agreed, due to botts not addressing the center


adding olofsson with skinner and skunk, you have the wingers for a top 6 to be a playoff team
- homiedclown

Tampa: Point, Stammer, Kucherov
Toronto: Matthews, Tavares, Marner
Florida: Barkov, Huberdeau
Boston: Bergeron, Pasternak, Marchand
Buffalo: Eichel

Then you have players like Krejci, Johnson, Nylander, Skinner, Reinhart, Palat, Debrusk,

The Sabres don’t have the depth nor the high end talent of the teams ahead of them. It’s quite a conundrum.

The entire structure of his team was built on Mittelstadt’s success. If he would have came in and performed like everyone thought he would this team would have the 2C it’s banging the table for and we would be a legit playoff threat.

When that didn’t happen he didn’t have a stop gap option and Mojo is a 3LW playing 2C.

Botts’ method is the proper way of building a team, but if you’re using the draft to add talent and build the right way, you can’t miss on the picks.
- Pegullaville

If JB didn’t try to rush the rebuild by acquiring Skinner, the Sabres would have the 9M in cap space, the draft picks he spent, and Turcotte or better in that draft.

If JB didn’t try to rush the rebuild by acquiring Skinner, the Sabres would have the 9M in cap space, the draft picks he spent, and Turcotte or better in that draft.
- PrinceChill

you have eichel in his prime


getting skinner was not a mistake

Tampa: Point, Stammer, Kucherov
Toronto: Matthews, Tavares, Marner
Florida: Barkov, Huberdeau
Boston: Bergeron, Pasternak, Marchand
Buffalo: Eichel

Then you have players like Krejci, Johnson, Nylander, Skinner, Reinhart, Palat, Debrusk,

The Sabres don’t have the depth nor the high end talent of the teams ahead of them. It’s quite a conundrum.
- Pegullaville

if casey, tage and cozens can be decent middle 6 players next season

perhaps they can compete


but it really hinges on those three, and a better group of d men, or at least 6 d men on the same page

Can anyone tell me or have a chrystal ball that Vesey would have been this bad, Sheary before he got here had 2 pretty decent years, he has disappeared. Botts used picks to get players that were coming of productive years for there former teams, who new they would go dry. Skinner is in a slump. The biggest thing is the 2C and Mitts screwed that up and Botts didn't have a fall back plan, or he was hoping by this time Mitts would have taken over at 2C and switch Mojo back to wing. He's another 1 that has disappeared Mojo.

the biggest failure so far for Botts is drafting JaMarcus Russell, errrrrrrrrrrrr
Casey Mittelstadt

Can anyone tell me or have a chrystal ball that Vesey would have been this bad.
- Buff36

he is on pace for 25 points

his 3 year average as a ranger is 30 points


he averaged 25 5 on 5 points as a ranger, same as his pace as a sabre


piss poor center play is leading to his lack of meeting expectations but in reality, he is playing his best 5 on 5 play this season with his reduced minutes vs being in the big apple

If/when Cozens &/or Mitts develop into a really good 2C, then how much of a failure is Botts?

Is he really horrible at building a team?
Or is he just not doing it fast enough?
- jdfitz77

What the Sabres need now more than anything is someone who can identify and acquire forward talent. Botterill has proven time and time again that evaluating forward talent is not only his greatest weakness - but well below NHL average for a GM.

Berglund, Sobotka, Thompson, Sheary, Vesey, Johansson, Mittelstadt

The Sabres need someone who can clean up Botterill's defensive log jam and identify forwards to help Eichel.

Botterill is unwilling or unable to do the job in front of him. It's time for a change. I hope the Pegulas use the holiday break to think about the disparity between their franchises and come to the needed realization that Botterill has to go.

he is on pace for 25 points

his 3 year average as a ranger is 30 points


he averaged 25 5 on 5 points as a ranger, same as his pace as a sabre


piss poor center play is leading to his lack of meeting expectations but in reality, he is playing his best 5 on 5 play this season with his reduced minutes vs being in the big apple
- homiedclown

He averaged 17 goals a season in NY, he will be lucky to get to 10 this year, and no matter his Center or time, he has had his fair share of chances. I know are C positions is weak, but we have to stop making excuses cause players are getting chances to score, yes they would get more with better Center play, but they are all getting those chances.

Can anyone tell me or have a chrystal ball that Vesey would have been this bad, Sheary before he got here had 2 pretty decent years, he has disappeared. Botts used picks to get players that were coming of productive years for there former teams, who new they would go dry. Skinner is in a slump. The biggest thing is the 2C and Mitts screwed that up and Botts didn't have a fall back plan, or he was hoping by this time Mitts would have taken over at 2C and switch Mojo back to wing. He's another 1 that has disappeared Mojo.
- Buff36

At the time of the trades for vesey Miller sheary. They are quick cheap plug and play players that “should” have been okay upgrades

Like if you are playing gm in nhl. Quick easy trades that those players last a year or 2 while your kids are marinating.

