If we need 5 new top6 players, we are going to be rebuilding for another 5 years at least. If that's the long term plan, sell it off and build a fast team, he's not the GM I thought he was.

Part of being a GM is instituting a vision, but it's also working with the protoplasm that you're given. As far as the defense goes, I'd be happy to see some changes and improvements in the offseason. However, if Botts idea of a good team means getting 5 top6 forwards...we're doomed. Like literally, doomed.
- RhinoFan

Colorado fans were saying the same thing last year when they finished with 48 points. Things are never as bad as they seem. There is talent here and there will be more coming.

If we need 5 new top6 players, we are going to be rebuilding for another 5 years at least. If that's the long term plan, sell it off and build a fast team, he's not the GM I thought he was.

Part of being a GM is instituting a vision, but it's also working with the protoplasm that you're given. As far as the defense goes, I'd be happy to see some changes and improvements in the offseason. However, if Botts idea of a good team means getting 5 top6 forwards...we're doomed. Like literally, doomed.
- RhinoFan

You don’t need 5.

I would keep

Eichel
Mittelstadt
Reinhart

Defense

Ristolainen
Guhle
Nelson
McCabe

Need a stud at both ends and some fillers

It isn't round and round. The problem is that the last guy tried to take a shortcut and it backfired. The worst thing we can do is try to resurrect any questionable players just because we are tired of waiting.
- Slump Buster

Well last year it's the coach. This year it is the team. If we make a few trades and don't contend do we fire Housley?

I think we should stick with the same team, get a low pick next year, restock and keep the few good players we have. Remember, this isn't about resurrecting anything, we're talking about trading RoR away...even his haters will agree he isn't some horrible player.

I agree GMTM did us no favors, but I find trading away our best players as another impulsive and risky move. I'd rather see what we have on the farm, get another top10 pick next year and keep it rolling for 2020.

David Perron would be a real swell FA signing.
- TheSabresTaco

With the amount of pts he scored this season, he's in line for money and term. We need to stay away from those contracts for now.

You don’t need 5.

I would keep

Eichel
Mittelstadt
Reinhart

Defense

Ristolainen
Guhle
Nelson
McCabe

Need a stud at both ends and some fillers
- sbroads24

That's more fair, I believe, outside of RoR, but won't go into that. We need a top pairing defender, a top line scoring winger and some depth on both sides. I know this team needs help, but we're getting back into "tear it down" territory and I don't know that folks realize what that will mean...

If we need 5 new top6 players, we are going to be rebuilding for another 5 years at least. If that's the long term plan, sell it off and build a fast team, he's not the GM I thought he was.

Part of being a GM is instituting a vision, but it's also working with the protoplasm that you're given. As far as the defense goes, I'd be happy to see some changes and improvements in the offseason. However, if Botts idea of a good team means getting 5 top6 forwards...we're doomed. Like literally, doomed.
- RhinoFan

It doesn't take 5 years to reshape your top 6. I called it a 2 year GMTM cleanse, and that's how I see it.

Who was that Russian goalie we had in Rochester 3-4 years ago that we let walk?

Who was that Russian goalie we had in Rochester 3-4 years ago that we let walk?
- sskkoo1

Makarov

Makarov
- sbroads24

thank you, it was driving me nuts.

It doesn't take 5 years to reshape your top 6. I called it a 2 year GMTM cleanse, and that's how I see it.
- Lunaion

And hey, not trying to talk you out of it. Always is just a discussion.

If we miss out on Dahlin, that would potentially get us up to 2/6.

How would you, given our cap constraints, bring in 4 top6 forwards? I'd imagine that would take a few years at least OR for someone like Pu, Asplund, Baptiste or Bailey taking a huge step.

Makarov
- sbroads24

Numbers don't look bad, maybe he's read to back up Ullmark in the NHL. Wonder if he still has the chip on his shoulder.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=129733

So anybody going to go to any playoff games?

Me probably all the California teams I love the playoff atmosphere

Hopefully some of you go to the leafs games and hope they destroy Boston
- gerbe75pts

Not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on travel and playoff tickets.

Not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on travel and playoff tickets.
- Wetbandit1

I dont think his question was intended that way

Ill probably go to game 3 or 4 vs Bruins

And hey, not trying to talk you out of it. Always is just a discussion.

If we miss out on Dahlin, that would potentially get us up to 2/6.

