If Botts wants to tank again, he probably stays on, right?
- PrinceChill

Sure but they better be ready to have nobody go to games next year... I would imagine that the posters here are not the only ones sick of whatching this disaster happen nite in and nite out

Housley is terrible, but I think he’s the same as 50% of NHL coaches

Botterill is good, but he’s been handcuffed by the previous regime and possibly ownership in some ways. I think he deserves criticism for not adding to roster when things started going south, but in hindsight, we’re so far away I’m glad he didn’t

The players have packed it in. There was a stretch in late Jan/Feb where we were starting to play better and were just getting bad luck. Now they’re going through the motions. They dominated Jersey and barely had any legit high danger chances. Everyone, including Eichel has lost almost all interest.
- sbroads24

Was just saying the same thing to myself last night.

And how the (frank) do we go game after game without sufficient high danger chances? Screw percentages, that's on the coach as much as it is on the players. New Jersey sucks, and we got owned. We have one of if not the lowest goals per game. Because for some reason this coach and these players can't figure out how to get to the goal crease.

Was just saying the same thing to myself last night.

And how the (frank) do we go game after game without sufficient high danger chances? Screw percentages, that's on the coach as much as it is on the players. New Jersey sucks, and we got owned. We have one of if not the lowest goals per game. Because for some reason this coach and these players can't figure out how to get to the goal crease.
- TheSabresTaco

They’ve packed it in.

I honestly cannot believe this franchise will have wasted 4 years of Eichel so far.

I never thought this before, but this dude will Tavares it to Boston the second he can if we don’t become a contender

If Botts wants to tank again, he probably stays on, right?
- PrinceChill

No one. Wants. To. Tank.

No one. Wants. To. Tank.
- TheSabresTaco

Then this team is really, truly, abysmally managed.

Unless your objection is one of semantics. Fine. “Botts could keep Phil on for next year if he feels that his most palatable course of action is competing for the highest possible draft pick.”

And I suspect Pegullaville wants to tank.

They’ve packed it in.

I honestly cannot believe this franchise will have wasted 4 years of Eichel so far.

I never thought this before, but this dude will Tavares it to Boston the second he can if we don’t become a contender
- sbroads24

At this rate, I’d be surprised if Jack wants to finish his contract here. And at this rate, I’d have trouble blaming him.

Then this team is really, truly, abysmally managed.

Unless your objection is one of semantics. Fine. “Botts could keep Phil on for next year if he feels that his most palatable course of action is competing for the highest possible draft pick.”

And I suspect Pegullaville wants to tank.
- PrinceChill

I will never, ever buy into this. There is absolutely no reason a team with 2 young, franchise players needs to tank. LA needs to tank. Ottawa already (frank)ed that up, but they need to. Anaheim probably.

This franchise was mismanaged into oblivion, and the amount of impact players we drafted outside the first round has been minimal at best. Botts came in year one, signed a couple cheap plugs. Traded Ennis (Bought out in Minny) and Foligno (3rd liner) for a top 9 F and a supposed top 4 D, which performed as such last year. Watched the world burn. Year 2, he brought in Skinner (good) Sheary (fine) Berglund/Sobotka/Thompson (Not fine)

Fact is, he's done above average, but there are a lot of undesirable players here that he needs to deal with, combined with I assume almost being forced to trade you know who, on top of Murray futtbucking his drafts. Botterill needs to do more, and not make mistakes like "Berglund can be a buffer 2C until CM is ready"

No one. And I'm going to yell it into the void, wants to tank on this team.

Then this team is really, truly, abysmally managed.

Unless your objection is one of semantics. Fine. “Botts could keep Phil on for next year if he feels that his most palatable course of action is competing for the highest possible draft pick.”

And I suspect Pegullaville wants to tank.
- PrinceChill

No. This team wants to win, and a team that's tanking isn't using a 1st round pick to pick up a top 4, positive contributing player like Montour. Sorry. It's just not happening. This offseason will tell us a lot about the GM, and the owners. What's acceptable. What needs to happen in order for a team with Dahlin, Eichel, Reinhart, Skinner, Mittelstadt and Montour to succeed.

Borgen called up.

Borgen called up.
- TheSabresTaco

Borgen called up.
- TheSabresTaco

Dahlin to sit probably because he needs a night off.

~Phil housley

Dahlin to sit probably because he needs a night off.

