Kevyn Adams GM thread

[The Red Helmet]

Overthinking things, believing you can take it 1v5 at will, continually making the wrong play vice the simple smart one, seemingly putting too much pressure on themselves etc

These are clearly not what the post I was responding to was talking about.

 

[toddkaz]

Its a good thing then that Power isnt making 8m this year and Dahlin isnt making 11m then

So what you are saying is they will all of a sudden turn into those players next year?

Silly assumption.

We all know that they aren't making that money until next year but clearly you didn't read the thread taking my post out of context.

 

[Irie]

So what you are saying is they will all of a sudden turn into those players next year?

Silly assumption.

We all know that they aren't making that money until next year but clearly you didn't read the thread taking my post out of context.

With the exception of power, they were all signed for those amounts based on how they played just last year (and they earned those deals with their play then)

How is thinking young players may get back to the level they were playing at only a year prior a silly assumption?

 

[Tatanka]

With the exception of power, they were all signed for those amounts based on how they played just last year (and they earned those deals with their play then)

How is thinking young players may get back to the level they were playing at only a year prior a silly assumption?

TT signed on August 30 2022. Before last season started. He was paid based production through the 2021-2022 season. Cozens signed in February 2023.

 

[Gras]

So what you are saying is they will all of a sudden turn into those players next year?

Silly assumption.

We all know that they aren't making that money until next year but clearly you didn't read the thread taking my post out of context.

Out of context is you claiming a player is not playing like an $xm player when they are not making $xm.

You can't apply a future standard to something that is current.

Do you feel Dahlin is playing like a 6m player and Power is playing like a 900k player? Or are they playing at a level above their current cap hits.

 

[toddkaz]

Out of context is you claiming a player is not playing like an $xm player when they are not making $xm.

You can't apply a future standard to something that is current.

Do you feel Dahlin is playing like a 6m player and Power is playing like a 900k player? Or are they playing at a level above their current cap hits.

No, I was responding to another person's post. You jumped in the middle.

Adams is paying for their potential to perform this year and next year. If they aren't doing it this year then its definitely silly to just ASSUME they will turn into it next year. Thats called blind faith.

Its the same as handing Granato and extension before his contract is even up this year. I guess since his 2 million a season doesn't kick in until next year its ok to be a crappy coach this year.

Doesn't make sense.

 

[BG82]

My only complaint on Adams is his refusal to complete this team via the trade market. We're destined for another top 8 picks to add to a over stock cupboard

Get a top 4 RHD and/or top 6 Forward in prime using some prospect / pick capital

UPL playing his way as long term guy. We need to get this talent pool over the top

 

[TehDoak]

edit: wrong thread

 

[TehDoak]

Laughton f***ing sucks ass.

Whoops, wrong thread.

 

[Irie]

TT signed on August 30 2022. Before last season started. He was paid based production through the 2021-2022 season. Cozens signed in February 2023.

Yes, I should have worded that better for the Sematics Nazis

Tage was payed for how he was playing two years ago and would have earned quite a bit more if Adams had waited, which only further validates the point, and that point is:

They were all worth their extensions just last year with the exception of Power. Thinking that they might get back to that level is not really a silly assumption.

 

[Ace]

Actually it’s been one year. Last year’s team was competitive.

They failed to make the playoffs in a league where they take half the teams. Now they’re shit again.

If the highlight of your four years on the job is the one time you failed to make the playoffs…get the f*** out of this job.

My only complaint on Adams is his refusal to complete this team via the trade market. We're destined for another top 8 picks to add to a over stock cupboard

Get a top 4 RHD and/or top 6 Forward in prime using some prospect / pick capital

UPL playing his way as long term guy. We need to get this talent pool over the top

No complaints about his coaching choices? Loving that Ellis PP and the way Donnie schemes them up? It’s not like they make mental errors all over the ice and cost themselves games all the time.

 

[Fjordy]

Fire

 

[Ace]

Pegula doesn’t want to pay people to do nothing and have to pay their replacements too? No problem. Fire Adams and don’t replace him. They would have been better off if he wasn’t even f***ing here last off-season. Johnson and Clifton? Jost back? These were his moves? An empty chair would have had a better off-season.

