Kevyn Adams

Lore & Background

Adams was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL expansion draft. He scored his first two goals with the team on October 12, 2000, in a 3–2 win over the Calgary Flames. Over 66 games, he recorded 22 points before being traded at the trade deadline to the Florida Panthers alongside a fourth-round pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft in exchange for Ray Whitney and future considerations. His tenure with Columbus was brief, lasting only part of the 2000–01 season. After leaving the Blue Jackets, Adams went on to play for the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Phoenix Coyotes, and Chicago Blackhawks, winning the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006. Following his playing career, he became an executive, serving as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres and later as a senior advisor for the Boston Bruins.

Reader's Guide

Kevyn Adams' significance to the Columbus Blue Jackets lies in his status as an expansion draft selection who contributed during the team's inaugural season. Though his time with the club was short—just 66 games—he was part of the foundational group of players assembled for the franchise's first year. His trade to Florida brought veteran scorer Ray Whitney to Columbus, a move that shaped the team's early roster. Adams' broader NHL career included a Stanley Cup championship with Carolina and later a notable front-office tenure with Buffalo, where he oversaw major trades involving Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel. His legacy with the Blue Jackets is that of a temporary but early piece of the franchise's history, one of many players who helped establish the team in the league.

Did You Know?

• Adams was the second player in NHL history to be born in the District of Columbia.
• He scored his first NHL goal on January 3, 2000, against goaltender Dwayne Roloson.
• Adams scored two hat tricks in one month during the 2005–06 season with Carolina.
• He served as an alternate captain for the Hurricanes during their 2006 Stanley Cup run.