5 things we learned from Kevyn Adams on trade deadline day

Kevyn Adams addressed the Sabres on Friday morning with one important message in mind.
"Our biggest growth in my opinion over the next six, 12, 18, 24 months is going to come internally," Adams told his players. "It's our own players developing and even taking bigger steps.
"I'm really passionate about the people in that locker room. Honestly, it gets emotional sometimes because I know what it takes to win in this league, and I know we have it. Now I just want to believe in these guys and let them go do it. That's exciting."

Adams and the rest of the Sabres' staff navigated the weeks and days leading up to the NHL's trade deadline with that belief in mind, which is consistent with the approach they maintained last offseason and the year prior: belief in their players, an emphasis on development through experience, and faith that it will lead to sustainable success.
The Sabres, with the youngest roster in the NHL, sit four points behind the New York Islanders for a playoff spot with four games in hand. The additions made this week were executed with the goal of supporting the group without taking away ice time from young players in what Adams and coach Don Granato believe will be a vital period of development.
Buffalo added defenseman Riley Stillman from Vancouver in exchange for forward Josh Bloom on Tuesday, then acquired forward Jordan Greenway from Minnesota in the hours leading up to the deadline in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2023 (via Vegas) and a fifth-round pick in 2024.
Stillman and Greenway share three qualities: both bring physicality, are under contract beyond this season, and have the potential for growth in the eyes of the Sabres.
"To me, it didn't really make a lot of sense to be going down the [unrestricted free agent] market right now for rentals," Adams said.
"More focused on players that we felt could help us today in their individual skill set, but also can grow with us without taking away, so I think we were able to accomplish that and really excited about Riley and Jordan for sure."

Here are five more takeaways from deadline day.
1. Granato's experience with Greenway at the U.S. National Team Development Program had a lot to do with the Sabres' targeting the 6-foot-6 forward, Adams confirmed.
Greenway was on the roster along with Tage Thompson that won a gold medal playing for Granato at the U-18 World Championship in 2015. Granato spoke highly of Greenway as both a player and a person and - as he once did with Thompson - insisted that Greenway has more to give.
"I have a ton of trust and faith in Don Granato and his coaching ability," Adams said. "One of his greatest strengths is his passion for players and the relationships that he builds, and he was pounding the table on this one and saying, 'I know that there is more to this player.' … I put a lot of stock in that."
2.Adams shared why he identified physicality as a trait to improve the roster.
"What I noticed wasn't that we were getting pushed around, but that teams were certainly trying to bully us," he said. "… It was clear. Now, I think what our guys did was fantastic in terms of standing up for themselves, for each other, competing, not backing down, not giving up one inch. I didn't see that at all, which is a great sign."
Still, he decided to add reinforcements to help the cause. Stillman put his physicality on display early in his Sabres debut against the Bruins on Saturday, totaling five hits in the first period alone (including two that sent opposing players to the ice).

Greenway's 6-foot-6 frame makes him a similarly imposing threat. He has seven NHL fights on his resume and has exhibited skill to accompany his physicality, having posted a career-high 32 points (6+26) in just 56 games in 2020-21.
"There's certain players that when they're on the ice, everyone's aware and I put Jordan in that category," Adams said. "He can skate and he can make plays, but he's got the presence physically that people are aware when he's on the ice.
"Now, what we're building towards, and you've heard me talk a lot about this, is setting this franchise up for sustainable success. And ultimately, when we get in the playoffs, whether that's this year, or in the coming years, a player like that … they become valuable."
3.Adams confirmed that the asking price for the Sabres to acquire Jakob Chychrun from the Arizona Coyotes did not match what the Ottawa Senators ultimately gave up to acquire the defenseman on Wednesday (one conditional first and two second-round picks).
Asked specifically about 2022 first-round picks Matt Savoie and Jiri Kulich, Adams said the Sabres were not willing to include them in any potential deals.
"We're not in a situation where we feel that we had our backs against the wall, desperate," he said. "… We always are going to be in conversations, especially when it comes to good hockey players because I think that's important. But I think from our standpoint, sticking with our plan, doing it the right way, what makes sense for us is what we had to do."
4.The Sabres acquired a third-round pick from Los Angeles on Wednesday in exchange for the rights to goaltender Erik Portillo, who was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
"I was told this was not a market that he felt he wanted to play in and didn't necessarily see a pathway to the NHL," Adams said. "… We want players that want to be here and players that want to compete every day to be National Hockey League players.
"So, it was really important to try to find a way to recoup that asset, which fortunately we were able to do. It's a great deal for LA, they're getting a really talented goalie who's a very good prospect."
Buffalo's depth chart at goalie includes three players under the age of 24 in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Devon Levi, and Topias Leinonen.
5.The Sabres made two others deals on Friday, acquiring defenseman Austin Strand from Anaheim in exchange for defenseman Chase Priskie and adding a seventh-round draft pick from Nashville in exchange for forward Rasmus Asplund.
Adams said the swap on defense was made to find a new situation for Priskie, who had spent the season in Rochester after joining the organization on a one-year deal during the summer. He also wanted to do right by Asplund, who has been limited to 27 games this season.
Adams shared the conversation he had with Asplund after the trade was made official.
"He said, 'I can't wait to see you guys in the playoffs, it's going to be fun to watch,'" Adams said. "So, it just gives you a little insight into what a special person it is."