Kevyn Adams GM thread

[HaNotsri]

I’m not that mad at Adams, not yet anyway.

From Adams taking over the front office in March of 2021 until the end of last season. The plan he and Karmanos laid out and executed went pretty well. This season was the first set back. They chose to bet on internal growth. It hasn’t worked out but thats not quite the reason why.

Ironically, the internal growth they were hoping for actually happened. Guys like Mitts, UPL, Peterka, Greenway and Joker all took a step forward (A guess Quinn as well for that small blip). In some cases they were huge steps forward. Plus some youngsters emerged as quality depth as well (R.Johnson + Benson).

But the top guys have been a problem for most of the season due to poor play, injury or both. I certainly didn’t expect Skinner, Tage, Tuch, Cozens, Dahlin and Sammy to struggle as much as they did as a group. I doubt the front office expected it either. But their struggles are the biggest reason we are where we are. Had the top guys been anywhere near what they were last season right out of the gate. The internal growth we‘ve had should have been enough to take a step forward. Or at the very least we wouldn’t have regressed.

Adams was in a tough spot early this season because the core pieces he committed to struggled in their first exposure to expectations. There is no easy way to fix a problem like that in order to save a season. Major roster changes aren’t realistic until mid season or closer to the deadline when teams start failing out of the race. But by then it’s too late. You could fire the coach but there is no guarantee it fixes things and could even make it worse. Adams obviously didn’t feel a ton of pressure to make the playoffs this season. Or at least not enough to take a chance on a coaching change. It wasn’t a playoffs or bust season in his mind.

I still have a positive view of Adams and the front office due to the work they did from 2021 onward. But that will evaporate if the following doesn’t happen before next season.

1) Coaching staff needs to change. I don’t care if Granato sticks around but that staff needs to be retooled.

2) We need to add toughness and experience to the top 9 forwards and top 4 dmen. Guys like E. Johnson and Okposo are great leaders/mentors. But we also need guys like that who can play higher in the lineup. I want to see both layers.

3) We need to add role players. I don’t want another year of Krebs, or someone like him, centering the 4th line. Bring in a vet 4th line center.

I agree with your analysis except that I personally expected the top guys to take a step back. A lot of them had their best years in their careers so far and you can't expect them to repeat or improve every year.

Upgrading the goaltending (didn't happen), replacing Quinn (didn't happen) and getting a legit partner for Power (didn't happen) is stuff that I though could have helped us build instead of regressing this season.
To me the price paid is lost confidence, lost momentum and fans trending towards indifference/becoming non-fans.

I have one thing to add to your list: goaltending. I expect Adams to go UPL/Levi which is dumb as hell since the season could be over after 30 games yet again.
Replace Levi with a vet, we might have to lose a couple of trades (buying high on goalie and then selling low to make room if Levi becomes NHL-caliber). It will mess with the cap/internal salary cap as well but it is what it is.

 

[BFLO]

Whats the ending of fool me three times? Who is the shame on in that case? Because Adams is in every conversation according to him. And We’ve got two straight offseasons of precisely dick.

You don't have to convince me.

 

[MOGlLNY]

Trade Mitts for a guy of lesser value and a 1st

“This guy is gonna help us right now.”

 

[Snippit]

I didn’t say otherwise. Read better.

Adams was in a tough spot early this season because the core pieces he committed to struggled in their first exposure to expectations. You could fire the coach but there is no guarantee it fixes things and could even make it worse.”

This is the part I was addressing. So yeah you are clearly letting Adams off the hook for not canning the coach, and I expressed disagreement to this take.

 

[Ace]

A better way to say “core guys he committed to“ is “core guys he failed to support”. Power is still playing without the partner he needed three years ago. Quinn went down and Adams did nothing. He directly failed in building the roster. Using that as a reason to let him off the hook for also keeping a bum coach who can’t get them ready to play, play with consistent effort, figure out anything on the power play or solve the riddle of contested zone entries after FIFTY GAMES is some kind of logic.

It’s defending a lost position due to refusal to admit being wrong. Something that also plagues this orgnanization.

 

[slip]

Now let's get Kevyn, Don, and Terry under a "Mission Accomplished" banner.

 

[joshjull]

Adams was in a tough spot early this season because the core pieces he committed to struggled in their first exposure to expectations. You could fire the coach but there is no guarantee it fixes things and could even make it worse.”

This is the part I was addressing. So yeah you are clearly letting Adams off the hook for not canning the coach, and I expressed disagreement to this take.

No I’m not. Again, read better. I’m not trying to be a dick. But it’s very annoying to be told I’m doing something when I know I’m not.

That entire paragraph is me (1) walking through the situation, (2) options to address it/consequences and (3) then attempting to game out why he didn’t act to remove the coach. You cherry picked one part to spin.

The entire paragraph.….

“Adams was in a tough spot early this season because the core pieces he committed to struggled in their first exposure to expectations. There is no easy way to fix a problem like that in order to save a season. Major roster changes aren’t realistic until mid season or closer to the deadline when teams start failing out of the race. But by then it’s too late. You could fire the coach but there is no guarantee it fixes things and could even make it worse. Adams obviously didn’t feel a ton of pressure to make the playoffs this season. Or at least not enough to take a chance on a coaching change. It wasn’t a playoffs or bust season in his mind..”

