails. Not the city or the area.
May Day 10
Registered User
you cannot blame this franchise's woes on market size or location. That is a copout.
It is a clown organization where players' careers go to take a hiatus or die. They have Ron Rolston's brother from another mother and managed to make him one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NHL, before his extension kicks in.... with nothing accomplished.
Ville Leino's clothing line was spot-on. Multiply this by all the players who have come in here and languished. The treatment of respected people, firing their scouts during the depth of the pandemic. The way the Eichel thing went down is also a huge black eye on the franchise as far as the NHLPA goes.
Create an environment where players come in and realize their potential, and increase their ability to earn, suddenly it isn't such a bad place. Look at the Bills.
It is a clown organization where players' careers go to take a hiatus or die. They have Ron Rolston's brother from another mother and managed to make him one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NHL, before his extension kicks in.... with nothing accomplished.
Ville Leino's clothing line was spot-on. Multiply this by all the players who have come in here and languished. The treatment of respected people, firing their scouts during the depth of the pandemic. The way the Eichel thing went down is also a huge black eye on the franchise as far as the NHLPA goes.
Create an environment where players come in and realize their potential, and increase their ability to earn, suddenly it isn't such a bad place. Look at the Bills.
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Johnson's mobility is absolutely terrible and his only redeeming feature is he will sacrifice his body. He ends up a screen half the time because he's so damn slow. The politics of the situation won't let Ryan Johnson kill penalties who would be much better right now. Gotta keep locker room happy.
It is reality. Buffalo has to be managed different than a large market team, and comparing destination desirability and believing they would be the same with the same management teams is a faulty premise.
Vancouver was a team who's coach had lost the room. They made a coaching change and the coaching staff turned things around.
It isn't like they totally revamped their core, they ultimately made one larger change, moving out pending UFA center depth for defensive depth (that was largely panned by the hockey world at the time), but the new coaching staff started deploying players more appropriately and they decided to play a different brand of hockey - less Kuzmenko and more Joshua.
They bought in to a system and Demko healed up and is now able to move laterally again (an overlooked but huge part of their resurgence. I will also add that most of their scorers shooting in the mid to high 20% was unsustainable and they were not actually as good as their record indicated, but that is a different discussion).
The "blocking players" argument was an excuse to save Pegula money, but "Trades are hard", and "Quality UFAs won't sign here" (unless grossly overpaid) are both still true and not really excuses.
I am not saying Adam's has done a good job. The "develop the young players in the NHL" plan Granato and him sold Pegula on was primarily a way to save TP cash, and it was bound to fail and I said so 2 and half years ago. This team is not built to play a hard nosed style of hockey, (which ironically would be the type of roster that could shine under Granato), so the solution is going to have to be a bit different, (bringing in a Berube or Evason will lead to dissapointing results without a roster overhaul IMO), but there are a ton of good players here and bringing in a coaching staff that can deploy them properly and get them to play a better (and simpler) team brand of hockey, while making a few bottom 6 changes would make a huge difference.
- Jul 25, 2016
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They moved Horvat, brought in Hronek, in season they have traded for D and a 2 C. They picked up a serviceable back goalie for nothing. The coaching change and a shuffling of players out that would not work under that coach has changed the scenario. There are only so many NHL jobs. People will take them where ever they are. And overpaying for the right UFA is not a crime in my book.A coaching/leadership change is necessary.
But I think that a coach has to have some say in the types of players they need to implement their system. I think trying to find a coach to fit the players is much more difficult. Find the guy who will play the type of hockey needed and give the players the choice to get onboard or get the hell out. More will get onboard. Those that do not should be shed.
But at the end of the day, the Sabres are one of 32 places a guy committed make a living in the NHL can do so. It takes competent management to make that opportunity desirable. So again I think we agree on more that we don’t. But I am not willing to give anymore avenues for excuses. Is it a tough job? Sure. But they are paid handsomely to do it. Is it tougher than what many folks on here do day in and day out? I do not think so. Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.
Honestly, I'd pay PPV prices for someone to sit down with Adams in a one on one interview and actually ask him hard questions.
Zman5778
Moderator
You'd pay top dollar to watch him say nothing and dance around all the questions?
- Jul 25, 2016
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toddkaz
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- Nov 25, 2022
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I agree, calling Buffalo a location players don't want to come to is a copout. Win and people will come here. Hire competent coaches and management and players will come here.you cannot blame this franchise's woes on market size or location. That is a copout.
It is a clown organization where players' careers go to take a hiatus or die. They have Ron Rolston's brother from another mother and managed to make him one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NHL, before his extension kicks in.... with nothing accomplished.
Ville Leino's clothing line was spot-on. Multiply this by all the players who have come in here and languished. The treatment of respected people, firing their scouts during the depth of the pandemic. The way the Eichel thing went down is also a huge black eye on the franchise as far as the NHLPA goes.
Create an environment where players come in and realize their potential, and increase their ability to earn, suddenly it isn't such a bad place. Look at the Bills.
Players want to go to Stanley cup contenders. Sure some want to go home and play in front of family but if Buffalo is a Stanley Cup contender players will want to come here.
I bet you if you did a survey the number one thing a free agent will say when it comes to where he wants to sign? A cup contender.
Unfortunately the owner has done the opposite. He has made this a mickey mouse show.
There isn't a player in the NHL thats coming here because of Adams and Meatball along with Botts, Kreuger, Murray, Rolston...Same type of guys just repackaged.
Ace
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- Oct 29, 2015
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The market could be incredibly desirable to a large group of players who want to play near home but not actually play in Canada. The last 13 years of what’s happened inside of the market is why its not.
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