~Phil housley
- ImThatGuy

The NJD... that's a good team over there.

We ran into a hot goalie.

Dahlin to sit probably because he needs a night off.

~Phil housley
- ImThatGuy

His checking detail isn't up to snuff, plus he's a non-vet

The NJD... that's a good team over there.

We ran into a hot goalie.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Yea that hot goalie who hasn't been healthy in 2 years and have a sub .900 Sv % and a 3+ GAA.

Borgen called up.
- TheSabresTaco

Put him with Dahlin, RHD defense first mentality, maybe he can be to Dahlin what Methot was to Karlsson

Borgen called up.
- TheSabresTaco

that's 3


who is the last

olofsson or asplund

only a few more games of this crap to watch


anyone that thinks a few minor moves is all that is needed, is clueless


this team has serious issues


adding 2 or 3 middle roster players will not fix this mess

No. This team wants to win, and a team that's tanking isn't using a 1st round pick to pick up a top 4, positive contributing player like Montour. Sorry. It's just not happening. This offseason will tell us a lot about the GM, and the owners. What's acceptable. What needs to happen in order for a team with Dahlin, Eichel, Reinhart, Skinner, Mittelstadt and Montour to succeed.
- TheSabresTaco

I am heartened by your stance against the tank, and if you’d believe it, I agree with you. This offseason is indeed a big test for JB and will tell us a lot about him.

It’s not going to be easy though, with so much mediocrity still under contract. But with players like Clarkson, Ericsson and other moved in the past, why not Botts and the Sabres’ steaming piles moved out?

At this rate, I’d be surprised if Jack wants to finish his contract here. And at this rate, I’d have trouble blaming him.
- PrinceChill

What if Jack says he's lost his love for the game ? Does he get run out of town too ?

that's 3


who is the last

olofsson or asplund
- homiedclown

Murray's picks to see NHL time - Reinhart, Eichel, Nylander, Lemieux, Guhle, Borgen so far. Asplund and Olofsson are the last ones with any chance to see the NHL in the near future. So, outside of top 10 picks, 3 in 3 drafts will see the NHL by this year. Potentially up to 5.

Just as a nice little bench, Tampa Bay 2014-2016 - Anthony DeAngelo, Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Mathieu Joseph, Brett Howden, Libor Hájek

Essentially the same success overall, but they have 6 in 3 drafts outside the top 10. With one massively impact forward and some quality depth guys. The Sabres have yet to find impact outside of the top 10. And there's issue #42

What if Jack says he's lost his love for the game ? Does he get run out of town too ?
- kritter65

I’d be shocked to hear Jack say something like that. And he’s got a much longer leash than ROR had. But I’ve heard some OReilly-isms slipped into some of his post-gamers: “Have to be better”. “Starts with me” “unacceptable”.

It won’t be fans running Jack out of town, it’s be constant, soul-crushing, hopeless losing that makes him give up on this team.

I am heartened by your stance against the tank, and if you’d believe it, I agree with you. This offseason is indeed a big test for JB and will tell us a lot about him.

It’s not going to be easy though, with so much mediocrity still under contract. But with players like Clarkson, Ericsson and other moved in the past, why not Botts and the Sabres’ steaming piles moved out?
- PrinceChill

Okposo and Lucic seem very stuck in their current situations. Anyone can be moved, but it comes down to, does the opposing GM actually want him getting minutes, unlike Horton, Clarkson, Datsyuk and Hossa? And what does our GM have to give as compensation? And what is a player like Okposo worth to either team? And is he willing to waive a M-NTC to go to said team? A lot goes into it. This team still lacks half of a competent defense corps, lacks an entire bottom 6, and a 2C. You can fix over 50% of their problems this summer. You have an extra 1st round pick to work with.

However, everyone wants to trade and package poop for gold, so prepare to not be impressed with whomever he trades Scandella/Bogo/Okposo (theoretically) for.

If Botts wants to tank again, he probably stays on, right?
- PrinceChill

If we tank again I'm legit changing teams and never coming back.

If we tank again I'm legit changing teams and never coming back.
- feetontheair22

Vegas is looking good huh? Nice to travel to a few games, new team so no bandwagon claims, etc.

Vegas is looking good huh? Nice to travel to a few games, new team so no bandwagon claims, etc.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Thats exactly who I would go over to. I am so (frank)ing fed up with this third-rate organization. If they mailed it in to start next season I'm (frank)ing gone.