TT is a work-in-progress. Great hands, hard (but wild) shot with the wing-span of a condor. Young and cheap. You don't give up on him so early, particularly when you look at who is playing with. I still think he is good for 15 - 20 goals. We have much bigger (and expensive) issues to deal with than Tage Thompson. Botts has to rid the team of the dead-weight and we all know who they are.

It's actually anyone not named

Dahlin
Ristro
Jack
Skinner
Sam
Mitts
Montour
McCabe
Ullmark


4th line 1
4th line 2
4th line 3


Everyone else can go and I could care less about them, Keep three whoever's for the 4th line.


So currently we have 12 players (and Im being generous), the rest need to go.
- gordong

That’s pretty fair
There’s a few guys that u can add imo,
but i see where you’re coming from

Botts still has work to do

Personally I think they need to wait to call anyone up until they are eliminated
from the playoffs, because we all know Phil is not going to give them any chance otherwise.

IT MAKES ZERO SENSE TO CALL ANYONE UP AND PLAY THEM ON THE 4TH LINE

if they are going to call them up, give them an opportunity to actually play and have a chance! if they aren't willing to do that no sense calling up anyone.


and Seriously, if the winning percentage is not better by the end of the year they NEED to FIRED HOUSLEY! IF Not then we have at least 2 more years of sucking ass.
- gordong

I cant believe I am typing this:

Good post gordong 👍👏

I cant believe I am typing this:

Good post gordong 👍👏
- Boss34

LOL, Just think of it this way, even a broken clock is right twice a day.... . Thanks man. I mean it just kinda make sense...

the last 38 games, this team has the same win% as last season


translation, Phil is not getting any better in year 2 behind the bench


oh and lehner might win the vezina

LOL, Just think of it this way, even a broken clock is right twice a day.... . Thanks man. I mean it just kinda make sense...
- gordong

They have 3 call ups.

Asplund, Olofsson, and Borgen in my book.

That’s pretty fair
There’s a few guys that u can add imo,
but i see where you’re coming from

Botts still has work to do
- jdfitz77

I think we all agree on this one!!! Some guys there are hope for, other's COULD maybe stay but I just went with what I felt where guys that were more established or the upside was bigger (mitts as an example).

I'm sure others will not want some guys, and add others and that's fine...

I think what this REALLY shows is we have A LOT of spots still to fill STILL, either by vets, draft choices, or someone from Rochester. Not sure how long it will take before we can pull this off, but I sure hope the number of open spots, dwindles this off season.

the last 38 games, this team has the same win% as last season


translation, Phil is not getting any better in year 2 behind the bench


oh and lehner might win the vezina
- homiedclown

Im not a Phil fan of any kind... the consent switching of lines back and forth just goes to show you he has no clue... that's not even talking about special teams, system, or technical stuff behind the bench like calling a time out when needed, or switching goalies... He bad at almost everything.

The whole Lenhner thing is kinda mind blowing... if they knew he was having all these issues (They had too right???). why didn't you keep the guy and get him some help??? IMHO they kinda blew this.... but I also understood why they just washed there hands of it. The question is do the players see this and think management doesn't give two craps about me if I need help they will just bail. (Would love to know what they think) .....

They have 3 call ups.

Asplund, Olofsson, and Borgen in my book.
- Lunaion

Im fine with these three, or someone else... (Really the only other guy would be Nylander in my mind) just give them an honest opportunity.

I though Borgen had an outstanding training camp... one could have made a case he should have made the team... I don't really follow the Amerks to really know what they think of him but we surely could use some grit on the back end.

Im not a Phil fan of any kind... the consent switching of lines back and forth just goes to show you he has no clue... that's not even talking about special teams, system, or technical stuff behind the bench like calling a time out when needed, or switching goalies... He bad at almost everything.

The whole Lenhner thing is kinda mind blowing... if they knew he was having all these issues (They had too right???). why didn't you keep the guy and get him some help??? IMHO they kinda blew this.... but I also understood why they just washed there hands of it. The question is do the players see this and think management doesn't give two craps about me if I need help they will just bail. (Would love to know what they think) .....
- gordong

They didn't "bail".

It's been widely reported on that Botts kept in close contact w the man while he was getting better.

Let's not forget that 99% of the people who were Sabres fans last year were ready to run him out of town. But then when we find out he's got issues, it's omg, I hope he's OK. You know what? Eff off to those "fans". These guys are (frank)ing human beings, whether they have "issues" or not.

Ffs, I can't wait until we're winning again. So sick and tired of all this CRAP.

I’ve said my piece on Tage. We can debate this until we are blue in the face. I’m going to hold judgement until I see what he brings forward next year with what should be a much better supporting cast and another offseason to turn his lanky boy body into one of a man. The battle this year is lost, however the war isn’t over.

Tage Norwood.

No one wants to talk how Kane got his ass kicked .

They didn't "bail".

It's been widely reported on that Botts kept in close contact w the man while he was getting better.

Let's not forget that 99% of the people who were Sabres fans last year were ready to run him out of town. But then when we find out he's got issues, it's omg, I hope he's OK. You know what? Eff off to those "fans". These guys are (frank)ing human beings, whether they have "issues" or not.

Ffs, I can't wait until we're winning again. So sick and tired of all this CRAP.
- Powerslave

I know Botts stayed it touch with him I guess I just wonder why wouldn't they have kept him and got him the help he needed? why did he have to go someplace else to get help... it really water under the bridge at this point, like I said I understand why they moved on....

