Sabres notes: Kevyn Adams likes look of team after signings and trades

BUFFALO – In the past week, general manager Kevyn Adams has acquired six players for the Sabres who could be on their opening-night roster by making two trades and four notable signings.

While Adams possibly isn’t done making moves – he could use another top-six forward, and finding one is no easy task – he likes the look of the revamped Sabres.

“We like where our group’s at in terms of the way the roster sits today, but we’ll always look to get better if there’s something that makes sense,” he said prior to Wednesday’s session of development camp in LECOM Harborcenter.

Adams focused heavily on defense, trading for right-handed shots Michael Kesselring and Connor Timmins and signing Zac Jones, who’s expected to battle for a depth spot in training camp.

“We’ve done a good job in terms of reshaping the look of our D,” he said. “I think that’s something that was important.”

He also signed goalie Alex Lyon and winger Justin Danforth to two-year contracts and acquired winger Josh Doan in the trade that sent winger JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth.

“We’ve brought veteran guys in that are going to help us defensively and harder to play against,” Adams said. “We’ve brought in some character guys.”

Lyon, 32, gives the Sabres an experienced goalie Adams believes will compete with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi.

“He’s a proven goaltender in this league,” Adams said. “I think he’s a really good veteran. … He’s played well in his time in the National Hockey League. He’s going to challenge and push.”

Adams said Danforth, 32, is a competitive “glue guy” who possesses versatility.

“Can move around your lineup, play up and down, can move to the wing, center,” he said. “Good penalty killer. Just brings a veteran presence to our lineup that I think is really important.”

The Sabres officially announced Wednesday morning they had inked Jones and Danforth.

Jones, 24, signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $900,000 in the NHL and 550,000 in the minors, according to Frank Seravalli.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Jones has compiled four goals and 28 points in 115 career NHL games.

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The Sabres added depth Wednesday, signing forward Riley Fiddler-Schultz to a two-year, entry-level contract, and defenseman Zachary Metsa and forward Carson Meyer to two-year, two-way deals.

Fiddler-Schultz, 23, and Metsa, 26, both spent the last two seasons in the Buffalo organization playing on AHL contracts

After spending most of 2023-24 in the ECHL, the 6-foot, 200-pound Fiddler-Schultz scored 13 goals and 26 points in 51 games for the Amerks last season.

The 5-foot-9, 181-pound Metsa registered seven goals, a team-high 39 assists and 46 points for the Amerks last season.

Meyer, 27, scored nine goals and 21 points in 29 games for the San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks’ AHL affiliate, last season.

The 5-foot-11, 187-pound Meyer has compiled two goals and six points in 41 career NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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Adams said when the Sabres traded for center Ryan McLeod a year ago, they believed he possessed upside.

On Tuesday, the versatile McLeod, 25, signed a four-year, $20 million contract extension following a career-best 20-goal, 53-point season.

“We thought this was a player that could help us now and grow into the future, which is exactly what he did this past year in terms of his play, and then fortunate to get him on the contract we did,” Adams said.

The deal “buys” two of McLeod’s unrestricted seasons.

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Adams said he recently spoke to Sabres winger Alex Tuch’s agents about a contract extension.

“Just explained exactly how we feel about Alex,” he said. “That’ll be ongoing, but there’s not the pressure point of other decisions at this time.”

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Development camp concludes Thursday with a scrimmage at 9:30 a.m.