For those who want a whole new culture, someone like Brian Burke is the way to go. No BS.

I like Botts and see the vision. MoJo being hurt really screwed us.

The in game decisions and lines are troubling.

$.02
- SyrSabreFan

When's the last time Brian Burke has been involved with a team that was any good? A decade ago?

Only when you hire crap GM's.

How many coaches and GM's did the bills hire and fire? Finally found a decent coach (IMO), and bang, playoffs likely for the second time in three years.

Every year, teams go from bad to good. If after three years your team is as bad or worse than they were...fire Botts.
- matty12345

Bills drafted well though. Hockey you need a few years to see what your picks can do. Tre White, Edmunds, Allen, Singletary, are filling important holes on the team and you guys had like $100M in salary cap space due to throwing away last season. I don’t think Beasley is worth what your paying him but Brown certainly has been worth it.

Even if we end up picking bottom 5-10 this year, Botts will have been the best thing to have happened to Buffalo since 2005.

You’ll find out why in a few years when his draft picks are done developing.
- Pegullaville

I'd love to know how you know that. Mittelstadt is a joke. Cozens is a complete unknown. Dahlin was an obvious selection no matter who the GM was.

The rest? Bryson is the only one to even make the AHL team from 2017. None of the 2018 or 2019 draft picks have made the AHL. So how do you know any of them are good NHLers? You're deluding yourself into think your prospects are any better then the guys drafted one spot before or behind them.

Every team has draft picks (most have more than we do, because Botts traded more than a couple away). Every team has prospects. As far as teams go, the sabres have less talented prospects than most.

Could have had Brian Boyle.

Skinner with Jack didn't do much for the team last year either even though he scored 40 goals in his contract year. 9 goals more than Drew Stafford in his contract year which makes sense because Skinner has more natural talent.
- GilPerreault11

Except Stafford only scored like that in one season.

Skins has scored over 30 in about half his seasons in the league. I'd put them back together.

Bills drafted well though. Hockey you need a few years to see what your picks can do. Tre White, Edmunds, Allen, Singletary, are filling important holes on the team and you guys had like $100M in salary cap space due to throwing away last season. I don’t think Beasley is worth what your paying him but Brown certainly has been worth it.
- Pegullaville

Why didnt the bills draft well for 17 years before that? They threw a ton of money around in the drought too. Always to the wrong people. The point stands.

You're incompetent until the day you hire someone who isn't.

Could have had Brian Boyle.
- SABRES 89

They need top 6 help, not bottom 6 help.

They need top 6 help, not bottom 6 help.
- buffalofan19

Wow really, you don't say.


Pretty damn good bottom 6 player.

They need top 6 help, not bottom 6 help.
- buffalofan19

well, they need both

I'd love to know how you know that. Mittelstadt is a joke. Cozens is a complete unknown. Dahlin was an obvious selection no matter who the GM was.

The rest? Bryson is the only one to even make the AHL team from 2017. None of the 2018 or 2019 draft picks have made the AHL. So how do you know any of them are good NHLers? You're deluding yourself into think your prospects are any better then the guys drafted one spot before or behind them.

Every team has draft picks (most have more than we do, because Botts traded more than a couple away). Every team has prospects. As far as teams go, the sabres have less talented prospects than most.
- matty12345

If Botts gets the blame for the wheels falling off this year and last, why doesn’t he get the blame for taking a year to “asses what we have” ?

If the the guy came in firing on all cylinders and make a bunch of moves we could of picked in the latter half of the top 10 and then we don’t have Dahlin.

In less than three years he has added Dahlin, Mitts, Cozens, UPL, Skinner, Montour, Joker. While getting of Ennis’ brutal contract which was then bought out by the Wild. Botts inherited Okposo and that is the only contract we have that is a complete anchor past April of this year.

So what he brought back the Lockport twins, Asplund was/is not ready to handle the defensive minutes those guys play.

