Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) – The Buffalo Sabres went all-in on trying to be a harder team to play against, and general manager Kevyn Adams accomplished that Monday to open NHL Free Agency.
It all started on Saturday when Adams acquired winger Beck Malenstyn from the Washington Capitals. Then as free agency opened, Adams signed forwards Sam Lafferty and Nicolas Aube-Kabel.
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While these moves certainly make the Sabres a much harder team to play against, there’s still more work to be done.
Buffalo is in desperate need of a top-six forward, and signing Jason Zucker doesn’t give them that. Adams likes Zucker, and between him and what they already have, he thinks that will take care of the scoring.
"He can play up-and-down the lineup, very competitive. He can play a higher skill game, or play a more physical type game if you need," said Adams on Monday after Day 1 of Sabres Development Camp. "Just felt that was the type of guy we were looking for that could be in that mix of the group of nine somewhere, wherever Lindy decides to use him."
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That would mean either Zucker, Zach Benson or Jordan Greenway are in your top-six forward group. That’s not good enough.
"I’m not concerned about our talent or skill level, or our ability to score goals. I believe we have that in our room."
Many would say from that comment, Adams is hoping that Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch and Dylan Cozens will just find their scoring touch again, or hope that Jack Quinn stays healthy or JJ Peterka improves to 30 goals.
"You have to have substances to what you’re trying to do. After a lot of conversations with the players and different coaches, the belief is the better word [than hope is] the Tage Thompson’s of the world and Alex Tuch and Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, and these players are going to take steps to improve their own individual game," Adams said. "Some of it will be the way we’re going to play, which is the predictability and playing a faster, more direct game."
Adams believes having Lindy Ruff as head coach will help the offense.
However, Adams didn’t sound overly optimistic they’ll be getting a top-six guy.
"When the dust settles a little bit, we’ll see where different teams are. But I really like our group now. I like it a lot," he said. "I like the look of our team, we had goals this offseason that we were trying to achieve, and I think we’re a much better team today than we were a couple of days ago."
The Sabres are still around $21 million under the salary cap with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Peyton Krebs, Henri Jokiharju and Beck Malenstyn still needing to sign contracts.
"Part of it is when you have some younger players, there are just going to naturally be some different cap numbers," Adams said. "There are players on entry-levels, and I’m pretty sure Jack Quinn and JJ Peterka will have contract numbers that will look different, (you can add Bo Byram, Ryan Johnson and Devon Levi to that too). We’re trying to build a team, and I don’t get overly focused on exactly what that looks like today, like are you going to spend up to the cap? We’re going to put the best team we possibly can on the ice.
"You can go get other guys and contracts that you may regret too, and then you’re trying to figure out how do I get out of this. That’s what we’re trying to avoid. We’re trying to build this the right way with discipline, but also we recognize that this team needs to win. I understand that, and that’s why we focused our attention on how we were looking to improve in the offseason, which I think we’ve done so far."
"We have to hold up our end of the bargain here and win more hockey games, and become a playoff team. We’re on that journey now, and that’s where we have to take a step."
Once again, Adams says he wants players that want to be in Buffalo.
"Players that give me a quick, 'I’m not sure I want to be a Sabre' because of whatever, I then move on to the next. I don’t even give it a second thought," he said.
However, when asked about what he said later, Adams did give it a second thought.
"Anytime you’re recruiting a player, it’s more of a conversation of, 'Here’s what we’re trying to do in Buffalo, and here’s why. And here’s the people like Lindy Ruff.' You’re explaining the philosophy," Adams explained. "I mean, you’re never just going to say 'I’m moving on, because you might not want to be in Buffalo.' You’re going to, at least, try to help them understand what the great parts of this city are away from the rink, and all the different parts of being a Sabre and what that means."
Here’s a look at what the Sabres' lineup could potentially look like come October:
Forwards:
Peterka – Thompson – Tuch
Benson – Cozens – Quinn
Greenway – Krebs – Zucker
Malenstyn – Lafferty – Aube-Kabel
Defense:
Dahlin – Power
Bowen – Jokiharju
Samuelsson – Clifton
Bryson
Goalies:
Luukkonen
Levi
