If it wasn't for that 10 game win streak... I bet the fan base wouldn't even be as mad as they are. I think that glimmer of hope and heightened success only bolstered the level of miserable the rest of the way.
- JVince11

Sure that probably didn’t help, but counterpoint to that is without the 10 game steak this team is even worse possibly even bottom of the league bad.

Being at the arena is awful, it’s not a pessimist view it just is. They brought in this DJ who just screams into a mic and plays very loud dance music to drown out the silence. Everyone I talk to hates it.

Winning will cure this, but another awful season could be catastrophic.

You forgot the 2nd round pick and O'Reilly was picked 33rd overall but you can't find guys like that late in the first early 2nd
- Slapjackzack

Sure, but again no immediate help to this roster devoid of talent.

That 2nd round pick A) won’t be early second B) has a better chance at not playing a single game Han he does at becoming the next ROR

Maybe he did have to go for whatever reasons
Trade still sucked though
Idk why it’s so hard for some to admit that?
- jdfitz77

Agree with you.

I thought he needed to go.
I was hoping for a better return, wanted Fabbri TBH.

The trade is a clear win for St Louis unless Buffalo somehow drafts a top line player with that St Louis pick.

Sure, but again no immediate help to this roster devoid of talent.

That 2nd round pick A) won’t be early second B) has a better chance at not playing a single game Han he does at becoming the next ROR
- ImThatGuy

And ROR has a better chance of his production falling off a cliff at 30 years old with 800+ games played then he does being a Selke Candidate throughout his contract

The team traded a 2nd line center.

It’s really not like they moved Eichel or Dahlin

Let’s take a look at it this way.

If Skinner resigns.

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
????-Mittelstadt-?????

If he does not:

?????-Eichel-Reinhart
????-Mittelstadt-????


The Sabres could need 3 top 6 forwards going into next year. Not to mention 2 top 4 d help.

Unless we are expecting VO and Nylander to come in and score 20-30 each.
- ImThatGuy

hopefully Skinner stays
Skinner-Eichel- ?
Olofsson- ?- Reinhart
Sheary- Mitts- ?

I am expecting Olofsson to come in and score 20 goals... I think

hopefully Skinner stays
Skinner-Eichel- ?
Olofsson- ?- Reinhart
Sheary- Mitts- ?

I am expecting Olofsson to come in and score 20 goals... I think
- mattmoulson

Skinner-Eichel-Nyquist/B.Connolly
Olofsson-B.Nelson-Reinhart
Sheary-Mitts-Thompson
Tanev-Erod-Okposo

Nylander + Blues 2021 2nd rounder to bring in another d-man.

And ROR has a better chance of his production falling off a cliff at 30 years old with 800+ games played then he does being a Selke Candidate throughout his contract

The team traded a 2nd line center.

It’s really not like they moved Eichel or Dahlin
- OneKaneOneCup

Remember what it felt like to be a team on self-imposed cap? Now, we expect the owner to write a 7.5m check to a guy who just publicly embarrassed him and the organization as though it's no big deal.

And in 2 years when Dahlin is in his prime and ROR’s career is winding down I pray people shut the (frank) up about it finally.

Good god these guys were part of the WORST TEAM IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
- OneKaneOneCup

YES, BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO BE THE WORST IN LEAGUE HISTORY!
ANOTHER FAIL.

I do not want our 2nd first rounder traded. We need to stock our pipeline with as many quality pieces as possible. We should have learned our lesson when we traded a boatload of futures for ROR only to lose him in a petulant frenzy before we even turned the corner toward being good.

This year I hope that 3 of Tage, Goalfson, Snipeshow, Borgen, CJ, and Assplund fit in as regular NHL contributors. Getting value off players on their elc is something we are way overdue for.
We drafted almost all D last year so this year lets go for C at 7 then wingers all the rest of the way.

I do not want our 2nd first rounder traded. We need to stock our pipeline with as many quality pieces as possible. We should have learned our lesson when we traded a boatload of futures for ROR only to lose him in a petulant frenzy before we even turned the corner toward being good.

This year I hope that 3 of Tage, Goalfson, Snipeshow, Borgen, CJ, and Assplund fit in as regular NHL contributors. Getting value off players on their elc is something we are way overdue for.
We drafted almost all D last year so this year lets go for C at 7 then wingers all the rest of the way.
- LandlordTom

I'm torn on trading the 2nd first.

It wouldn't shock me to see Botts do what (I'm assuming) most of us don't expect him to do, and keep the pick.

I'm torn on trading the 2nd first.

It wouldn't shock me to see Botts do what (I'm assuming) most of us don't expect him to do, and keep the pick.
- Powerslave

I’m expecting him to keep the pick unless he can parlay it into a young forward that can help us for “now on”.

Presented without comment:

https://buffalonews.com/2...hreatens-president-again/

I do not want our 2nd first rounder traded. We need to stock our pipeline with as many quality pieces as possible. We should have learned our lesson when we traded a boatload of futures for ROR only to lose him in a petulant frenzy before we even turned the corner toward being good.

