Would have taken 22 more points last season. I think that's too big of an expectation.
- Lunaion

10 more wins and flipping 2 OTL?

That should not be too much to ask

https://deadspin.com/we-r...ade-a-good-tra-1836595250

Historically, when the Edmonton Oilers and “one for one” appear in the same sentence, bad things happen. Apocalyptic, hysterical, team-crippling things. Punchlines with years and years of mileage. This isn’t that. Peter Chiarelli is gone, and now, miraculously, so is Milan Lucic. Under just about any circumstances, that would make the trade with Calgary executed just before the weekend a good one for the Oilers. So it’s almost a bonus that James Neal, who the Oilers got in return, has a good chance of being an actually useful player.

10 more wins and flipping 2 OTL?

That should not be too much to ask
- jcragcrumple

You're being sarcastic, right? 10 more wins would mean a 30% increase in their win total. I don't know of too many teams that increase their number of wins by 30%. If this team gets 5 more wins, finishes 2 spots out of the playoffs, I think that is some good improvement.

SCHMECKLE.
- Der Kaiser

Some will get this.

You're being sarcastic, right? 10 more wins would mean a 30% increase in their win total. I don't know of too many teams that increase their number of wins by 30%. If this team gets 5 more wins, finishes 2 spots out of the playoffs, I think that is some good improvement.
- ajb2493

The standards of this fan base have been obliterated

This place will be unbearable.

I won't panic, tbh.

I'm excited to see what Ralph can do, Mitts will be a year older and 65 pounds overweight and be that true power forward, MoJo brings some really good things to this team, what Botts has brought to this D (Joker, Miller, a full year of Montour) has me drooling.

No, it's not ideal if we don't get another top 6 F, but he's added depth.

That being said, DO SOMETHING, PUTZ!
- Powerslave

Yeah botts has done a nice job rebuilding this team. I think getting rid of the dead weight after this year. Botts rebuild will turn into retooling.

The last dead weight is gone. Bogoasian, Scandella, hundwick, Sobotka, sheary

Okposo will be the only bad contract.

Are you saying if the team sucks or if the moves of the GM sucks?

Because there's a world of difference.

If you are going to be poop-canning GMs every three years, you are never going to get any kind of consistency.
- Atomic Wedgie

This

If this team comes out and poops the bed again, it’s more than just Botts that needs to be looked at.

From the top down.
Owner
GM
Staff
Scouts
Captains
Players

Everything needs to be on the table. Everything.

The standards of this fan base have been obliterated
- jcragcrumple

I have standards, but my standards are for the long term. I also have realistic expectations for the short term. If this team is playing meaningful games at the end of the season, that's a win in my book. We always talk about "next year is our year". I want it to be this year too, but we can't just keep cycling GMs and coaches and expect different results. I haven't seen anything super bad from Botts. He seems very methodical in his approach. I don't think that there was ever going to be a fast turn around from the Murray years. I feel like he put them in a place where they can improve this year, and then next year contend.

The standards of this fan base have been obliterated
- jcragcrumple

If you fire the GM, you know damn well it’s another year of “assessment” from the new management .

More than likely the new GM wants his own coach

Then that coach needs time to get his feet under him

Then more of our prospects we’ve been waiting on are moved for draft picks or other prospects because the current GM will always want his own guys.

You really wanna go down this road again if we miss the postseason by a few games in the best division in all of hockey?

Again it seems like you just want JB fired

nope
- TheSabresTaco

You act like you know it all

You know nothing taco

If this team comes out and poops the bed again, it’s more than just Botts that needs to be looked at.

From the top down.
Owner
GM
Staff
Scouts
Captains
Players

Everything needs to be on the table. Everything.
- ImThatGuy

I think John Jack could be moved if they still suck
He has a very reasonable contract moving forward

Build around dahlin

Can't fire the owner

If this team comes out and poops the bed again, it’s more than just Botts that needs to be looked at.

From the top down.
Owner
GM
Staff
Scouts
Captains
Players

Everything needs to be on the table. Everything.
- ImThatGuy

dont leave out Sabretooth

You act like you know it all

You know nothing taco
- Boss34

he knows nothink

If you fire the GM, you know damn well it’s another year of “assessment” from the new management .

More than likely the new GM wants his own coach

Then that coach needs time to get his feet under him

Then more of our prospects we’ve been waiting on are moved for draft picks or other prospects because the current GM will always want his own guys.

You really wanna go down this road again if we miss the postseason by a few games in the best division in all of hockey?

Again it seems like you just want JB fired
- sbroads24

Why would I want that?

I want the team to make the playoffs in his 3rd year. I'm surprised that so many fans have started selecting their JB excuses already. In his 3rd year, playoffs should be expected. That's it

Crazy talk in here that some are saying that Botts should be fired if we aren't in the playoffs this year. Botts inherited an absolute tire-fire from Murray. His plan is quite obvious to me:

1) draft well
2) develop
3) make good trades
4) get rid of the garbage at the end of this upcoming season
5) set the Sabres up for long-term success when the Bruins, Penguins, Capitals etc are starting their downward trajectory

Is Botts' record perfect? Absolutely not - see ROR trade. But even that trade can't be fully judged for about another 5-years.

Unless this is a disastrous year (which i don't think it will be), it would be a MAJOR set back to this organization to fire another GM/coach combination.

