Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Friday night should be a memorable one for one of the more iconic, and emblematic individuals in Buffalo Sabres history.
Ahead of Buffalo's contest with the Nashville Predators at KeyBank Center, the team will honor Rob Ray by inducting him into the Sabres Hall of Fame, becoming the 44th member of the prestigious club.
Over the course of his 15-year career in the NHL, Ray played most of 14 seasons with the Sabres, dressing for 889 games in Buffalo. The winger scored a total of 40 goals and added 50 assists for 90 points, but holds the franchise record with 3,189 penalty minutes, as he served as the team's enforcer.
Following his retirement from hockey, Ray has remained with the organization as a broadcaster, currently serving as the color commentator on radio and television broadcasts. On top of that, Ray has served as an ambassador for not just the organiation, but also the Western New York community as a whole.
While Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams never got the chance to play with Ray in his NHL career, he knows there's no one more deserving of this honor.
"It’ll be special, and I know it means a lot to him," said Adams on Friday when joining "Schopp and the Bulldog" on WGR. "A little bit of a ceremony this morning, and you could see it in his eyes. He’s a tough guy, but I don’t care how tough you are, it's emotional."
Following Friday's special ceremony to honor Ray, it's right back to work for Adams and the Sabres, and we're about a month away from the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline.
It has not been the season many would've hoped for within the organization, as the Sabres sit dead-last in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 19-26-5.
While most teams in this kind of a position may be looking to sell some pieces come the NHL Trade Deadline, Adams has not been of that particular mindset with his team.
"We want to make our team better. We’re not looking to be sellers," Adams said with Mike Schopp and Chris "Bulldog" Parker. "We’re trying to add to our team, and I’m approaching this as if there is a deal out there. We are wide-open. We have to be willing to look at everything with where we are in the standings."
More from Adams' appearance with "Schopp and the Bulldog" is available in the player below: