No, it wasn’t for the future
NO ONE IS SAYING THAT

Those moves were for the impatient like yourself,
to try & get us competitive as quick as possible
Can u really not see that???

Those supposed “wasted assets” wouldn’t have helped us by now anyways...
so you’d still be upset that we haven’t met your timeline to be good

And they also would’ve very likely never helped

Tell me how those spent assets are helping us NOW
Bc you’ve been on here nonstop for months saying that 3 drafts is long enough to build a team,
and using these “wasted assets” as your argument
- jdfitz77

Keep up.

I said the weak prospect roster in Roch is a result of Botts trading mid round picks

I want people to admit he's middled the rebuild. His "patience" is a lie. He's wasted assets.

He's spent assets, and yet still hasn't committed to winning this year
- jcragcrumple

Huh? His patience is to a fault right now.

He hasn’t really wasted much of consequence

Keep up.

I said the weak prospect roster in Roch is a result of Botts trading mid round picks
- jcragcrumple

Stuck to 1 point here

You want the Sabres to be better NOW
True or false?

Botts spent assets that would likely never help us more than depth players,
to help us get better NOW
True or false?

Your opinion is basically 95points or bust...
but if he’d made those picks,
It’s very unlikely that they’d be helping us NOW
True or false?


All these “wasted assets” have been spent in order to meet your timeline of us getting better ASAP
How do you not see that?
And how can you continue to argue against Botts spending assets to get us better NOW,
when it’s supposedly what you want???


And if all you’re trying to do is talk about Rochester...
then the only guys that would be there from his drafts are from 3years ago
Not from last year or the year before most likely
True or false?
*many guys are still in college, Europe, or Juniors... where they should be!!!

And he’s built Rochester into a much better team than it has been in quite some time
True or false?



Idk what to say here??
You’re just so wrong with your Botts hate here that it’s crazy

He screwed up the ROR trade... epic fail
But most on here say his hands were tied & he had to take the beat available offer

And he brought in some guys that didn’t work out great, while trying to clean up from the disaster left by GMTM
And we’ll be free from those guys who haven’t worked out shortly

No... Botts has not been perfect
That’s the narrative you’re arguing,
that literally NO ONE is pushing

Keep up.

I said the weak prospect roster in Roch is a result of Botts trading mid round picks
- jcragcrumple

Botts defenders are really double minded.

All of this is so moot.

Botts defenders put the onus on us critics to be a better gm than he is. "What else would you have done?"

Bottom line. This is year three if we don't make the playoffs after three years, he should be fired. The bar has been set stupidly low. Make the playoffs, something more than half the teams do. And not even make the playoffs every year, just once in three years, something almost every other team has done.

Contrary the popular belief he DID NOT inherit a bare roster. He inherited a roster with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and Ryan OReilly and Evander Cane, which is a better top four than we have now. I'm not saying he needed to build a dynasty with that team, but it's simply unnacceptable to miss the playoffs for three years in this sport. The definition of success isn't whether you think he made the right amount of trades or drafted the right players or signed the right deals. The definition of success is having success. IF and that's if they can't make 8th this year, he is a failure.

Botts defenders are really double minded.

All of this is so moot.

Botts defenders put the onus on us critics to be a better gm than he is. "What else would you have done?"

Bottom line. This is year three if we don't make the playoffs after three years, he should be fired. The bar has been set stupidly low. Make the playoffs, something more than half the teams do. And not even make the playoffs every year, just once in three years, something almost every other team has done.

Contrary the popular belief he DID NOT inherit a bare roster. He inherited a roster with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and Ryan OReilly and Evander Cane, which is a better top four than we have now. I'm not saying he needed to build a dynasty with that team, but it's simply unnacceptable to miss the playoffs for three years in this sport. The definition of success isn't whether you think he made the right amount of trades or drafted the right players or signed the right deals. The definition of success is having success. IF and that's if they can't make 8th this year, he is a failure.
- matty12345

Most - including myself - are counting on a tim murray pick (olofsson) to make the biggest impact toward us making the playoffs this year.

I'm just tired of the double talk and excuses.

His roster needs to work, period. Year 3, put up or shut up.

Botts defenders are really double minded.

All of this is so moot.

Botts defenders put the onus on us critics to be a better gm than he is. "What else would you have done?"

Bottom line. This is year three if we don't make the playoffs after three years, he should be fired. The bar has been set stupidly low. Make the playoffs, something more than half the teams do. And not even make the playoffs every year, just once in three years, something almost every other team has done.

Contrary the popular belief he DID NOT inherit a bare roster. He inherited a roster with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and Ryan OReilly and Evander Cane, which is a better top four than we have now. I'm not saying he needed to build a dynasty with that team, but it's simply unnacceptable to miss the playoffs for three years in this sport. The definition of success isn't whether you think he made the right amount of trades or drafted the right players or signed the right deals. The definition of success is having success. IF and that's if they can't make 8th this year, he is a failure.
- matty12345

Come the (frank) on man.

Do you want me list what our blueline was?

Ristolainen
McCabe
Kulikov
Justin Falk ( yes him)
Bogosian
Antipin
Fedun
Gorges

Literally the worst blue line in hockey

Our goalie needed to go to rehab

We had 4 good forwards, one was a year from UFA

He inherited the WORST possible situation you could

Botts defenders are really double minded.

All of this is so moot.

Botts defenders put the onus on us critics to be a better gm than he is. "What else would you have done?"

Bottom line. This is year three if we don't make the playoffs after three years, he should be fired. The bar has been set stupidly low. Make the playoffs, something more than half the teams do. And not even make the playoffs every year, just once in three years, something almost every other team has done.

Contrary the popular belief he DID NOT inherit a bare roster. He inherited a roster with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart and Ryan OReilly and Evander Cane, which is a better top four than we have now. I'm not saying he needed to build a dynasty with that team, but it's simply unnacceptable to miss the playoffs for three years in this sport. The definition of success isn't whether you think he made the right amount of trades or drafted the right players or signed the right deals. The definition of success is having success. IF and that's if they can't make 8th this year, he is a failure.
- matty12345

See this is a problem with this fan base. I want to build a cup contender that is talented enough that making the playoffs is a given every year and first round playoff exits are considered a disappointment. This whole just "make the playoffs"mantra makes sense I guess cause most of you have to suffer through the Bills and Sabres but playing an extra few weeks a year doesn't mean jack to me. I'd rather be patient and let everything play out and strike while the iron is hot then make erratic moves to try to speed everything up.

- MEBSabresFAN

Our defense is insanely good

Most - including myself - are counting on a tim murray pick (olofsson) to make the biggest impact toward us making the playoffs this year.

I'm just tired of the double talk and excuses.

His roster needs to work, period.
- jcragcrumple

And the “wasted” assets u mentioned would have been zero help to this roster

Yet, guys like Miller & Vesey will be

Speaking of DOUBLE TALK...

Most - including myself - are counting on a tim murray pick (olofsson) to make the biggest impact toward us making the playoffs this year.

I'm just tired of the double talk and excuses.

His roster needs to work, period. Year 3, put up or shut up.
- jcragcrumple

Jcrag for 3 months - “Our playoffs depend on if Mittelstadt is good”

Today - Not the case for some reason

You completely lose me when you start the “The 2016-17 Sabres weren’t actually that bad”

Jcrag for 3 months - “Our playoffs depend on if Mittelstadt is good”

Today - Not the case for some reason
- OneKaneOneCup

That's a fair criticism of me.

I think Mojo is 2C now, so he might be more important than Mitts, but the 2C position is the most important imo, as I've said

Olofsson has the most high-end impact potential as a new comer

And the “wasted” assets u mentioned would have been zero help to this roster

Yet, guys like Miller & Vesey will be

Speaking of DOUBLE TALK...
- jdfitz77

Vesey is part of the "Botterill 10" UFAs

We cant compete until they're gone for some reason

See this is a problem with this fan base. I want to build a cup contender that is talented enough that making the playoffs is a given every year and first round playoff exits are considered a disappointment. This whole just "make the playoffs"mantra makes sense I guess cause most of you have to suffer through the Bills and Sabres but playing an extra few weeks a year doesn't mean jack to me. I'd rather be patient and let everything play out and strike while the iron is hot then make erratic moves to try to speed everything up.
- Swedish_Jesus

The two are not different paths. Before you can 'contend' for a cup you need to make the playoffs. Making the playoffs isn't a short term goal, its one goal on the path to competing.

Oh, i would love to win the cup this year, but if take making the playoffs as a sign that we might someday, somehow, get close to that. If you can't turn over a roster within three years, you never will.

That's a fair criticism of me.

