"We did lock in dahlin/tkachuk/ by finishing last." - After trying to win, with a new coach and two high quality centers.

"A couple guys who happened to be playing in a world tournament, in our building" - I sincerely don't know what factor this has at the least bit. GMs can go anywhere in the world to see top prospects. And they will. And do.


"Then last year, no trades after winning 10 straight.
Seems odd, like it was agaisnt the plan.
2019 draft top 10 was highly touted" - Every draft class is a poop shoot. You know that. Most of them are touted as good or great or some version of that. 2014 was "weak", until you see Ekbad, Reinhart, Draisaitl, Nylander, Ehlers, Vrana, Larkin, Sanheim, Tuch, DeAngelo, Schmultz, Kapananen, Pastrnak and Montour all having degrees of high level success.

As for the '10 straight'.. I use Botterill's quote from around the TDL. Reporters asked why he didn't do anything. He essentially said "Because we weren't that good". COULD he have done more? Absolutely. Did he know that the team was weak and didn't really have what it takes to go deep in the playoffs? Yes, based on the quote. He reserved his resources and spent them in the offseason instead. He's, apparently, banking on CM to grow into that role. He "needs Casey to step up this year." If he can double his output, I'd say that's a pretty great season for him. Playing with Reinhart and possibly Mojo, he should be able to reach those heights.

Our prime center (Eichel) came from tanking. No ifs ands or buts about that. If you're referring to Cozens, he's a developmental piece with elite ability. Good for us. Will take a couple years to get impact out of him. Which is totally fine.

So when you ask me if I want to give a 2nd thought about Botterill not purposely losing.. I will definitively say no. Did he sell his soul to win a few extra games last year? Absolutely not. And based on our roster, I don't blame him. But, and this is my opinion I suppose, if you think he's trying to lose, last year, this year, I feel as though you are sorely mistaken.
- TheSabresTaco

I disagree, but appreciate your well thought out post.

I wasnt referencing the travel aspect of the world juniors being in buffalo.

More of a marketing ploy to introduce these players (dahlin) to the hype train of buffalo sports and ticket sales.

This season could easily be a jumping off year.
12345 mentioned it and I agree its possible.

Hopefully growth from within makes us winners

What did the other 29 GMs say?

Maybe u missed the part where is said
“Pretty much every GM...”

That means, not ALL
Bc of course, there are some extreme circumstances

But great,
U brought up ONE example from SIX YEARS AGO
Congratulations

Also... reed moor
- jdfitz77

Oh Fitz you're so cuddly.

Teams not named the Senators should all be gunning for the playoffs. It's a non topic remark. Usually it should just go without saying.
- TheSabresTaco

That was my point
What else was Botts really gonna say?

“Well, we don’t quite know how big of a leap Casey & the other kids are gonna take.
so we may still be a year away...”

What GM says stuff like that
To your point, and the one i tried to make,
Just about every GM is talking playoffs this time of year

Oh Fitz you're so cuddly.
- TheSabresTaco

U were being an a$$ even though u obviously agreed with the point i was making
What do u expect?

I disagree, but appreciate your well thought out post.

I wasnt referencing the travel aspect of the world juniors being in buffalo.

More of a marketing ploy to introduce these players (dahlin) to the hype train of buffalo sports and ticket sales.

This season could easily be a jumping off year.
12345 mentioned it and I agree its possible.

Hopefully growth from within makes us winners
- Boss34

This is some deep conspiracy here boss, I must say.

I think we all want a winner this year.

So, he wakes up around noon, rambles a bit, goes to work, then comes home and goes on a rampage. I've got this down.

As long as Pach keeps posting the blogs at 10-11 am, we can have a little bit of decent talk, with one or two "stealth tank" guys who don't come flying fury when they feel they've been scorned. But seriously that stealth tank poop tho

I'm out.

U were being an a$$ even though u obviously agreed with the point i was making
What do u expect?
- jdfitz77

What because I challenged your point? Not all GMs lead off with we need to make the playoffs.

If you need some desitin, I can steal some from my kid.

What because I challenged your point? Not all GMs lead off with we need to make the playoffs.

