https://www.si.com/nhl/2019/09/15/top-storylines-rfas-hughes-kakko-lightning-avalanche-hurricanes

Sports illustrated article dated September 15, 2019

"Coaching hotseats. Winnipeg’s window looks smaller than originally thought, and coach Paul Maurice could be on the outs if the Jets don’t live up to expectations. Phil Housley might find himself in a similar situation if the Sabres don’t take a notable step forward this year. "


- SabresFaninIndiana

Buffalo is Antarctica’s cousin

Still like the trade, but I'll keep sayin it. Don't be surprised if there is heat for this one halfway through the year, when Nylander has 12 goals or something, and Joker is in Rochester still.

It's going to be a while before this trade looks good.
- matty12345

if nylander is playing in a top 6 role for Chicago he easily could put up 20 goals this year.. i dont think this trade will be as lopsided and Kevin Mccalister thinks

Still like the trade, but I'll keep sayin it. Don't be surprised if there is heat for this one halfway through the year, when Nylander has 12 goals or something, and Joker is in Rochester still.

It's going to be a while before this trade looks good.
- matty12345

There will be no heat. Alex Nylander will always be limited by his consistency issues.

if nylander is playing in a top 6 role for Chicago he easily could put up 20 goals this year.. i dont think this trade will be as lopsided and Kevin Mccalister thinks
- SabresFaninIndiana

He's known as the Prospect Prophet you (frank)ing ignoramus.

Joker will be awesome. Alex Nylander will be average.

I have spoken.

Who snitched on the clown's EXTREMELY offensive meme

if nylander is playing in a top 6 role for Chicago he easily could put up 20 goals this year.. i dont think this trade will be as lopsided and Kevin Mccalister thinks
- SabresFaninIndiana

Who said it was lopsided lol ? I said it was a win the first day when you trade a Number 1 or 2 defenseman it’s a win .. the fact he got traded is still amazing

That joker trade will go down as one of the best trades in our history
- gerbe75pts

You literally just said this.

The implication here is that we totally ripped off the Blackhawks. Please correct me.

dahlin-joker
montour-risto
mccabe-miller

nothing to see here, move along
- navinrjohnson

Was the plan really to spend a 1st to acquire a RHD to play him on the left side? Makes no sense. I think Botterill thought Risto would be gone by now. Very sure Risto really thought he would be gone by now

Maybe he's got some sort of minor injury that's not causing issues at practice but that they don't want to risk aggravating in a game.
- HonkFortheGoose

Maybe risto broke his leg surfing?

Fights back on again?

Was the plan really to spend a 1st to acquire a RHD to play him on the left side? Makes no sense. I think Botterill thought Risto would be gone by now. Very sure Risto really thought he would be gone by now
- jcragcrumple

I really think other GMs realize this as well and are hoping for a reduced price.

I really think other GMs realize this as well and are hoping for a reduced price.
- Carubba-Kaleta

The team doesn't need to move him, so either overpay or GTFO.

My only downside is that we will not play Jokiharju because we can't figure out how to make him fit.

Was the plan really to spend a 1st to acquire a RHD to play him on the left side? Makes no sense. I think Botterill thought Risto would be gone by now. Very sure Risto really thought he would be gone by now
- jcragcrumple

I don't mind paying a first to acquire established NHL talent. That is a bargain every time, if you ask me.

Now that we have the advantage of the bargain, lets find a way to put our best defensemen on the ice at the same time.

Was the plan really to spend a 1st to acquire a RHD to play him on the left side? Makes no sense. I think Botterill thought Risto would be gone by now. Very sure Risto really thought he would be gone by now
- jcragcrumple

This is irrelevant. If you have the depth on the right side, and you have a guy who can play both sides, you optimize your lineup the best you can. We can only guess what Botts' aspirations are with Risto, regardless of the team position that they're 'excited' to work with him.

Not to mention, he specifically addressed Risto and the depth in the same thought, saying "we brought in competition to help balance some minutes of some of our players" or something to that effect. Risto does not need to be traded, just because we have an abundance of RD. A lot of fans want it, but the fans don't see what the team sees as far as short/long term effects, trade value, what's actually available, and how Risto could fit into the team structure.

There's a lot of factors us as fans ignore and are also ignorant too.

Maybe risto broke his leg surfing?

Fights back on again?
- Boss34

I don't mind paying a first to acquire established NHL talent. That is a bargain every time, if you ask me.

Now that we have the advantage of the bargain, lets find a way to put our best defensemen on the ice at the same time.
- Der Kaiser

You know I'm in favor of trading futures for proven players. That's not what's at issue. But if they believed in Risto, why did they acquire 3 RHD? And if you think the moves had nothing to do with Risto, why would JB acquire all RHD when LHD are both cheaper, and what we actually need if Risto is actually here for the long haul.

None of this makes sense from a roster building sense. Either they anticipated Risto would be gone, or JB is trading for players on a "best player available" basis, rather than addressing the specific needs of the team. If they wanted a second pair LHD, it wouldn't have cost Guhle and a 1st. None of it makes sense without another trade imo

That joker trade will go down as one of the best trades in our history
- gerbe75pts

are you really kidding me.. one of the best trades in our history usually means lopsided.. but sure keep treading down that road

This is irrelevant. If you have the depth on the right side, and you have a guy who can play both sides, you optimize your lineup the best you can. We can only guess what Botts' aspirations are with Risto, regardless of the team position that they're 'excited' to work with him.

