The Sabres could ask Jeff Skinner to waive his no-movement clause. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres must make difficult decisions before NHL Expansion Draft

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams knows all about the expansion draft, having been picked in it 20 years ago this month by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In 2000, Adams was a 25-year-old forward fresh off playing 52 regular-season games and another 12 playoff contests for the Toronto Maple Leafs. After spending most of the previous three seasons in the minors, he had finally arrived in the big leagues.

Adams remembers Toronto GM Pat Quinn ... Read the full article

Owen Power could be the No. 1 overall pick. ©2021, Chicago Steel

Sabres hope special player drafted first overall will change course of franchise

Kevyn Adams said his heart was racing before Wednesday’s NHL Draft Lottery. The Buffalo Sabres general manager looked intense. At one point, Terry Pegula texted him and told him to smile.

Leading up to the announcement, Adams said all the adversity the Sabres endured during a hellish season in which they finished dead last was flashing through his mind. He was also thinking about how much the top pick would mean to owners Terry ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel played his last game March 7. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams ready to learn more about Jack Eichel’s recovery

After Sabres captain Jack Eichel suffered a season-ending neck injury March 7, doctors wanted him to go through a conservative rehab and be reevaluated after 12 weeks.

Sunday ended that period, so general manager Kevyn Adams plans to begin gathering information on the progress Eichel has made in his recovery from a herniated disc.

Eichel, who was non-committal in April about his future in Buffalo, wants to undergo a surgery that has never been performed ... Read the full article

Owen Power spent two seasons with the Chicago Steel before joining Michigan. ©2021, Chicago Steel

Sabres win NHL Draft Lottery, will pick first overall

The Buffalo Sabres won tonight’s NHL Draft Lottery and will pick first overall July 23.

This is the second time in four years the Sabres own the top pick. After they won the lottery in 2018, they selected defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

The Sabres, by virtue of their last-place finish this season, had the highest odds for the No. 1 pick, just 16.6%. The NHL only conducted two draws this year, meaning the Sabres could ... Read the full article

Rick Tocchet just coached Arizona four seasons. ©2021, Dan Hickling

Report: Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to interview two coaching candidates

General manager Kevyn Adams plans to interview Bruce Boudreau and Rick Tocchet for the Buffalo Sabres’ head coaching position, according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun.

Don Granato, who served as interim coach after the Sabres fired Ralph Krueger on March 17, remains a candidate for the permanent job, according to LeBrun.

Adams has said he wants to talk to “a lot” of people about the position. He has never hired an NHL coach.

Boudreau, ... Read the full article

Jack Quinn played 15 games for Rochester this season. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu, Rochester Americans

Jason Karmanos impressed with Sabres prospects J-J Peterka, Jack Quinn

During Jason Karmanos’ tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Buffalo Sabres’ new associate general manager said he was “intimately involved” in the NHL Draft.

So Karmanos arrived in Buffalo last month with strong knowledge of the Sabres’ prospect base.

“I’m excited they’re here, because these are guys that I liked on my own and that our previous staff liked,” Karmanos said on a Zoom call Monday.

Karmanos, who was fired as Pittsburgh’s assistant GM on ... Read the full article

Don Granato has coached in college, junior and pro hockey. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

If Sabres pass on Don Granato, hiring an ex-NHL head coach could be wise move

Right now, Don Granato must wait as Kevyn Adams conducts what could be an exhaustive search for the Buffalo Sabres’ next head coach.

The general manager reiterated last week he plans to talk to a lot of people, so it might take several weeks before he makes the most critical decision of his short tenure.

If Adams gets it wrong, it will likely set the franchise back years.

Granato’s work transforming the Sabres as interim ... Read the full article

Jake McCabe was injured Feb. 20. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Jake McCabe recovering from knee injury, optimistic about Sabres’ future

After Jake McCabe tore up his right knee Feb. 20, ending his season, the Sabres defenseman said he had some difficult conversations with his family that night.

Then McCabe, who had just returned after battling COVID-19, refused to feel sorry for himself. The American decided “being sad and mad” wouldn’t help him rehab from ACL, MCL and meniscus injuries.

“I’ve just had a really good attitude about it the whole time,” McCabe said on an ... Read the full article

Jack Eichel said he feels a disconnect with the Sabres. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Strong message: Sabres’ Kevyn Adams wants ‘people that want to be here’

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said it five times during his 43-minute virtual news conference, first when he was talking about disgruntled captain Jack Eichel and later when center Sam Reinhart and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen’s frustrations came up.

Adams stated it a few different ways, but the last four words and the strong message remained the same.

“We are going to get this right with the people that want to be here,” Adams said ... Read the full article

Don Granato took over Buffalo on March 17. ©2021, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres’ Kevyn Adams praises Don Granato, will talk to other candidates

Despite having interim status, Don Granato took a broad approach as Buffalo Sabres coach, opting for building and development over simply trying to win some games.

“I hate being a desperate team,” Granato said on an end-of-season Zoom call Wednesday. “Everybody can look and say, ‘My God, you’re in a desperate situation.’ Well, that’s fine if that’s your perception. But we’re not going to be a desperate team. We’re going to get better every day, ... Read the full article