It’s fair to criticize the Beaulieu, Sheary, and Vesey adds but those were an attempt to add NHL depth while waiting for the prospects to continue to grow. Those were obvious bandaid moves.

This offseason is what he needs to make count. If we aren’t a playoff team next year I’ll fully support the axing.

Wow really, you don't say.


Pretty damn good bottom 6 player.
- SABRES 89

I would gladly have taken him over Larsson Girgs ( I know okposo contract wise we are stuck with )

I would gladly have taken him over Larsson Girgs ( I know okposo contract wise we are stuck with )
- Sabretooth9

That's fine, but again, we are talking about players that would have a negligible impact on the win column.

I would gladly have taken him over Larsson Girgs ( I know okposo contract wise we are stuck with )
- Sabretooth9

Botterill never thought or considered to move Okposo and in no way in hell would he buy him out. He does not want any dead money. He thought Girgensons and Larsson were assets that's why he resigned them. Go figure.

Except Stafford only scored like that in one season.

Skins has scored over 30 in about half his seasons in the league. I'd put them back together.
- Powerslave

The primary point was Jack and Skinner didn't do much for the Sabres last year in the win column. What did Einstein say “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” especially if Olofson is twice the player with Jack then he would be on the 2nd line and you do not lose as much with Skinner going to another line.

We are using 62 and 4 at Forward, let's all let that sink in.

The primary point was Jack and Skinner didn't do much for the Sabres last year in the win column. What did Einstein say “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” especially if Olofson is twice the player with Jack then he would be on the 2nd line and you do not lose as much with Skinner going to another line.
- GilPerreault11

This is a very solid post

We are using 62 and 4 at Forward, let's all let that sink in.
- SABRES 89

I am making myself believe this is intentional and we are still tanking.

Top5 here we come.

Why didnt the bills draft well for 17 years before that? They threw a ton of money around in the drought too. Always to the wrong people. The point stands.

You're incompetent until the day you hire someone who isn't.
- matty12345

Except we have no idea if Botterill has drafted well yet.

I also love completely dismissing the Dahlin pick. Of course anyone would've drafted him, however he gets dinged for winning the lottery?

So a guy who nails a pick at say 10th, is more competent than the guy who wins the lottery and picks 1st?

The team needs players to hit in the mid-rounds. Point blank, period, end of story.

You can't trade your way to the top, and FA rarely pans out.

People want to give the Hurricanes all the credit in the world for being "Smart". Yet dismiss that the previous GM they had nailed Pesce and Slavin in the mid rounds. They also drafted Aho in the 2nd round.

The Bruins have 3 superstar forwards, drafted by them, none in the top half of round 1.

The Lightning landed Kucherov, Point, Johnson, Killorn, outside of round 1.

The Preds drafted Arvidsson, Josi, and others outside of round 1.

It has to happen here. Period

I am making myself believe this is intentional and we are still tanking.

Top5 here we come.
- RhinoFan

Making yourself believe is a task all in it's own.

If Botts gets the blame for the wheels falling off this year and last, why doesn’t he get the blame for taking a year to “asses what we have” ?

If the the guy came in firing on all cylinders and make a bunch of moves we could of picked in the latter half of the top 10 and then we don’t have Dahlin.

In less than three years he has added Dahlin, Mitts, Cozens, UPL, Skinner, Montour, Joker. While getting of Ennis’ brutal contract which was then bought out by the Wild. Botts inherited Okposo and that is the only contract we have that is a complete anchor past April of this year.

So what he brought back the Lockport twins, Asplund was/is not ready to handle the defensive minutes those guys play.

It’s fair to criticize the Beaulieu, Sheary, and Vesey adds but those were an attempt to add NHL depth while waiting for the prospects to continue to grow. Those were obvious bandaid moves.

This offseason is what he needs to make count. If we aren’t a playoff team next year I’ll fully support the axing.
- Pegullaville

You seriously want to give him credit for being the worst team in the league the year Dahlin was draft eligible? That's your defense for him?

