3 Major Takeaways From Adams and Forton Presser

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams and newly appointed assistant general manager Jerry Forton spoke with the media Thursday in a pre-draft debriefing. The two discussed the recent changes to the organizational structure, the team’s strategy heading into the draft and free agency, and recent rumors of a Jeff Skinner buyout. As has become the standard, Adams was very forthcoming on the topics he could be, while leaving some room for interpretation.

The tidbits within the press conference were aplenty, but there were some revealing words from Adams and Forton. This is a make-or-break offseason for the Sabres, and a lot can happen in the ensuing weeks, starting with the draft. Here are the biggest takeaways from the discussion.

The Sabres’ Draft Pick Is Available

GM Kevyn Adams did not mince his words when asked about the potential availability of the Sabres’ first-round draft pick.

“If you have a deep prospect pool, which I believe we do…maybe you’re more open to moving that pick,” Adams said. “In saying that, I think you take in all the information. Where are you as an organization? What are your needs? Where’s your prospect pool?”

The pressure favors the Sabres to package futures for an immediate boost, as Buffalo hasn’t qualified for the postseason in 13 seasons. There are voids in the top-six and third-line center up front, as well as room to add another quality defenseman. They also have a deep prospect pool, with three-to-four top forward prospects on the verge of being NHL-ready.

“I’ve told every team in the league that we are wide open to considering moving pick 11,” Adams continued. “I’ve talked to every team around us that we’re open to a move up. That’s not always easy to do, but you would think we have the assets to do that. And we’re very open to moving back depending how the draft slides.”

Adams is comfortable staying put and selecting at 11 if a trade does not occur.

“Pick 11 is a very valuable asset. We are going to get a good player with pick 11 if we stay in that position and make the pick.”

Adams also stated that Jerry Forton will continue heading the amateur scouting department despite the promotion to assistant GM. Should they draft in the first round, Forton also shed some light on Buffalo’s draft rankings.

“I think you know the top four, five, six players in the draft,” Forton said. “In past drafts, you could kind of tick off the top 10 or 11 and maybe only one of those players would be available to you at 11, 12, 13. It wouldn’t shock me this year if there could be two or three players that we have in our top seven or eight that are available at 11.”

Must Read: Best and Worst Sabres Draft Picks of the 1970s

Sabres’ Goaltending Duo Is Set

Adams assured that he expects to get a contract done with starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen this offseason. This sets the Sabres up to use both of their top young goalies in the NHL heading into next season.

When asked about how the Sabres planned to address the position this summer, “depth” was the key term that came up.

“We need to obviously slot guys in three, four, five in the organization,” Adams said. “Our plan is that we’re going to have two really talented young goaltenders playing on a nightly basis…we’ll make sure we have depth covered.”

Other restricted free agents Henri Jokiharju and Peyton Krebs were brought up and are expected to sign as well. This leaves the Sabres with nine forwards, six defensemen, and two goalies projected on the roster heading into free agency.

Defensemen Jacob Bryson and Kale Clague are also restricted free agents. Forwards Isak Rosen, Jiri Kulich, Matthew Savoie, Lukas Rousek, and defenseman Ryan Johnson are all under contract and saw time with the Sabres in 2023-2024.

Must Read: Behind The Scenes: Inside The Sabres Beat

Skinner Buyout On The Table

Yesterday’s reports of the Sabres mulling over a buyout of Jeff Skinner are not foreign to Adams, who acknowledged he heard the rumblings.

“I know there’s rumors out there,” Adams said. “What I can tell you is from the day our season ended, after my conversations with [Sabres owner] Terry [Pegula] and kind of where we go from here, every single thing that we’re doing this offseason we ask the question, does this help our team get better?”

“We’ve made a lot of decisions up to this point where we sit today with that in mind, and we’re going to continue so nothing’s off the table.”

It’s hardly a vote of confidence that Skinner will wear a Sabres jersey next season. The Sabres would have to absorb a cap hit of $2,444,445 over the next six seasons and replace a player who scored 92 goals over the past three seasons.

It could be the right move if he’s truly on the decline. If not, the Sabres will have a lot of dead money and have to replace a 30-goal scorer.

As far as the conversations with Skinner, Adams continued, “With Jeff in particular, at the end of the season I thought there was true honesty, back and forth, from myself and him. I think it’s safe to say I have a lot of respect for Jeff. I mean, he’s clearly an elite offensive player in this league. He’s done it a long time.”