It’s not semantics.
The top players on this team are highly skilled offensive players. Adams needs a coach that can get the most out of that group offensively. But can also balance that offense with better defensive play. Coaches that want to play with heavy defensive focus or ave a primary offensive focus would be grinding heavy forecheck. Those types are probably not good fits. This would be true for a team like the Avs as well and no one thinks they’re soft.
Separate from that, the roster overall needs to get tougher. Adams seems to agree and talked about making the bottom 6 tougher to play against. But it’s not remotely accurate to say we have a roster of nothing but small perimeter players.
The roster change has to happen in concert with a coaching change though.
Adams has, for better or worse, given coaches what they've asked for during his tenure. It's been a pretty mixed bag (Hall for Krueger, Greenway/Clifton/Hinostroza for Granato)
The bigger name coach that the Sabres sign, I have to think, the bigger impact they will have on the roster.
Going into next season, the difference between running a rookie 3C/veteran 4C and adding a vet 3C/4C could possibly be a huge difference in what style the team plays
Are they going to lean into Cozens being a matchup center and opt for Savoie to be another high speed offensive first with low defensive responsibility center or are they going to get a matchup two way center and press cozens a bit more offensively.
From Adams comments with Granato, it certainly felt like they were going to go the rookie 3C route.
However, I think most offseason discussions are on hold a bit until they address the coach.