Your list of additions:
Dahlin - again, duh
Mitts - currently a bust. Could change.
Cozens - first round draft pick. Every gm makes one. Not sure he is better than any of the other top ten draft picks. We will see.
UPL - hasn't even played a game in the AHL. So far, he is a goalie who the sabres drafted who they hope is good. Lots of those in every organization. He was less highly ranked than Ullmark at the draft. Anyone want to give Ullmark a vezina?
Skinner - genuinely good addition. Overpaid by about 1.5 million. Still a plus.
Montour - gave up my best D prospect who is an NHL defenseman, and a first round pick. Jury is still out on whether that was a good move or not.
Miller- you forgot this one. Dude is so bad he's getting sat.
Joker - meh. He seems really promising. Also cost us a guy who could be playing on our second line this year. Good trade. Again, he still needs to develop.

So what, his claim to competence in 3 years is he traded Nylander for Joker, and the Skinner trade? That doesn't somehow get outweighed in your mind by the Kane and OReilly deals?

Everything is hype. You assume his picks are good, so he is good. If I assume more fairly that his picks are probably close to average, then we are in real trouble.

Again, a lot of these 'bad contracts' he is getting out from HE SIGNED.

Could have had Brian Boyle.
- SABRES 89

That should have been a no brainer. Just dumb not to add that type of leadership at a position of need.

The primary point was Jack and Skinner didn't do much for the Sabres last year in the win column. What did Einstein say “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” especially if Olofson is twice the player with Jack then he would be on the 2nd line and you do not lose as much with Skinner going to another line.
- GilPerreault11

Einstein didn't say that. Not sure why people keep attributing that dumb saying to him.

Insanity is actually doing things that sane people find unnacceptable. Like putting Sobotka on the second line with Skinner. And it's insane even if it's only been tried once.

Either way though won't make a difference. You can arrange 3 forwards any way you like, still won't add up to six.

That should have been a no brainer. Just dumb not to add that type of leadership at a position of need.
- Gr8daygo

Very true but, then we wouldn't see Larsson skating around taking dumb penalties still confused as to what he is doing.

You seriously want to give him credit for being the worst team in the league the year Dahlin was draft eligible? That's your defense for him?

Your list of additions:
Dahlin - again, duh
Mitts - currently a bust. Could change.
Cozens - first round draft pick. Every gm makes one. Not sure he is better than any of the other top ten draft picks. We will see.
UPL - hasn't even played a game in the AHL. So far, he is a goalie who the sabres drafted who they hope is good. Lots of those in every organization. He was less highly ranked than Ullmark at the draft. Anyone want to give Ullmark a vezina?
Skinner - genuinely good addition. Overpaid by about 1.5 million. Still a plus.
Montour - gave up my best D prospect who is an NHL defenseman, and a first round pick. Jury is still out on whether that was a good move or not.
Miller- you forgot this one. Dude is so bad he's getting sat.
Joker - meh. He seems really promising. Also cost us a guy who could be playing on our second line this year. Good trade. Again, he still needs to develop.

So what, his claim to competence in 3 years is he traded Nylander for Joker, and the Skinner trade? That doesn't somehow get outweighed in your mind by the Kane and OReilly deals?

Everything is hype. You assume his picks are good, so he is good. If I assume more fairly that his picks are probably close to average, then we are in real trouble.

Again, a lot of these 'bad contracts' he is getting out from HE SIGNED.
- matty12345

Which ones are those?

And FYI if were going to claim Miller was bad because he sat, same applies to Nylander who's made about 3 nice plays this year and outside of that has been beyond brutal

Why didn't one of our supposed tough guys (looking at you Bogo and Risto) take a run at one of their key guys once the game was lost? Fake tough. Teams know that the Sabres are soft. Jack will probably have to drop them a few more times this year which is unfortunate.