JBotts stated from the beginning that he wanted to build a winner in Rochester that would eventually transition to Buffalo. Would the team be in a much better position if Nylander was here all year or if Olofsson was called up in November? Perhaps, but unlikely we'd be in the playoffs. I feel their time this year in Rochester helped their development more than if they played here all season.
And although the Sabres may have a better record at the end of the year, in the long run the team will be better picking 5th instead of 15th.
- adambuffalo

I agree with your last statement. I've always said I'd rather have a top pick over missing the playoffs by a couple points. My issue with how things were handled is geared towards Thompson getting the full year when he didnt earn or deserve it. Obviously got it because he's a botts guy and olofsson/nylander are murray guys.

Is E-Rod hurt?

Olofsson - Eichel - Reinhart
Skinner - Mittelstadt - Pominville
Sheary - Sobotka - Nylander
Girgensons - Larsson - Okposo


I'd flip Pommer and Nylander and put E-Rod where Sobotka is
- Stripes77

E-rod is hurt from that boarding penalty last game.

lol I'll never forget getting run out of here for saying that Leino was a bad signing at the time.
- BINGO!

I believe Homie said Leino would get at least 50 points here... And he meant during the season.

Victor Olofsson - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Was so expecting Gum to pair him with Sobotka.




Conor Sheary - Vladimir Sobotka - Alex Nylander

Ah there it is, delegate one of our best players right now to our terrible 3rd line.

I believe Homie said Leino would get at least 50 points here... And he meant during the season.
- jochfr

I agree with your last statement. I've always said I'd rather have a top pick over missing the playoffs by a couple points. My issue with how things were handled is geared towards Thompson getting the full year when he didnt earn or deserve it. Obviously got it because he's a botts guy and olofsson/nylander are murray guys.
- Smittyx36

We should have sent Tage directly to Roch after the ROR trade and plucked any warm body off of waivers or made a reasonable trade to fill his spot. He obviously didnt help this team and it doesnt look like he developed much.

I believe Homie said Leino would get at least 50 points here... And he meant during the season.
- jochfr

Victor Olofsson - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Was so expecting Gum to pair him with Sobotka.




Conor Sheary - Vladimir Sobotka - Alex Nylander

Ah there it is, delegate one of our best players right now to our terrible 3rd line.
- ManitouSabres

Yup

I like the first line

But I would play Nylander with Casey

Who cares about defense at this point. I want to see young skill with young skill

Could there be something deeper that’s wrong with this organization?
ROR: Lost love for the game here. Wanted out.
Lehner: Alcohol abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts.
Okposo: Depression, suicidal thoughts.
Berglund: Depression, walked away from a pile of money to leave this team.

Does any other team in the league have a list like this? 3/4 of these guys could not be happier to be away from this place. And the other one probably wouldn’t mind splitting either.

Even the players without clinically diagnosed problems look miserable. Now the fans have no choice but to cheer for losses and hold expectations that this next draft pick will be the one to finally turn everything around. I wish that guy the best of luck.
- PrinceChill

This is fact.
Not the fans fault they look for any bright light in a season full of failures.
But some Express their own frustration rather poorly.

Victor Olofsson - Jack Eichel - Sam Reinhart

Was so expecting Gum to pair him with Sobotka.




Conor Sheary - Vladimir Sobotka - Alex Nylander

Ah there it is, delegate one of our best players right now to our terrible 3rd line.
- ManitouSabres

Hard work and a sniper doesn’t get any respect oh well

We should have sent Tage directly to Roch after the ROR trade and plucked any warm body off of waivers or made a reasonable trade to fill his spot. He obviously didnt help this team and it doesnt look like he developed much.
- seedy

Botts wanted to prove that getting Tage was not a mistake so give him the chance in Buffalo. It failed. I would have loved him in Rochester on a line with Smith and Porter. If he did well down there he would have got the call up. He would have developed properly. Heck, when he was in St. Louis he played some games in San Antonio.

I'm starting to have serious doubts about Botterill as a GM. And the reason why Rochester is doing so well this year is because of Randy Sexton and Taylor. Not Botterill.

My dudes,

I copied the below from the Hamster piece on GR. Pretty awesome. I mean what else is Dahlin going to say, but I think there will be some good camaraderie between Goalofsson and Dahlin. Kinda excited to watch tonight.

Victor Olofsson makes his NHL debut on a line with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart. Olofsson played in the SHL with Rasmus Dahlin who said wait until you see his shot, “He’s probably has the best shot I’ve ever seen in my life, it’s unbelievable.

“It’s so quick and so hard and it’s probably so tough for the goalies. I’m going to give him the puck on the power play and hopefully he scores.”

other lines:

Girgensons Larsson Okposo

Skinner Mittelstadt Pominville

Sheary Sobotka Nylander

Botts wanted to prove that getting Tage was not a mistake so give him the chance in Buffalo. It failed. I would have loved him in Rochester on a line with Smith and Porter. If he did well down there he would have got the call up. He would have developed properly. Heck, when he was in St. Louis he played some games in San Antonio.

