The player wanted out.............

The owner knew and said I’m not paying the bonus.

It isn’t that hard to understand.

Sh!tty deal either way.
- dadeadhead

You are correct, and as usual, many read or comprehend what they choose to.

I highly doubt he was forced to trade Ryan O'Reilly.

Sorry, but the only trade that Botts as come out on top has been the Skinner. All the rest have ranged from misses to massive misses.
- Mentalorgasm5

Sorry but the only trade he came out on top of was getting that 40 goal scorer for nothing.

Seems like a good hit.

I mean, he also landed Pominville and a scrub for two scrubs

Ryan O’Reilly is a fine 2C. Very good player. He wanted to leave, he got his wish. I’m glad it looks like he won’t be lifting the cup

I dont even know how someone would bring up O'Reilly like it was a good move at this point.
- Mentalorgasm5

Maybe if your boy didn’t dog it and sound more deflated than Robert Kraft’s testicles after a spa day, we’d have gotten a better return

Sorry but the only trade he came out on top of was getting that 40 goal scorer for nothing.

Seems like a good hit.

I mean, he also landed Pominville and a scrub for two scrubs

Ryan O’Reilly is a fine 2C. Very good player. He wanted to leave, he got his wish. I’m glad it looks like he won’t be lifting the cup
- sbroads24

I would rather see ROR win it than the Bruins.

And that is despite the fact we would have to read all about how Botts made the worst trade ever from all the armchair GMs out there that think they could do a better job.

I would rather see ROR win it than the Bruins.

And that is despite the fact we would have to read all about how Botts made the worst trade ever from all the armchair GMs out there that think they could do a better job.
- The Don

I don’t want either team. I certainly don’t want Boston but I do enjoy watching Bergeron severely outplay ROR.

Like Seguin did. Like Couture did.

But yet we will hear how he’s better than all 3 somehow and we traded away a Hart nominee

You mean a 27 year old center who had posted 61, 55, and 60 points the last 3 years?

Unless you has a crytal ball, how did you know he was going to tie a career high in goals and set new career highs in assists and points (by a good margin)?
- kingcong39

For $7.5m, but paying a 27 year old 2C who has scored 49, 44, and 55 the last three years $6m is too much? That's what Hayes wanted from the Rangers. He is a big center who plays a good two-way game and having grown up and playing 4 years of college hockey in Boston should be have a good relationship with our star center. In a year or two when CM is more developed paying a 3C $6m won't be too much.

I would rather see ROR win it than the Bruins.

And that is despite the fact we would have to read all about how Botts made the worst trade ever from all the armchair GMs out there that think they could do a better job.
- The Don

The trade seems to be looking more and more like the Joe Thornton trade. Boston got three players, two who were traded within a year and one who did pretty well. San Jose got the best player in the trade. San Jose never won anything and Boston won the Cup 5 years after the trade. ROR was the best player in the trade and if they lose to Boston, they may not get another shot at winning the Cup with him. If Buffalo wins the Cup in 5 years, people will still be complaining about the trade.

The trade seems to be looking more and more like the Joe Thornton trade. Boston got three players, two who were traded within a year and one who did pretty well. San Jose got the best player in the trade. San Jose never won anything and Boston won the Cup 5 years after the trade. ROR was the best player in the trade and if they lose to Boston, they may not get another shot at winning the Cup with him. If Buffalo wins the Cup in 5 years, people will still be complaining about the trade.
- adambuffalo

I guess it is what we do here the most. Either complain about the Sabres or complain about those who complain about the Sabres. I definitely fall into the later category.

I guess it is what we do here the most. Either complain about the Sabres or complain about those who complain about the Sabres. I definitely fall into the later category.
- The Don

I used to be the former. But we have Rasmus Dahlin.

Just say that out loud. We have a 19 yo Rasmus Dahlin.

And people are going to complain we traded a 2c entering the back 9 of his career?

I used to be the former. But we have Rasmus Dahlin.

