Better puck movers on the back end, stronger defensive system, rookies with another year of experience like Dahlin, Pilut and Jokiharju, along with a full year of guys who can advance the puck like Miller and Montour, combined with the addition of complimentary forwards like Mojo and Vesey, I think you end up with an overall better team.

Now if Ralph can properly utilize his players, and use analytics as a tool to see what works and what doesn't, that's an even greater improvement. Jack and Sam have more to give imo, and if C isn't addressed, CM will at the very least have an offseason of strength and conditioning and is hopefully much more ready than he was last year, which, he wasn't at all.

Overall, 84 points is more than fair, but predicting a hockey season for a team that goes under a ton of changes is almost impossible.

Two years ago, Vegas was predicted to have like 70 points. So whatever.
- TheSabresTaco

All very fair statements. Im hoping for a bit better than 84 points but i love disappointment too

A lot of 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 here

https://theathletic.com/1...cts-ranking-2019-edition/

A list of drafted prospects not yet in the NHL

1. Cozens ranked 9, just below Byram. Wheeler feels they're about equal.
2. Cole Caufield is NOT ranked 1. In fact, he's *gasp* 25, just one spot higher than..
3. Jokiharju, who is ranked 26. "A number 2 or 3 defenseman" for... Nylander, who is ranked..
4....no where. He's unranked. What a chump.
5. Zegras! Why didn't PUTZ draft him instead? At rank #29, that's 20 spots lower than one Tyler Dubinsky, he apparently needs a lot more finish around the net, and a whole heap of strength.
6. Wahlstrom dropped like a mafia victim in the Hudson river, to 45. We'll see if he rounds back to the 20s (on this list), like his talent suggested coming out of the draft
- TheSabresTaco

I've got one free read left on the Athletic so I appreciate the summary. I can save it now

It was Housley's system that he instructed Smith to run
- Stripes77

Oh ok. Well that's good news

I've got one free read left on the Athletic so I appreciate the summary. I can save it now
- lulags

Pay for it

It is worth it

I was hesitant but they by far have the best material out there

I just re-upped

Pay for it

It is worth it

I was hesitant but they by far have the best material out there

I just re-upped
- Stripes77

Yeah, I agree. Some of the best content out there. I'll buck up

I've got one free read left on the Athletic so I appreciate the summary. I can save it now
- lulags

Go to ebay and get a .edu address for $2. That will allow you to get the permanent student discount.

Go to ebay and get a .edu address for $2. That will allow you to get the permanent student discount.
- Slump Buster

That's a real George Costanza move

Agreed. I don't think JB's on a short leash to begin with.
- Lunaion

Agreed

I think pegula realizes the mess jbotts had to endure.

I think his job is safe, unless we are picking top 5.
I think he might still be safe.
If mitts is a bust, that might move things along

I just ate pizza with a fork and knife.

@ me bro.

Agreed

I think pegula realizes the mess jbotts had to endure.

I think his job is safe, unless we are picking top 5.
I think he might still be safe.
If mitts is a bust, that might move things along
- Boss34

What in Pegula's track record of firing coaches and GMs makes you believe that?

He's in unchartered territory as a 3rd year GM. I'm surprised people are so readily making excuses for him

What in Pegula's track record of firing coaches and GMs makes you believe that?

He's in unchartered territory as a 3rd year GM. I'm surprised people are so readily making excuses for him
- jcragcrumple

Keep firing GM's.

Keep spinning your wheels.

Good plan.

Keep firing GM's.

Keep spinning your wheels.

Good plan.
- Powerslave

Why should he keep his job if there's a 3rd top-10 finish? It's a results-based gig.

""The one thing I think about is it’s time to start winning. That’s why we’re here," Pegula said during an interview with The Associated Press while sitting next to his wife and team president, Kim, a few hours before the start of the NHL draft in Vancouver.

"We have Ralph on board and some young players, leaders, Jack," he said, referring to newly hired coach Ralph Krueger and team captain Jack Eichel. "So it’s time to put it all together."

Why should he keep his job if there's a 3rd top-10 finish? It's a results-based gig.

""The one thing I think about is it’s time to start winning. That’s why we’re here," Pegula said during an interview with The Associated Press while sitting next to his wife and team president, Kim, a few hours before the start of the NHL draft in Vancouver.

"We have Ralph on board and some young players, leaders, Jack," he said, referring to newly hired coach Ralph Krueger and team captain Jack Eichel. "So it’s time to put it all together."
- jcragcrumple

And the next guy comes in, tears it down, and we wait another 3 years, etc, etc, etc.

Stop the madness.

