Michael Pachla: Gm Jason Botterill makes it pretty clear, the Sabres are on their own

Michael Pachla: Gm Jason Botterill makes it pretty clear, the Sabres are on their own
- Michael Pachla

"The sky is falling!"

-Loosey Goosey

"The sky has Fallen!"

-Loosey Goosey
- The Don

FTFY.

Will Borgen will save us.

1st, Nylander and Beaulieu for Laine and Schiefele

Will Borgen will save us.
- Angler

Too bad the development curve on Samuelsson and Borgen is so slow.

Will Borgen will save us.
- Angler

he done did good

The ship has sunk. All hands lost.

Too bad the development curve on Samuelsson and Borgen is so slow.
- TheSabresTaco

word is that 22 yr. old jack Dougherty (+20 on the season) is developing rather well

All we had to do is play .500 hockey the rest of the way out after the 10 game win streak and we prob are in the playoffs. I like Jbotts I do, but don't you have to try something to stop the bleeding when it started to go south?

He did squat...

While having a minor league team that is functional is important his main job should be to get the Sabres into the PLAYOFFS, we can't win cup(s) if we can't at least make the playoffs.

They are definitely "sinking" to the bottom of Lake Erie that's for sure.

I think Botts is reluctant to pull the switch on any major moves because of the questionable returns he has gotten for both Kane and ROR. If he signs Skinner next week and dumps Beaulieu - and maybe some other dead-weights, then maybe the heat will come off of him. However, by then the Sabres will likely be in the midst of a 7 game losing streak so the hounds will be barking.

All we had to do is play .500 hockey the rest of the way out after the 10 game win streak and we prob are in the playoffs. I like Jbotts I do, but don't you have to try something to stop the bleeding when it started to go south?

He did squat...

While having a minor league team that is functional is important his main job should be to get the Sabres into the PLAYOFFS, we can win cup(s) if we can't at least make the playoffs.
- hehateme

too bad he missed out on Neiderreiter...would have been a good pickup...bolstered the 'Canes to the point where they went from seven points out of a playoff spot to one

All we had to do is play .500 hockey the rest of the way out after the 10 game win streak and we prob are in the playoffs. I like Jbotts I do, but don't you have to try something to stop the bleeding when it started to go south?

He did squat...

While having a minor league team that is functional is important his main job should be to get the Sabres into the PLAYOFFS, we can't win cup(s) if we can't at least make the playoffs.
- hehateme

Agreed 100%.

They are definitely "sinking" to the bottom of Lake Erie that's for sure.

I think Botts is reluctant to pull the switch on any major moves because of the questionable returns he has gotten for both Kane and ROR. If he signs Skinner next week and dumps Beaulieu - and maybe some other dead-weights, then maybe the heat will come off of him. However, by then the Sabres will likely be in the midst of a 7 game losing streak so the hounds will be barking.
- SabreWest

idk about that, he might just be waiting for the perfect deal, like the skinner one, and he's fine standing pat if it doesn't happen

All we had to do is play .500 hockey the rest of the way out after the 10 game win streak and we prob are in the playoffs. I like Jbotts I do, but don't you have to try something to stop the bleeding when it started to go south?

He did squat...

While having a minor league team that is functional is important his main job should be to get the Sabres into the PLAYOFFS, we can't win cup(s) if we can't at least make the playoffs.
- hehateme

After thinking about it I guess I don’t blame him. No one ever expected the team to be leading the league at the date that they were. They have to be thinking that they are playing with house money. Why sell off assets when you are just continuing on with your original plan of sucking all season ? He had to be thinking that anything more than .500 would be gravy.

word is that 22 yr. old jack Dougherty (+20 on the season) is developing rather well
- Michael Pachla

I was p!ssed when we passed on Dougherty (and McKeown) in the draft in 2014 to draft Karabacek (and Cornel)

Glad we have him now
I think he can be a decent depth defenseman for us

All we had to do is play .500 hockey the rest of the way out after the 10 game win streak and we prob are in the playoffs. I like Jbotts I do, but don't you have to try something to stop the bleeding when it started to go south?

