Flames fired Peters

Are any other GMs making trades now?

I must just be missing all the amazing moves that were available to Botts that he passed on
- jdfitz77

At the same time, though, we also don't know of trade proposals that were refused. It works both ways.

We never found out that Regier turned down Peca for Jarome Iginla until years after the fact.

It's almost as if he should have addressed it over the summer. Or a year ago. Or 2.
- jcragcrumple

Yeah, bc Botts has done very little

You know what, you’re right
I agree that Botts must be trying hard to purposely not make the team any better

Dreger & Friedman must be lying

At the same time, though, we also don't know of trade proposals that were refused. It works both ways.

We never found out that Regier turned down Peca for Jarome Iginla until years after the fact.
- buffalofan19

The I’ll put it this way...

Do you want Botts to make a deal that he thinks is a bad one?

I do not

Can’t force good players to come here

And how long did it take for the Caps to win a Cup?
How many years has it taken for Tampa to build a legit contender around Stamkos?


- jdfitz77

ovi was in the playoffs in year 3 and every year after
stamkos was in the ECF in year three


has any other superstar center not sniffed the playoffs in their first 5 seasons

and this is not a dig on eichel, more our gm and coaches

I still think that it's not a coincidence that a ridiculous amount of deadweight comes off the books next year, possibly even more if Okposo goes to IR. That's why bringing back guys like Larsson and Girgensons on one-year deals don't really matter if that's the plan. The problem Botterill will run into, other than a restless fanbase, is that he's left himself absolutely zero margin for error. If we are still having this conversation at Thanksgiving of 2020, he won't and shouldn't last until January 1, 2021.
- buffalofan19

I’m convinced JB never really intended this team to compete. There are a lot of player contracts expiring after this year, especially up front.

But with the environment around this team for the past decade, it’s difficult to imagine the best free agents shoving each out of the way to come here. Perhaps he’ll just replace them all with rookies and scrap heap reclamation projects next year.

It's almost as if he should have addressed it over the summer. Or a year ago. Or 2.
- jcragcrumple

Can't make FA come here, and other then the guy's he wouldn't trade, what chips did he have to use. Wasn't trading away are 1st. I think he missed out on a few things but he had a plan and it seems like he is sticking to it.

Sure hope Dahlin has a quick and full recovery.

The GMs like Botteriel, Dubas and other analytic. skill loving GMs need to acknowledge, that although that is the PRIMARY goal, to have a speed and skill team....you STILL need an element of toughness and grit. It seems these GMs roster a team that is much too soft. If they encounter some toughness trouble in the regular season, expect that to be ten-fold in the playoffs.
Sure, have your skill...speed...finesse. But, you just gotta employ a couple of guys who can impede the bullies. You don't really need goons...but a couple of feisty, no-back-down guys who can play some minutes. All skill, and little to no grit...it looks pretty on the ice. But, IMO...won't win you a Cup!
- hawk35

Grit is one thing...downright dirtiness is another. By the refs not calling a penalty, they are enabling this type of violence. The NHL don't want players like John Scott but this is the reason you need a player like John Scott.

Yeah, bc Botts has done very little


- jdfitz77

how many right moves has he made


skinner
joker



and he is playing skinner with 4th liners

The I’ll put it this way...

Do you want Botts to make a deal that he thinks is a bad one?

I do not
- jdfitz77

No, but equating the fact that the trade market is quiet right now to the notion that there are only bad deals on the table is a flawed argument as well.

I’m convinced JB never really intended this team to compete. There are a lot of player contracts expiring after this year, especially up front.


- PrinceChill

I don't think you trade for a rental, vesey, if you expect not to compete


I am starting to think it's more of bad coaching

I’m convinced JB never really intended this team to compete. There are a lot of player contracts expiring after this year, especially up front.