If you need some desitin, I can steal some from my kid.
- TheSabresTaco

And i didn’t say they ALL do
I said “pretty much every GM”
That means NOT ALL
Hence, the “reed moor” comment

Of course there’s some extreme circumstances
Like when Darcy made those comments
Or the Sens this year

The Sabres are CLEARLY not in that situation this season

And i didn’t say they ALL do
I said “pretty much every GM”
That means NOT ALL
Hence, the “reed moor” comment
- jdfitz77

you spelled "moor" incorrectly.

you spelled "moor" incorrectly.
- TheSabresTaco

Yeah, “reed” also
It was on purpose


Of course there’s some extreme circumstances
Like when Darcy made those comments
Or the Sens this year

The Sabres are CLEARLY not in that situation this season

Keep acting like your terrible point has any validity though

Rise of skywalker looks so Gooooooooooooooooooooood 😓
- gerbe75pts

Yeah, I'm pumped

Or are you being sarcastic? The emoji is throwing me off

So, he wakes up around noon, rambles a bit, goes to work, then comes home and goes on a rampage. I've got this down.

As long as Pach keeps posting the blogs at 10-11 am, we can have a little bit of decent talk, with one or two "stealth tank" guys who don't come flying fury when they feel they've been scorned. But seriously that stealth tank poop tho

I'm out.
- BeadyEyedDouche

but were/are they laughed at?

This is some deep conspiracy here boss, I must say.

I think we all want a winner this year.
- TheSabresTaco

Really?

A franchise trying to market upcoming stars?

Same thing as having mceichel both play here in 2014.

Guess it's just a coincidence?

It's a big world out there titties.
Lots to observe





*even some things to imagine 🤔

Yeah, “reed” also
It was on purpose


Of course there’s some extreme circumstances
Like when Darcy made those comments
Or the Sens this year

The Sabres are CLEARLY not in that situation this season

Keep acting like your terrible point has any validity though
- jdfitz77

God has a Fitz complex...



Huge fan btw

Doesn't have to be Bobrovsky to shore up a really bad tandem. Varlamov would have been amazing, they could have got him instead of MoJo.
- matty12345

Hutton gave up 6 more goals than Varly in one less start. Hutton would have been amazing if he would have made just 6 more saves. Sabres would probably have been in the playoffs. 6 more saves. Varly is amazing.

What because I challenged your point? Not all GMs lead off with we need to make the playoffs.

If you need some desitin, I can steal some from my kid.
- TheSabresTaco

oh my...

playin' the desitin card?

Yeah, “reed” also
It was on purpose


Of course there’s some extreme circumstances
Like when Darcy made those comments
Or the Sens this year

The Sabres are CLEARLY not in that situation this season

Keep acting like your terrible point has any validity though
- jdfitz77

oh my...

playin' the desitin card?



- Michael Pachla

I know, I'm a fierce little boy

I’d imagine that Hutton & Ullmark split duties pretty evenly unless one clearly steps up & is ahead of the other

Maybe Ullmark can make a leap in his 2nd season?

Seems like we know what Hutton is by this point of his career

Really?

A franchise trying to market upcoming stars?

Same thing as having mceichel both play here in 2014.

Guess it's just a coincidence?

It's a big world out there titties.
Lots to observe



*even some things to imagine 🤔
- Boss34

I enjoy this banter we have together.

I just wish Fitz was more pleasant.

I’d imagine that Hutton & Ullmark split duties pretty evenly unless one clearly steps up & is ahead of the other

Maybe Ullmark can make a leap in his 2nd season?

Seems like we know what Hutton is by this point of his career
- jdfitz77

Holy skittles I was legit thinking the same thing!!!

Huge fan btw

I enjoy this banter we have together.

I just wish Fitz was more pleasant.
- TheSabresTaco

Agree to disagree
👊

I enjoy this banter we have together.

I just wish Fitz was more pleasant.
- TheSabresTaco

Seriously?
U came at me with nonsense
A Darcy quote from 6 years ago is not applicable to our situation now
True or false?

U misread what i said
I didn’t say, or imply, there weren’t exceptions
I specifically phrased it the way i did bc there are exceptions

Holy skittles I was legit thinking the same thing!!!

Huge fan btw
- washedup20

Washed- cant you play a different angle?

It's getting old.

Give fitz a break, no need to keep picking on him.

I’d imagine that Hutton & Ullmark split duties pretty evenly unless one clearly steps up & is ahead of the other

Maybe Ullmark can make a leap in his 2nd season?

Seems like we know what Hutton is by this point of his career
- jdfitz77

found it interesting that Bales was given the responsibility of deciding which goalie, 1a or 1b, would start the game for the 'canes last season...and now he's in buffalo