 

[jd1970]

Has this loser apologized to the customers yet?

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

My only complaint on Adams is his refusal to complete this team via the trade market. We're destined for another top 8 picks to add to a over stock cupboard

Get a top 4 RHD and/or top 6 Forward in prime using some prospect / pick capital

UPL playing his way as long term guy. We need to get this talent pool over the top

There are basically no top 4 RHD available on the market.

Next year at least one of Granto or most of the assistants should be gone. There’s clear strategic issues. If that’s from the HC he’s gotta go. If it’s from the staff, they need to go.

If it’s the whole lot, they need to go.

Before the season the zeitgeist seemed to be that most things were ok but KA was throwing away the season due to goaltending. They’re getting adequate goaltending. Opponents are better at game planning against buffalo.

 

[Jim Bob]

There are basically no top 4 RHD available on the market.

Next year at least one of Granto or most of the assistants should be gone. There’s clear strategic issues. If that’s from the HC he’s gotta go. If it’s from the staff, they need to go.

If it’s the whole lot, they need to go.

Before the season the zeitgeist seemed to be that most things were ok but KA was throwing away the season due to goaltending. They’re getting adequate goaltending. Opponents are better at game planning against buffalo.

Calgary has two RHD that are signed beyond this year that would be better than Jokiharju and Clifton, IMO. And we know that Calgary is open for business.

I think the issue is that it would cost more than Adams wants to give up. But, I am at the point where I want the roster to be better and I am less worried about "winning a trade" Darcy thinking.

 

[TageGod]

Just stating again for the record. No UFA wants to come here except for a paycheck, and Adams won't overpay for the big contract players. NMC players will not waive to come here, and most have Buffalo on it. The options are severely handicapped to start.

 

[TehDoak]

Just stating again for the record. No UFA wants to come here except for a paycheck, and Adams won't overpay for the big contract players. NMC players will not waive to come here, and most have Buffalo on it. The options are severely handicapped to start.

But, Adams, in his 4th year, is as responsible as anyone for the teams terrible reputation.

You can't say "no one wants to come here we have a terrible reputation" and ignore why the Sabres reputation is so bad. It's not just small market, bad weather, high taxes.

1) It's 12 years (and counting) of no playoffs, 25% of which Adams was in charge for.
2) It's the dragging Eichel's name through the mud, stripping him of his captaincy, and putting his career on hold for 6 months because of the audacity of wanting to win and wanting freedom to choose what medical treatment he wanted.
3) Spending bare bones on the roster, coaching staff, management, and facilities

Adams is a big part of the reason nobody wants to come here, as is the ownership. The best thing the Sabres could do is re-establish some legitimacy and get an actual front office established rather than constantly cycling through 1st time GMs with no support.

 

[joshjull]

As of right now, you are correct.

However, signing one of those 5 to long-term market-ish value deals puts us nearly in the danger zone and 2 of them (or 1 of them and one from outside) puts us squarely in the danger zone.

A few thoughts in response.

1) The context of my full post was addressing a poster arguing the Cozens/Power deals were bad ideas. That they hurt us on the ice and hurt our ability to build going forward. But neither has trade protection until years 5 (Cozens) and 6 (Power) of their deals. Then they only have 5 team NTCs. Tage also has only a 5 Team NTC starting next season.

If it came to it, they are very trade-able assets. Adams gave himself flexibility with these extensions. Obviously if they're playing well, their contracts aren’t an issue. The only unmovable contract going forward is Skinner’s.

2) Adams has plenty of flexibility to play around with contract lengths to get guys signed and stay under the cap. Guys like Peterka/Quinn can be bridged. A 2yr bridge would take them to the end of Skinner’s deal. I don’t know why Levi is even in this conversation. I don’t see how he generates any leverage by the end of next season to get much of a contract.