Just say that out loud. We have a 19 yo Rasmus Dahlin.

And people are going to complain we traded a 2c entering the back 9 of his career?
- sbroads24

The point rarely brought up is that Stl was going to be a bottom 10 team if Binnington didn’t emerge. Think of how different the ROR narrative would have been.

The ROR trade was bad i knew when we didn’t get one of the three top prospects It was a bust

The ROR trade was bad i knew when we didn’t get one of the three top prospects It was a bust
- gerbe75pts

It’s not great now that the 1st is 30-31.

If it was a mid round first and a potential Debrusk/Connor caliber player it was absolutely fine.

In 2 seasons people will be talking about ROR like Mike Richards when he was 30-31. Beat up and barely on a roster

It’s not great now that the 1st is 30-31.

If it was a mid round first and a potential Debrusk/Connor caliber player it was absolutely fine.

In 2 seasons people will be talking about ROR like Mike Richards when he was 30-31. Beat up and barely on a roster
- sbroads24

He’s having a mediocre postseason but him simply being on a team in the Cup Final makes people think he’s the reason they are there

The ROR trade was bad i knew when we didn’t get one of the three top prospects It was a bust
- gerbe75pts

Who were the top three again that everyone wanted?

Sorry but the only trade he came out on top of was getting that 40 goal scorer for nothing.

Seems like a good hit.

I mean, he also landed Pominville and a scrub for two scrubs

Ryan O’Reilly is a fine 2C. Very good player. He wanted to leave, he got his wish. I’m glad it looks like he won’t be lifting the cup
- sbroads24

He managed to turn a rental (E.Kane) and a prospect (Guhle) into Montour so I wouldn’t say he lost that trade either since we weren’t resigning E.Kane.

Who were the top three again that everyone wanted?
- adambuffalo

Robert Thomas (who we were never getting for ROR), Jordan Kyrou and Klim Kostin.

Robert Thomas (who we were never getting for ROR), Jordan Kyrou and Klim Kostin.
- Pegullaville

Sure, Thomas would have been a good get, but I don't know if his 9 goals in 70 games this year would have made a big difference. Kyrou hasn't proven anything yet and Kostin's 10 goals in 66 games in the AHL doesn't seem to be better than Tage's 6 goals in 8 games in Rochester. Maybe JBotts has a better hockey sense than many of the posters here. With so many futures included in the trade (TT and picks) it's unfair to judge it at this time. If we got Kyrou and his 1 goal in 16 games instead of Tage would people be ok with the trade?

The player wanted out.............

The owner knew and said I’m not paying the bonus.

It isn’t that hard to understand.

Sh!tty deal either way.
- dadeadhead

This is what people say when they want to justify the ROR trade. They assume when he said he sometimes lost his love for the game, that he wanted out. Heck, probably every guy on that team felt the same. But unless someone here directly heard O'Reilly say he wanted out, or if there's video of him saying it, then I won't believe it.

And lets just say for arguments sake that he wanted out and demanded a trade. How about saying "tough sh!t...you're staying here anyway". or even "OK, I'll see what I can do, but I'm not promising anything". I think it was just a matter of Botts making a horrible decision to make the trade, and then getting totally worked over by St Louis. Total incompetence on his part - and nothing to do with ownership. We gave up a pretty good player for arguably the 3 worst players on the Blues, and a late round 1 pick. Awful.

I won't move on. I'll never get over it. I'll go to my grave knowing Botts is a moron due to this trade.

This is what people say when they want to justify the ROR trade. They assume when he said he sometimes lost his love for the game, that he wanted out. Heck, probably every guy on that team felt the same. But unless someone here directly heard O'Reilly say he wanted out, or if there's video of him saying it, then I won't believe it.

