Or, you dump some garbage salary, keep Okposo, use that 1st and/or Risto to trade for a long term 2C and not shell out ridiculous money for the potential to sign Duchene or Hayes.
- TheSabresTaco

Good post.

This guy ... wow

Just retire and be a DJ already
- gerbe75pts

lets trade risto and have nelson and borgen as our 2nd and 3rd pair RD

that's a huge exaggeration...

so freeing up cap space means this gm is gonna have the freedom to sign a free agent on july 1 that will magically become the best bargain the hockey universe has ever seen?
- Michael Pachla

It isn't but ok

lets trade risto and have nelson and borgen as our 2nd and 3rd pair RD



- homiedclown

And we wonder why every year we are on this blog complaining about the same crap and making ridiculous trade offers.

It isn't but ok
- SABRES 89

I am still waiting to here who will sign with the sabres this summer

I mean even skinner doesn't want to sign here

No way you give up a 1st round pick! Crazy
- Irish 14

We have 2, you move the late one all day long to move out Okposo

I am still waiting to here who will sign with the sabres this summer

I mean even skinner doesn't want to sign here
- homiedclown

What channel is our playoff game on tonight ?

And we wonder why every year we are on this blog complaining about the same crap and making ridiculous trade offers.
- SABRES 89

okposo looks like olli

That’s your opinion you don’t look at analytics and that’s your downfall
- gerbe75pts

Please show me the analytic chart that shows the lack of back checking and lack of defensive play from our forwards and also the chart that shows how many times the other defensemen forget what side of the ice they're supposed to be covering and then you can tell me that Risto is the problem.
I like Trouba and wanted him since his first contract dispute, but put him on this team and he won't look much different than Risto. Put Risto on the Jets and he's an allstar.
I don't know if it's just blind hatred or if many of the posters here just really don't understand hockey.

What channel is our playoff game on tonight ?
- SABRES 89

I asked the barkeep to put it on last night, she couldn't find it

I asked the barkeep to put it on last night, she couldn't find it
- homiedclown

I'll keep looking.

Please show me the analytic chart that shows the lack of back checking and lack of defensive play from our forwards and also the chart that shows how many times the other defensemen forget what side of the ice they're supposed to be covering and then you can tell me that Risto is the problem.
I like Trouba and wanted him since his first contract dispute, but put him on this team and he won't look much different than Risto. Put Risto on the Jets and he's an allstar.
I don't know if it's just blind hatred or if many of the posters here just really don't understand hockey.
- adambuffalo

Is this a Ristolainen apologist post. Cause I can find those stats you speak of.

I'm going to repost my Rist-evidence that shows he's not good in his own end. Do with it what you will, but it's extremely hard to argue that he's a quality defenseman in his own end.

Corey Pronman
@coreypronman
Cole Caufield goal count = 69.

Eliteprospects
@eliteprospects
Alex Ovechkins All-Time U18 Record (14) up next? Caufield one-times home his 11th of the tournament of a cross-crease pass from Zegras. Hughes picks up an assist as well for 🇺🇸. #U18Worlds

Corey Pronman
@coreypronman
Cole Caufield goal count = 69.
- gerbe75pts

John Beecher, projected for the 2nd round, is from Elmira. He scored today. Fun.

I am still waiting to here who will sign with the sabres this summer

I mean even skinner doesn't want to sign here
- homiedclown

I assume if Skinner doesn't sign, they'll throw oodles of money at Duchene. Botterill can't afford to suck next year.

How does he get there? Idk, but removing the dead weight, including Okposo, is a possible technique.

Picking 7th sure made his job harder. That kid won't be helping next year

From last blog.

I'm going to demonstrate how Trouba is a better defenseman than Ristolainen

This link shows, over a 3 year period, each man's ability to contribute to shots, possession for zone exits/entires, and entry defense ability.
https://public.tableau.co...5M94N7?:display_count=yes

The below graph shows EV shows offensive goals for, offensive expected goals, offensive corsi for, defensive expected goals and defensive corsi for. This is a clear indicator, backed up by the eye test, that Risto is clearly bad in his own end. He also does not contribute much in 5v5 scoring. His bread and butter has always been the power play. With more O-zone starts, it would be expected that his offensive analytics would rise.


Here's Risto's and Trouba's ability to control the blue line.
https://public.tableau.co...FGKH4W?:display_count=yes

I am still waiting to here who will sign with the sabres this summer

I mean even skinner doesn't want to sign here
- homiedclown

I agree with this. UFAs will have to want to come here. If they do, it won’t be for the winning, it’ll be because they were offered a lot more money than other places.

And let’s not forget that Botterill is extremely patient. He’s not in some huge hurry here. Sabres had more points this year than last year.

I assume if Skinner doesn't sign, they'll throw oodles of money at Duchene. Botterill can't afford to suck next year.

How does he get there? Idk, but removing the dead weight, including Okposo, is a possible technique.

Picking 7th sure made his job harder. That kid won't be helping next year
- jcragcrumple

So you mean we shouldn't base our team on the potential of an 18 year old to carry us to the playoffs? Good. He shouldn't.

I agree with this. UFAs will have to want to come here. If they do, it won’t be for the winning, it’ll be because they were offered a lot more money than other places.

And let’s not forget that Botterill is extremely patient. He’s not in some huge hurry here. Sabres had more points this year than last year.
- PrinceChill

I'd say he's on borrowed time, thin ice, insert whatever cliche you want. He won't survive another top-10 pick. For his own sake, he needs a sense of urgency

So you mean we shouldn't base our team on the potential of an 18 year old to carry us to the playoffs? Good. He shouldn't.
- TheSabresTaco

I'm just saying, it would have helped him immensely if he could point to who they take at the draft and say "he's going to help us be good this year." That's not gonna happen

4 more goals and he becomes the best single tournament scorer in the u18s history.

Beating out Ovechkin, Kucherov ,Kovalchuk.


I don’t see anyway he makes it past the Oilers with Jesus feeding him

Hopefully the sabres don’t pass and it won’t be leon draisaitl 2.0

I'd say he's on borrowed time, thin ice, insert whatever cliche you want. He won't survive another top-10 pick. For his own sake, he needs a sense of urgency
- jcragcrumple

You could be right, but I don’t think so. If the next coach flames out, Botts probably goes with him.

From what everyone here says, JB has a plan and he’s not going to deviate from it one bit.

I agree with this. UFAs will have to want to come here. If they do, it won’t be for the winning, it’ll be because they were offered a lot more money than other places.

And let’s not forget that Botterill is extremely patient. He’s not in some huge hurry here. Sabres had more points this year than last year.
- PrinceChill

Might as well copy my post here and paste it during the next few months.

Guys have all sorts of reasons why they choose a destination. Geographical location, weather, money, family locale/family reasons, education system for their kids, country, facilities, ownership, staff are all some off ice reasons. On ice, fit, mutual interest, ability to play with stars, ability to grow with team, ability to guide team, defined roles, abilty to boost their value playing with said elite players, short and long term vision of the team, coaching style/personality, prior team record...

There are so many reasons a guy will choose to sign with a team. Winning makes things easier, too.

I'm just saying, it would have helped him immensely if he could point to who they take at the draft and say "he's going to help us be good this year." That's not gonna happen
- jcragcrumple

Worked so well with Dahlin.

These kids are just that. Kids. They're complimentary. The vets need to carry most of the load. Botterill needs to build that, and backfill with kids who earn their spots.