Kevyn Adams GM thread

[Chainshot]

You're right that it's slim pickins' right now. But Adams wasn't hired this morning. He's been here for 5 years. He's had 5 years to find these players. There's easily been 100 players available that fit those definitions over the last 5 years through trade or UFA and he managed to acquire ZERO OF THEM

f***, there was a 2nd pairing RD who just went for free to Columbus who I'm sure they could've gotten for a mid-round draft pick less than a month ago. So... yeah. Palm trees.

 

[slip]

When you open your press conference by denying you’re in panic mode, you’re definitely in panic mode.

 

[Fjordsen]

Idk, take a look around the league: https://puckpedia.com/teams

Whether its playmaking top 6 forward, or top 4 defensive RHD we need someone who meets the following qualifications:

1) On a team that is willing to sell a top6/4 guy
2) Does not have trade protection
3) Almost universally considered top 6/4 guy by both eye and stats

The number of guys meeting this criteria is a lot smaller than people realize IMO

Look for diamonds like Zito, Fitzgerald, Waddell, Tulsky, what the hell? Although there are or were good players without trade protection that Adams ignored in the summer.

f***, there was a 2nd pairing RD who just went for free to Columbus who I'm sure they could've gotten for a mid-round draft pick less than a month ago. So... yeah. Palm trees.

First pair, complimentary player who complements Werenski perfectly. Palms? f*** KA.

 

[TehDoak]

If you ask anyone the same question over and over again, chances are you're going to get similar answers, regardless of their line of work.

You're thinking about this too much... it's just corporate speak... they aren't trying to be sneaky or evasive when it comes to anything specific.... they have no reason to be...they would just lie if they had to. This is all canned speeches meant to check boxes.

Nobody should of expected any real answers out of this....and this just doesn't go for the Sabres.. it is how corporate and governmental America operates these days.

It's not that its the same answer, its the same specific phrase. If you listen to Adams its obvious he's been in a sales role or there is someone with a PR background working with him. His press conferences are very narrative focused. He always has some canned deflections ready for obvious questions (like the Pegulas and spending) and when he doesn't have an answer he tries to pivot to something else.

And while that is normal 'corporate speak', the fact that the GM/Ownership feels they can't be honest with the fanbase about the budget and deliberately obfuscate the truth with careful turn of phrase, it should really make it obvious what the ownerships/GMs priorities are.

He's been trying to present himself as this local guy who is just working so hard to bring the Sabres back to relevance with great owners who just want the Sabres to be good. And all his answers will try to paint that picture. And, the persona of hardworking local guy with a plan worked with a good portion of the fanbase for awhile.

 

[jd1970]

Adams has chosen the hard, painful way for his exit from the NHL.

 

[Chainshot]

Look for diamonds like Zito, Fitzgerald, Waddell, Tulsky, what the hell? Although there are or were good players without trade protection that Adams ignored in the summer.


First pair, complimentary player who complements Werenski perfectly. Palms? f*** KA.

We know Fabbro is a good defensive complement to an offensive defenseman because data with Josi exists that said so. VIEWING said so. It's part of why a couple of us were beating that drum going back years now. And yet here we are... waiting for Jokiharju to become something he isn't for the fourth straight year.

 

[Jim Bob]

He didn't trade for Tage. So only 5 of the forwards were acquired by trades that Kevyn made.

In: Tuch + Krebs
Out: Jack Eichel

In: Greenway
Out: 2023 2nd + 2024 5th

In: Malenstyn
Out: 2024 2nd

In: McLeod
Out: Savoie (9th overall 2022)

Are these moves really what you want to hang your hat on like it's some kind of win for Adams?

I'm not saying it's a win. I am just not buying that he can't pull off trades because "he didn't pay his dues."

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

Tyler Toffoli was traded, had no clauses in his contract.
JT Miller was traded, had no clauses in his contract.
Bo Horvat was traded, had no clauses in his contract.
Pavel Buchnevich was traded, had no clauses in his contract.
Jack Roslovic was traded. Had no clauses in his contract.
Jakob Chychrun was traded, had no clauses in his contract.
JJ Moser was traded, had no clauses in his contract.
John Marino was traded, had no clauses in his contract.