I cant really blame the fans that felt like that, he was horrible, NOW after he was let go we found out why... how do you blame the fans??? .. sorry don't agree with you on that...

If we known before he left... and felt like that sure, what kind of human being would wish that on someone else (A low life IMHO) but not knowing he had issues and he sucked the fans just figured he wasn't any good.

I’ve said my piece on Tage. We can debate this until we are blue in the face. I’m going to hold judgement until I see what he brings forward next year with what should be a much better supporting cast and another offseason to turn his lanky boy body into one of a man. The battle this year is lost, however the war isn’t over.
- Pegullaville

Yeah, this. Unfortunately, this team is not in situation where there are better, young-and-upcoming options at wing right now.

We’ll have to rely on TT to grow and mature physically and mentally. He needs to be in a better spot next year so this season wasn’t wasted development.

Tage Norwood.
- Khmylev

And this not inaccurate.

And this not inaccurate.
- PrinceChill

Tage has more misses than a Polygamist

No one wants to talk how Kane got his ass kicked .
- gerbe75pts

The fact that kane had the balls to stick up for himself and fight was more impressive too me.

And this not inaccurate.
- PrinceChill

No, it’s Tage’s shot that is not accurate.

For the tank supporters, Oilers up on leafs 1-0. Draisatil with an end to end beauty.

With respect to Tage, Sabres should be looking to either:
A) trade him before his value pluments any further
B) send him to Rochester for serious development
It is very obvious what ever this current Development Plan playing on the "3rd line" for 11 minutes in the NHL is, well it isn't working...in fact it is working against him.
He has serious work to do before he busts out.


He has now played roughly 100 games, and looks like he needs 2 seasons of grooming in the AHL for his game to come around.
-Yes, he is young ... many, many fine players are young. He is not improving.
-No, he hasn't played with the best players. He hasn't earned it, period. His game reflects his skills...very raw and requires significant refinement, development.
-Yes, he is big, and you can't coach 6'5" size...who gives a crap if a 6'5" player cant use the natural guft he was hiven...he plays like Bambi...shows absolutely zero natural inclination to mix it up, to use an attribute to his advantage...a sin really.
-Yes he has a hell of a shot...and the boards get punished as a result of his incredible inaccuracy
-Yes, he is fast...skates well in a straight line...then gets list when the opposition changes direction, his skating needs incredible work.

This experiment of trying to develop him in the NHL should end now, or trade him.

I know Botts stayed it touch with him I guess I just wonder why wouldn't they have kept him and got him the help he needed? why did he have to go someplace else to get help... it really water under the bridge at this point, like I said I understand why they moved on....

I cant really blame the fans that felt like that, he was horrible, NOW after he was let go we found out why... how do you blame the fans??? .. sorry don't agree with you on that...

If we known before he left... and felt like that sure, what kind of human being would wish that on someone else (A low life IMHO) but not knowing he had issues and he sucked the fans just figured he wasn't any good.
- gordong

Dude, it is a business...and the cost of keeping him was $4m+.
HE played like crap, HE made the decisions during a contract year.
Botts stood by him, who knows what really happened between him and the organization...did they approach him and he refused? Who knows?
This is on him.
Botts tried to help.
Nobody was wrong for cutting ties in a businness contract...and Botts tried to help him on a personal level.
Kuddos to Botts
Kudos's to Lehner for straighting himself out
Kuddos for Isles f r giving him a chance on a 1 year prove deal for $1m
Kuddos to Lehner for accepting he challenge and beating the poop out if it!

They have 3 call ups.

Asplund, Olofsson, and Borgen in my book.
- Lunaion

It would be nice to see if Olofsson can handle a top 6 role before the end of the season, probably time to send Tage down so he can build some confidence

With respect to Tage, Sabres should be looking to either:
A) trade him before his value pluments any further
B) send him to Rochester for serious development
It is very obvious what ever this current Development Plan playing on the "3rd line" for 11 minutes in the NHL is, well it isn't working...in fact it is working against him.
He has serious work to do before he busts out.


He has now played roughly 100 games, and looks like he needs 2 seasons of grooming in the AHL for his game to come around.
-Yes, he is young ... many, many fine players are young. He is not improving.
-No, he hasn't played with the best players. He hasn't earned it, period. His game reflects his skills...very raw and requires significant refinement, development.
-Yes, he is big, and you can't coach 6'5" size...who gives a crap if a 6'5" player cant use the natural guft he was hiven...he plays like Bambi...shows absolutely zero natural inclination to mix it up, to use an attribute to his advantage...a sin really.
-Yes he has a hell of a shot...and the boards get punished as a result of his incredible inaccuracy
-Yes, he is fast...skates well in a straight line...then gets list when the opposition changes direction, his skating needs incredible work.

This experiment of trying to develop him in the NHL should end now, or trade him.
- IonSabres

One thing is for certain with Tage, nothing is certain. He could dominate next game. He's done it before.

Also, we have no RW depth. Anyone excited for pending-UFA Danny O'Regan?

It would be nice to see if Olofsson can handle a top 6 role before the end of the season, probably time to send Tage down so he can build some confidence
- mattmoulson

Need to see if he can play in the NHL. Top 6 still seems ambitious.