I think Mojo is 2C now, so he might be more important than Mitts, but the 2C position is the most important imo, as I've said

Olofsson has the most high-end impact potential as a new comer
- jcragcrumple

The problem is he hasn’t taken out the trash

Vesey is part of the "Botterill 10" UFAs

We cant compete until they're gone for some reason
- jcragcrumple

I never said that

However... YOU continue your “double talk” while accusing others of theirs

I never said that

However... YOU continue your “double talk” while accusing others of theirs
- jdfitz77

You never said what?

I have no idea what you have or haven't said.

Here's what I've heard from Botterill defenders:

- "He's building the right way"

But he's spent assets on players who are part of the 10 UFAs we cant wait to get rid of

- "Can't rush the rebuild"

See above

- "Can't build a roster overnight"

Overcommitted to one position

His roster of retreads needs to show improvement over the admittedly awful Housley, or he needs to go. He could have made more changes, but he chose not to; changes that wouldn't have even cost him assets. I'm talking about internal changes.

Put up or shut up time.

I hope the additions bail him out. I swear to god, I do

(frank) these weird sounding muppets since Jim Henson died.

You never said what?

I have no idea what you have or haven't said.

Here's what I've heard from Botterill defenders:

- "He's building the right way"

But he's spent assets on players who are part of the 10 UFAs we cant wait to get rid of

- "Can't rush the rebuild"

See above

- "Can't build a roster overnight"

Overcommitted to one position

His roster of retreads needs to show improvement over the admittedly awful Housley, or he needs to go. He could have made more changes, but he chose not to; changes that wouldn't have even cost him assets. I'm talking about internal changes.

Put up or shut up time.

I hope the additions bail him out. I swear to god, I do
- jcragcrumple

When you use this term to put yourself on the other side of the fence, just say you want him fired. Don’t put arbitrary numbers on goals you know are unrealistic. Don’t tip-toe around it just say you think he sucks.

When you use this term to put yourself on the other side of the fence, just say you want him fired. Don’t put arbitrary numbers on goals you know are unrealistic. Don’t tip-toe around it just say you think he sucks.
- OneKaneOneCup

All I want is for us to be a +/-90 point team

I want improvement. I think stability in management is important, but if he cant provide a reasonable roster after 3 off seasons, then the Sabres need to go in another direction.

I think Mojo, Olofsson and Dahlin's progression could bail him out.

I'm just done with excuses and saying "he needs one more year."

3 years is your shot, that's fair.

The two are not different paths. Before you can 'contend' for a cup you need to make the playoffs. Making the playoffs isn't a short term goal, its one goal on the path to competing.

Oh, i would love to win the cup this year, but if take making the playoffs as a sign that we might someday, somehow, get close to that. If you can't turn over a roster within three years, you never will.
- matty12345

They should be an improved hockey team this year. Let's see what happens before we burn the GM at the stake. If we don't make it out of the bottom 10 then I'll be concerned. Even in that case Botts will get the boot and the next GM will get to reap the benefits of his patience.

All I want is for us to be a +/-90 point team

I want improvement. I think stability in management is important, but if he cant provide a reasonable roster after 3 off seasons, then the Sabres need to go in another direction.

I think Mojo, Olofsson and Dahlin's progression could bail him out.

I'm just done with excuses and saying "he needs one more year."

3 years is your shot, that's fair.
- jcragcrumple

I just think if it looks like the plan is working, don’t change it.

He’s taken a blue line that was the worst in hockey, and it’s now looking like a top 5-10 blue line in the near future, with a boatload of defensive prospects to boot.

He has acquired 2 top 6 forwards in Skinner and Mojo, and has moved one out

He needed to acquire one more IMO. And that’s the big problem I see.

But the future there with Cozens, Mitts, Pekar looks pretty promising

I just think if it looks like the plan is working, don’t change it.

He’s taken a blue line that was the worst in hockey, and it’s now looking like a top 5-10 blue line in the near future, with a boatload of defensive prospects to boot.

He has acquired 2 top 6 forwards in Skinner and Mojo, and has moved one out

He needed to acquire one more IMO. And that’s the big problem I see.

But the future there with Cozens, Mitts, Pekar looks pretty promising
- OneKaneOneCup

Pekar is an energy forward at his ceiling.

His pipeline is incredibly thin at forward

The Broncos haven't been playing good defence this year.
- Swedish_Jesus

Or rushing, either.