On the prospect goalies:
I don’t believe any GM can get Portillo to come when Levi is signing here at the same time.
If you’re job had only 32 places to work…and you were the sixth or seventh best guy in your class…and the guy who was say…3rd in the class took one of the jobs…and there’s were 25 of those places to work where no one better than you in your class was. You’d be an idiot to take a job where one was when you can go anywhere.
It’s about development. There’s only one net in Rochester. Both guys need to play more than half the games or it is detrimental to their development. Portillo could have had the net this year and said no. Next year Levi will have the net. He will walk into someone else’s as their top prospect at the AHL level. He would be foolish not to for his own development let alone opportunity. And it would be bad for Levi if he did sign. He needs the net.
I think this is the right take. The challenge which then falls to Adams / Karmanos is to try as hard as possible to maximize trade value for the rights to the prospect goalie which doesn't sign (assuming that will be Portillo). Same thing with Ryan Johnson if we assume he wants to go out West to his father's organization / closer to home. Although admittedly, and as discussed in their respective individual prospect threads, the Sabres have near-zero leverage to either sign them, or obtain any value in trade for their rights.
On the timing of the Adams extension:
What's the rush? [edit: to extend Adams]
and...
Thank you Mr. Kyle Dubas.
Just a shot across the Leaf's bow by the Sabres. (Dubas hasn't been offered an extension, talked about it publicly yesterday.)
On the pessimistic takes the extension was either premature, or unwarranted:
We have seen 3 Adams draft picks play at the NHL level.
Three.
They have played a total of 12 games.
Let's talk about his drafting in 5 years.
In the end, it's the Pegula's cash and it doesn't affect the salary cap, so i guess they can waste it if they want.
(and)
You don't grade a GMs drafting acumen based off of winning prospect lists. That is almost always a function of drafting high and drafting often.
You grade a GMs drafting acumen on players that become regular contributors, not being highly rated prospects.
We are 2-3 years out to be able to even start to look at grading Adam's 1st draft.
If not done now, there are (3) alternatives.
1) Extend him in the 2023 offseason.
2) Release him in the 2023 offseason.
3) Fire him now (or between now and the 2023 offseason).
#2, #3 require Karmanos or another person to take the helm. That assumes a better alternative is available, and, the transition will not be a 1-step forward / 2-steps back outcome.
Extending Adams contract supports your oft-stated desire for Pegulas to reduce or stop meddling in hockey decisions / operations. Why not be happy? Or are you trying to have it both ways?
On the "hidden message" or "reading between the lines":
Personally, I like the patience and stability this extension gives the team. There has been too much turnover since the Pegulas took over. Adams has proven enough for me at this point to say that giving him an extension beyond this season makes sense. He was likely entering the last year of a three year deal. To give him a vote of confidence in where the organization and the team is headed is appropriate at this time.
(and)
One thing not talked about too much yet, but I think is a big deal in this extension, is the message it just sent to the current players and prospects.
For good or bad, the players now know that this staff will be in place for some time. That gives the coaching and development staff a lot more clout as well. So, players will know it is safe to follow direction knowing their future performance will be judged by the current staff. They can feel fairly confident that the team will see things through with them.
These were my immediate thoughts when I saw the thread title, before reading the comments from all here. To not extend, whether it was now, or at end of this season, would have been a huge question mark for everyone in the organization with the possible exception of Skinner & Okposo.
On the real possibility this will turn out to be a bad move:
I just hope that they fire him, if we're still at the bottom and not improving. And not to be stuck with him as GM no matter what because the Pegulas like him.
(and)
Well thats a pessimistic outlook sir. But I get it.
I get it too. But, I think the chances of it being a good move far exceed that of being a bad move. Maybe 75% good move, 25% bad move. But I come back to the eventuality that a better candidate needs to be available and willing to come to BUF. (and...)
I am with you. I felt the exact same way about the adams hire. I thought he was a brown-noser who weaseled his way into the front office. The optics of firing everyone didn't help with that image, either. But he has shown that he (as you said) has the enthusiasm for the job and has a vision. He has surrounded himself with competent people. I have since shifted my opinion - Adams may be a suck up, but i think it's more likely that he knows how to communicate with the pegula's in a way that they feel content and confident in adams approach, while adams himself is able to give himself a long leash as a result.
I think he comes across as a genuine WNY'er. ("Authentic" in Pegula lingo.) That likely matters a lot to Pegulas, more than we may appreciate.
Another possible factor - and I'm speculating - is Jessie Pegula is ranked top-10 in women's tennis singles and doubles, seems to be rising or holding steady, and is 28 years old. If there is any time since the Pegulas bought the Sabres / Bills / etc., for them to put their teams in the hands of others in order to follow / focus / aid their daughter, the time is now.
