From the American Hockey League website
Adam, a second-round draft choice by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008, ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders with 28 goals (1st), 32 assists (tied for 3rd), 60 points (2nd) and a plus-22 rating (2nd) in 54 games for Portland this season. The 20-year-old native of St. John’s, N.L., began the season with two goals and two assists in an opening-night win over Manchester on Oct. 9, the first of his 16 multiple-point efforts on the year, and his 11-game scoring streak from Feb. 26 to Mar. 22 was the longest by an AHL rookie forward since 2005. Adam made his National Hockey League debut with Buffalo on Oct. 26 and has totaled three goals and one assist in 19 NHL games with the Sabres.
So yes, Adam has been the apple of the Pirates eye all season long. Why isn't he in Buffalo you ask? I think it's simple. He needs to keep working hard where he is. Keeping Adam down will make him continue to tune-in defensively and polish some skills - mainly his puckhandling. Plus, it's fair to suggest that it's harder to send player down at the beginning of the next season when he ends the year on the top club.
Regardless, I can't wait to read the next tired article about the Sabres using video scouting...
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Adam winning the AHL rookie honor makes it kind of a cool day for this site as well, as longtime readers may remember that Luke was talked about quite a bit in this space leading up to his 2008 drafting. From the first time watching him with the St. John's Fog Devils (along with Sabres picks T.J. Brennan and J.S. Allard), you sort of knew Luke could develop into a big bodied goal-scorer at the pro level despite his lack of top-flight wheels. That conviction made him my no-brainer target when the Sabres opened their day two selections, and the Sabres obviously agreed. Not a bad run for the Sabres at that draft getting Myers, Ennis, Adam 1-1A-2. Perhaps Corey Fienhage can continue the dent being made by the class of '08? Baby steps of course, but we're not ruling anything out.
