Michael Pachla: Checking in on the Sabres prospect pool with Kris Baker, Part II

FIRST!

I did it.

First and probably last time.

First off, this is a great little mini series, and very well written. Hearing from Baker is great, and this is quality content during the mini schedule lull. Thank you for that, because this kind of content isn't usually available without a paywall.

I still think Botterill getting a pass for largely neglecting the forward portion of the draft:

With three first-rounders who made their way to the NHL no more than a year after being drafted, and with a huge hole in the prospect pool due to the devastation of tanking and a rather poor draft record on the part of the previous regime, any top-six potential after Cozens right now comes from a player the Sabres traded for--Tage Thompson.

Asplund and Murray are still around from the previous regime. Botterill has spent assets in some cases that haven't worked (Beaulieu, Scandella, Vesey) and some that have worked (Skinner, hopefully Montour).

He has very much brought this upon himself by spending assets and drafting an abundance of defense, imo. This is on him at this point, not Murray.

If his team succeeds, then I dont really care, but the Sabres are incredibly thin at forward prospects, and that's on Botterill imo

First off, this is a great little mini series, and very well written. Hearing from Baker is great, and this is quality content during the mini schedule lull. Thank you for that, because this kind of content isn't usually available without a paywall.

I still think Botterill getting a pass for largely neglecting the forward portion of the draft:



Asplund and Murray are still around from the previous regime. Botterill has spent assets in some cases that haven't worked (Beaulieu, Scandella, Vesey) and some that have worked (Skinner, hopefully Montour).

He has very much brought this upon himself by spending assets and drafting an abundance of defense, imo. This is on him at this point, not Murray.

If his team succeeds, then I dont really care, but the Sabres are incredibly thin at forward prospects, and that's on Botterill imo
- jcragcrumple

appreciate the love

First off, this is a great little mini series, and very well written. Hearing from Baker is great, and this is quality content during the mini schedule lull. Thank you for that, because this kind of content isn't usually available without a paywall.

I still think Botterill getting a pass for largely neglecting the forward portion of the draft:



Asplund and Murray are still around from the previous regime. Botterill has spent assets in some cases that haven't worked (Beaulieu, Scandella, Vesey) and some that have worked (Skinner, hopefully Montour).

He has very much brought this upon himself by spending assets and drafting an abundance of defense, imo. This is on him at this point, not Murray.

If his team succeeds, then I dont really care, but the Sabres are incredibly thin at forward prospects, and that's on Botterill imo
- jcragcrumple

My line of thinking was that Botteril focused on defense to start his drafting tenure in buffalo as they typically take a little longer to develop into NHL talent than forwards.

The thinking being draft a number of young defense prospects first, allow them their extra couple years of development and then hopefully drafted forward prospects and defense prospects are ready for the big show at the same time.

Sun

If his team succeeds, then I dont really care, but the Sabres are incredibly thin at forward prospects, and that's on Botterill imo

I agree that they are thin, but are forwards easier or more difficult to acquire than defensemen? I feel like D is harder to get, especially solid players on both the offensive and defensive side of things. At least with forwards, you can have them fill a role. Olo is a shooter, and not much else. Girgs/Larson are defensive forwards, good at the forecheck, but provide little in the o-zone. It is very hard to get a two-way forward, but it is not needed to fill out a team. I think you need a well rounded team, with some defensive forwards, some shooters, some playmakers, so you need to find guys that excel in at least one area. I think those are a little easier to come by. Defense needs to at least be average in everything, and be above average on some things. I would rather be in this position of too many D and not enough F.

My line of thinking was that Botteril focused on defense to start his drafting tenure in buffalo as they typically take a little longer to develop into NHL talent than forwards.

The thinking being draft a number of young defense prospects first, allow them their extra couple years of development and then hopefully drafted forward prospects and defense prospects are ready for the big show at the same time.
- Shadman306

I take him at his word that they follow the board and go BPA which is fine. It's a bunch of factors that have us at this point and I think Botterill needs to straighten it out, whether it's at the prospect or NHL level.

The joker trade is good, but it compounded an existing issue: the organization is in need of high end forwards

I take him at his word that they follow the board and go BPA which is fine. It's a bunch of factors that have us at this point and I think Botterill needs to straighten it out, whether it's at the prospect or NHL level.

The joker trade is good, but it compounded an existing issue: the organization is in need of high end forwards
- jcragcrumple

Nypander has the same point total as 7.5

Jgrags- were you not one of the posters that repeated

"Vesey is gonna just plug in for pommenville's goals"

I disagreed and continue to disagree.

BIG 0 for vesey

Pommer skating and staying ready to play

I take him at his word that they follow the board and go BPA which is fine. It's a bunch of factors that have us at this point and I think Botterill needs to straighten it out, whether it's at the prospect or NHL level.

The joker trade is good, but it compounded an existing issue: the organization is in need of high end forwards
- jcragcrumple

As I said yesterday, Botterill hates wingers...and Canadians.

As I said yesterday, Botterill hates wingers...and Canadians.
- buffalofan19

And tacos

Jgrags- were you not one of the posters that repeated

"Vesey is gonna just plug in for pommenville's goals"

I disagreed and continue to disagree.

