Its pretty scary that a team that is still bad has such little cap space and assets.
- MCGUIZZY

I wrote a long post. Long story short we have more than enough space.

Well since we know the results of the lottery last year we know that if Buffalo came in last they would have gotten Matthews. I know Winnipeg moved up into #2 spot from #6 from what I remember. And Columbus fell from #2 to #3.
- Matthews_Auston

If and buts, and once again it did not happen so why dwell on what might have happened its a waste of time!

Well since we know the results of the lottery last year we know that if Buffalo came in last they would have gotten Matthews. I know Winnipeg moved up into #2 spot from #6 from what I remember. And Columbus fell from #2 to #3.
- Matthews_Auston

That's right, Winnipeg was 6th, not 5th

We would have been a bottom 5 team, there was 2 impact players, both went to bottom 5 teams.

So, I apologize, 40% chance
- sbroads24

That's not how that works. I still don't know where you're getting 40% from. You have a 20% chance and then another 20% chance and then another 20% chance, you do not add them together.

We would've had 3 20% chances. Ask Colorado how that worked out.

Let me ask you this.

What would you rather have

O'Reilly +Nylander

or

50% chance at Matthews or Laine + any other top 6 center that has been available since?
- sbroads24

50% chance?
How do u make that random number up?

Jesus dude... let it go

That's not how that works. I still don't know where you're getting 40% from. You have a 20% chance and then another 20% chance and then another 20% chance, you do not add them together.

We would've had 3 20% chances. Ask Colorado how that worked out.
- Wetbandit1

I'll take the 20% chance of getting one of two guys who scored 40 at 18 years old over O'Reilly. Anyday, all day.

Again, Botterill has been on the job 6-7 weeks.

Let's give him a chance to execute his plan. It's not his fault this roster is where it's at. That being said, it ain't all bad. We've got some excellent players here now and some excellent players coming soon.

Well since we know the results of the lottery last year we know that if Buffalo came in last they would have gotten Matthews. I know Winnipeg moved up into #2 spot from #6 from what I remember. And Columbus fell from #2 to #3.
- Matthews_Auston

Sure, we know the results, but had the Sabres finished there, the numbers would've been different the machine would've hiccuped when our number would've been drawn and someone else's number would been selected instead.

We're not allowed to be rewarded. You should know this by now.

O'Reilly is the most complete player we've had since Drury and he's a joy to watch. The assets we have up have been worth it to this point and will likely continue to be. Imagine 3 years from now if your top 3 centers are:

Eichel
Mittelstadt
O'Reilly

Plus

Reinhart

I would make the O'Reilly trade again today

No this is exactly like him. He always does this. He's still whining about the Kane trade as well. Every person in here was sick of Darcy and his lack of initiative in making trades, and then we got GMTM and since they couldn't gripe about that anymore it turned into constantly rehashing trades.
- Pierceme69

Maybe if the team was halfway decent this wouldn't be a topic

And for the record, like most topics......I didn't bring it up

I'll take the 20% chance of getting one of two guys who scored 40 at 18 years old over O'Reilly. Anyday, all day.
- sbroads24

At the time we traded for O'Reilly,
no one thought Laine would be the "difference maker" he's become

So the option was...
trade for O'Reilly & start the climb back to respectability
Or
Try & out tank Toronto & Arizona

O'Reilly is the most complete player we've had since Drury and he's a joy to watch. The assets we have up have been worth it to this point and will likely continue to be. Imagine 3 years from now if your top 3 centers are:

Eichel
Mittelstadt
O'Reilly

Plus

Reinhart

I would make the O'Reilly trade again today
- jcragcrumple

So would I, because the scenario is 100% different.

I'll take the 20% chance of getting one of two guys who scored 40 at 18 years old over O'Reilly. Anyday, all day.
- sbroads24

Really? Wow. No way. We could've more likely ended up with Dubois who had a terrible season this year in the Q. Or Puljujarvi. Sure any one of those guys could turn into nice players, but Laine and Matthews they're not. That's not nearly enough to justify the risk. I'll take the excellent defensive center that will score 55-60 points like clockwork.

I'll take the 20% chance of getting one of two guys who scored 40 at 18 years old over O'Reilly. Anyday, all day.
- sbroads24

OK so if we are ever in that situation again we will remember thats how you feel.

At the time we traded for O'Reilly,
no one thought Laine would be the "difference maker" he's become

So the option was...
trade for O'Reilly & start the climb back to respectability
Or
Try & out tank Toronto & Arizona
- jdfitz77

That's false.

Edit: Sorry I misread. I'm tired, I have barely slept the past 3 days. You're right, it was only one guy, Matthews.

So would I, because the scenario is 100% different.
- sbroads24

If we didn't trade for him that day, someone else would have. He wouldn't be available today. I think we handily won that trade, barring Compher becoming a literal all star

Really? Wow. No way. We could've more likely ended up with Dubois who had a terrible season this year in the Q. Or Puljujarvi. Sure any one of those guys could turn into nice players, but Laine and Matthews they're not thats not nearly enough to justify the risk. I'll take the excellent defensive center that will score 55-60 points like clockwork.
- Wetbandit1

TBD

At the time we traded for O'Reilly,
no one thought Laine would be the "difference maker" he's become

So the option was...
trade for O'Reilly & start the climb back to respectability
Or
Try & out tank Toronto & Arizona
- jdfitz77

I did and lots of people said I was crazy

TBD
- GERBE!!!75PTS

D

Really? Wow. No way. We could've more likely ended up with Dubois who had a terrible season this year in the Q. Or Puljujarvi. Sure any one of those guys could turn into nice players, but Laine and Matthews they're not. That's not nearly enough to justify the risk. I'll take the excellent defensive center that will score 55-60 points like clockwork.
- Wetbandit1

And my point is that there will be 10 guys like ROR moved by the his contract is up.

I'll take the chance of getting a true difference maker.

I did and lots of people said I was crazy
- GERBE!!!75PTS

I remember your Laine avatar before I even knew who he was

I did and lots of people said I was crazy
- GERBE!!!75PTS

It's selective memory.

Also, what does it matter? You get difference makers in the top of the draft. Whether Laine was ranked there or not makes 0 difference

At that point Chychrun was viewed as a difference maker, at a pos. we needed

If we didn't trade for him that day, someone else would have. He wouldn't be available today. I think we handily won that trade, barring Compher becoming a literal all star
- jcragcrumple

Doesn't ROR need to be one first?

Doesn't ROR need to be one first?
- sbroads24

He was. 2016.

Thanks Pach! What an awesome memory.......seems like yesterday.......loved that game!
Vanek was really talented and Gerbe was what Blue & Gold is all about!

Just ask, Danny Gare