Dude almost gets paid as much as Sidney Crosby , Stamkos shut up and play
- gerbe75pts

Yeah, how dare he be a real human, with real emotions, and honest opinions.

He should be a collection of stats and numbers that are quantifiable only through algorithm.

It would have been easier for him to stuff all this down, but he got it out in the open to move on honestly and get a fresh start next year.

I know you think he's a phony, but at least consider the fact that despite his paycheck, he is still a real human with motivations and desires outside of his salary

He is playing second line LW now and has been expected to move to the 1st line with mcdavid.
- adambuffalo

Can we trade him to Edmonton then

Bring me klefbom, Yamamoto

Dude almost gets paid as much as Sidney Crosby , Stamkos shut up and play
- gerbe75pts

the media keeps asking questions...what would you say if he didn't answer the questions?...is he ducking the media?

Yeah, how dare he be a real human, with real emotions, and honest opinions.

He should be a collection of stats and numbers that are quantifiable only through algorithm.

It would have been easier for him to stuff all this down, but he got it out in the open to move on honestly and get a fresh start next year.

I know you think he's a phony, but at least consider the fact that despite his paycheck, he is still a real human with motivations and desires outside of his salary
- jcragcrumple

Oh give me a break if Jack eichel pulled this poop everyone on this board would have pitchforks

But the great Ryan O'Reilly gets a pass

Oh give me a break if Jack eichel pulled this poop everyone on this board would have pitchforks

But the great Ryan O'Reilly gets a pass
- gerbe75pts

no they wouldn't...

no they wouldn't...at least not until he succeeds ror as the new whipping boy

From Boss last blog
That's a good point. It just didn't really bother me as much as some.

If we have a good winning record next year, do you see ror as a guy that will be playing without passion?

I do not

That's not the point you were making. You said he always played with passion from what you saw. Since he's been here, he's had canned responses to why the team as well as him individually has failed. He's a really good, not great, hockey player. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm not gonna speculate what we could get for him as it has been said before by most, I just don't think he's the answer to what has ailed the Sabres. And the quote proves it further IMO.

"Everything I said, yeah, I was being honest," O'Reilly said to "Dreger Café" host Darren Dreger. "When I look at it, when I reflect on the year, who else can I look at? I'm one of the guys that plays the most minutes, and it's my fault.

"I want to change. I want to be in Buffalo. I love it there. Obviously, we're getting the first pick, which will be huge, but, gosh, it's a great city and I want to be there and I want to win. Yeah, I was just being honest, and I feel I need to do that more."

He also said he has a good relationship with Botterill. Doesn't seem like a guy who is planning on getting traded
- jcragcrumple

They never do, but I too think he'll be here next year. I obviously don't agree with that, but it's not my ship to run.

I think his plan is:

Package Nylander with draft picks for an impact nhler (probably winger)
Try and move Okposo's deal
Not-tender Lehner and bring in a 40-50 start goalie
find low risk/high reward types for the 3rd/4th line (might move one of girgs/larsson)
Find some depth d-men who can rotate between NHL and AHL (probably RHD)

no they wouldn't...

no they wouldn't...at least not until he succeeds ror as the new whipping boy
- Michael Pachla

No if Jack eichel said he lost passion for the game and quit on the team

This fan base would want his head on a platter

They never do, but I too think he'll be here next year. I obviously don't agree with that, but it's not my ship to run.

I think his plan is:

Package Nylander with draft picks for an impact nhler (probably winger)
Try and move Okposo's deal
Not-tender Lehner and bring in a 40-50 start goalie
find low risk/high reward types for the 3rd/4th line (might move one of girgs/larsson)
Find some depth d-men who can rotate between NHL and AHL (probably RHD)
- Sabresfan-365

dreger said on instigators that he got the impression botts and ror talked and he said he thinks it's "highly unlikely" ror will be traded...unless there's a package on the table that makes sense to buffalo

No if Jack eichel said he lost passion for the game and quit on the team

This fan base would want his head on a platter
- gerbe75pts

how many times this year did jack's play look like he lost his passion?

dreger said on instigators that he got the impression botts and ror talked and he said he thinks it's "highly unlikely" ror will be traded...unless there's a package on the table that makes sense to buffalo
- Michael Pachla

yeah i never really got the impression that he was getting moved.

Oh give me a break if Jack eichel pulled this poop everyone on this board would have pitchforks

But the great Ryan O'Reilly gets a pass
- gerbe75pts

Have you ever had a bad stretch at work or school that makes you wonder what you're doing, or if you're on the right path?

The dude hit a rough patch on the worst team in the league. His money didn't make the game more fun.

