With the NHL Draft quickly approaching, the Sabres are looking to find the next player who can make an impact on their franchise. In his soon-to-be six years as GM, Kevyn Adams has not had an easy time, as he has struggled since the beginning.
However, if there is one aspect in which he has seen success, it's the NHL Draft. Adams has done a great job evaluating the talent he has drafted and getting NHL-ready players who can make an instant impact on the roster.
Kevyn Adams' notable draft picks are as follows;
2020:
Jack Quinn
JJ Peterka
2021:
Owen Power
Iask Rosen
Tyson Kozak
2022:
Noah Ostlund
Jiri Kulich
2023:
Zach Benson
Anton Wahlberg
2024:
Konsta Helenius
Luke Osborn
Eight of these 11 picks have already made their NHL debut with the Sabres, some of these players are still figuring out their roles, and others are becoming future stars. Another impressive stat about these eight players is that as of right now, they are all still on the Sabres.
Adams has done a fantastic job of finding good players in the first and second rounds, giving the Sabres the best prospect class in the league.
If he can turn one or two of the mid-late round picks into a contributor, his draft record becomes unimpeachable. He has done so well in the last four years that he now has more than enough assets to make a big move without draining the prospect pool.
Although Adams has put himself in a tough spot with his salary cap management over the years, the draft and being able to call up constant NHL-ready players are what give this Sabres team hope in the future.
The talent that Adams has brought in needs to make a big impact on the ice this year if he wants to keep his job moving forward. His first order of business should be doing all he can to keep JJ Peterka, as he can’t afford to lose his top-six winger and get nothing in return.
With the Sabres desperately needing a playoff appearance and Adams' job on the line, he needs to make a big splash in this draft. Not only could it alter his future, but it could also alter the franchise’s future going forward.