3) The cap is going to go up each year now that the Escrow payments are finished. The upper limit is estimated to be 92mil in two years. Thats roughly an 8.5mil growth. It will continue to grow. Teams managed to re-sign their top guys during the Covid flat cap era. Most of them starting off in much worse shape cap wise than we are now.

 

[May Day 10]

But, Adams, in his 4th year, is as responsible as anyone for the teams terrible reputation.

You can't say "no one wants to come here we have a terrible reputation" and ignore why the Sabres reputation is so bad. It's not just small market, bad weather, high taxes.

1) It's 12 years (and counting) of no playoffs, 25% of which Adams was in charge for.
2) It's the dragging Eichel's name through the mud, stripping him of his captaincy, and putting his career on hold for 6 months because of the audacity of wanting to win and wanting freedom to choose what medical treatment he wanted.
3) Spending bare bones on the roster, coaching staff, management, and facilities

Adams is a big part of the reason nobody wants to come here, as is the ownership. The best thing the Sabres could do is re-establish some legitimacy and get an actual front office established rather than constantly cycling through 1st time GMs with no support.

This x10. While Buffalo as a city does have disadvantages in attracting NHL players, the organization itself is the biggest detractor.

It has a terrible rep. Perennial losing, the treatment of players (and staff), clueless meddlesome owner who thinks he is Frank Selke reincarnated. Production comes here to die, and they do not operate like any typical NHL team.

They need to forcefully and decisively inject credibility to this organization. That starts at the very top and will percolate everywhere and the rest will follow.

The reputation is not going to improve with Adams and this current austere reality the Sabres live in where they are essentially a perpetual development team.

 

[Fezzy126]

I usually don't engage because most bitter posters repeat the same things for the past 6 months straight, and most of it is wrong because Adams inaction and minor adds actually worked out:

1. Goaltending has been fine
2. Even though I'd prefer a different style defenseman, Jokiharju has actually exceeded expectations this year and been fine as top 4 guy
3. Clifton has been mostly fine after a rough start and a ton of bad luck

The problem has been the Power Play, the top line (Tage/Skinner/Tuch), Dahlin, Power, and Cozens. That's the core, not the supporting cast, and we won't improve until their play gets back to their previous levels.

They failed to make the playoffs in a league where they take half the teams.

I really wish people would stop repeating this phrase.

Pittsburgh, Boston, Washington, Tampa, NYR, and Toronto have owned the conference for the past decade, leaving 2 spots for some other team to get lucky and squeak in. This phrase suggests that the league should have natural parity, but players don't move, cores don't change, and the Eastern conference has not had real parity in over 20 years.

 

[TageGod]

But, Adams, in his 4th year, is as responsible as anyone for the teams terrible reputation.

You can't say "no one wants to come here we have a terrible reputation" and ignore why the Sabres reputation is so bad. It's not just small market, bad weather, high taxes.

1) It's 12 years (and counting) of no playoffs, 25% of which Adams was in charge for.
2) It's the dragging Eichel's name through the mud, stripping him of his captaincy, and putting his career on hold for 6 months because of the audacity of wanting to win and wanting freedom to choose what medical treatment he wanted.
3) Spending bare bones on the roster, coaching staff, management, and facilities

Adams is a big part of the reason nobody wants to come here, as is the ownership. The best thing the Sabres could do is re-establish some legitimacy and get an actual front office established rather than constantly cycling through 1st time GMs with no support.

How does Adams have blame for their reputation before he got here? Its largely accepted he fixed the toxic culture for the players and front office. He didn't hire himself. he did what he was supposed to do to rebuild. the ONLY thing he hasn't done was acquire better players with assets, which is largely due to my previous post. No one was complaining about Granato last year. No one was really anticipating this much of a step back. Still the second youngest team, probably first after deadline. Keep in mind a top 4 D instead of Clifton is not getting this team in the playoffs. A Quinn replacement might have helped too but that most likely means Benson was sent back. this team will be FINE if they use some assets before next season. Is Granato going to get the start of next season? probably. Is Adams the issue for a super young team to be underperforming? Not really. We want action so were mad. This is the first year THIS team is learning to play hockey the correct way. Last year was just go score. They ARE learning how to play it is just too much inconsistency.