But with the environment around this team for the past decade, it’s difficult to imagine the best free agents shoving each out of the way to come here. Perhaps he’ll just replace them all with rookies and scrap heap reclamation projects next year.
- PrinceChill

This is my point. If this is the plan, which I think it is, it's one with almost zero margin for error. Unless they are at the point were there is zero doubt they make the playoffs by Christmas of 2020, the plan will be a failure.

I don't think you trade for a rental, vesey, if you expect not to compete


I am starting to think it's more of bad coaching
- homiedclown

Unless you didn't intend for him to be a rental.

Unless you didn't intend for him to be a rental.
- buffalofan19

say bogo, scandella, sheary, girgens,, sobotka, larsson and vesey walk or trade them at deadline


adding cozens and pilut is not going to make this team much better

If this team doesn't start 8-2-2, and simply treads water around .500 but still ends up with the same record right now, are we having this same conversation?

I don't think you trade for a rental, vesey, if you expect not to compete


I am starting to think it's more of bad coaching
- homiedclown

I genuinely question whether he knows how to build a competent forward group. His 1st plan to get a 2C failed when Berglund retired - and honestly thank god for that.

Plan B was a 20 year old

Plan C was convert a winger

Plan D is erod


My answer to "what's he supposed to do?" Is: his job. He's supposed to do his job. I dont think he has

If this team doesn't start 8-2-2, and simply treads water around .500 but still ends up with the same record right now, are we having this same conversation?
- buffalofan19

probably

say bogo, scandella, sheary, girgens,, sobotka, larsson and vesey walk or trade them at deadline


adding cozens and pilut is not going to make this team much better
- homiedclown

Given the cap space they will have, I doubt they stop there.

Grit is one thing...downright dirtiness is another. By the refs not calling a penalty, they are enabling this type of violence. The NHL don't want players like John Scott but this is the reason you need a player like John Scott.
- sabreadvocate1

John Scott doesn't do anything to protect star players.

A goon goons your star.

So your goon punches out their goon.

Your star is still injured.

So unless you are getting John Scott to goon their star, this argument is invalid.

bold prediction before I get packed for my cruise tomorrow

bills beat cowboys by 17

Jason Garrett gets fired friday

I don't think you trade for a rental, vesey, if you expect not to compete


I am starting to think it's more of bad coaching
- homiedclown

I don’t think JB values 3rds at all. Didn’t matter if JV was good or not.

John Scott doesn't do anything to protect star players.

A goon goons your star.

So your goon punches out their goon.

Blue-collar portion of your fanbase feels good about itself.

Your star is still injured.

So unless you are getting John Scott to goon their star, this argument is invalid.
- Atomic Wedgie

Fixed.

ovi was in the playoffs in year 3 and every year after
stamkos was in the ECF in year three


has any other superstar center not sniffed the playoffs in their first 5 seasons

and this is not a dig on eichel, more our gm and coaches
- homiedclown

My point was that timelines are different for every team

That Tampa team ended up crashing & burning pretty badly after that ECF trip you’re talking about
Maybe they’d have won multiple Cups by now if they’d have built correctly?

I genuinely question whether he knows how to build a competent forward group. His 1st plan to get a 2C failed when Berglund retired - and honestly thank god for that.

Plan B was a 20 year old

Plan C was convert a winger

Plan D is erod


My answer to "what's he supposed to do?" Is: his job. He's supposed to do his job. I dont think he has
- jcragcrumple

maybe he should have convinced peggy to keep ror and had a meeting with the three of them


if we have ror instead of tage, sobotka and a prospect
I bet this team is MUCH better today

I genuinely question whether he knows how to build a competent forward group. His 1st plan to get a 2C failed when Berglund retired - and honestly thank god for that.

Plan B was a 20 year old

Plan C was convert a winger

Plan D is erod


My answer to "what's he supposed to do?" Is: his job. He's supposed to do his job. I dont think he has
- jcragcrumple

The main pieces in that trade were always Thompson and the first round pick. Even if Berglund stuck around, he was never staying in the 2C role past last year.