This year I hope that 3 of Tage, Goalfson, Snipeshow, Borgen, CJ, and Assplund fit in as regular NHL contributors. Getting value off players on their elc is something we are way overdue for.
We drafted almost all D last year so this year lets go for C at 7 then wingers all the rest of the way.
- LandlordTom

Just based on the rankings, unless Byram falls, we'll certainly be drafting a forward first. LW or C it seems.

Good for us given current state.

I'm torn on trading the 2nd first.

It wouldn't shock me to see Botts do what (I'm assuming) most of us don't expect him to do, and keep the pick.
- Powerslave

Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but Botts has to know that he needs to show progress at the end of this season. At this point, I would actually be surprised if that pick wasn't up for grabs to the highest bidder.

Sucks STL won, that picks value dropped a lot last night.

Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but Botts has to know that he needs to show progress at the end of this season. At this point, I would actually be surprised if that pick wasn't up for grabs to the highest bidder.

Sucks STL won, that picks value dropped a lot last night.
- RhinoFan

I'm sure it is always in play in the right deal...

There are just SOO many good 25-29 year old wingers/centers that are UFAs this summer that it might not need to be traded to fill a gap. Can actually keep it and let someone simmer. I could see it paired with a 2nd rounder or something to get into the teens for an additional 1st as well.

Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but Botts has to know that he needs to show progress at the end of this season. At this point, I would actually be surprised if that pick wasn't up for grabs to the highest bidder.

Sucks STL won, that picks value dropped a lot last night.
- RhinoFan

It seems that there are a few teams up against the cap that could be ripe for the picking. He has a decent chance to parlay that 2nd first into something we need.

Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but Botts has to know that he needs to show progress at the end of this season. At this point, I would actually be surprised if that pick wasn't up for grabs to the highest bidder.

Sucks STL won, that picks value dropped a lot last night.
- RhinoFan

A broken record has no choice but to repeat itself....people do have a choice.



I kid, but even though I see some merit in what you say, it is that sort of short-sighted thinking that had us trading 1st rounders all over the place for players that aren't even on the team anymore. Draft and develop is not sexy but we are in no healthy position to deal more firsts in my opinion.

IF we are in playoff position come next February and JB can get a primo player to fill a need by dealing a first rounder in the following year, then so be it. I just think we are nowhere near that position now.

I'm sure it is always in play in the right deal...

There are just SOO many good 25-29 year old wingers/centers that are UFAs this summer that it might not need to be traded to fill a gap. Can actually keep it and let someone simmer. I could see it paired with a 2nd rounder or something to get into the teens for an additional 1st as well.
- JVince11

That would be nice. Obviously we should be using most of our picks to get a prospect system re-established, but if we don't make changes this next year could be very tough, debilitating even.

Skinner-Eichel-Nyquist/B.Connolly
Olofsson-B.Nelson-Reinhart
Sheary-Mitts-Thompson
Tanev-Erod-Okposo

Nylander + Blues 2021 2nd rounder to bring in another d-man.
- Pegullaville

I've done this exact thing in my mind so many times. NYI is gonna have to lose Lee or Nelson... Probably can't keep both.

Nyquist, Ferland, Dzingel, Simmonds can all play both LW/RW.
Connolly, Donskoi, Chiasson, Eberle, or Zuccs are all options as well.

SOOO many top 6 wingers who could be signed to Buffalo.

Duchene, Panarin, Karlsson, and Pavelski will be other teams first calls and priority.

Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but Botts has to know that he needs to show progress at the end of this season. At this point, I would actually be surprised if that pick wasn't up for grabs to the highest bidder.

Sucks STL won, that picks value dropped a lot last night.
- RhinoFan

The pick alone isn't worth a ton, in terms of a straight up NHL-ready player. It has significantly more value if you combine it with intelligently taking on salary. That's where the off-season gets interesting. I expect a core player to move again this year.

The pick alone isn't worth a ton, in terms of a straight up NHL-ready player. It has significantly more value if you combine it with intelligently taking on salary. That's where the off-season gets interesting. I expect a core player to move again this year.
- Lunaion

I’d take on Bryan Little or Matthew Perrault’s contract to get a prospect like kristian Vesalinen, Logan Stanley, Andrew Copp, or even Roslovic back.

The pick alone isn't worth a ton, in terms of a straight up NHL-ready player. It has significantly more value if you combine it with intelligently taking on salary. That's where the off-season gets interesting. I expect a core player to move again this year.
- Lunaion

It could be a way to unload a contract at the least but I'd rather take a player with it.

I've seen it used in a few scenarios combined with McCabe, Nylander/Sheary, and another asset for Trouba and Ehlers. That one is appealing to me.

I’d take on Bryan Little or Matthew Perrault’s contract to get a prospect like kristian Vesalinen, Logan Stanley, Andrew Copp, or even Roslovic back.
- Pegullaville

Oh the irony in that one. lol

Oh the irony in that one. lol
- JVince11

I did it for the dramatic effect.

I’d take on Bryan Little or Matthew Perrault’s contract to get a prospect like kristian Vesalinen, Logan Stanley, Andrew Copp, or even Roslovic back.
- Pegullaville

Liitle and Okposo on the same team is scary. That's a bit too far for me.