Thats not defending Granato still being here. Thats working through to the conclusion Adams wasn‘t worried about making the playoffs this year in the way myself and many others hoped he was. So he felt no pressure to aggressively act by removing the coach.

 

[Tijuana Donkey Show]

No I’m not. Again, read better. I’m not trying to be a dick. But it’s very annoying to be told I’m doing something when I know I’m not.

That entire paragraph is me (1) walking through the situation, (2) options to address it/consequences and (3) then attempting to game out why he didn’t act to remove the coach. You cherry picked one part to spin.

The entire paragraph.….

“Adams was in a tough spot early this season because the core pieces he committed to struggled in their first exposure to expectations. There is no easy way to fix a problem like that in order to save a season. Major roster changes aren’t realistic until mid season or closer to the deadline when teams start failing out of the race. But by then it’s too late. You could fire the coach but there is no guarantee it fixes things and could even make it worse. Adams obviously didn’t feel a ton of pressure to make the playoffs this season. Or at least not enough to take a chance on a coaching change. It wasn’t a playoffs or bust season in his mind..”

Thats not defending Granato still being here. Thats working through to the conclusion Adams wasn‘t worried about making the playoffs this year in the way myself and many others hoped he was. So he felt no pressure to aggressively act by removing the coach.

I think where it sounds like defending Adams is the bolded.

A tough spot sounds like happenstance.

Instead Adams is paying the bill for a number of mistakes he made coming due at once. Holistically this roster construction is flawed. It isn't a tough spot. It is the result of bad design.

EDIT: Sorry for the double tap. For the second bolded. This is a direct quote from Adams this year before the season started. He literally said our Stanley Cup window was open now. He said it. He thought this team was a legit contender to open the season.

Our P% is under .500. What an absolutely insane failure based on ones own verbalized expectations.

https://www.wivb.com/sports/buffalo-sabres/sabres-windows-open-right-now-gm-kevyn-adams-says/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWhen%20I%20think%20about%20playoffs,a%20chance%20every%20single%20year.%E2%80%9D

“When I think about playoffs, our expectation of course is there but, honestly, our expectation is to win the Stanley Cup,” Adams said. “I think our window’s open right now and our goal is to be giving ourselves a chance every single year.”

 

[joshjull]

I think where it sounds like defending Adams is the bolded.

A tough spot sounds like happenstance.

Instead Adams is paying the bill for a number of mistakes he made coming due at once. Holistically this roster construction is flawed. It isn't a tough spot. It is the result of bad design.

You think it sounds like? Are you kidding me?

When you say someone was in a tough spot. It means they were in a tough spot. Thats it. It doesn’t get into the why or how of it.

 

[Fjordy]

Adams may not feel pressure because of an idiot owner who is happy with everything, but Adams himself talks about the Stanley Cup and doesn't do a damn thing, not on the coaching staff, not in any trades, just nothing.

 

[joshjull]

Cool story - literally none of the guys you mentioned took an actual step forward besides UPL.

“I still support Adams because he couldn’t have possibly known how to evaluate his top players, and know they would struggle as other teams adjusted. And hey, look how good Joki is now.”

Is this a joke?

On the bigger step up side -> UPL as you mentioned. Mitts is on pace for career highs in goals, 5v5 points, overall points and has emerged as one of the better 5v5 players in NHL (tied for 15th overall in 5v5 points among all NHL forwards). Peterka is on pace for 30g 55pts which is almost double what he did last season.

On the smaller side - > Greenway has emerged as one of the better PKers in the NHL and top PKer for us. Joker was playing much better to start the season. But the last month or so he’s dropped off hard. Probably due to going in and out of the lineup. l’ll give you Joker.

12 points out of a playoff spot with 30 games remaining and 5 teams between us and the final playoff spot -- the only one who needs help is our GM who is clearly f***ing delusional if he thinks he's a buyer at the deadline.

It depends. Are they talking about hockey trades? Or rentals?

Rentals would clearly be delusional
Hockey trades would be better late than never.

 

[sabres4ever]

Interesting read, not behind a paywall. Yes, I know it's Harrington.

Inside the NHL: Doug MacLean reveals 2020 interview with Sabres on Toronto radio show

 

[Tijuana Donkey Show]

...

 

[Chainshot]

Interesting read, not behind a paywall. Yes, I know it's Harrington.

Inside the NHL: Doug MacLean reveals 2020 interview with Sabres on Toronto radio show

MacLean was one of the worst non-Sabre executives of the last 25 years. Seems logical that this bungling shit-bag ownership would seek him out for an advisory role.

 

[Jim Bob]

MacLean was one of the worst non-Sabre executives of the last 25 years. Seems logical that this bungling shit-bag ownership would seek him out for an advisory role.

His book was an interesting read. One interesting thing was how many people from back home he hired over the years.

