Jack is trying to do everything. We've seen this script before and it swirls the toilet hole. Short of a trade, which better be coming soon, the only other thing they can do is change up the lines.

Put skinner back on the first line. Make Rino play center.

Skinner, Jack, Vessy
Olfsson, Rino, Mitts
ugh, god, we suck
Ditto

Also, can't we see more of Montour and Dahlin paired up with the first line? Why are Risto and McCabe always playing with Jack's line? (or am I wrong about this?, too busy to check actual stats, but it seems like Dahlin and Eichel are only on the ice together during the power play)
- Angler

This is a situation that is being explored

Not really.
He has produced on the PP, but surely lacking in the rest of his game, although he does try to play defensively responsible. I see the exact same game that Bethoven described in detail, so no need to rehash it other than to say he is effectively a PP Specialist that has been found d out how to defend...making his one dimensional game less than effeective.

IMO, question is, do you utilize that asset as a chip to secure other areas if need, or do you let it play out and lose value over time?
- IonSabres

I think he'll rebound a bit. Even if he tops out at a 3rd line, PP, defensively responsible guy, it's useful. That's my hope for Tage as well. The world needs Jamie McGinns

And what do u want Botts to say PUBLICLY ?

“Yeah, we desperately need a scoring forward to help out right now”

Well that would do wonders for trade talks,
wouldn’t it?!
Come on now
- jdfitz77

How about not saying “we need all the depth at d we have”

How about “this has not been good enough and I am partially to blame”

Give me anything other than “we are still learning what this team is and who our players are”

you think they are competent?


look at the roster


look at the in season adjustments to the roster




look to the inexperienced head coaches, and look at how many players actually got better with these coaches


botts might be a great drafter, verdict is still out on that


but this is his D, and it sucks

this is his top 9, and they can't score for sh!t


and if casey is a bust, that sets the team back even more


there are plenty of bodies for a trade

hell they are talking about miller being on the trade block already


this season the big additions were
vesey
miller
joker
johansson



well 1 is working, but the coach is holding joker down to minimal minutes



I can't stress this enough, they are pissing away the prime years of eichel
- homiedclown

My favorite is listening to the instigators and they are talking about a “McCormick” type player. Really? A 4th line face puncher!

Yeah, no... this team needed a 2nd line center. Period. It needs a Staal/ krejci. Period. A vet center that can play still. Mitts should be on the wing until he can play center.

And that still leaves an issue at 3c until next year...

Skinner. Eichel. Samson.
Johansson. Krejci type. Mitts

Make that the top 6. Figure out the bottom 6 with the rest of the scrap we have.

"General Manager Jason Botterill has overplayed his hand and is now completely stuck. He has too many defensemen and not enough forwards. He obviously needs to trade for scoring help, but who's going to help a guy backed so far into a corner fix a team that's just plain soft?

"We’re actively looking to see if we can make our team a little better and find a forward out there to help our group," Botterill told reporters before the game after returning from GM meetings in Toronto.

Better get a move on that, Jason. Like how about maybe before the plane leaves for Boston on Wednesday afternoon? This team needs help."

Harrington spitting fire
- jcragcrumple

In this case, he is not wrong about overplaying his hand.

I do NOT want him fired, only to go IMO another 3 year spin cycle. NOT.

That does not absolve him from this F-up of a roster of soft players, with zero heart collecting a paycheck...and it has zero to do with injuries to 5th liners in Okposo and Sobotka.
His mess, he needs to fix it.
The time for a trade and to start winning is now.

How about not saying “we need all the depth at d we have”

How about “this has not been good enough and I am partially to blame”

Give me anything other than “we are still learning what this team is and who our players are”
- ImThatGuy

Learning is for squares, that’s why I started bartending at 18

My favorite is listening to the instigators and they are talking about a “McCormick” type player. Really? A 4th line face puncher!

Yeah, no... this team needed a 2nd line center. Period. It needs a Staal/ krejci. Period. A vet center that can play still. Mitts should be on the wing until he can play center.

And that still leaves an issue at 3c until next year...

Skinner. Eichel. Samson.
Johansson. Krejci type. Mitts

Make that the top 6. Figure out the bottom 6 with the rest of the scrap we have.
- Gr8daygo

To be fair, in 2011, McCormick had 8 goals and 12 assists. He was better than the twins and Sobotka. And Vesey, Erod. Probably sheary. Okposo too

To be fair, in 2011, McCormick had 8 goals and 12 assists. He was better than the twins and Sobotka. And Vesey, Erod. Probably sheary.
- jcragcrumple

He is a 4th line fringe 3rd liner. Period. I’d take a McCormick type over Vesey, sobotka as long as Ralph doesn’t play him in the top 6. But it’s not the main issue with the line up.