At the time of the trades for vesey Miller sheary. They are quick cheap plug and play players that “should” have been okay upgrades

Like if you are playing gm in nhl. Quick easy trades that those players last a year or 2 while your kids are marinating.
- Sabretooth9

That's it, and he wouldn't have had to do that if there was anyone in the pipeline ready to go, but there wasn't because of a dry prospect pool.

That's it, and he wouldn't have had to do that if there was anyone in the pipeline ready to go, but there wasn't because of a dry prospect pool.
- Buff36

At the time of the trades ...... they actually looked like okay deals. But that’s what you get for paying pennies on the dollar and hopping to strike gold

He averaged 17 goals a season in NY, he will be lucky to get to 10 this year, and no matter his Center or time, he has had his fair share of chances. I know are C positions is weak, but we have to stop making excuses cause players are getting chances to score, yes they would get more with better Center play, but they are all getting those chances.
- Buff36

he has his best point per 60 even strength in his career this season being buried with ahl centers

maybe instead of trading for miller and signing a winger to play center

botts should have traded for a middle 6 center and signed a middle 6 center


I mean if you are gonna move assets for a 4 million dollar d man, he shouldn't be buried in the presser by the end of november of year 1

if casey, tage and cozens can be decent middle 6 players next season

perhaps they can compete


but it really hinges on those three, and a better group of d men, or at least 6 d men on the same page
- homiedclown

Those seem like 1-2 year projects. They need a center now. Not if comes. (Yes mitts included based on where he’s at)

Botts being cheap about the center position will be his downfall.

Charlie’s coyle would’ve been perfect last year

What the Sabres need now more than anything is someone who can identify and acquire forward talent. Botterill has proven time and time again that evaluating forward talent is not only his greatest weakness - but well below NHL average for a GM.

Berglund, Sobotka, Thompson, Sheary, Vesey, Johansson, Mittelstadt

The Sabat what pres need someone who can clean up Botterill's defensive log jam and identify forwards to help Eichel.

Botterill is unwilling or unable to do the job in front of him. It's time for a change. I hope the Pegulas use the holiday break to think about the disparity between their franchises and come to the needed realization that Botterill has to go.
- jcragcrumple

at what point is the coach part of this mess?


I mean he makes little changes to the lineup

little if any changes mid game


and buries a 40 goal scorer down the lineup


I don't see anything different between kruger after 15 games then I did from housley after the 10 game win streak last season


at least housley had the balls to pull a goalie when the team needed a spark

if casey, tage and cozens can be decent middle 6 players next season

perhaps they can compete


but it really hinges on those three, and a better group of d men, or at least 6 d men on the same page
- homiedclown

I had said before the season that the team's success hinged on Thompson, The Fat One, and Olofsson. Only one of the three has carried his weight.

If JB didn’t try to rush the rebuild by acquiring Skinner, the Sabres would have the 9M in cap space, the draft picks he spent, and Turcotte or better in that draft.
- PrinceChill

Cozen's has just as good a chance at being better the Turcotte as the reverse, so bad argument. Turcotte right now is ppg at powerhouse Wisco, where Cozens is 1.5 ppg in the WHL (yes, NCAA is probably better, so they're close imo) They had identical stats in the WJC last year, and are very similar. Difference is Cozens is 6'3" and Turcotte is 5'11".

Those seem like 1-2 year projects. They need a center now. Not if comes. (Yes mitts included based on where he’s at)

Botts being cheap about the center position will be his downfall.

Charlie’s coyle would’ve been perfect last year
- Sabretooth9

if they got coyle and helm instead of miller and johansson

we would be a playoff team right now



olofsson-eichel-reinhart
skinner-coyle-vesey
casey-helm-sheary

I had said before the season that the team's success hinged on Thompson, The Fat One, and Olofsson. Only one of the three has carried his weight.
- buffalofan19

Well, don't keep us in suspense! Which one is it?

I had said before the season that the team's success hinged on Thompson, The Fat One, and Olofsson. Only one of the three has carried his weight.
- buffalofan19

pretty much

the d IMO is no better then last season as well

Well, don't keep us in suspense! Which one is it?
- jochfr

been to my sisters bar yet in nashville?

Well, don't keep us in suspense! Which one is it?
- jochfr

HA!!

been to my sisters bar yet in nashville?
- homiedclown

What's the name of it?

What's the name of it?
- jochfr

red phone booth

Cozen's has just as good a chance at being better the Turcotte as the reverse, so bad argument. Turcotte right now is ppg at powerhouse Wisco, where Cozens is 1.5 ppg in the WHL (yes, NCAA is probably better, so they're close imo) They had identical stats in the WJC last year, and are very similar. Difference is Cozens is 6'3" and Turcotte is 5'11".
- SDSabre

Maybe I should have said, we could have had Kakko, draft picks and 9M cap space. Rebuild was rushed.