 

[OkimLom]

MacLean was one of the worst non-Sabre executives of the last 25 years. Seems logical that this bungling shit-bag ownership would seek him out for an advisory role.

I don't even think this is it. If memory serves me correctly, Pegula and management used to "collect" data and information by contacting people in the past, with zero intent of hiring or going further with interviews, just to prod of questions or perspectives. It sounds like the exact same thing happened.

 

[Chainshot]

I don't even think this is it. If memory serves me correctly, Pegula and management used to "collect" data and information by contacting people in the past, with zero intent of hiring or going further with interviews, just to prod of questions or perspectives. It sounds like the exact same thing happened.

That isn't new. Recall Larry Quinn trumpeting how his dinner with Neil Smith lead them to Chris Drury as "the guy" who Smith thought Buffalo should acquire.

 

[Ace]

Adams took to the airwaves today to once again tell us no one is more frustrated than he is. A statement so ludicrous it should be met with laughter to his face every time he says it.

He knows fans are frustrated…but no one is as frustrated as he is.

Fans aren’t the ones who leave a coach with no answers and his embarrassment of a staff in place. Fans aren’t the ones who chose not to fill Quinn’s slot in the off-season. Fans aren’t the ones who have failed for three years to get a partner for Power. Fans haven’t punted on top 4 D to sit on prospects and picks for years. Fans don’t allow Matt Ellis’s keycard to still work. Fans didnt turn the keys over to a 21 year old goalie and end up with only one guy they trust to play…ironically a guy they didn’t trust to play last year.

That wasn’t fans. That was all you.

No one is more frustrated than you?

f*** off.

 

[HaNotsri]

Adams took to the airwaves today to once again tell us no one is more frustrated than he is. A statement so ludicrous it should be met with laughter to his face every time he says it.

He knows fans are frustrated…but no one is as frustrated as he is.

Fans aren’t the ones who leave a coach with no answers and his embarrassment of a staff in place. Fans aren’t the ones who chose not to fill Quinn’s slot in the off-season. Fans aren’t the ones who have failed for three years to get a partner for Power. Fans haven’t punted on top 4 D to sit on prospects and picks for years. Fans don’t allow Matt Ellis’s keycard to still work. Fans didnt turn the keys over to a 21 year old goalie and end up with only one guy they trust to play…ironically a guy they didn’t trust to play last year.

That wasn’t fans. That was all you.

No one is more frustrated than you?

f*** off.

Maybe Pegs has to confirm every move and he judt keep blocking everything. That's the only way he'd be as frustrated as the fans...

 

[BuzzKillington90]

Or.... now hear me out.... he's frustrated because the team has underperformed and a deal(s) for improvements to the team have never manifested through various means. Lowballs offers, refusal to waive no-trades (Gibson), refusals of FA (Kane... although I didn't want this anyways....) offers rejected.

 

[Zman5778]

Or.... now hear me out.... he's frustrated because the team has underperformed and a deal(s) for improvements to the team have never manifested through various means. Lowballs offers, refusal to waive no-trades (Gibson), refusals of FA (Kane... although I didn't want this anyways....) offers rejected.

Can add Matt Murray and Brett Pesce to the refusal to waive thing too. And then whichever 3rd/4th liner that KA thought he was close to signing this summer that eventually signed with PIT.


Adams has a lot of reasons to be frustrated.........but he has to also be aware that some/alot of it is his own doing.

 

[May Day 10]

Jarmo Kekkalainen has been fired.

well that moves Adams one step up on the longest-tenured general managers list!

He is 15th or 16th now. Every GM ahead of him made the playoffs last year, has won a cup recently, or is Steve Yzerman.

 

[5 Minute Major]

Somehow I just realized he extended Granato with TWO years left on his deal. His extension hasn’t even kicked in yet

What an idiot.

It’s like everyone is pulling the wool over Pegula’s eyes and Pegula himself thinks that he is cutting edge by locking them all up early.

They’re all laughing and cashing their checks. Players, coaches, management…..all one big social club looking out for each other.

I’m a Sabres fan but I absolutely hate this organization.

 

[Chainshot]

Can add Matt Murray and Brett Pesce to the refusal to waive thing too. And then whichever 3rd/4th liner that KA thought he was close to signing this summer that eventually signed with PIT.

Eller or Acciari?

Adams has a lot of reasons to be frustrated.........but he has to also be aware that some/alot of it is his own doing.

I wonder when he's gone if people will retcon his actions as hard as they do for Botterill?

 

[May Day 10]

It’s like everyone is pulling the wool over Pegula’s eyes and Pegula himself thinks that he is cutting edge by locking them all up early.

They’re all laughing and cashing their checks. Players, coaches, management…..all one big social club looking out for each other.

I’m a Sabres fan but I absolutely hate this organization.

I agree. I have zero pride in them or the way they do things. I do not think they even deserve to be a relevant NHL team (we the fans do). I am nostalgic for the distant past, but that is it. I feel very confident in saying they are the worst-run team in North American professional sports (who is not actively tanking the franchise to relocate to a new ballpark Las Vegas)