Recently-named general manager Kevyn Adams has already started to make moves that will hopefully lead to better results for the Buffalo Sabres, who haven’t been to the playoff in nine years.
His first move was to bring in some real veteran leadership, making a trade that sends forward Marcus Johansson to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Eric Staal. Staal is a 17-year veteran that Adams knows well. They were teammates and won a Stanley Cup together with the Caroline Hurricanes in 2006.
The move will save some cap space for the Sabres as well, about $1.25 million. However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Staal is six years older than Johansson and is probably nearing the end of his career. But it’s obvious that Adams is trying to change the culture in Buffalo and that he believes that Staal is the right veteran leader to help with that undertaking. Both players are in the final year of their contracts.
This is Adams’ first time as a general manager, moving up the ranks in Buffalo where he previously held the position of senior vice president of business administration.
The trade looks to be a smart one from the perspective of the Wild as well, a team that hasn’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since 2003 and needs an injection of talent.
The Wild’s new coach Dean Evason is very familiar with Johansson. Evason was an assistant coach in Washington, where Johansson started his career and played seven seasons.