I'm starting to have serious doubts about Botterill as a GM. And the reason why Rochester is doing so well this year is because of Randy Sexton and Taylor. Not Botterill.
- mhp

Would they have done as well if Nylander, Pilut and Olofsson started in Buffalo? Maybe call up Smith as well. Not sure they'd be in the same spot. However, I agree that Thompson would have benefited more having spent the year in Rochester. We can hope that a disappointing season in Buffalo motivates him to work his butt off this summer and come back bigger and stronger and ready to actually earn a spot with the big club.

We should have sent Tage directly to Roch after the ROR trade and plucked any warm body off of waivers or made a reasonable trade to fill his spot. He obviously didnt help this team and it doesnt look like he developed much.
- seedy

Jordan Nolan says whatup G

We should have sent Tage directly to Roch after the ROR trade and plucked any warm body off of waivers or made a reasonable trade to fill his spot. He obviously didnt help this team and it doesnt look like he developed much.
- seedy

We shouldn't have traded ROR, or if we did, not receive St Louis' 3 worst players. Also, if you say you only received 1 legit offer, then don't trade him. I no longer trust Botts' judgement when it comes to trades. Eff that guy.

Botts wanted to prove that getting Tage was not a mistake so give him the chance in Buffalo. It failed. I would have loved him in Rochester on a line with Smith and Porter. If he did well down there he would have got the call up. He would have developed properly. Heck, when he was in St. Louis he played some games in San Antonio.

I'm starting to have serious doubts about Botterill as a GM. And the reason why Rochester is doing so well this year is because of Randy Sexton and Taylor. Not Botterill.
- mhp

I'm already there. The guy sucks.

Would they have done as well if Nylander, Pilut and Olofsson started in Buffalo? Maybe call up Smith as well. Not sure they'd be in the same spot. However, I agree that Thompson would have benefited more having spent the year in Rochester. We can hope that a disappointing season in Buffalo motivates him to work his butt off this summer and come back bigger and stronger and ready to actually earn a spot with the big club.
- adambuffalo

In the case of Nylander, Pilut and Olofsson, only Pilut impressed in camp enough to get a spot but they chose otherwise. Olofsson is in his first year in NA and needed time down there and Nylander was getting over an injury to start the year, if I recall. But I get your point.

The team preaches proper development but Tage was here for some inexplicable reason.

We shouldn't have traded ROR, or if we did, not receive St Louis' 3 worst players. Also, if you say you only received 1 legit offer, then don't trade him. I no longer trust Botts' judgement when it comes to trades. Eff that guy.
- kritter65

I was hoping for Thomas or Kyrou and getting Tage instead was a big downer. This was a joke of a trade.

I'm already there. The guy sucks.
- kritter65

I want to see what he does this summer and if it's blah or makes another sh!t trade, then I'll join you.

We shouldn't have traded ROR, or if we did, not receive St Louis' 3 worst players. Also, if you say you only received 1 legit offer, then don't trade him. I no longer trust Botts' judgement when it comes to trades. Eff that guy.
- kritter65

Skinner for pieces
Sheary and Hunwick for a 4th
Montour

You're placing all your judgment on one trade without allowing the trade to play out in full? ROR didn't want to be here anymore. Deal with it.

In the case of Nylander, Pilut and Olofsson, only Pilut impressed in camp enough to get a spot but they chose otherwise. Olofsson is in his first year in NA and needed time down there and Nylander was getting over an injury to start the year, if I recall. But I get your point.

The team preaches proper development but Tage was here for some inexplicable reason.
- mhp

I wonder if Tage is sent down much earlier if Berglund doesn't bail. Or Mitts.

We shouldn't have traded ROR, or if we did, not receive St Louis' 3 worst players. Also, if you say you only received 1 legit offer, then don't trade him. I no longer trust Botts' judgement when it comes to trades. Eff that guy.
- kritter65

Based on one trade? Or the one trade that some can't seem to move on from?

You win some, you lose some.

He's won other trades.

I was hoping for Thomas or Kyrou and getting Tage instead was a big downer. This was a joke of a trade.
- mhp

Neither would have made this team any better this year. Still time will tell which will turn into the best NHLer. Of course Thomas and Kyrou have the advantage playing on a good team, but Tage shouldn't be written off yet. A lot of big bodied players take longer to develop.

Botts assembled a team he thought could at the very least compete. As soon as the whole Berglund fiasco happened and he realized he didn’t have an adequate 2nd line option to insulate Mitts he probbaly started choking his chicken to the thought of Turcotte/Zegras/Boldy with a lotto shot at Hughes/Kakko.
- Pegullaville

Berglund was moved to the 4th line around game 10
Pretty sure Botts knew right then- BEFORE THE STREAK- that Berglund wasn’t gonna be a productive 2C for us

Pominville our Masterton nominee has some stiff competition amongst ex Sabres:
Kulikov
Fedun
Ennis
Lehner