Not to mention, he specifically addressed Risto and the depth in the same thought, saying "we brought in competition to help balance some minutes of some of our players" or something to that effect. Risto does not need to be traded, just because we have an abundance of RD. A lot of fans want it, but the fans don't see what the team sees as far as short/long term effects, trade value, what's actually available, and how Risto could fit into the team structure.

There's a lot of factors us as fans ignore and are also ignorant too.
- TheSabresTaco

False, Risto sucks.

Now trade him for legit 2C or 1/2 RW.

Did I do this right?

You literally just said this.

The implication here is that we totally ripped off the Blackhawks. Please correct me.
- TheSabresTaco

i was fully confused as well.. i guess buffalo has been so bad at trades that just winning a trade makes it the best we have ever had

You know I'm in favor of trading futures for proven players. That's not what's at issue. But if they believed in Risto, why did they acquire 3 RHD? And if you think the moves had nothing to do with Risto, why would JB acquire all RHD when LHD are both cheaper, and what we actually need if Risto is actually here for the long haul.

None of this makes sense from a roster building sense. Either they anticipated Risto would be gone, or JB is trading for players on a "best player available" basis, rather than addressing the specific needs of the team. If they wanted a second pair LHD, it wouldn't have cost Guhle and a 1st. None of it makes sense without another trade imo
- jcragcrumple

There's a lot to unpack here. But to keep it short, acquiring more talent is not a bad thing regardless. He spelled it out for us. He wants to chop down Risto's usage. The team can still like a player, especially if they realize he's more useful to them when he plays less.

The right side was very weak prior to our acquisitions of Montour, Joker and Miller. Especially after this season ends, which sees a replacement level Bogo and.. erm.. National Folk Hero Casey Nelson become UFA. Leaves us with Risto and.. Borgen. These moves are clearly short and long term, something Botts has promised to do all along.

You don't know what was available to the Sabres for the left side. It's currently a position of relative weakness under Dahlin, and that may and probably will be addressed at a later date, while simultaneously explaining the reasoning for Montour to move over. You can ease Pilut in, you can rid yourself of a lot of Scandella minutes. I believe a LD will somehow be acquired in the next year.

This is irrelevant. If you have the depth on the right side, and you have a guy who can play both sides, you optimize your lineup the best you can. We can only guess what Botts' aspirations are with Risto, regardless of the team position that they're 'excited' to work with him.

Not to mention, he specifically addressed Risto and the depth in the same thought, saying "we brought in competition to help balance some minutes of some of our players" or something to that effect. Risto does not need to be traded, just because we have an abundance of RD. A lot of fans want it, but the fans don't see what the team sees as far as short/long term effects, trade value, what's actually available, and how Risto could fit into the team structure.

There's a lot of factors us as fans ignore and are also ignorant too.
- TheSabresTaco

I'm ignorant of such things.

False, Risto sucks.

Now trade him for legit 2C or 1/2 RW.

Did I do this right?
- SDSabre

I'm ignorant of such things.
- jochfr

You're ignorant to all things except the best crack dealers in the hills of 'tucky.

There's a lot to unpack here. But to keep it short, acquiring more talent is not a bad thing regardless. He spelled it out for us. He wants to chop down Risto's usage. The team can still like a player, especially if they realize he's more useful to them when he plays less.

The right side was very weak prior to our acquisitions of Montour, Joker and Miller. Especially after this season ends, which sees a replacement level Bogo and.. erm.. National Folk Hero Casey Nelson become UFA. Leaves us with Risto and.. Borgen. These moves are clearly short and long term, something Botts has promised to do all along.

You don't know what was available to the Sabres for the left side. It's currently a position of relative weakness under Dahlin, and that may and probably will be addressed at a later date, while simultaneously explaining the reasoning for Montour to move over. You can ease Pilut in, you can rid yourself of a lot of Scandella minutes. I believe a LD will somehow be acquired in the next year.
- TheSabresTaco

So why did we just spend 9 months acquiring too many RHD when we need more LHD? It's not that the players acquired and retained are bad players, it's that it makes little sense in the grand scheme of assembling a coherent roster. Montour, Miller, Risto, Joker, hopefully Borgen. The Sabres dont need all of them.

Either Risto is on his way out, or these guys have been acquired haphazardly with little regard for how to make the bigger picture come together. JB spent a 1st to play a guy out of position on purpose? No, I dont believe that's true. And if it is, not a great plan.

I think they can, that’s my point.

I usually can look at the schedule and find 7 losses easily.

I don’t think they’re worse than a lot of their schedule
- OneKaneOneCup

I think we beat 2 VERY BAD teams,
and it’s not like we won the games 40-10

Things are gonna look different when we start playing good teams

First half of the season should be fun at least
Then we’ll see if we’ve grown enough to start beating the good teams we play in the 2nd half

Sure is fun so far though