Also a big F*%$ off to GMTM for completely ruining this team.

Right?
How the F can we get this turned around so we can be headed in the direction of the Pitt & Chicago rebuilds instead of the Oilers & Islanders?

I don’t think it’s as doom & gloom as many on here do...
but yeah, this obviously sucks
- jdfitz77

By making much, much smarter personnel decisions.

Thats the thing, I don't know. but something major needs to change because this core is currently carrying you to last place in the NHL.

This is the slowest team in the NHL. that needs to change
- ImThatGuy

Bailey, Baptiste, Nylander, Mittelstadt, and Guhle...
ALL are GREAT skaters

Mittlestadt might not be in the lineup next year, but the rest should
That will help team speed A LOT

By making much, much smarter personnel decisions.
- buffalofan19

Ok... like what?

Chiarelli and Botterill meet through out the game last night........
- Irish 14

YES
Chiarelli is a total dumba$$
Fingers crossed for RNH

Ok... like what?
- jdfitz77

Not going after guys like Okposo when your team was in the position it was.

Not signing Moulson to a 5 year deal because "he wanted to be here" (though everyone agrees in hindsight).

Not throwing all your futures at only two players in guys like Kane and O'Reilly (only one of those trades were necessary, not both). The result is you get two good players (though not great ones), but can really only afford to keep one because of blunders with the first two.

These are all moves made by a front office that lacked championship vision.

I realize all of these are Murray debacles, and I do have confidence that Botterill can fix this mess, but he needs to be even more crafty than he was in Pittsburgh to succeed.

ROR is a 1C on a lot of teams. It was a 2nd rounder, not a 1st. Picks 31-35(that was in the trade) are an 85% chance to be a 4th liner or worse at maximum. And only a 29% chance to play 100 games in the NHL. People way overvalue draft picks in the NHL.

At pick 12 you're getting an NHL regular with 350+ GP. Basically a 3rd liner. That's about the best you can hope for. Statistically speaking of course.

http://www.tsn.ca/statist...draft-pick-value-1.786131

NHL draft pick value is nothing like the NFL where a 3rd round pick is probably a day 1 starter.
- Wetbandit1

I disagree with ROR as a 1C but I can see your point.

Thanks for the correction on the pick.

Interesting things to think about on the draft.

Thanks,

Not going after guys like Okposo when your team was in the position it was.

Not signing Moulson to a 5 year deal because "he wanted to be here" (though everyone agrees in hindsight).

Not throwing all your futures at only two players in guys like Kane and O'Reilly (only one of those trades were necessary, not both). The result is you get two good players (though not great ones), but can really only afford to keep one because of blunders with the first two.

These are all moves made by a front office that lacked championship vision.

I realize all of these are Murray debacles, and I do have confidence that Botterill can fix this mess, but he needs to be even more crafty than he was in Pittsburgh to succeed.
- buffalofan19

This is ALL behind us
What do we do NOW?
(Other than b!tch about GMTM)

This is ALL behind us
What do we do NOW?
(Other than b!tch about GMTM)
- jdfitz77

So you're saying, forget sunk costs?

Not going after guys like Okposo when your team was in the position it was.

Not signing Moulson to a 5 year deal because "he wanted to be here" (though everyone agrees in hindsight).

Not throwing all your futures at only two players in guys like Kane and O'Reilly (only one of those trades were necessary, not both). The result is you get two good players (though not great ones), but can really only afford to keep one because of blunders with the first two.

These are all moves made by a front office that lacked championship vision.

I realize all of these are Murray debacles, and I do have confidence that Botterill can fix this mess, but he needs to be even more crafty than he was in Pittsburgh to succeed.
- buffalofan19

Absolutely NOT true
Our Cap situation is fine

So you're saying, forget sunk costs?
- gcomella34

The point is what to do going forward...

GMTMs mistakes don’t have anything to do with J Botts, other than serve as examples of what not to do
Which is fine

But again...
what do we do from here out?

The point is what to do going forward...

GMTMs mistakes don’t have anything to do with J Botts, other than serve as examples of what not to do
Which is fine

But again...
what do we do from here out?
- jdfitz77

I'm perfectly fine with the direction of the team, particularly the focus on Rochester.