He did squat...

While having a minor league team that is functional is important his main job should be to get the Sabres into the PLAYOFFS, we can't win cup(s) if we can't at least make the playoffs.
- hehateme

I think the greater point he was kind of making here was that making an in season move should not be required to make or break a team. The biggest players in the season move at or around the TDL 99% of the time. You're not making big player moves, typically, before then. And despite the fact that this team needs several new and better pieces, they also need development from a lot of their young players. Fact is, an in season trade is probably not moving the needle. And he knows that, and fans hate it. It's not what fans and media prefer, but it's reality. The best he can do is find a long term, top 4 or 6 piece for this team at the TDL or before the draft. This team isn't a player or two away from ascension. It's a half a roster away, with some of those still needing development and some of those sorely needing replacement, short and long term.

I was p!ssed when we passed on Dougherty (and McKeown) in the draft in 2014 to draft Karabacek

Glad we have him now
I think he can be a decent depth defenseman for us
- jdfitz77

me too

idk about that, he might just be waiting for the perfect deal, like the skinner one, and he's fine standing pat if it doesn't happen
- Michael Pachla

He's very methodical, as advertised.

I think the greater point he was kind of making here was that making an in season move should not be required to make or break a team. The biggest players in the season move at or around the TDL 99% of the time. You're not making big player moves, typically, before then. And despite the fact that this team needs several new and better pieces, they also need development from a lot of their young players. Fact is, an in season trade is probably not moving the needle. And he knows that, and fans hate it. It's not what fans and media prefer, but it's reality. The best he can do is find a long term, top 4 or 6 piece for this team at the TDL or before the draft. This team isn't a player or two away from ascension. It's a half a roster away, with some of those still needing development and some of those sorely needing replacement, short and long term.
- TheSabresTaco

Carolina might see things a little differently

I think the greater point he was kind of making here was that making an in season move should not be required to make or break a team. The biggest players in the season move at or around the TDL 99% of the time. You're not making big player moves, typically, before then. And despite the fact that this team needs several new and better pieces, they also need development from a lot of their young players. Fact is, an in season trade is probably not moving the needle. And he knows that, and fans hate it. It's not what fans and media prefer, but it's reality. The best he can do is find a long term, top 4 or 6 piece for this team at the TDL or before the draft. This team isn't a player or two away from ascension. It's a half a roster away, with some of those still needing development and some of those sorely needing replacement, short and long term.
- TheSabresTaco

Taco, I get it. Hockey Trades are very rarely done in season. But for god sake bring up some of the kids from Rochester other them Smith. I mean do something to try and get some offense...

I was p!ssed when we passed on Dougherty (and McKeown) in the draft in 2014 to draft Karabacek

Glad we have him now
I think he can be a decent depth defenseman for us
- jdfitz77

Well, it cost us a 2nd and a 3rd to finally get him, looking at the trade tree. So be it.

Carolina might see things a little differently
- Michael Pachla

In what sense

In what sense
- TheSabresTaco

they picked up Neiderreiter and went on a nice run to where they're only one point out of a playoff spot, three points out of third in the division

Taco, I get it. Hockey Trades are very rarely done in season. But for god sake bring up some of the kids from Rochester other them Smith. I mean do something to try and get some offense...
- hehateme

I can understand that. Ignoring the staff's firm beliefs that players will be brought up exactly when they are ready, it would only imply that a lot of these guys are just.. not ready.

Will bringing up Nylander, Asplund and Olofsson be fun for a couple games? Yeah, obviously. Will it help with their development? Maybe? Confidence? I dunno. Will they likely get their poop pushed in? Also likely.

Ultimately, will it lead to more team wins and reverse the course of this sinking ship? I hate to be the other That Guy, but no, it's not. Bringing up players that aren't ready is simply fan appreciation. And, as Botterill made it crystal clear yesterday, he doesn't give a poop about fan appreciation in that respect.