What is "pans out"? NHL regular?

Edit: No sarcasm intended. That's what I'd consider panning out for him. 4th line guy who can step up into a higher role when necessary and gets some PP time.
- Wetbandit1

I would say top 6.

I mean more “surprise” than pan out

Just some perspective-

The Leafs have made the playoffs last two years, have the best young core of forwards in the league arguably, and still go out and sign a star player.

You can’t help it if JT wasn’t interested in the Sabres, but you can’t sit back and w
tch teams you pretend to have rivalries with get better and better and think you’ve accomplished anything because lottery balls bounced your way.

Dahlin is a great start. But we thought Eichel was a great start too. You don’t make the necessary moves now, in three years we will be sitting here in the same spot with another GM and coach.

This team was DEAD LAST. Not just short of the playoffs. Dead. Freaking. Last.

Do something about it.
- sbroads24

What specifically would have scratched your itch today?
What did you want to see done In opening of FA today

I would have loved that. Would you have given him 3 years though? I feel like 2 is as far as I would go. You never know if you're gonna get the 6 goal Grabner or the 25 goal Grabner.
- jcragcrumple

Speed doesn't decline

What specifically would have scratched your itch today?
What did you want to see done In opening of FA today
- IonSabres

Making a trade. Which there is still the whole offseason to do.

I’m not mad now. Not at all. A little uneasy.

It will piss me off if this is the roster in September

Making a trade. Which there is still the whole offseason to do.

I’m not mad now. Not at all. A little uneasy.

It will piss me off if this is the roster in September
- sbroads24

If Casey is on jacks wing
And e rod is third line center

Maybe

If Casey is on jacks wing
And e rod is third line center

Maybe
- homiedclown

Casey is not a winger.

E5.

There’s a reason he was at center from day 1.

They aren’t IMO going to make the same mistake they did with Sam and flip flop him a bunch of times

Making a trade. Which there is still the whole offseason to do.

I’m not mad now. Not at all. A little uneasy.

It will piss me off if this is the roster in September
- sbroads24

Fair.
I get it.

I would like to see a strong return on ROR as well..it might still happen, but it seems as though Botts is being educated in the value of his players...Kane 1st and now ROR as it sits now.

Can appreciate holding tough, but he seems to have overplayed both situations.
Question is, does he recognize it and try to salvage a trade if he needs Ryan gone, or is he truly fine with holding on to him for one more season.

FYI....

Islanders in on O'Reilly trade talks with Buffalo, we are told. Center is owed $7.5M bonus by midnight. Return package obviously would change from today to tomorrow.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 1, 2018

Hutton was an ok signing, the rest is nothing I wasn't expecting. Still need a winger, people were pissed we didn't sign Duclair, you know because he's so valuable.
- SABRES 89

I feel like hutton over lehner is a 8-10 point upgrade alone. Maybe more with the culture change in the lockerroom.

Yes - culture change or better player

I’m not
I used “bruh” as a joke bc another poster said

You’ve got 69 in your name bc you’re 13 yrs old, I’m assuming
- jdfitz77

Says the guy with a yin-yang in his... A green, bastardized one nonetheless.

Making a trade. Which there is still the whole offseason to do.

I’m not mad now. Not at all. A little uneasy.

It will piss me off if this is the roster in September
- sbroads24

If some of these slugs are on this roster come Sept, the coaches and gm better legitimately give some of these young kids a chance.

As it stands, these are the "locks", up front: Jack, KO, "Sniffles" Reinhart, ROR, Sheary, Erod, Wilson, Pommer, and (meh) Zemgus.

That's 9.

The last three/four spots (it'll be up to Phyllis to figure out where to slot them) better be legitimately up for grabs. If Larsson doesn't make it, (frank) em, send him down. If three or four kids outplay Zemgus, trade him for a mid round pick.

Fair enough.
It seems most of the displeasure centers around:
- no big change in the old core...primarily around ROR as he
I) has a perceived attitude problem
II) does fit the speed game
III) perceived to be over paid
IV) likely to get a very good return
- lack of acquiring a top end LW
- IonSabres

Ion, ya know I'm just frustrated. I'm 59 years old and have lived through every sabres season and I don't want to watch pee wee hockey. I am optimistic for the future just not the present.

keep what we have and find a winger and we are good.
- SABRES 89

Agree again 89.

Speed doesn't decline
- homiedclown

It does if you are going up hill.

You really think this thought enters Phil's mind? I think you know better.
- Lunaion

U don’t think that Botts & Housley have convos about stuff like that?
Playing time, role, etc
I’d bet all teams do to some extent

FYI....

Islanders in on O'Reilly trade talks with Buffalo, we are told. Center is owed $7.5M bonus by midnight. Return package obviously would change from today to tomorrow.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 1, 2018

- sabreswarpath

Not surprised at all. Figured Lou would be all over this.

Ion, ya know I'm just frustrated. I'm 59 years old and have lived through every sabres season and I don't want to watch pee wee hockey. I am optimistic for the future just not the present.
- mhp

Perfect way to put it IMO.

U don’t think that Botts & Housley have convos about stuff like that?
Playing time, role, etc
I’d bet all teams do to some extent
- jdfitz77

Talk about running the best combinations to win games, of course.

Talk about intentionally running inferior lines for an entire season to increase someone's trade value? Never.

Could we possibly have the worst LW depth in the league? Say Sheary plays on Jacks wing and puts up around... 40 points (Optimistic) 22 goals 18 assists. Casey and O'Reilly will have the distinct pleasure of playing with the exciting duo of "I can't score if my life depended on it" In Girgensons and Larson... There's also Wilson, Smith and Nylander in terms of depth but none deserve to be in the top 9 at this point... I don't know how Botteril could possibly sit there and let his young players get used to losing culture by surrounding them with bums like these...

You want to change the culture of the team??? Maybe don't have your two young elite centers paired with 8th-12th level forwards...

Ion, ya know I'm just frustrated. I'm 59 years old and have lived through every sabres season and I don't want to watch pee wee hockey. I am optimistic for the future just not the present.
- mhp

If this team comes out a dog again and has another awful season the media and a majority of this fan base is going to have a poop fit.
It will have been 8 years with no signs of improvement.
The future may look good, yes, but we have said this before. There is already unrest. Another bottom 3 finish and I think it gets ugly.

Could we possibly have the worst LW depth in the league? Say Sheary plays on Jacks wing and puts up around... 40 points (Optimistic) 22 goals 18 assists. Casey and O'Reilly will have the distinct pleasure of playing with the exciting duo of "I can't score if my life depended on it" In Girgensons and Larson... There's also Wilson, Smith and Nylander in terms of depth but none deserve to be in the top 9 at this point... I don't know how Botteril could possibly sit there and let his young players get used to losing culture by surrounding them with bums like these...

You want to change the culture of the team??? Maybe don't have your two young elite centers paired with 8th-12th level forwards...
- bluengold12

+1

FYI....

Islanders in on O'Reilly trade talks with Buffalo, we are told. Center is owed $7.5M bonus by midnight. Return package obviously would change from today to tomorrow.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) July 1, 2018

- sabreswarpath

Bellows and HoSang

I wanted to draft HoSang when he slipped, but the Sabres decided against it. These are the starting points.

Bellows and HoSang

I wanted to draft HoSang when he slipped, but the Sabres decided against it. These are the starting points.
- sven233

I would love Beauvellier.

Bellows and HoSang

I wanted to draft HoSang when he slipped, but the Sabres decided against it. These are the starting points.
- sven233

I think a change of scenery would do wonders for him.

I would love Beauvellier.
- Pegullaville

Agreed. Starts and ends with him for me.