How would you, given our cap constraints, bring in 4 top6 forwards? I'd imagine that would take a few years at least OR for someone like Pu, Asplund, Baptiste or Bailey taking a huge step.
- RhinoFan

It's a fun discussion, and a long summer for it.

Pu, Asplund, Baptiste, and Bailey are bottom 6 prospects. If anyone exceeds that, great. If 2 of them turn into solid two-way third line players, that's good.

If you could flip RoR for a suitable long term winger for Jack, and draft the other, then I'd be ecstatic.

Not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on travel and playoff tickets.
- Wetbandit1

Neither does Gerbe.

looks like all the other non playoff teams have attitude and character problems too

looks like all the other non playoff teams have attitude and character problems too
- robz228

I wonder if there's a connection



must be their 4th liners

Not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on travel and playoff tickets.
- Wetbandit1

For leaf tickets ? That's not a lot

For leaf tickets ? That's not a lot
- gerbe75pts

They're cheaper than i thought

my friend got 4 for 150 each. Nosebleeds obviously but for leafs vs bruins i'd have though 200-250 easy

It's a fun discussion, and a long summer for it.

Pu, Asplund, Baptiste, and Bailey are bottom 6 prospects. If anyone exceeds that, great. If 2 of them turn into solid two-way third line players, that's good.

If you could flip RoR for a suitable long term winger for Jack, and draft the other, then I'd be ecstatic.
- Lunaion

Too long! Argh.

Totally agree. Still would like to see Baptiste with Jack for a game.

I just see that as robbing peter to pay paul. It would leave a hole at 2C and fill in one at wing. I get it though, 5 years was a bad guess, I'll cut that down to 3.

I guess it's that optimism you mentioned. I think we could be "out of the woods" and smelling pretty in 2 years if we just sit back, draft well and don't make any big knee jerk trades. Doesn't sound like you want to completely blow it up either though. Interesting.

I wonder if there's a connection


must be their 4th liners
- Sabresfan-365

Still waiting to hear who the “leader” is that’s gonna come in & make our guys better passers & shooters...

Numbers don't look bad, maybe he's read to back up Ullmark in the NHL. Wonder if he still has the chip on his shoulder.

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=129733
- sskkoo1

Don’t worry...
we just need a “leader” to come in & make Lehner “accountable”
Bc a good speech is gonna make him an AllStar goalie

Still waiting to hear who the “leader” is that’s gonna come in & make our guys better passers & shooters...
- jdfitz77

who says we need someone to come in? and who actually believes ryan o'reilly does that? I mean he should to some extent at 7.5 mil a year, but he doesn't.

We know Eichel can make players around him better and we think Mittelstadt can to a lesser extent.

There's 2 centres who, in time, will become very effective at creating chances for their hopefully semi competent wingers.

Off ice issues aside, ROR brings fringe 2nd/3rd line production at 1st line cost. but hey, he wins draws and pretends to kill penalties

Too long! Argh.

Totally agree. Still would like to see Baptiste with Jack for a game.

I just see that as robbing peter to pay paul. It would leave a hole at 2C and fill in one at wing. I get it though, 5 years was a bad guess, I'll cut that down to 3.

I guess it's that optimism you mentioned. I think we could be "out of the woods" and smelling pretty in 2 years if we just sit back, draft well and don't make any big knee jerk trades. Doesn't sound like you want to completely blow it up either though. Interesting.
- RhinoFan

Jacks a weak defensive player. They don't play him with Baptiste because he's far worse. We need better two way players, up and down the lineup. Babcock likes to say that he plays his stars with players who can get them the puck. Eichel's in that same boat. He needs a young Pomminville, not the one on his last legs.

You can be passive and let RoR turn into your third line center, or you can sell high and use him to reshape your team. I'd sell and hope Asplund or Pu turn into that third line two-way center.

who says we need someone to come in? and who actually believes ryan o'reilly does that? I mean he should to some extent at 7.5 mil a year, but he doesn't.

We know Eichel can make players around him better and we think Mittelstadt can to a lesser extent.

There's 2 centres who, in time, will become very effective at creating chances for their hopefully semi competent wingers.

Off ice issues aside, ROR brings fringe 2nd/3rd line production at 1st line cost. but hey, he wins draws and pretends to kill penalties
- Sabresfan-365

But jd's not talking about on-ice performance making other players better, I don't think. I think he's saying that the Sabres sucked because most of the players on the team aren't good at hockey, and no amount of leadership will make all the not-good players become good players.