BIG 0 for vesey

Pommer skating and staying ready to play
- Boss34

I didn't say that as a positive thing. I was basically saying he would be a net-zero move from pominville. That was my hope - because he hits 15 goals basically every year. I dont like him at all, but people say he's playing well defensively

I didn't say that as a positive thing. I was basically saying he would be a net-zero move from pominville. That was my hope - because he hits 15 goals basically every year. I dont like him at all, but people say he's playing well defensively
- jcragcrumple

Did he steal your french fries at a birthday party?

I didn't say that as a positive thing. I was basically saying he would be a net-zero move from pominville. That was my hope - because he hits 15 goals basically every year. I dont like him at all, but people say he's playing well defensively
- jcragcrumple

Boss really likes you.

Did he steal your french fries at a birthday party?
- buffalofan19

4 years ago he gave the franchise gonorrhea and left. He's come back years later and given it crabs

I didn't say that as a positive thing. I was basically saying he would be a net-zero move from pominville. That was my hope - because he hits 15 goals basically every year. I dont like him at all, but people say he's playing well defensively
- jcragcrumple

I boo'ed him Saturday.

You made it seem so easy, just plug this guy in for a Sabres living legend.

Pommer is gonna be the trade deadline deal. Aside from shipping out some old defenseman

Boss really likes you.
- jochfr

I do actually like jcrags , but some of the points we have debated have not turned out favorably. (For him) Cant we remind him?

Erods the 3rd fastest sabre
Erods a 35- 50 point 2c
Botts should be fired if we dont hit 90 points
Vesey is gonna have younger legs and filling for pommer shouldnt be a drop off
Botts hasn't addressed the forwards


Traded for and Resigned skinner
Traded for tage
Traded for vesey
Traded for sheary
Elevated goaloffson after being patient in Rochester

I do actually like jcrags , but some of the points we have debated have not turned out favorably. (For him) Cant we remind him?

Erods the 3rd fastest sabre
Erods a 35- 50 point 2c
Botts should be fired if we dont hit 90 points
Vesey is gonna have younger legs and filling for pommer shouldnt be a drop off
Botts hasn't addressed the forwards


Traded for and Resigned skinner
Traded for tage
Traded for vesey
Traded for sheary
Elevated goaloffson after being patient in Rochester
- Boss34

Would still his best and biggest move is the hiring of Ralph? Who I hear he tried to previously

I do actually like jcrags , but some of the points we have debated have not turned out favorably. (For him) Cant we remind him?

Erods the 3rd fastest sabre
Erods a 35- 50 point 2c
Botts should be fired if we dont hit 90 points
Vesey is gonna have younger legs and filling for pommer shouldnt be a drop off
Botts hasn't addressed the forwards


Traded for and Resigned skinner
Traded for tage
Traded for vesey
Traded for sheary
Elevated goaloffson after being patient in Rochester
- Boss34

Do you think he's done that sufficiently at the prospect or NHL level?

Would still his best and biggest move is the hiring of Ralph? Who I hear he tried to previously
- hubie

I kinda feel like there was an agreement in place to be upper management prior. Krueger felt that he needed to continue to help the windowed owner of the soccer team and stayed to help set up the future.

Taco isnt gonna like this but,
They hired phail lousley to get eichel to sign the extension and draft dahlin, scech, or tkachuk in 2018.

Last year, they wanted a top 10 guy. Cozens looks like an nhl sure bet.

What better way to secure a top pick:
Hire a high school hockey coach and Sabres alumni.

Then they hire krueger, expecting him to eventually move to upper management. He was a bit smitten by coaching again and enjoyed the challenge.

I kinda feel like there was an agreement in place to be upper management prior. Krueger felt that he needed to continue to help the windowed owner of the soccer team and stayed to help set up the future.

Taco isnt gonna like this but,
They hired phail lousley to get eichel to sign the extension and draft dahlin, scech, or tkachuk in 2018.

Last year, they wanted a top 10 guy. Cozens looks like an nhl sure bet.

What better way to secure a top pick:
Hire a high school hockey coach and Sabres alumni.

Then they hire krueger, expecting him to eventually move to upper management. He was a bit smitten by coaching again and enjoyed the challenge.
- Boss34

That's some high level conspiracy theory right there.

Housley was considered by most "in the know" to be the most qualified candidate available. They happened to be wrong. I really don't think it goes any further than that.

Do you think he's done that sufficiently at the prospect or NHL level?
- jcragcrumple

Pecar looks like a legit prospect
Lazar was a good signing
Drafted mitts
Drafted cozens

Resigned the lockport twins. They have played well
Locking in captain turnover for $10 million is a steal

I'd say his worse move at forward is giving erod 2 million 🤔

I'm not sure that's "neglected"

I like the idea of Pekar and Murray. This team is way too soft. Could use someone to lay a couple big hits once in a while to change the game. I know big hits aren't really a thing in the league these days, but a guy can dream.

I boo'ed him Saturday.

You made it seem so easy, just plug this guy in for a Sabres living legend.

Pommer is gonna be the trade deadline deal. Aside from shipping out some old defenseman
- Boss34

I boo'ed the whole team Saturday.