Whatever, I'm not gonna try to convince you on this, but you're focused on the commodification of a human- which is fair to some extent, as it's part of the nature of pro sports - but motivating individual players and pushing the right buttons, and getting players into the right frame of mind is important.

It didn't work this year. The team sucked. I expect with a higher talent level next year, the players will feel better about themselves and have more fun. It's Botterill's job to get them better.

A lot falls on ROR too. He has to be a leader, at least on the ice.

yeah i never really got the impression that he was getting moved.
- Sabresfan-365

that leaves skunk or risto as possible 'core players' to be moved...and tbh, I can't see him moving on from either of those two this year either

I think this is our lineup next year. Obviously the spots are interchangeable and the log jam at LHD will eventually force Botts to move someone but:

New guy-Eichel-Okposo

Wilson-ROR-Reinhart

Low risk guy-Mittelstadt-EROD

FA signing-Larsson-Pominville


Scandella-Ristolainen

McCabe-Bogosian

Dahlin-Nelson

Depth guy

Guhle-Pilut on stand by when a lefty is moved


New Guy
Ullmark

Have you ever had a bad stretch at work or school that makes you wonder what you're doing, or if you're on the right path?

The dude hit a rough patch on the worst team in the league. His money didn't make the game more fun.

Whatever, I'm not gonna try to convince you on this, but you're focused on the commodification of a human- which is fair to some extent, as it's part of the nature of pro sports - but motivating individual players and pushing the right buttons, and getting players into the right frame of mind is important.

It didn't work this year. The team sucked. I expect with a higher talent level next year, the players will feel better about themselves and have more fun. It's Botterill's job to get them better.

A lot falls on ROR too. He has to be a leader, at least on the ice.
- jcragcrumple

the impression I get is that he hasn't lived long enough, nor had to go through the ups and downs of working for a living yet...life has a finny way of crushing untested ideals

how many times this year did jack's play look like he lost his passion?
- Michael Pachla

Zero .. he could have stayed out the rest of the year and no one in Buffalo would have blamed him but he came back with nothing to gain and battled through meaningless games for his team

So what does that tell you

that leaves skunk or risto as possible 'core players' to be moved...and tbh, I can't see him moving on from either of those two this year either
- Michael Pachla

He never really defined who the core was. In the "plan" i mentioned in my last post, I figure he'll move on from his current #1 and try to move Okposo (big contract).

That may be what he considers core

I think this is our lineup next year. Obviously the spots are interchangeable and the log jam at LHD will eventually force Botts to move someone but:

New guy-Eichel-Okposo

Wilson-ROR-Reinhart

Low risk guy-Mittelstadt-EROD

FA signing-Larsson-Pominville


Scandella-Ristolainen

McCabe-Bogosian

Dahlin-Nelson

Depth guy

Guhle-Pilut on stand by when a lefty is moved


New Guy
Ullmark
- Sabresfan-365

I don't mind line two...

and I think dahlin will be top-four, possibly top-pair

I think this is our lineup next year. Obviously the spots are interchangeable and the log jam at LHD will eventually force Botts to move someone but:

New guy-Eichel-Okposo

Wilson-ROR-Reinhart

Low risk guy-Mittelstadt-EROD

FA signing-Larsson-Pominville


Scandella-Ristolainen

McCabe-Bogosian

Dahlin-Nelson

Depth guy

Guhle-Pilut on stand by when a lefty is moved


New Guy
Ullmark
- Sabresfan-365

Wilson on the 2nd line? depending who the wingers are I think we're going to be back in the top 10 of the draft

Oh well

Zero .. he could have stayed out the rest of the year and no one in Buffalo would have blamed him but he came back with nothing to gain and battled through meaningless games for his team

So what does that tell you
- gerbe75pts

then you weren't watching or reading...he was accused of slacking this year and last year as well

I don't mind line two...

and I think dahlin will be top-four, possibly top-pair
- Michael Pachla

I figure players will move up and down the lineup, just might start off that way.

if dahlin's the real deal, he might make the best captain...wonder how jack would feel about that?
- Michael Pachla

Betting the house Jack is captain.

Wilson on the 2nd line? depending who the wingers are I think we're going to be back in the top 10 of the draft

Oh well
- gerbe75pts

sometimes it's about having a fit and building chemistry moreso than building an all-star-type line

then you weren't watching or reading...he was accused of slacking this year and last year as well
- Michael Pachla[/quote]


By who ?

[quote=Michael Pachla]then you weren't watching or reading...he was accused of slacking this year and last year as well
- gerbe75pts[/quote]


By who ?

you can do the back reading if you want...it happened...

but they didn't tar and feather him