Sabres’ Stagnation: Is Kevyn Adams Repeating Past Mistakes?
The Buffalo Sabres are once again facing familiar scrutiny after a disappointing start to the season (1-3-0 as of Thursday morning),raising serious questions about the direction of the franchise under General Manager Kevyn Adams.As the famous adage goes, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result,” and many observers believe adams is repeating patterns that have plagued the Sabres for years.
Despite a minor roster adjustment – a trade sending forward JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth for forward Josh Doan and right-shot defenseman Michael kesselring (currently injured) – the Sabres largely resemble the team that faltered at the end of the 2024-25 season. This begs the question: why did Adams anticipate a different outcome with a nearly identical roster that has consistently underperformed?
Sources indicate Adams may be hesitant to make significant trades. This caution is perhaps justified, given a track record of deals that have backfired since he assumed the GM role in 2020. The recent trade of Dylan Cozens to the ottawa Senators for center Josh Norris has been particularly damaging, with Norris already sidelined with a long-term injury.
According to one league executive, Senators GM Steve Staios aggressively pursued moving Norris, ultimately pressuring Adams into the deal before the NHL Trade Deadline.The situation hasn’t improved in Buffalo,as Norris is already unavailable due to injury.
While Adams isn’t solely to blame – a behind-the-scenes video revealed the club’s medical director, Les Bisson, gave the trade his approval with no concerns about Norris’ injury history – the situation highlights a broader issue. an eastern Conference executive suggests Adams lacks sufficient support within his staff, effectively functioning as both GM and president of hockey operations without a critical filter between himself and ownership.
The lack of experienced counsel stands in stark contrast to the Sabres’ current roster construction. Adams has predominantly drafted smaller forwards, resulting in a lack of size and physicality up front. Adams reportedly recognizes this deficiency and has been seeking to add size, despite years of neglecting it in the draft.
Beyond Thompson and Alex tuch (a 29-year-old pending UFA), few forwards hold significant trade value. Young players like Zach Benson, Jiri Kulich, and Jack Quinn possess potential, but lack the proven track record to attract substantial offers.
The defense, however, presents a different story. Bowen Byram, captain rasmus Dahlin, and Owen Power – all 25 or younger with power-play capabilities – would generate considerable interest. The redundancy among these left-shooting defensemen, however, is notable.
byram, viewed as a second-pair defenseman with upside, may not fetch a top-pair return, especially considering his performance has dipped since arriving in Buffalo. His current contract, expiring in 2027, adds complexity, as his camp may have previously overvalued his long-term potential.
Power, the 2021 first-overall pick, is a particularly intriguing case. Once touted as an offensive defenseman, he has been relegated to a lesser role and deployed questionably.Despite concerns about his “softness” for his size (6’6″, 226 lbs), some executives still believe in his talent. An amateur scout noted that a lack of structure in Buffalo is hindering his growth, but would still take him “10 out of 10 times.” Power’s seven-year, $8.35 million AAV contract offers cost certainty, perhaps making him a valuable asset for a contending team.
Dahlin, described as a top-five-to-eight defenseman in the NHL, presents the biggest challenge.His elite skillset makes acquiring fair value nearly impractical. A rebuild would raise questions about his willingness to remain with the team,especially given his recent discontent. Dahlin’s eight-year, $11 million contract includes a full no-movement clause, meaning any trade would require his consent. The potential return for Dahlin could be substantial, potentially sparking a bidding war.
Currently, there are no active trade discussions surrounding these defensemen, but these questions will need to be addressed if the Sabres continue to struggle. Despite possessing quality players, their inability to function as a cohesive unit necessitates a potential shift in direction – a shift unlikely to be spearheaded by Adams without a significant turnaround in the coming weeks.