I can list another 20-30 players over the last 5 years that could have helped this team and don't have a choice where they play.

You can pick the list apart but the point stands, players are being traded that can help Buffalo and Adams is too scared to make the wrong move.

All I hear from Adams is excuses.

Thank you for compiling this list. It speaks loudly when you see even a handful of the things that he could have done but didn't.

I always think about the Chrychrun deal. He could have made that trade so easily. Many here didn't want to give up Savoie and a first or something similar, btw. But he totally should have.

If he had, we might have made the playoffs that year and then it would have been easier to acquire other things we needed. We'd probably still have Mitts because we wouldn't have needed Byrum. It's a perfect example of not seizing on an opportunity because of the risks and costs. He blew it.

 

[Fjordsen]

Where is the excuse?

You think it's easy to rebuild an NHL team into a winner? Some teams have done it, other haven't. Including GMs who were "proven."

It's not easy, or anyone could do it. But it pisses me off when you say look at Yzerman in Detroit or whoever. Why should you look at them? Why not look at what Zito did in Florida, which sat without a playoff spot for years. Why not look at Fitzgerald in the Devils? Why not look at Waddell in Carolina?

That's why it's funny, because other GMs overcome adversity, find creative solutions every season and keep their team afloat, sometimes even win the Stanley Cup.

Adams has basically sold our best players on futures for five years and done nothing, just drafted sometimes making minor trades. He was happy with Jokiharju as a top 4 RD. He's keeping cap space to extend Jack Quinn when you have $30 million in f***ing cap space coming up in the summer.

So don't look at the guys who can't do it, look at the ones who f***ing did it, period.

 

[toddkaz]

Thank you for compiling this list. It speaks loudly when you see even a handful of the things that he could have done but didn't.

I always think about the Chrychrun deal. He could have made that trade so easily. Many here didn't want to give up Savoie and a first or something similar, btw. But he totally should have.

If he had, we might have made the playoffs that year and then it would have been easier to acquire other things we needed. We'd probably still have Mitts because we wouldn't have needed Byrum. It's a perfect example of not seizing on an opportunity because of the risks and costs. He blew it.

We could have gotten Chychrun from Ottawa for even less. We had two kicks at the can.

We should have drafted Chychrun instead of Nylander but thats a different GM.

 

[Fjordsen]

We know Fabbro is a good defensive complement to an offensive defenseman because data with Josi exists that said so. VIEWING said so. It's part of why a couple of us were beating that drum going back years now. And yet here we are... waiting for Jokiharju to become something he isn't for the fourth straight year.

We f***ing know, and for some reason they don't know, it's just awful.

 

[Samsonite23]

Please lend him your crystal ball that 100% predicts how an 18yo kid will mature. Everyone was projecting Quinn to be a breakout star before this season. Shit is complicated, there are unknowns and accepted risks that shape results (obviously).

You don’t need a crystal ball. The single biggest part of a GM’s draft research should be put into how a guy takes care of himself, trains, his drive to be the best, his character. Those are things you can control if you do your job well. If you misevaluated that, that’s on you.

On top of that, I also mentioned trading him.

 

[DapperCam]

Idk, take a look around the league: https://puckpedia.com/teams

Whether its playmaking top 6 forward, or top 4 defensive RHD we need someone who meets the following qualifications:

1) On a team that is willing to sell a top6/4 guy
2) Does not have trade protection
3) Almost universally considered top 6/4 guy by both eye and stats

The number of guys meeting this criteria is a lot smaller than people realize IMO

You are looking at a snapshot in time. Adams has had 5 seasons to make moves. He’s traded for zero top 6 forwards in that time (not counting Tuch, who he was forced to make a trade for due to Eichel circumstances).

