Adams: Everything's on table with talks surrounding Jeff Skinner

Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - We're just over a week away from the 2024 NHL Draft taking place, starting Friday, June 28 with Round 1 in Las Vegas. Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams and newly appointed assistant general manager Jerry Forton both spoke on Thursday about a number of different topics leading up to next week's entry-level draft.

I’ve been talking since January about how the Sabres could help themselves by buying out the remaining three years of Jeff Skinner's contract. As soon as the Stanley Cup is presented, the buyout window starts 48 hours later and lasts until 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 30.

When asked of Skinner's future with the organization, Adams didn’t go into great detail with their decision.

"I know there are rumors out there and rumblings on different scenarios," Adams acknowledged in his pre-draft interview on Thursday. "What I can tell you is from the day our season ended, after my conversations with Terry [Pegula] and where we go from here, every single thing 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, on where we sit today with that in mind. So nothing is off the table, but that’s as far as I go with the specifics."

Adams holds private meetings with all the players after the season ends, and with Skinner, he thought there was true honesty back-and-forth between the two.

"I think it’s safe to say that I have a lot of respect for Jeff," Adams said of the veteran winger. "He’s clearly an elite offensive player in this league. I’ll keep the conversations private, but I’ve certainly had dialog and talking in general about his game and our team."

Buffalo holds the 11th overall pick in next week’s draft. Adams talked about the pick being a valuable asset, especially in a potential trade.

"Where are you as an organization? What are your needs? Where’s your prospect pool, because if you’re really thin and you’re sitting at Pick 11, that makes it more challenging in making a move," Adams said. "If you have a deep prospect pool, which I believe we do, maybe you’re more open to moving that pick and you have to weigh, 'Is it good enough to make that decision?'"

Adams has never been willing to trade his first-round pick before, but he is now heading into next Friday's draft.

"I’ve told every team in the league we are wide open to considering moving Pick 11," he said. "We’d consider prospects, if we think it’s going to help our team, and we’re having those conversations right now.

"I’ve talked to every team around us about what we’re open to. And we’d even look to move up, and we’re very open to moving back, depending how the draft slides."

Adams has had the same plan since he was hired as general manager: To build a large, good pool of prospects. He’s done that. Now’s the time to shift gears.

"I’ve said to a number of GMs, we’ve been methodical and disciplined, and had a plan in place going back three-plus years on how we were going to build this franchise up. We’ve stuck to our plan, but I think we’ve moved into another phase now that we have to be really open in looking to make these types of decisions. But you still have to have the right opportunity to make them," Adams said.

After the NHL Trade Deadline back in March, Adams talked about how it was difficult again to get players to waive their no-trade clauses to move to Buffalo. The Sabres' 2023-24 season was opposite of what many expected, but now the head coach is Lindy Ruff. It seems like things are changing for the better, in terms of players willing to come to Buffalo.

"Lindy has a lot of credibility and respect in this league from players, agents, other general managers. That’s a great thing for us," Adams said. "I have had conversations where that exact thing has come up, and the players through the teams said that’s certainly a coach their guy would play for."

Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a restricted free agent, and talks between his agent and the team are well on their way.

"Those conversations started maybe in March or so, and they’ve been productive," Adams said. "I like to make sure we’re aligned on, does the player want to be here? Do they believe in what we’re doing? 'UPL' made it very clear he loves this team. He loves the city, he wants to be here. We’re excited about him.

"We continued having conversations last week, and we’ll have more in Vegas."

The Sabres now have two assistant general managers in Forton and Mark Jakubowski, in addition to Jason Karmanos serving as associate general manager. Adams discussed the three team executives and their responsibilities going forward.

Jerry Forton:

"Jerry is still going to, day-to-day, oversee the amateur scouting department, and he’ll still serve in the role of director of amateur scouting," he said. "He’ll add the pro into his day-to-day, and will sit in more on management meetings and roster discussions.

"I think [director of pro scouting] Jeremiah Crowe has done an excellent job, but I also think just Jerry’s experience and knowledge of the players will help in that area."

Mark Jakubowski:

"His role doesn’t change at all. He does the CBA and contract negotiations, salary cap, all those things, and internal with the staff contracts.

Jason Karmanos:

"Jason Karmanos will continue to be general manager of Rochester, oversee the player development, and be involved in every scouting meeting we have. He watches amateur, watches pro, maintains a close eye on where we are on the roster depth charts with different positions."

Starting July 1, Adams can begin talks on a new contract with Jack Quinn, Bo Byram, Devon Levi and JJ Peterka.

In the past, there are some that believe he’s been burned by that. Of course, it’s too early to make that decision, but he did say he doesn’t anticipate starting talks with them right now. But you never know if that could change.