And lets just say for arguments sake that he wanted out and demanded a trade. How about saying "tough sh!t...you're staying here anyway". or even "OK, I'll see what I can do, but I'm not promising anything". I think it was just a matter of Botts making a horrible decision to make the trade, and then getting totally worked over by St Louis. Total incompetence on his part - and nothing to do with ownership. We gave up a pretty good player for arguably the 3 worst players on the Blues, and a late round 1 pick. Awful.

I won't move on. I'll never get over it. I'll go to my grave knowing Botts is a moron due to this trade.
- kritter65

The same moron that gave up nothing for a 40 goal scorer? Judge him on the ROR trade but at least factor in the time when he traded scraps for a top line winger.

The same moron that gave up nothing for a 40 goal scorer? Judge him on the ROR trade but at least factor in the time when he traded scraps for a top line winger.
- Khymlev13

Wait, is that the same moron who got Sheary and Hunwick for just a 4th round pick?

Wait, is that the same moron who got Sheary and Hunwick for just a 4th round pick?
- adambuffalo

But it’ll probably be an early 4th, so more like a 3rd.

When does San Jose have to decide if they give us the 4th round pick by? If they keep it, it becomes a 3rd rounder next year.

Screw Kane
Fvck ROR
Neither are on the team.

I decided to play Armchair GM on CapFriendly...my faith in the team is restored.
We just need for Botts to make some savvy moves this offseason that position him to leverage the large Cap space he will have next offseason to significantly upgrade the roster.

As has been discussed, taking advantage of Cap strapped teams this year should be the priority.
Focus on adding a couple key pieces that:
1 - stablize the D
2 - secure 2 players for the Middle 6
○ 2C
○ 2 or 3 RW
If he can maneuver to get both a 2RW and 3RW, terrific.

For the D, I see 2 moves
A) UFA signing of an aged RhD Vet for 2 years (Stralman, Girardi types)
B) a younger RhD with term. C Miller seems to fit nicely and is being shopped to save Cap space for VGK

The 2C is critical as we all know. Ideally, they need a guy who can play C for 1 or 2 years, then shift to Wing when CM eventually assumes that role. W Karlsson and J Hayes are popular targets, one through a trade, the other through FA. Personally, I would rather go with Karlsson...exploring a trade with VGK for both Miller and Karlsson would be something I hope Botts is looking into.

A thought I had was trying to leverage Tampa in this scenario...their reported interest in Ristolanien...(maybe their interest in other Karlson complicates things though)

To Tampa
-Risto
-ERod

To Buffalo
-A Cirelli
-R Callahan (cap dump for 1 year, enables acquisition of Joseph)
- M Joseph (a decent, tough player for 3RW)

To VKG
-A Cirelli (RFA for 1 year, then still cost controlled)
-C Nelson (cost controlled, replacement on D)

To Buffalo
-W Karlsson
-C Miller

Net for Buffalo
- 2C = W Karlsson, can slide to Wing as necessary when/if CM is ready for 2C)
- 3RW = M Joseph, fast, gritty, can put up say 30 pts ... could be perfect "go to the net" guy for CM set-ups
- RhD = C Miller, solid D
- RhD = A Stralman, UFA signing for 2 years...say $3.23m per...could be perfect for Dahlin's partner

I like it.

I don’t want either team. I certainly don’t want Boston but I do enjoy watching Bergeron severely outplay ROR.

Like Seguin did. Like Couture did.

But yet we will hear how he’s better than all 3 somehow and we traded away a Hart nominee
- sbroads24

No one has ever said any of that
Get a grip

Did anyone see this quote from Chi Sun Times article on Turcotte?

It won’t be the first time teams have reached out. Alfie has been taking calls for months and has an idea where Alex, who has committed to play college hockey at Wisconsin, will land.

“We’ve come to the conclusion it’s between 3 and 7,” Alfie said. “He’s not going to get past Buffalo at 7. I had interviews with Buffalo myself. This was before the lottery. They said if they had the third pick, they’re taking Alex. But you never know how it’s going to play out. Draft day there can be trades and switching picks.”