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

It's not that its the same answer, its the same specific phrase. If you listen to Adams its obvious he's been in a sales role or there is someone with a PR background working with him. His press conferences are very narrative focused. He always has some canned deflections ready for obvious questions (like the Pegulas and spending) and when he doesn't have an answer he tries to pivot to something else.

And while that is normal 'corporate speak', the fact that the GM/Ownership feels they can't be honest with the fanbase about the budget and deliberately obfuscate the truth with careful turn of phrase, it should really make it obvious what the ownerships/GMs priorities are.

He's been trying to present himself as this local guy who is just working so hard to bring the Sabres back to relevance with great owners who just want the Sabres to be good. And all his answers will try to paint that picture. And, the persona of hardworking local guy with a plan worked with a good portion of the fanbase for awhile.

I'm not defending corporate America, PR, or politicians, that's for sure, but there's a reason why it can be a bad idea to think of new ways of saying things on the spot every time you are asked a tough question. Case in point: "this isn't a destination city." You say one wrong thing and everyone jumps down your throat. There are real consequences for saying the wrong thing, so it's human nature to stick to a way of saying something that doesn't get you in trouble.

Also, he has used other phrases when talking about the spending. He's been asked that question a thousand times and spent probably hours providing answers. Yes, he often uses that phrase, but it's not like that's the only thing he ever says about it.

Also.... we still don't actually know if there is an internal budget. Everyone is assuming there is, but I still see other reasons for the things we're seeing (cap space this year). I still don't believe there is an internal budget that he can't spend past. I believe him when he says they tried to acquire someone that would have eaten up that space but they didn't get the deal done. I believe him, I just think he should have gotten the deal done!

 

[Samsonite23]

What's the worst that could happen? We plunge back into the depths of the drought that has destroyed our fanbase (which bears reminding, we are NOT ANYWHERE NEAR that low point right now). That seems pretty bad. Like franchise-ending bad.

I want Adams to make a strong, impactful move. He took a decent risk over the summer in Savoie for McLeod and was 80% panned for it by this board. And that's the best trade of the year in the entire league. It would be silly to assume that he isn't trying just as hard to make another move. It takes two to tango, as ever.

We just outplayed four of the best teams in the West for the majority of our contests against them. We're a few bounces and goals away from WINNING NOW, right now. I recognize the urge to heap the angst of the Matt Moulson years on this group of 25 year old kids, but it's counterproductive and will only deepen the suffering imo.

I lauded the McLeod move as much as anybody on this board….it wasn’t a risk AT ALL. You traded one of your 1000 prospects who was injury prone for a proven player who was still young when we NEEDED a center. Not acquiring a center would have been a much bigger risk. Just like not acquiring established players to fill holes in your lineup for this season is a risk.

Winning NOW is what matters. Or else all of your young players won’t develop in a consistently losing team. They learn bad habits and get used to losing.

 

[BFLO]

I'm not saying it's a win. I am just not buying that he can't pull off trades because "he didn't pay his dues."

Have any of the trades that he's pulled off moved the needle in the right direction?

 

[sabremike]

I'm not trying to make excuses for Adams. I'm just trying to be reasonable and fair when I assess his performance. His press conference was fine. I've watched a lot of Stevie Y's press conferences and he says a lot of the same stuff.

It IS hard to build a winner in this league. It just is. It's really hard to acquire top talent because those players are rarely available in free agency and via trade and when they are available, they can often choose their destination. So you have to build through the draft. But then you're drafting 17 year old kids and it's really hard to know who is going to be a good player, let alone their character. Most 17 year old kids aren't even fully formed as people yet.

Adams failure was, and continues to be, risk aversion. He's trying to thread the needle or shoot the moon and end up with a young, cheap juggernaut of a team with tons of prospects in the pipeline. He needs to bite the bullet, identify a player that would help now, and make it happen. He needed to do it years ago.

