There should be accountability on every front, yes, but if anyone thought this was a finished product, they shouldn't watch hockey anymore.

Sh!t takes time.

(and I'm not sticking up for Botts. This is just reality)
- Powerslave

nobody remotely thought this was a finished product. but cycling though players time after time is not moving forward. I think I can speak for everyone on this board, we want to see progress from the start of mini camp though the end of the year, we haven't. In that regard this year is actually worse than last year, because they are getting worse by the week.

it also is not a good sign when Housley says we practice this stuff all the time and we will practice it again tomorrow. Maybe they need someone coaching they cant tune out. I mean everyone knows Phil is not benching an established vet, what's the motivation if there is no consequence?

If it even happed...
- gordong

True
Not confirmed yet that i know of

This team is bad. Really bad.

Ryan O’Reilly doesn’t make this team a contender

We would’ve wasted yet another year of his contract and probably the last year of his prime.

They sold him so we could get assets that fit Eichel and Dahlin’s timeline.

Please for the love of god stop talking about us losing the trade or not having his “replacement”.

We were never winning the cup or contending for it this year. This is a long term move.

The cap flexibility + picks and prospects make this a win regardless.

Twitter guy has brought up Duchene and Buffalo again. As well the Senior Advisor to Doug Armstrong in St.Louis was scouting the Sabres last night.
- Pegullaville

Looks like they picked the wrong game to scout the Sabres.

Looks like they picked the wrong game to scout the Sabres.
- mhp

Looks like I picked the wrong sabres season to quit sniffing glue

Ok folks here it goes................ The Sabres got a " come to Jesus moment" from Botterill this morning. He told them that what he has seen is completely unacceptable at this stage of the season and is embarrassment as a team and organization. He told them that if " you don't want to be here, you won't be", and that goes for coaches as well. Botterill will be meeting with Pegula this week.
- SABRES 89

He needed to do this.

There should be accountability on every front, yes, but if anyone thought this was a finished product, they shouldn't watch hockey anymore.

Sh!t takes time.

(and I'm not sticking up for Botts. This is just reality)
- Powerslave

With all the flack botts is getting on here it’s almost like ppl expected cup contention this year. Have some of his moves not worked out? Yes. Does this also mean he’s not doing anything and is just lounging around collecting his pay Check? I highly doubt that.
With the contracts we have it’s a tough job to add anything significant this season, put that together with a weak prospect pool and it makes it hard to bring in top 6/4 talent.
Sure we could deal a first rounder but is that getting you a top six scoring forward or a 2nd line centre who is young with term?
I hate seeing the product we’ve watched the past 20ish games but we are not exactly stocked with movable assets to bring in help.
When this team actually competes for 60 minutes and plays to the game plan they look very good, but the massive inconsistency from game to game is rediculous.
Everyone should share blame but what the hell are the players doing is it that hard to execute a game plan?

He has a plan I was told and is very disappointed and pissed off however, he still won't fly off the handle and make deals just to make them. We have enough bad deals that were made. He has to change the culture once again because he know's this isn't working and is very frustrated as to why. Can't keep pointing the finger at the players, with the way the CBA and players contracts now are going it's hard to move certain players and stay competitive, the blame and accountability has to come from coaches as well.
- SABRES 89

Not a huge fan of Housley, but maybe we're not as talented a team as we all think we are ?

There’s only been three coaches ever I believe. That’s always my reasoning for not wanting a coach who won a cup already. Next to impossible to do it with another team. Laviolette probably has the best chance currently.
- Frizzlefry

Trotz took that over about a month ago

Twitter guy has brought up Duchene and Buffalo again. As well the Senior Advisor to Doug Armstrong in St.Louis was scouting the Sabres last night.
- Pegullaville

Trading for and extending Duchene is an absolutely horrific idea.

This team is bad. Really bad.

Ryan O’Reilly doesn’t make this team a contender

We would’ve wasted yet another year of his contract and probably the last year of his prime.

They sold him so we could get assets that fit Eichel and Dahlin’s timeline.

Please for the love of god stop talking about us losing the trade or not having his “replacement”.

We were never winning the cup or contending for it this year. This is a long term move.

The cap flexibility + picks and prospects make this a win regardless.
- sbroads24

Good grief. Here we go again...
He was 26, not 36

FACT is, using Mitts/Berglund as 2C this year has been a MAJOR ISSUE

If 2C was properly addressed,
then we could be a playoff team NOW
AND
still have been building towards the future

It’s completely fair for ppl to criticize (or at least question) Botts’ plan for 2C for this season

With all the flack botts is getting on here it’s almost like ppl expected cup contention this year. Have some of his moves not worked out? Yes. Does this also mean he’s not doing anything and is just lounging around collecting his pay Check? I highly doubt that.
With the contracts we have it’s a tough job to add anything significant this season, put that together with a weak prospect pool and it makes it hard to bring in top 6/4 talent.
Sure we could deal a first rounder but is that getting you a top six scoring forward or a 2nd line centre who is young with term?
I hate seeing the product we’ve watched the past 20ish games but we are not exactly stocked with movable assets to bring in help.
When this team actually competes for 60 minutes and plays to the game plan they look very good, but the massive inconsistency from game to game is rediculous.
Everyone should share blame but what the hell are the players doing is it that hard to execute a game plan?
- Sabres1523

Seriously.

I wanted a move for a decent top 9 player when I thought playoffs were an inevitability.

We aren’t winning anything right now. Why are people panicking?

