You can't build an NHL team via the draft alone. You need to get existing high level talents to come as free agents as well. But they won't when they have palm trees and zero state taxes as an alternative.
Hockey is a winter sport, and the last place today's single, rock star millionaire pro athletes want to be in the winter is WNY paying sky high taxes. For example, show me 5 unmarried Bills players who stay in WNY for 5 minutes after the season is over. Sucks, bc we know its a good place to be, but it is what it is.
Adams handled that issue in a less than smooth way, but he was right that his hands are somewhat tied when it comes to improving the roster. for f's sake, he's sitting on a pile of cap space, ready to spend it and the best players still have b lo at the top of their no-trade list. The "No Trade" list is a testament to how rare the difference makers are in the NHL (that clubs have to agree to it to get them)
Not sure there is a solution here as you need to have a great organization and be good on the ice to attract top players and coaches, but you need top players and a great front office/coaches to be good.
Its a very nasty Catch-22 situation with the fan base taking the biggest hit.