My complaint last night is the events that led to us being terrible NOW. I believe in where we're going.

That article Wetbandit posted about the value of the draft was informative, but I believe the consistently good teams year in and year out BEAT those statistics through development.

We've had TWO GM's now that have rushed young players instead of letting them marinate and win in Rochester in a failed effort to make the Sabres better right now.

Like Wetbandit said, the draft in the NHL is so much different than the NFL so you really have to focus on player development, that hasn't been our focus for the past four or five years.

That's what I'm lamenting, but seeing Guhle stay in Rochester, that I like.

The point is what to do going forward...

GMTMs mistakes don’t have anything to do with J Botts, other than serve as examples of what not to do
Which is fine

But again...
what do we do from here out?
- jdfitz77

Sorry, didn't fully answer your question. Develop the players into the best possible NHL players they can be in Rochester and bear out the bad product on the Buffalo roster.

Absolutely NOT true
Our Cap situation is fine
- jdfitz77

They have at least four holes gaping holes on this team, and they have room to fill two of them, three if they're really smart about it (i.e. find a taker for Okposo).

The point is what to do going forward...

GMTMs mistakes don’t have anything to do with J Botts, other than serve as examples of what not to do
Which is fine

But again...
what do we do from here out?
- jdfitz77

We have a lot of flexibility starting next year - TONS in 18-19 - and despite giving away a significant number of picks, we have a pipeline consisting of

Bailey, Baptiste, Fasching (I know), Mittlestat, Pu, Guhle, Nylander, Rodrigues

Sorry, didn't fully answer your question. Develop the players into the best possible NHL players they can be in Rochester and bear out the bad product on the Buffalo roster.
- gcomella34

Well I think we can all agree on that

I guess I was looking for more specifics

They have at least four holes gaping holes on this team, and they have room to fill two of them, three if they're really smart about it (i.e. find a taker for Okposo).
- buffalofan19

So you believe Okposo is done being a productive player, his contract is bad, or both?

The point is what to do going forward...

GMTMs mistakes don’t have anything to do with J Botts, other than serve as examples of what not to do
Which is fine

But again...
what do we do from here out?
- jdfitz77

Sign Kane if you can... not 7 years, max I'm going is 4/5 if not trade him for d help.

If you can swing a trade using Sam and the value is there, fine... (if not I'm fine with him being a 20-25 goal scorer on Jacks line for the next 10 years) if not try to get some of this old dead weight off the team, start fresh next year with the kids from Rochester, build though the draft...your going to get a good pick again this year. sign Cheaper FA to fill temp holes. there are pieces here... just keep building.

So you believe Okposo is done being a productive player, his contract is bad, or both?
- kingcong39

I believe that the money he is paid for his production is better spent elsewhere. He's not a totally worthless player, but a player they need to move now. They will want to get out from under his contract well before it is expired.

The problem is the secondary scoring


- GERBE!!!75PTS

Kane - 80 point season
Jack - 70 point season
ROR - 65 point season
Pommer - 50 point season

Pouillot pleasant surprise.

Griffith, Larsson, Girgs, Nolan, Moulson, Josefson, Criscioulo, Baptise, Bailey, COMBINED - 55 point season.

Your move

They have at least four holes gaping holes on this team, and they have room to fill two of them, three if they're really smart about it (i.e. find a taker for Okposo).
- buffalofan19

What are your 4 “gaping holes” sir?

I believe that the money he is paid for his production is better spent elsewhere. He's not a totally worthless player, but a player they need to move now. They will want to get out from under his contract well before it is expired.
- buffalofan19

I am more concerned with the true dead weight, i.e. Moulson and Bogo, but I get the point, and I would bet strongly that if Botterill got a reasonable offer for Okposo, he would take it.

What are your 4 “gaping holes” sir?
- jdfitz77

My guess: #1D, #3/#4D, two top end wingers.

What are your 4 “gaping holes” sir?
- jdfitz77

Gerbe's butt one of them?

What are your 4 “gaping holes” sir?
- jdfitz77

Two right-wingers (they need MUCH better value than Okposo and Pominville won't be re-signed).
Two more top 4 defensemen.
Goaltender.

Actually, that's 5.