Good grief. Here we go again...
He was 26, not 36

FACT is, using Mitts/Berglund as 2C this year has been a MAJOR ISSUE

If 2C was properly addressed,
then we could be a playoff team NOW
AND
still have been building towards the future

It’s completely fair for ppl to criticize (or at least question) Botts’ plan for 2C for this season
- jdfitz77

Is it possible that his plan was to develop CM in the 2nd line centre role this year and get him some experience?

Good grief. Here we go again...
He was 26, not 36

FACT is, using Mitts/Berglund as 2C this year has been a MAJOR ISSUE

If 2C was properly addressed,
then we could be a playoff team NOW
AND
still have been building towards the future

It’s completely fair for ppl to criticize (or at least question) Botts’ plan for 2C for this season
- jdfitz77

If you think simply having a 2C makes us a playoff team than may god have mercy on your soul.

We have two backup goalies, really bad defenseman, no good 3rd line center, and no second line wingers because Reinhart can’t play on his own line

This team is 3 good pieces away from the playoffs

Is it possible that his plan was to develop CM in the 2nd line centre role this year and get him some experience?
- Sabres1523

No the plan was the cup this year so everything has failed as usual

Looks like I picked the wrong sabres season to quit sniffing glue
- jcragcrumple

Is it possible that his plan was to develop CM in the 2nd line centre role this year and get him some experience?
- Sabres1523

Yeah that's called the AHL

Seriously.

I wanted a move for a decent top 9 player when I thought playoffs were an inevitability.

We aren’t winning anything right now. Why are people panicking?
- sbroads24

Frustration is understandable but we were literally dead last a year ago, and technically still within 3 points of the last playoff spot. This team has made progress is it perfect? No, but to hear some say we are worse than last year makes no sense, one could argue we have done better with less actual talent on the team.
We are playing meaningful games in February, yes they are losing them but the fact is playoffs are still quite mathematically possible.

Frustration is understandable but we were literally dead last a year ago, and technically still within 3 points of the last playoff spot. This team has made progress is it perfect? No, but to hear some say we are worse than last year makes no sense, one could argue we have done better with less actual talent on the team.
We are playing meaningful games in February, yes they are losing them but the fact is playoffs are still quite mathematically possible.
- Sabres1523

We will end up 8-10 points out of the playoffs, but it’s still an improvement, with moving out two top 6 forwards this past year.

We will be absolutely fine

He needed to do this.
- BeadyEyedDouche

when a gm needs to do something like that, it doesn't reflect well on the head coach

Good grief. Here we go again...
He was 26, not 36

FACT is, using Mitts/Berglund as 2C this year has been a MAJOR ISSUE

If 2C was properly addressed,
then we could be a playoff team NOW
AND
still have been building towards the future

It’s completely fair for ppl to criticize (or at least question) Botts’ plan for 2C for this season
- jdfitz77

Serious question, who are you bringing to play 2nd line centre and what are you giving up?

He needed to do this.
- BeadyEyedDouche

If JB’s plan all along was to tank this season, then there was no reason to do this. Except to have it leaked to the fans to make it seem like they care how the team does this year.

I was on about this last night and 89 basically confirmed it: Botterill has done nothing since he became the GM. His good trade (Skinner) is negated by his bad trade (ROR), his other trades have been questionable (Pominville/Scandella for Ennis/Foligno is a wash and we somehow got worse on defense), his roster management is questionable and he hired the wrong coach.

He is halfway between Darcy and Murray with what he has shown me. Patience, but will make that big trade on a whim. I just wish the ROR trade happened in November or December, not July. We wouldn't have Sobotka, Thompson, Berglund taking up roster spots and causing issues, we might be seeing an AHL guy who deserves to be given a true shot in the NHL and we could have caught a team like Dallas right when the sh!t hit the fan there.

A lot of ifs, but no one is gonna say he didn't jump the gun on the ROR trade. Media/locker-room sh!t, who cares, these are grown men, if ROR couldn't deal with Eichel being captain, maybe he needed that gut-check? Either way the locker-room still sucked at the start of the year and we are still on about culture to the point even our GM is on about it.

Eichel has been very good, but not dominant. Dahlin has been dominant but not very good. Who knows if Eichel is going to be more than a .ppg player - Derek Roy was a .ppg player for a hot minute here and when he went down with an injury, the team played better. Will Eichel ever break 90-pts? If he does, will it even matter?

The past 4 years have all had the same glaring issue: A passive-style coach who doesn't get hot-headed and hasn't had enough experience to reward players who play good and punish players who play bad. He refuses to ride the hot hand and his system is not very good.

These are professional athletes. A good coach would be coaching them to some sort of consistency. This team has looked lost all season long even during the 10 game win streak they looked lost most of the time.

If JB’s plan all along was to tank this season, then there was no reason to do this. Except to have it leaked to the fans to make it seem like they care how the team does this year.
- PrinceChill

do you really think he wanted to tank this year?

With all the flack botts is getting on here it’s almost like ppl expected cup contention this year. Have some of his moves not worked out? Yes. Does this also mean he’s not doing anything and is just lounging around collecting his pay Check? I highly doubt that.
With the contracts we have it’s a tough job to add anything significant this season, put that together with a weak prospect pool and it makes it hard to bring in top 6/4 talent.
Sure we could deal a first rounder but is that getting you a top six scoring forward or a 2nd line centre who is young with term?
I hate seeing the product we’ve watched the past 20ish games but we are not exactly stocked with movable assets to bring in help.
When this team actually competes for 60 minutes and plays to the game plan they look very good, but the massive inconsistency from game to game is rediculous.
Everyone should share blame but what the hell are the players doing is it that hard to execute a game plan?
- Sabres1523

I don’t think anyone was expecting Cup contention. After a good start, this team has been putrid. They’re moving in the wrong direction.