Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has been criticized for his lack of moves that have benefited the organization. However, he had the chance to change that with one move. They will have a top-10 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, and they could move that pick for the right price. With as many holes as they have, it might not be a bad idea to move that for a haul.
Dreaded 2024-25 season
The Sabres season did not go well and that is putting it mildly. They had high hopes of making the playoffs but found themselves in a hole shortly after the season started. They finished seventh in the Atlantic Division and have not made the playoffs since the 2010-11 season.
Buffalo finished the season with the 10th-highest goals scored (265) compared to the Tampa Bay Lightning (294), bt it finished with the most goals against in the the division (289). The Sabres have not finished above third-place since the 2010-11 season.
What to do in the offseason?
The Sabres will have a top-10 pick due to their finish this past season. With Buffalo having the 11th best farm system in the league according to The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, do the Sabres trade their first-round pick?
Before anyone pushes that to the side, this trade could instantly flip the script for the 2025-26 season. Look at the Montreal Canadiens this season. Up and won the whole season but they are in the playoffs, something no one saw coming before the season. Why can't this happen to Buffalo? They have a sniper in Tage Thompson, an up-and -coming player in J.J. Paterka, two top-four defensemen in Owen Power and Rasmus Dahlin, and a star in the making in goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
They also made a trade last season acquiring defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker from the Ottawa Seantors, strengthening a defense that has promise. Buffalo does not have a bad team but they have to get more pieces and acquire some more talent to go with their pieces in place.
Using their top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft will assure them a top talent that will be useful in the next couple of seasons. With Buffalo not having an unrestricted free agent after this season, the same group is due back , which could be a good thing. However, they do not have much cap space to use in free agency to upgrade their roster, therefore going the trade route to get better.
Trading this pick could be the best move they could make. This assures them to get a top-tier player or players in return and not give up anything from their roster. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has made moves during his tenure but most have had fans questioning the returns in those trades.
Will this be a move Adams is willing to make? His job may be on the line and he may want to make a splash this offseason so they can compete for a playoff spot next season. With no cap space but a good farm system and a top 10 pick, they do have assets to move and grab some much-needed talent to give this team a legit chance at the playoffs.
Buffalo needs to shake it up. Whether that means fire head coach Lindy Ruff or general manager Adams, this organization needs change. They have not made the playoffs in 14 seasons, things are not okay with this organization, and there needs to be change for them to take steps in the right direction.
Staying the same is only going to produce the same results. The Sabres are looking to be the underdog next season that makes a big turnaround, and that means taking risks to improve all aspects of the future of this team. No risk, no reward.