We have missed the playoffs for the past 8-years. As long as we are improving and setting ourselves up for long-term success, I am OK with missing the playoffs for a 9th season. But next year is when we have to go "all in" to make long-runs in the playoffs.

Fire away - I have thick shoulders and a thick head.

Why would I want that?

I want the team to make the playoffs in his 3rd year. I'm surprised that so many fans have started selecting their JB excuses already. In his 3rd year, playoffs should be expected. That's it
- jcragcrumple

If The team finishes with a sub 85 point season In JBs three seasons he will have only amassed 10 or so more points than what Tim Murray lead the team too.

Tim Murray got fired for being awful.

Jason deserves to stay because he is not Tim Murray. That is the only excuse people have “would you rather have Murray”

I have standards, but my standards are for the long term. I also have realistic expectations for the short term. If this team is playing meaningful games at the end of the season, that's a win in my book. We always talk about "next year is our year". I want it to be this year too, but we can't just keep cycling GMs and coaches and expect different results. I haven't seen anything super bad from Botts. He seems very methodical in his approach. I don't think that there was ever going to be a fast turn around from the Murray years. I feel like he put them in a place where they can improve this year, and then next year contend.
- ajb2493

Nice post

Crazy talk in here that some are saying that Botts should be fired if we aren't in the playoffs this year. Botts inherited an absolute tire-fire from Murray. His plan is quite obvious to me:

1) draft well
2) develop
3) make good trades
4) get rid of the garbage at the end of this upcoming season
5) set the Sabres up for long-term success when the Bruins, Penguins, Capitals etc are starting their downward trajectory

Is Botts' record perfect? Absolutely not - see ROR trade. But even that trade can't be fully judged for about another 5-years.

Unless this is a disastrous year (which i don't think it will be), it would be a MAJOR set back to this organization to fire another GM/coach combination.

We have missed the playoffs for the past 8-years. As long as we are improving and setting ourselves up for long-term success, I am OK with missing the playoffs for a 9th season. But next year is when we have to go "all in" to make long-runs in the playoffs.

Fire away - I have thick shoulders and a thick head.
- SabreWest

Buffalo Sabres fans new outlook:

Other team fans - What is the outlook for buffalo?

buffalo Fans - Just don’t suck.

Other fans - so like playoffs?

Buffalo Fans - no, just don’t be last.

Other fans - what if they are bottom 5?

Buffalo fans. - that’s fine as long as they don’t suck for too much longer after that.

Crazy talk in here that some are saying that Botts should be fired if we aren't in the playoffs this year. Botts inherited an absolute tire-fire from Murray. His plan is quite obvious to me:

1) draft well
2) develop
3) make good trades
4) get rid of the garbage at the end of this upcoming season
5) set the Sabres up for long-term success when the Bruins, Penguins, Capitals etc are starting their downward trajectory

Is Botts' record perfect? Absolutely not - see ROR trade. But even that trade can't be fully judged for about another 5-years.

Unless this is a disastrous year (which i don't think it will be), it would be a MAJOR set back to this organization to fire another GM/coach combination.

We have missed the playoffs for the past 8-years. As long as we are improving and setting ourselves up for long-term success, I am OK with missing the playoffs for a 9th season. But next year is when we have to go "all in" to make long-runs in the playoffs.

Fire away - I have thick shoulders and a thick head.
- SabreWest

Also a nice post for the most part

I’m not “ok” missing the playoffs
That would be disappointing again
But i don’t think that’s a fireable offense either

Also a nice post
- jdfitz77

Are you fine with the Sabres being bad next year?

Why all the negative Nancy's in here today?

Dude has made some good moves - he's had a good summer.
- Powerslave

yet to be seen.... taking a wait and see approach. it's been okay but there are still a lot of holes to fill and we did nothing to address that this is a soft team to play against.

If The team finishes with a sub 85 point season In JBs three seasons he will have only amassed 10 or so more points than what Tim Murray lead the team too.

Tim Murray got fired for being awful.

Jason deserves to stay because he is not Tim Murray. That is the only excuse people have “would you rather have Murray”
- ImThatGuy

We're still basically talking about tanking in '18-'19 and most are ok with it.

I really feel like I'm living in crazy land

Why would I want that?

I want the team to make the playoffs in his 3rd year. I'm surprised that so many fans have started selecting their JB excuses already. In his 3rd year, playoffs should be expected. That's it
- jcragcrumple

I want to be a cup contender. Now yes I understand you need to make the playoffs to have a chance at the cup, but I think there is a distinct difference between a playoff team and cup contender. Botts inherited Eichel, but put the team in position to secure Dahlin, Mitts, Cozens, UPL and traded for Montour, Miller, Skinner. We will have the two most important pieces to a cup contender in 1C and 1D for the next decade and have a boat ton of cap space come July 1st 2020. I’m very happy to be here.

I’ll take Cozens over the first round playoff exit we would of had.

I want to be a cup contender. Now yes I understand you need to make the playoffs to have a chance at the cup, but I think there is a distinct difference between a playoff team and cup contender. Botts inherited Eichel, but put the team in position to secure Dahlin, Mitts, Cozens, UPL and traded for Montour, Miller, Skinner. We will have the two most important pieces to a cup contender in 1C and 1D for the next decade and have a boat ton of cap space come July 1st 2020. I’m very happy to be here.

I’ll take Cozens over the first round playoff exit we would of had.
- Swedish_Jesus

and Cozens could turn into Nylander, you just never know. I'll take playoffs any day