aside from skinner and dahlin

this team is no better then last year

in many ways the middle 6 is much worse


and the d is no better then last year, as a group


pp sucks

pk, decent

a few more clutch saves from the goalies vs last year, say 5 a week
- homiedclown

Agreed 100%.

yeah history shows he good at this.... Giving credit for something he hasn't done Brilliant! he plan was to tank all last year and this year... come on!
- gordong

He could have made a move last year to help the team’s chances. Could of resigned Kane and won just enough games to end up with the 4th overall pick. He didn’t, he went down with the sinking ship and now we get to enjoy watching Dahlin for the next 10-15 years.

top Candidates according to whom??? There was way more choices than Housley to be coach... Yeah lets add a Rookie head coach to a team FULL of rookie players... Makes sense. (frank) that get the experienced head coach so when he says something the kid listen, two years later and the kids still are NOT listening.


not to mention the fact that the same owner (frank)ed up the prior choices....
- gordong

The same owner had Babcock in town. Not the owner's fault he wanted to go elsewhere.

Hired the 2 Time cup winning coach in Pittsburgh, developed Matt Murray, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, signed Sheary as an undrafted college player. Managed the Penguins cap to allow them to stay compliant with all the stars they had there. Had his hand in the most successful AHL franchise the past decade that just spat out another bottom 6 forward in Theodor Blueger who is producing there. Since he left Pittsburgh they have made questionable roster decisions, lost in the 2nd round to the Caps, and are a fringe playoff team this year cause Jack Johnson was somehow a good idea.

Remained patient in his first full season in Buffalo and allowed us to draft Dahlin. Mittelstadt will be a good player in this league for a long time. Traded for Skinner. Managed to land us 2 additional first round picks while surpassing last years point total with a month and a half left to go in the season. Made low risk moves in Beaulieu, Sheary, Hunwick that although may not have worked out, are easy fixes. The ROR move is the only thing you can hang over his head right now yet Thompson isn’t fully developed, the first round pick hasn’t even be drafted yet, and we have no idea what he’ll do with the additional 6M in cap space. Sobotka was a clear cap dump that he’ll have to get rid of but even then he’s gone after next season anyways.
- Pegullaville

No offense, as your points do have merit in some cases...but what we have here is a bunch of hope. Maybe some, most, many come true...that would be great...but we were hoping that Bailey, Baptiste, Nylander and Guhle would all be decent NHL players as well...ya, not so much anymore. Sure, different regime, but all that 3-legged stool hope turned out to be proped-up by two broken legs with scotch tape holding them together.
The Bills have been selling hope for 18 years.
I'll remain hopeful, but really skeptical as well.

also got in position to clean out most of murray's mess in 16 months, minus okposo
- homiedclown

This above all else is the most remarkable thing he has done as I never thought it was possible.

All of this

Hired the 2 Time cup winning coach in Pittsburgh, developed Matt Murray, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, signed Sheary as an undrafted college player. Managed the Penguins cap to allow them to stay compliant with all the stars they had there. Had his hand in the most successful AHL franchise the past decade that just spat out another bottom 6 forward in Theodor Blueger who is producing there. Since he left Pittsburgh they have made questionable roster decisions, lost in the 2nd round to the Caps, and are a fringe playoff team this year cause Jack Johnson was somehow a good idea.

Remained patient in his first full season in Buffalo and allowed us to draft Dahlin. Mittelstadt will be a good player in this league for a long time. Traded for Skinner. Managed to land us 2 additional first round picks while surpassing last years point total with a month and a half left to go in the season. Made low risk moves in Beaulieu, Sheary, Hunwick that although may not have worked out, are easy fixes. The ROR move is the only thing you can hang over his head right now yet Thompson isn’t fully developed, the first round pick hasn’t even be drafted yet, and we have no idea what he’ll do with the additional 6M in cap space. Sobotka was a clear cap dump that he’ll have to get rid of but even then he’s gone after next season anyways.
- Pegullaville

he didn't do most of this stuff by himself he was not the GM in Pittsburgh. he was Assistant GM. your giving him credit for all the stuff Pittsburgh has done, when they had the two best player in the world on their team.

same could be said for the sabres, once briere and drury walked
- homiedclown

Oilers history>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Sabres history



Just being honest.

He could have made a move last year to help the team’s chances. Could of resigned Kane and won just enough games to end up with the 4th overall pick. He didn’t, he went down with the sinking ship and now we get to enjoy watching Dahlin for the next 10-15 years.
- Pegullaville

and Nylander could still be a future NHL hall of fame player...

and Nylander could still be a future NHL hall of fame player...
- gordong

You're talking about Michael right?

he didn't do most of this stuff by himself he was not the GM in Pittsburgh. he was Assistant GM. your giving him credit for all the stuff Pittsburgh has done, when they had the two best player in the world on their team.
- gordong

And you're not giving him any credit.

The Hockey News praised this as a genius hire. I just re-read the article.

Countless Penguins players credit him with helping in their development as the AGM (who also acts as GM of the farm team).

And you're not giving him any credit.

The Hockey News praised this as a genius hire. I just re-read the article.