It’s like arguing over the LOG line. It’s the 4th defensive line. Fix the top 6. Get mitts off the dot. Let’s start there...

To be fair, in 2011, McCormick had 8 goals and 12 assists. He was better than the twins and Sobotka. And Vesey, Erod. Probably sheary. Okposo too
- jcragcrumple

So you cherry picked CM's career year to prove your opinion that he was better than the above players? 😂

He never had more than 12 points any other year, and usually had like 4.

My favorite is listening to the instigators and they are talking about a “McCormick” type player. Really? A 4th line face puncher!

Yeah, no... this team needed a 2nd line center. Period. It needs a Staal/ krejci. Period. A vet center that can play still. Mitts should be on the wing until he can play center.

And that still leaves an issue at 3c until next year...

Skinner. Eichel. Samson.
Johansson. Krejci type. Mitts

Make that the top 6. Figure out the bottom 6 with the rest of the scrap we have.
- Gr8daygo

Krejci, or Ryan Johansen

"9 mill a year for Skinner and his center is a 4th liner"

So you cherry picked CM's career year to prove your opinion that he was better than the above players? 😂

He never had more than 12 points any other year, and usually had like 4.
- Powerslave

Ok, well Zemgus hasn't hit 20 points in 5 years, and larry has NEVER hit 20 points

So yes, in a hypothetical, I would take McCormick

"9 mill a year for Skinner and his center is a 4th liner"
- homiedclown

Just put him with Eichel. Why is that so difficult?

Krejci, or Ryan Johansen



- homiedclown

I like that Johansen idea. Would he be available?

I like that Johansen idea. Would he be available?
- Gr8daygo

rumor has it, he is

rumor has it, he is
- homiedclown

Good luck fitting that under the cap. If you acquire him, Reinhart is almost definitely gone, either in that trade, or another one because they won't be able to afford to re-sign him.

Ok, well Zemgus hasn't hit 20 points in 5 years, and larry has NEVER hit 20 points

So yes, in a hypothetical, I would take McCormick
- jcragcrumple

Sure, if you could guarantee you get 2011 McCormick, which you probably wouldn't. Any exercise such as this, you would have to eliminate outliers, and his 2011 stat line is a big outlier. Usually, when making these comparisons, I like to eliminate each player's best and worst seasons, because 90% of the time, they are the exception and not the rule.

Sure, if you could guarantee you get 2011 McCormick, which you probably wouldn't. Any exercise such as this, you would have to eliminate outliers, and his 2011 stat line is a big outlier. Usually, when making these comparisons, I like to eliminate each player's best and worst seasons, because 90% of the time, they are the exception and not the rule.
- buffalofan19

I'm just saying, given the choice, I'd take McCormick over those two. He was a tough son of a female dog. Even if you want to discount that season, which again, is better than any season Larry has put together

rumor has it, he is
- homiedclown

The Johan would mesh well with the softie top 6 Botts created.

What’s the asking price?

The Johan would mesh well with the softie top 6 Botts created.

What’s the asking price?
- washedup20

You'd have to figure out the cash and the asking price

$8m for Johansen

Mittelstadt, Sheary and Miller gets you pretty close salary wise

rumor has it, he is
- homiedclown

And the clown’s take on what would have to be given up?

The Sabres are playing shirts vs Skins soccer instead of practicing today.
So there is that.

The Sabres are playing shirts vs Skins soccer instead of practicing today.
So there is that.
- ImThatGuy

Botts hires a soccer coach and this is what the fans get!

You'd have to figure out the cash and the asking price

$8m for Johansen

Mittelstadt, Sheary and Miller gets you pretty close salary wise
- jcragcrumple

A Skunk or Risto move rattles the cage for that room.

Mitts is a winger (a wannabe Kane)

Miller is more valuable than a celery balance

Botts has made depth for depth moves for 3 years.

McCabe, Risto and Skunk all have been in the room that had the “this place sucks” mentality so when the grind of the season begins they pack it in. There is no passion in that room. Even a professional motivational speaker can break that cycle.


A core shakeup is what I am interested in seeing.

The Sabres are playing shirts vs Skins soccer instead of practicing today.
So there is that.
- ImThatGuy

I kind of get it ....... but then kind of don’t. Losing is probly taking its toll on the team