Maybe you missed when Adams said the Sabres needed to get into a position to not be caught by an offer sheet. So yes, they were shedding salary, but it was for a good reason. I'm sure you would have lost your s**t if they traded for Rossi but lost Byram to an offer sheet (and not a very big one.)
As for Kesselring, he was also a big need for the team, so there's that.
Why does everything have to happen immediately? Does the season start next week?