The Buffalo Sabres have been at the forefront of chatter over the weekend. While the NHL world was still adjusting to the aftermath of the Quinn Hughes trade, news broke in The Athletic about the team mulling over the future of GM Kevyn Adams.
Now, rumors about Adams’ future in Buffalo are nothing new. Sabres fans are used to hearing plenty of rumblings regarding the team’s GM. But a rumor rundown by the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta from December 13 featured an interesting insight into the Sabres’ situation.
Pagnotta wrote:
“If the Sabres reshape their front office, adding a President of Hockey Operations could be possible. Brendan Shanahan, who was President of the Toronto Maple Leafs for 10 seasons, has returned to working at the NHL but wants to get back to running another NHL club. Would Sabres owner Terry Pegula consider such a move? Would Shanahan have interest in Buffalo?”
Shanahan was unceremoniously canned in Toronto this past offseason. The Maple Leafs shook up their front office after another disappointing season. The club left the President of Hockey Operations position vacant, while Shanahan went into a quasi-retirement.
That retirement, however, didn’t last very long. Shanahan has been working with the league. Furthermore, rumors swirled about Shanahan landing in a GM position elsewhere. Teams like the New York Islanders reportedly considered Shanahan for their front office.
So, if the Sabres mix things up, could Shanahan take over? As Pagnotta noted, would Shanahan even be interested in the role?
It’s a situation that could lead to a fascinating outcome.
Shanahan Could Lead Yet Another Sabres Rebuild
Shanahan was the architect behind the Maple Leafs’ rebuild in 2016. Said rebuild began with the Great Tanking, ultimately landing Auston Matthews as the first-overall pick in 2016.
The so-called Shanaplan kicked into high gear with major signings like John Tavares in 2018. Unfortunately for Toronto fans, the Shanaplan brought a string of first-round playoff exits. Last season’s second-round exit against the Florida Panthers ended the Shanaplan for good in Toronto.
For Sabres fans, hiring Shanahan could mean another rebuild/retool could be on the horizon. In a way, Shanahan is like those business executives who are experts in bankruptcy restructuring. With Buffalo in last place again this season, restructuring would definitely be a possibility.
Adams’ Future May Come to a Head Next Week
Both Pagnotta and Elliotte Friedman reported that the Sabres ownership group could decide on Adams following Sunday’s game against the Kraken.
Interestingly, both insiders would point to the beginning of next week as a potential deadline for a decision on Adams’ future in Buffalo. Perhaps the lack of action on the trade front was the straw that finally broke the camel’s back.
First, the Sabres faced some backlash after the Edmonton Oilers acquired Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins. For weeks, one of the rumored Oilers’ targets was Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Yet no deal materialized.
Second, the Sabres were purportedly in on Quinn Hughes. Again, no deal materialized. Now, Adams can’t take the blame for failing to land Hughes. Apparently, the Wild’s offer didn’t even come close to what any other team offered.
The Sabres’ ownership group, nevertheless, could have seen this inaction as a sign that things needed to change. That thought is hearsay at this point, of course. But one has to wonder about the timing of Buffalo’s alleged front-office move.
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