From the Athletic. Beane on not drafting for need:

Beane: I think I’ve said it before — you use free agency to help you so you’re not going to the draft in April with all these holes, and now you’re drafting for need. I promise you drafting for need is a mistake that can set franchises back, and I’m not going to do that as long as I’m in charge here.

Analysis: Don’t expect the Bills to ramrod a wide receiver or offensive lineman onto their roster with their top-10 pick. Beane isn’t blind to the Bills’ needs on offense, but he’s intent on sticking to his philosophy of drafting the best player. Let’s face it, the Bills aren’t in a position to be passing on talented players at any position. Outside of quarterback and safety, can we confidently say the Bills don’t need any position on the field? Yes, they need some positions more than others, but they need good football players above all else. This draft looks defensive heavy at the top, and Beane won’t be swayed by public opinion if a defensive prospect is at the top of his board.

Jack the lone Sabre at the All Star Game
- Stripes77

knew it

Skinner already has more goals than ROR did last season

He needs 18 more goals this season to replace what both ROR and Kane scored here last season

So basically Skinner replaced all the scoring they traded away

Problem is nobody besides Jack is scoring with him
- Stripes77

This is a very solid post.
Puts to bed that ROR was some kinda of irreplaceable scoring god.
Good player though, no doubt.

Keep losing and you’ll get 4 of them over the next two years. In addition to $20M+ in cap space to play with.
- Pegullaville

Dude, not all 1st round picks work out

And the ones that do,
usually don’t work out right away unless they’re picked very high
You’re usually waiting years for them to make an impact

Skinner already has more goals than ROR did last season

He needs 18 more goals this season to replace what both ROR and Kane scored here last season

So basically Skinner replaced all the scoring they traded away

Problem is nobody besides Jack is scoring with him
- Stripes77

ROR and Kane were traded

And yeah, Skinner has/will replace a lot of that

But we needed to GREATLY IMPROVE our scoring from last year
Not just REPLACE it

It’s pretty simple what I’m saying here

Dude, not all 1st round picks work out

And the ones that do,
usually don’t work out right away unless they’re picked very high
You’re usually waiting years for them to make an impact
- jdfitz77

Cap space is used to win now, first rounders that work out supplant those guys in 2 years.

I dont think anyone expected burger-land to completely melt down. He wasnt supposed to replace ROR, I think he was just supposed to create space for Mitts to develop. Now we're kinda fugged. We need a serviceable center and we're probably not going to make a trade unless something falls in to our lap.
- seedy

It was dumb for anyone to expect a guy who’d been playing LW3 to be an effective 2C

The 15goals in 57games last year gave some ppl hope that he could score 20-ish here

ROR and Kane were traded

And yeah, Skinner has/will replace a lot of that

But we needed to GREATLY IMPROVE our scoring from last year
Not just REPLACE it

It’s pretty simple what I’m saying here
- jdfitz77

That will come organically, though probably not this year, which is fine.

Hmmmm...
I guess it’s not just me after all

I guess scoring is harder to replace than some would ever admit

Berglund- bust
Sobotka- bust
Thompson- still waiting
Mittelstadt- still waiting

What do we do now?
- jdfitz77

Sobotka is who he's always been. If you expected more, that's on you.

I'm waiting patiently to see Okposo on the top line soon.
- SABRES 89

He has the longest current goal streak on the team

The only thing I am kind of sold on is his ability to score goals. If he's not a scorer then what else are you sold on him bringing?
- TheHank

Idk if he can skate well enough or even play a 200ft game in the NHL?

He’s got a great shot
That release is nasty
But isn’t that what we were told about Thompson too?

Either (or both) could turn into 20+ scorers for us
I just have my doubts
In the right trade,
I’d make either available

Gotta give to get

I found a cure


DRINK
- homiedclown

Long Island Iced Teas for everyone!
😂😂😂

Jack the lone Sabre at the All Star Game
- Stripes77

I thought teams got 11 players
3 groups of 3 skaters
Usually 6 forwards & 3 defensemen
And then the 2 goalies

Only 10 names per team
Was i wrong thinking there was 11?

From the Athletic. Beane on not drafting for need:

Beane: I think I’ve said it before — you use free agency to help you so you’re not going to the draft in April with all these holes, and now you’re drafting for need. I promise you drafting for need is a mistake that can set franchises back, and I’m not going to do that as long as I’m in charge here.

Analysis: Don’t expect the Bills to ramrod a wide receiver or offensive lineman onto their roster with their top-10 pick. Beane isn’t blind to the Bills’ needs on offense, but he’s intent on sticking to his philosophy of drafting the best player. Let’s face it, the Bills aren’t in a position to be passing on talented players at any position. Outside of quarterback and safety, can we confidently say the Bills don’t need any position on the field? Yes, they need some positions more than others, but they need good football players above all else. This draft looks defensive heavy at the top, and Beane won’t be swayed by public opinion if a defensive prospect is at the top of his board.
- Sabre_Tooth

Makes sense to me
No WR in the 1st unless we trade down

This is a very solid post.
Puts to bed that ROR was some kinda of irreplaceable scoring god.
Good player though, no doubt.
- IonSabres

Come on
No one- not even me- said anything like that

Sobotka is who he's always been. If you expected more, that's on you.
- Powerslave

It's too bad Berglund decided to... Do whatever he decided to do. He could have made a difference with the right attitude

I’m not sold on him as a scorer in the NHL
I’d use Olofsson as a trade chip
- jdfitz77

Thanks for settling that

Long Island Iced Teas for everyone!
😂😂😂
- jdfitz77

not gonna lie

got a case of yuengling black and tan

stuff goes down real quick

It's too bad Berglund decided to... Do whatever he decided to do. He could have made a difference with the right attitude
- jcragcrumple

All reports were that he was a great locker room guy, that he wanted to take Dahlin under his wing, etc. Great example. Jerk. Lol.

Cap space is used to win now, first rounders that work out supplant those guys in 2 years.
- Pegullaville

Like Mitts?
Like Nylander?

And those guys were top10 picks

How about Grigorenko(12th), Girgensons(14th), Armia(16th), Kassian(13th)?

All reports were that he was a great locker room guy, that he wanted to take Dahlin under his wing, etc. Great example. Jerk. Lol.
- Powerslave

I will never understand what happened

Like Mitts?
Like Nylander?

And those guys were top10 picks

How about Grigorenko(12th), Girgensons(14th), Armia(16th), Kassian(13th)?
- jdfitz77

Why are people so quick to bury Mitts and Nylander?

We all know the story with Grigs. Too much, too soon.

Kassian? Head case.

Girgs? Misses Teddy.

Sobotka is who he's always been. If you expected more, that's on you.
- Powerslave

Really?
On pace for 11pts
Had 31 last year

If he’s just a checking forward, then fine
But he is an absolute bust at 3C
So stop freaking playing him there & put him on the line with Larsson & Girgs
Or at least move him to the wing

ROR and Kane were traded

And yeah, Skinner has/will replace a lot of that

But we needed to GREATLY IMPROVE our scoring from last year
Not just REPLACE it

It’s pretty simple what I’m saying here
- jdfitz77

Sure, but Kane's continuous antics caused Boots to have no choice but to move him.
It is what it is, ownership gave him the direction that he had to sell him.

ROR practically dictated a trade out of hete with his year-end statement.

Botts had to go into replacement mode, those two staying was not an option.
Soon, he needs to jetison a couple of contracts that will be tough to unload...but needs to get rid of them so he can then get into upgrade mode