Pay for it

It is worth it

I was hesitant but they by far have the best material out there

I just re-upped
- Stripes77

So did I...although I didn't really have a choice as my credit card auto-renewed the subscription. I forgot I had to set that up in order to get half off last year.

Agreed

I think pegula realizes the mess jbotts had to endure.

I think his job is safe, unless we are picking top 5.
I think he might still be safe.
If mitts is a bust, that might move things along
- Boss34

I think he is completely safe. He did walk in to a real mess and he has made some really nice moves. He is a guy that is very deliberate and that's all the more reason to believe that he had a mandate to trade ROR by EOD 7/1.

Why should he keep his job if there's a 3rd top-10 finish? It's a results-based gig.

""The one thing I think about is it’s time to start winning. That’s why we’re here," Pegula said during an interview with The Associated Press while sitting next to his wife and team president, Kim, a few hours before the start of the NHL draft in Vancouver.

"We have Ralph on board and some young players, leaders, Jack," he said, referring to newly hired coach Ralph Krueger and team captain Jack Eichel. "So it’s time to put it all together."
- jcragcrumple

We could very well still have a top 10 league wide prospect pool even with our last two first rounders already graduated. That coupled with the most cap space in the league after this season and I think Botts has done an admirable job. The only thing he has gotten wrong has been the ROR trade.

And the next guy comes in, tears it down, and we wait another 3 years, etc, etc, etc.

Stop the madness.
- Powerslave

The next guy wouldn't have to tear it down, he'd just be adding and moving stuff around. But that's premature anyway. We'll see how this crop of moves goes this year. Jokiharju, Mojo, Miller and Vesey might be really good moves and maybe we're good this year

I'm just saying, other than patience, the only objectively good move that has provided results - so far - is Skinner and sucking so hard that we got Dahlin. If we suck this year, no way Botterill should get a 4th year. Time to be good.

We could very well still have a top 10 league wide prospect pool even with our last two first rounders already graduated. That coupled with the most cap space in the league after this season and I think Botts has done an admirable job. The only thing he has gotten wrong has been the ROR trade.
- Swedish_Jesus

While I agree with most of this, the fact of the matter is that the O'Reilly trade is the biggest move he's made to date, and right now, he lost it badly. He needs to catch lightning in a bottle somewhere to offset it.

While I agree with most of this, the fact of the matter is that the O'Reilly trade is the biggest move he's made to date, and right now, he lost it badly. He needs to catch lightning in a bottle somewhere to offset it.
- buffalofan19

You don't think he knew he was losing it then? It isn't any coincidence that the bonus was due that night.

While I agree with most of this, the fact of the matter is that the O'Reilly trade is the biggest move he's made to date, and right now, he lost it badly. He needs to catch lightning in a bottle somewhere to offset it.
- buffalofan19

Why isn’t the trade for Skinner on the same level? Which he won as severely as he lost the ROR trade.

He’s also fleeced about every other trade so far

While I agree with most of this, the fact of the matter is that the O'Reilly trade is the biggest move he's made to date, and right now, he lost it badly. He needs to catch lightning in a bottle somewhere to offset it.
- buffalofan19

I think the Skinner and Montour trades worked in our favour no ?

You don't think he knew he was losing it then? It isn't any coincidence that the bonus was due that night.
- Slump Buster

Throw the Skinner and ROR trades away. Offsetting trades. One really good, one really bad. The rest of the trades are a bag of "meh" so far.

We'll see how he does on the moves he made this year

Throw the Skinner and ROR trades away. Offsetting trades. One really good, one really bad. The rest of the trades are a bag of "meh" so far.

We'll see how he does on the moves he made this year
- jcragcrumple

I don't know how you can toss out the Skinner trade. Take them all on their own merits. If he was forced to take the best offer by 8 p.m. 7/1 then you can't blame him for that trade.

What in Pegula's track record of firing coaches and GMs makes you believe that?

He's in unchartered territory as a 3rd year GM. I'm surprised people are so readily making excuses for him
- jcragcrumple

I think he completely changed courses with the Bills and Sabres. Sean/Brandon + JB aren't splashy/quick turn around guys. They all sell culture, system, and development.

I could be wrong, but unless they do something embarrassing this year, I think he's back. I don't think you buy into his plan, then turn around and fire him before his non-first rounders even start playing pro hockey.

I don't know how you can toss out the Skinner trade. Take them all on their own merits. If he was forced to take the best offer by 8 p.m. 7/1 then you can't blame him for that trade.
- Slump Buster

ROR and a 5th for Tage, Johnson, Miller, Sobotka. Let’s just hope Tage and Johnson turn out because if they do that is actually not a bad return at all. The big question being “if” the prospects hit their potential.