Words is they really like Tkachuk, if you believe sportsnets jeff marek
- Sabresfan-365

It would defintely hurt to miss out on any of those top 3. But if TK is the pick it helps address depth issues on the left side of our forwards corps.

Dibs on the chick behind Vasilevsky

Even Guhle was kept down in favor of Tennyson
The only way u can explain that is that Botts’ plan was to send the kids to Rochester for another year

U really think all the fringe AHL-NHL guys we had in the lineup were there to help the Sabres win?
They were placeholders while the kids developed some more
- jdfitz77

I don't think they had any intention of letting Guhle make the team.

However, I do believe they they did intend to allow at least one of Bailey or Baptiste, who are further along in their development, to make the team. They simply fell short at the beginning of the year. They needed to stand out, and they didn't.

It would defintely hurt to miss out on any of those top 3. But if TK is the pick it helps address depth issues on the left side of our forwards corps.
- Pegullaville

I don't think they had any intention of letting Guhle make the team.

However, I do believe they they did intend to allow at least one of Bailey or Baptiste, who are further along in their development, to make the team. They simply fell short at the beginning of the year. They needed to stand out, and they didn't.
- buffalofan19

I went to a preseason game and Griffith and ERod looked good together.

Then Erod got hurt, Reinhart moved to center, and the rest is history

It would defintely hurt to miss out on any of those top 3. But if TK is the pick it helps address depth issues on the left side of our forwards corps.
- Pegullaville

A lot of wingers can switch sides

While Svechnikov & Zadina play RW,
they both shoot left
So there is potential for them to play either side

Even Guhle was kept down in favor of Tennyson
The only way u can explain that is that Botts’ plan was to send the kids to Rochester for another year

U really think all the fringe AHL-NHL guys we had in the lineup were there to help the Sabres win?
They were placeholders while the kids developed some more
- jdfitz77

It was Guhle's first pro year, he was going to spend at least half a season in Rochester unless he was so dominant that they didn't have a choice.

Baptiste and Bailey had bad pre-seasons. They showed they weren't ready. I still have no idea if they're ready.

U saw me say “for the future” right?
Not saying that’s for next year

“No clue” for Borgen seems pretty harsh
He projects as a defensive 2nd pair guy

I realize he must continue to develop,
but he’s been pretty damn good the last 2 seasons
- jdfitz77

Projecting him as a 2nd pairing D man anytime in the next two years is generous.

I like him as a prospect but we have no idea yet. He’s played almost no pro hockey

- buffalofan19

I think he will be a good hockey player no doubt. Just feel Svechnikov and Zadina are top 10 goal scorers in this league. I think he is a guy you win with though, grittier type player the fan base will admire.

I want the 1st overall pick but thinking maybe I want the goal scorer over the D man maybe ???????? hard to pass up Dahlin.

I think he will be a good hockey player no doubt. Just feel Svechnikov and Zadina are top 10 goal scorers in this league. I think he is a guy you win with though, grittier type player the fan base will admire.
- Pegullaville

I agree. Picking Tkachuk over either of those two wouldn't be smart, and I don't think Botterill would have any intention of doing that. I just posted the photo for fun.

There's also a cool one out there of him saluting the crowd after the tying goal, but I couldn't find it.

A lot of wingers can switch sides

While Svechnikov & Zadina play RW,
they both shoot left
So there is potential for them to play either side
- jdfitz77

Very true. Perhaps they play that side though because they are better on that wing. That's up to Housley to figure out.

I want the 1st overall pick but thinking maybe I want the goal scorer over the D man maybe ???????? hard to pass up Dahlin.
- SABRES 89

This team needs a stud defenseman as much as it needs a scoring winger. You can trade for a scoring winger a lot easier, maybe not a great one, but definitely a good one. You can't do that for a #1 defenseman. Dahlin is the no-brainer here, even if he takes as long as Hedman did to develop.

I don't think they had any intention of letting Guhle make the team.

However, I do believe they they did intend to allow at least one of Bailey or Baptiste, who are further along in their development, to make the team. They simply fell short at the beginning of the year. They needed to stand out, and they didn't.
- buffalofan19

I don’t think Botts wanted ANY of the kids on the Sabres
He pretty much kept saying that (over & over)

Granted,
none of them played well enough to FORCE Botts to keep them here
But it still seemed pretty obvious that his plan was to develop the kids more in Rochester

Point is...
we have a number of kids with potential to actually play here & help
As opposed to just being “placeholders”

This team needs a stud defenseman as much as it needs a scoring winger. You can trade for a scoring winger a lot easier, maybe not a great one, but definitely a good one. You can't do that for a #1 defenseman. Dahlin is the no-brainer here, even if he takes as long as Hedman did to develop.
- buffalofan19

We will find out soon, I know how hard it is to find exceptional D men.

Very true. Perhaps they play that side though because they are better on that wing. That's up to Housley to figure out.
- Pegullaville

A lot of goal scorers like to play the opposite wing bc it gives them better angles on shooting

Projecting him as a 2nd pairing D man anytime in the next two years is generous.

I like him as a prospect but we have no idea yet. He’s played almost no pro hockey
- sbroads24

I hear ya
I feel comfortable projecting him as a solid, 2nd pair defensive defenseman

I don’t think Botts wanted ANY of the kids on the Sabres
He pretty much kept saying that (over & over)

Granted,
none of them played well enough to FORCE Botts to keep them here
But it still seemed pretty obvious that his plan was to develop the kids more in Rochester

Point is...
we have a number of kids with potential to actually play here & help
As opposed to just being “placeholders”
- jdfitz77

Bailey can definitely be a good utility type player for us becuase of his speed and size alone. If he does ever find his scoring touch though he wouldn’t look out of place at all playing on Eichel’s wing.

@ByMHarrington

Either ROR or Ristolainen will be gone. Not both.

It was Guhle's first pro year, he was going to spend at least half a season in Rochester unless he was so dominant that they didn't have a choice.

Baptiste and Bailey had bad pre-seasons. They showed they weren't ready. I still have no idea if they're ready.
- Lunaion

While i agree Bailey & Baptiste weren’t good in preseason,
i do think this was “the plan” for ALL the kids

Point is...
these guys all have more potential than Nolan, Criscuolo, etc etc etc
Not saying all the kids will work out,
but odds are that at least some of them will

@ByMikeHarrington

Either ROR or Ristolainen will be gone. Not both.
- sbroads24

If it happens, it will be no later than the draft.

A lot of goal scorers like to play the opposite wing bc it gives them better angles on shooting
- jdfitz77

That’s why I’m assuming they stay on the right side. Maybe Svech is a 35 goal RW but on the left side isn’t as lethal and isn’t comfortable and scores only 20.

@ByMHarrington

Either ROR or Ristolainen will be gone. Not both.
- sbroads24

Does that jacka$$ actually have “insider” knowledge?

Doubt it

@ByMHarrington

Either ROR or Ristolainen will be gone. Not both.
- sbroads24

Wat? How'd he come up with those two?

Even Guhle was kept down in favor of Tennyson
The only way u can explain that is that Botts’ plan was to send the kids to Rochester for another year

U really think all the fringe AHL-NHL guys we had in the lineup were there to help the Sabres win?
They were placeholders while the kids developed some more
- jdfitz77

Maybe they were tank-holders

Mission accomplished