The Bo Byram Waiting Room

The Buffalo Sabres and GM Kevyn Adams have been busy, but there's one big move we're still waiting on, one way or another.

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams speaking with media following the first round of the NHL Draft. (Photo: Joe Yerdon)

There’s a saying in negotiations that you should never let them see you sweat and it’s an adage that Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has taken to heart.

Ever since Adams took over as Sabres GM in 2020, he’s spent a fair amount of that time being painted into various corners by players and agents. From the moment he was hired he had to deal with Jack Eichel wanting out. Shortly after that, he had to face up to the hard eventuality that Sam Reinhart wasn’t going to stick around.

Fast forward to this year, J-J Peterka became the latest player to seek an exit from Buffalo and while Adams played it straight and cool about that despite all the smoke that was out in the open about there possibly being an issue. It would’ve been easy enough to make Peterka out to be the bad guy to the fan base, something he also could’ve done easily with Eichel, but refused to take the low road and opted to get a trade done.

The other part about not letting them see you sweat is it applies to making a trade as well. Any situation where a trade is seemingly imminent the pressure to get it done grows. From the player themselves to the agent to the fans and media alike, the clock is ticking loudly to get it across the line and to make sure you come out of it not looking bad.

That’s what’s made the anticipation of a Bo Byram trade so different.

“I’ve maintained the same position that if there’s a deal out there that make sense for us that makes sense for us that we think improves our roster, we’re open to it,” Adams said. “But if there’s not, we’re not in a situation where we’re looking to move him out or looking to move him for futures and stuff like that.”