There is a lot of talk about bringing in another center, but we still have Adam down on the farm. Where does he fit in the plans for this organization? Did they mishandle him?
He had a bad season, it happens. I think he'll be available in trades, but if they don't trade him he'll certainly be in the mix for a roster spot next yaer.
I'd say no. CoHo is here, and with Ennis' emergence, there is no need for him now. We are looking for a solid two-way center, not Adam yet. I agree, one more year in Rochester, call up for ten games and see what he can do with no real pressure.
Unless of course he's working out like a mad man and comes to camp in beast mode....
He doesn't skate well, doesn't hit, and isn't all that good defensively, so that pretty much leaves him out of 4th line talk unless he seriously invests in getting quicker AND in paying the physical price to earn the ice time. It doesn't look like he's in the mix for a center position and even on the wing, his options seem limited at the moment.
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Adam has a good shot and if he can improve his foot speed and hopefully an off-season with the skating coach will yield great benefits.
If his skating improves, I think he could work out as a 2nd or 3rd line winger as well.
I remember listening to Paul Hamilton talk about Adam really, really worked hard last off-season on this stuff. I think Adam, if he can develop, gives the team a nice, big two-way center who can be physical--which Ennis, Cody, and Roy don't really provide; not to mention he seems like a team player with the baggage, which is always a plus.
Last edited by Slapshot85: 04-26-2012 at 02:17 PM.
I like the thought oh him playing the left side with Hodson and Vanek possibly. Good finisher to go with those 2 who both love making that extra pass sometimes. He showed good compatibility with Vanek earlier too. They'd need to see sheltered minutes though at first...
I remember listening to Paul Hamilton talk about Adam really, really worked hard last off-season on this stuff. I think Adam, if he can develop, gives the team a nice, big two-way center who can be physical--which Ennis, Cody, and Roy don't really provide.
Except he's not physical, so he doesn't provide anything we don't already have.
I don't see a spot on the Sabres for Luke Adam (Creighton) unless his foot speed or defensive game awareness improves significantly. I'm not holding my breath.
I watched at least half the games Luke played in Rochester after his demotion, and I'm confident in asserting that he's done with this organization. He was downright awful. It's one thing to be a bit snake-bitten on the scoring side of things, particularly after suffering a big blow to your ego by getting bussed down I90. But if you can't score, at least do something. Use your big body, finish your checks, work your ass off in the corners like Matt Ellis does. Instead, he floated for the most part, and my brother and I took to calling him Lazy Luke.
He's too slow to play center, and there's no room for him in Buffalo on LW with Vanek, Leino, Gerbe, and now Foligno already there. (I could argue Gerbe's also possibly on the outs with Foligno's emergence and the fact that Leino is untradeable.)
Adam's also not physical enough for a fourth line role (by a country mile). Therefore, I think the Sabres need to send him off as part of a package deal before the rest of the league catches onto the fact he might not be as blue-chip as we once thought. He has an AHL ROY and some goals in the NHL. Hopefully it counts for something to someone...
Was he on the wing or in the middle for Rochester after his demotion?
The team added Flynn, Sundher and Catenacci (though he may have to return to juniors if he doesn't make the Sabres - someone correct me on that if I'm wrong) and also have Varone in the middle. I feel like if Adam has a spot in the organization, it's on the wing in Rochester.
I find it ironic that 2/3 of that dominant Traverse City line, Kassian and Adam, may not even be with the organization next summer.
I like the thought oh him playing the left side with Hodson and Vanek possibly. Good finisher to go with those 2 who both love making that extra pass sometimes. He showed good compatibility with Vanek earlier too. They'd need to see sheltered minutes though at first...
Not a bad option at all. I like his size on that line. The question is can he bring Tropp's intensity?
Not a bad option at all. I like his size on that line. The question is can he bring Tropp's intensity?
That's the tough part to judge. Obviously he probably wouldn't bring that much hustle, but he had a knack for finding the back of the net. He's got that elusive ability to find himself all alone in the offensive zone. Vanek or Cody would be finding him a lot, but if they got pinned in their own end...