Countless Penguins players credit him with helping in their development as the AGM (who also acts as GM of the farm team).
- Powerslave

in my mind, order of issue I have...with the organization (I personally have many, lol)
1 - Players
2 - Players
3 - Housley
4 - water boy
5 - whimpy taco cart
6 - Botts

That said, the honeymoon is over...he needs to bring in players that get this team into the playoffs next year period. So if he has problems with Housley, Fire him. But he best get solid players who have the skill set and determination to win.

And you're not giving him any credit.

The Hockey News praised this as a genius hire. I just re-read the article.

Countless Penguins players credit him with helping in their development as the AGM (who also acts as GM of the farm team).
- Powerslave

great we're still waiting... That all Im saying. Still waiting. just because some expert thinks it was genius doesn't make it so... I've been down this road before, now it show me... until he does he's just anther guy....

sorry but there nothing that moves the needle yet been almost two years.

in my mind, order of issue I have...with the organization (I personally have many, lol)
1 - Players
2 - Players
3 - Housley
4 - water boy
5 - whimpy taco cart
6 - Botts

That said, the honeymoon is over...he needs to bring in players that get this team into the playoffs next year period. So if he has problems with Housley, Fire him. But he best get solid players who have the skill set and determination to win.
- IonSabres

no way I see him pulling this off in one off season.. and this is why Im not impressed because we really are no better than last year... and this year we probably won't have the first pick in the draft.

You're talking about Michael right?
- dadeadhead

- gordong

He's the only one with a shot IMO and it isn't a good one either.

great we're still waiting... That all Im saying. Still waiting. just because some expert thinks it was genius doesn't make it so... I've been down this road before, now it show me... until he does he's just anther guy....

sorry but there nothing that moves the needle yet been almost two years.
- gordong

We've all been down this road before. I've been a Sabres fan for 40 plus years.

And it's tough to move a needle when you're cleaning up the previous regime's mess.

And you just said the words "show me". Which is it? Fire his as$ or show me?

Hired the 2 Time cup winning coach in Pittsburgh, developed Matt Murray, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, signed Sheary as an undrafted college player. Managed the Penguins cap to allow them to stay compliant with all the stars they had there. Had his hand in the most successful AHL franchise the past decade that just spat out another bottom 6 forward in Theodor Blueger who is producing there. Since he left Pittsburgh they have made questionable roster decisions, lost in the 2nd round to the Caps, and are a fringe playoff team this year cause Jack Johnson was somehow a good idea.

Remained patient in his first full season in Buffalo and allowed us to draft Dahlin. Mittelstadt will be a good player in this league for a long time. Traded for Skinner. Managed to land us 2 additional first round picks while surpassing last years point total with a month and a half left to go in the season. Made low risk moves in Beaulieu, Sheary, Hunwick that although may not have worked out, are easy fixes. The ROR move is the only thing you can hang over his head right now yet Thompson isn’t fully developed, the first round pick hasn’t even be drafted yet, and we have no idea what he’ll do with the additional 6M in cap space. Sobotka was a clear cap dump that he’ll have to get rid of but even then he’s gone after next season anyways.
- Pegullaville

Great post. Totally agree and I have faith in Botts.

no way I see him pulling this off in one off season.. and this is why Im not impressed because we really are no better than last year... and this year we probably won't have the first pick in the draft.
- gordong

Tank on...they can improve the odds of picking Top 3 from their current 5% !!!

No offense, as your points do have merit in some cases...but what we have here is a bunch of hope. Maybe some, most, many come true...that would be great...but we were hoping that Bailey, Baptiste, Nylander and Guhle would all be decent NHL players as well...ya, not so much anymore. Sure, different regime, but all that 3-legged stool hope turned out to be proped-up by two broken legs with scotch tape holding them together.
The Bills have been selling hope for 18 years.
I'll remain hopeful, but really skeptical as well.
- IonSabres

You’re right, potential only means so much unless it’s realized. For now Botts has given me a reason to have faith. Ask me this again on August 1st and I might have a different answer for you. This is a big offseason for him.

Oilers history>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Sabres history



Just being honest.
- dadeadhead

we were still a respectable team aside from the bankrupt years from the beginning until when briere and drury left though


this just sucks, the last 12 years

You're talking about Michael right?
- dadeadhead

We've all been down this road before. I've been a Sabres fan for 40 plus years.

And it's tough to move a needle when you're cleaning up the previous regime's mess.

And you just said the words "show me". Which is it? Fire his as$ or show me?
- Powerslave

For me, Show Me.
I like his efforts alot in cleaning up the mess, it was and continues to be a significant effort no doubt. I like his draft choices to date...there is Hope there...but that is what it is right now.

I'm not a fan of the Pro Player moves to date, as he has taken on a bunch of bad contracts in Scandella, Pommer, Hunwick, Slobotka, Bergy ... is there another I'm not thinking of? ... those have handcuffed him to some degree. I am not a fan of Sheary nor any of the above players on those bad contracts either (Pommer is ok).
It is a very mixed review.
For next season, playoffs or bust.
Find a couple of middle 6 wingers who can produce, get a serviceable 2C that can move to 3C who isn't on a killer contract...get a stay at home D who is tough to play against to pair with Dahlin (time to turn him loose).
he now has had 2 seasons to figure it out...get it done already!!
Honeymoon is over.

You’re right, potential only means so much unless it’s realized.
- Pegullaville

amazing what the light can do

amazing what the light can do



- homiedclown

you would do her.