 

[TehDoak]

How does Adams have blame for their reputation before he got here?

His actions have made the problem worse, specifically with regards to the Eichel situation.

Its largely accepted he fixed the toxic culture for the players and front office.

Yes, because players getting angry with fans about booing or chanting 'fire donny' is healthy right? All the 'toxic' players he moved (Eichel, Reinhart, and even Risto) have had success elsewhere and by all accounts have been good soliders.

He didn't hire himself. he did what he was supposed to do to rebuild. the ONLY thing he hasn't done was acquire better players with assets, which is largely due to my previous post. No one was complaining about Granato last year. No one was really anticipating this much of a step back. Still the second youngest team, probably first after deadline. Keep in mind a top 4 D instead of Clifton is not getting this team in the playoffs. A Quinn replacement might have helped too but that most likely means Benson was sent back. this team will be FINE if they use some assets before next season. Is Granato going to get the start of next season? probably. Is Adams the issue for a super young team to be underperforming?

Adams is the reason this is a super young team. There is zero reason with the volume of assets and cap we have had that we have to trot out a team so bereft of any actually leadership.

Adams can't be at fault because Adams didn't hire himself is an amusing take though.

Not really. We want action so were mad. This is the first year THIS team is learning to play hockey the correct way. Last year was just go score. They ARE learning how to play it is just too much inconsistency.

He is on his FOURTH FULL SEASON AS GM. Even if you absolve him of his first season (which, we shouldn't), choosing to forgo the implementation of a defensive structure/system for 2 seasons was a choice he made when he hired Granato as the coach.

The issues of this team currently are 100% on Adams. He choose the coach, he has had plenty of draft picks/assets to improve the team, and has ample time to implement any changes he has wanted. Yes, it's hard in a small market to get players to come here, but that is part of the job. Winnipeg has just as bad of a recruiting problem and they make the playoffs almost every year.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

Gmka failed this season. Period

The decision to stick with the underperforming vets instead of trying biro or Rousek or weissbach or Murray or kozak

Continuing to let the coaches misuse Krebs on the fourth line

The decision to keep with the entire coaching staff despite their inability to make adjustments. For god sales, the pp coach should have been fired

And if they encouraged any hurt players to keep playing for this joke of a season then he should be fired now.

 

[TageGod]

His actions have made the problem worse, specifically with regards to the Eichel situation.



Yes, because players getting angry with fans about booing or chanting 'fire donny' is healthy right? All the 'toxic' players he moved (Eichel, Reinhart, and even Risto) have had success elsewhere and by all accounts have been good soliders.



Adams is the reason this is a super young team. There is zero reason with the volume of assets and cap we have had that we have to trot out a team so bereft of any actually leadership.

Adams can't be at fault because Adams didn't hire himself is an amusing take though.




He is on his FOURTH FULL SEASON AS GM. Even if you absolve him of his first season (which, we shouldn't), choosing to forgo the implementation of a defensive structure/system for 2 seasons was a choice he made when he hired Granato as the coach.

The issues of this team currently are 100% on Adams. He choose the coach, he has had plenty of draft picks/assets to improve the team, and has ample time to implement any changes he has wanted. Yes, it's hard in a small market to get players to come here, but that is part of the job. Winnipeg has just as bad of a recruiting problem and they make the playoffs almost every year.

1) That was 100% pegula.

2) The players leaving is not Adams fault, he inherited the mess and got good value for the players who wanted to leave.
3) I meant Pegula hired him. But that does sound funny.
4) Yes this year was below expectations and mistakes were made letting the team just play offense all year.
5) Yes inaction is an issue, mostly due to the Girgs/Okposo resigning imo. Their depth was bad on D and they got logical choices to improve it. Their issues from last year are not the issues this year. we were all optimistic this year. Get new assistants, maybe new coach, fix PP and make some additions and this team is probably fine next year.

I think if anything this season shows just how much Skinner Thompson Cozens and Tuchs production carried this team last year.