But... before you criticize him for not making a move, ask yourself how many of the trades proposed around here you've been ok with. Speaking from experience, any idea you bring up gets met with a bunch of people saying, "I don't want that contract" "he's too old" "it'll block a young player" "That's too much of an overpayment". If you're one of the people being critical of those proposals for those reasons, that's fine, but then remember that when you turn around and criticize Adams for doing the same things.

If you can't build a team that can reach the playoffs once in 5 years as a GM you are a total failure and should be fired.

It's that simple.

 

[Fjordsen]

If you can't build a team that can reach the playoffs once in 5 years as a GM you are a total failure and should be fired.

It's that simple.

100%

 

[jd1970]

Have any of the trades that he's pulled off moved the needle in the right direction?

Yes, he earned taxes for New York state.

 

[Chainshot]

You are looking at a snapshot in time. Adams has had 5 seasons to make moves. He’s traded for zero top 6 forwards in that time (not counting Tuch, who he was forced to make a trade for due to Eichel circumstances).

In his tenure, he's also traded two of the top scorers in the league and has not replaced the production of both with the entirety of what he got back.

When you open your press conference by denying you’re in panic mode, you’re definitely in panic mode.

My kids used to have this in their rooms -



It's what I think of every time I hear Adams say "panic".

 

[BFLO]

Please lend him your crystal ball that 100% predicts how an 18yo kid will mature. Everyone was projecting Quinn to be a breakout star before this season. Shit is complicated, there are unknowns and accepted risks that shape results (obviously).

What's the worst that could happen? We plunge back into the depths of the drought that has destroyed our fanbase (which bears reminding, we are NOT ANYWHERE NEAR that low point right now). That seems pretty bad. Like franchise-ending bad.

I want Adams to make a strong, impactful move. He took a decent risk over the summer in Savoie for McLeod and was 80% panned for it by this board. And that's the best trade of the year in the entire league. It would be silly to assume that he isn't trying just as hard to make another move. It takes two to tango, as ever.

We just outplayed four of the best teams in the West for the majority of our contests against them. We're a few bounces and goals away from WINNING NOW, right now. I recognize the urge to heap the angst of the Matt Moulson years on this group of 25 year old kids, but it's counterproductive and will only deepen the suffering imo.

The "depths of the drought" is now. We didn't lose the fanbase until Adams took over and ran Ullmark, Eichel and Reinhart out of town.

 

[sabremike]

"You tell Kevyn that we have decided to place a 10 million acacia leaf bounty on his head".

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Hey, at least we could hear the questions today. Progress!

 

[Fjordsen]

Fairburn destroys Adams in LIVE with Baker about palms trees and that nonsense.

I wonder how he would sing if he were the GM of a team from Vladivostok or Khabarovsk, palms in Sochi?

 

[TehDoak]

I'm not defending corporate America, PR, or politicians, that's for sure, but there's a reason why it can be a bad idea to think of new ways of saying things on the spot every time you are asked a tough question. Case in point: "this isn't a destination city." You say one wrong thing and everyone jumps down your throat. There are real consequences for saying the wrong thing, so it's human nature to stick to a way of saying something that doesn't get you in trouble.

If he puts out a winning product, the questions aren't nearly as difficult. The issue here is that he's failed as a GM by any metric and he doesn't have any good answers.

Also, he has used other phrases when talking about the spending. He's been asked that question a thousand times and spent probably hours providing answers. Yes, he often uses that phrase, but it's not like that's the only thing he ever says about it.

That is by far the most common turn of phrase he uses.

Also.... we still don't actually know if there is an internal budget. Everyone is assuming there is, but I still see other reasons for the things we're seeing (cap space this year). I still don't believe there is an internal budget that he can't spend past. I believe him when he says they tried to acquire someone that would have eaten up that space but they didn't get the deal done. I believe him, I just think he should have gotten the deal done!

Two seasons spending below the cap when you could get assets for free taking on bad contracts....of course there is an internal budget. The whole 3 Es thing from Terry and Kim when he was hired. It's not a question of 'is there a budget', the question is "How much influence has the budget had in the rebuild".