Is he though?
36games played
5g-7a-12pts

That’s the guy that’s gonna get Skinner going???


This is the problem i have with the “do something Botts!” crowd (not necessarily you)

The kind of moves that are likely available right now (zajac, turris, etc) are guys that just won’t help, or have horrible contracts

Making a bad move outta desperation is the worst idea Botts can make
- jdfitz77

NJ is a mess and he had 46 last year.

Still hindsight though

And correct me if I’m wrong, but at the time Botts had no idea he was gonna land Jokiharju
So Miller was a necessity
Especially if he was trying to do a Risto trade for a Center


Look....
the bottom line is that MoJo as a stopgap for Mitts wasn’t a bad plan
It just hasn’t worked bc Mitts has been so blah

If Mitts or Cozens is doing well for us next year at this time,
we’ll all be glad that Botts didn’t do something dumb like Turris or Coyle

Yeah, hindsight says Haula instead of Miller would’ve been a good idea
But I don’t blame Botts for passing on an injured career bottom6 Center (who’s been injured again this year) bc he was aiming higher


It’s sucks that it hasn’t worked out yet
But this team gets legitimately good when Cozens &/or Mitts become good players for us
Not bc we added a guy like Haula
*although yeah... a healthy version of him would probably be of help to us
- jdfitz77

That's very fair. I dont think he knew joker would fall to him.

Once Joker happened though, he should have flipped Montour or Miller with pieces for needed forward help. I think he was scared it would really look like he was making poop up as he went if he did that though.

Everything about him just screams "in over his head" to me.

Also plenty of us wanted Haula. It's not just hindsight

I think he flies by the seat of his pants a ton. I'm highly skeptical there's a plan beyond "Mittelstadt or Cozens will fix this next year"

If not he'll get another winger to play center
- jcragcrumple

...Well, like I said. What do we have to trade for an NHL caliber #2 or 3C?
I think if the ROR trade was "forced," and i believe it was, it wrecked his Center depth plan.

...Well, like I said. What do we have to trade for an NHL caliber #2 or 3C?
I think if the ROR trade was "forced," and i believe it was, it wrecked his Center depth plan.
- seedy

That's fine, but he still hasn't recovered 18 months later which is unacceptable imo. He used his murrancy on the blueline and neglected the 2C position.

It was his choice to spend the assets he did. Who knows what the 2 extra 1st round picks in 2019 could have gotten? He chose to use one on Montour and another on a defenseman in the draft. He chose to use picks on Miller.

He used the cap space for Mojo and Vesey, neither of whom play center well. All of these choices were his. All he has left now are excuses as he continues to piss away a hart caliber year from Eichel in the name of defensive depth.

Most of his moves are the answer to a question no one asked

That's fine, but he still hasn't recovered 18 months later which is unacceptable imo. He used his murrancy on the blueline and neglected the 2C position.

It was his choice to spend the assets he did. Who knows what the 2 extra 1st round picks in 2019 could have gotten? He chose to use one on Montour and another on a defenseman in the draft. He chose to use picks on Miller.

He used the cap space for Mojo and Vesey, neither of whom play center well. All of these choices were his. All he has left now are excuses as he continues to piss away a hart caliber year from Eichel in the name of defensive depth.

Most of his moves are the answer to a question no one asked
- jcragcrumple

I just honestly dont think there was a 2C or even a 3C with potential available.
I dont pay enough attention to other teams to know if there is someone at the bottom of the standings with no hope in sight that would be willing to sell off a player that could play 2C. and of course, could we afford the price? And how would we fit said player in under the cap?
Thats kinda why I think the clock starts ticking next year. He will have cap space and positions to fill.

I just honestly dont think there was a 2C or even a 3C with potential available.
I dont pay enough attention to other teams to know if there is someone at the bottom of the standings with no hope in sight that would be willing to sell off a player that could play 2C. and of course, could we afford the price? And how would we fit said player in under the cap?
Thats kinda why I think the clock starts ticking next year. He will have cap space and positions to fill.
- seedy

My feeling is that there are and have been options. Haula, as I said before, would have been a better option than miller. I dont know the exact names now available but Kempe, Athanasiou, Zajac and others are probably available if he's willing to pay. He's always willing to pay a premium for defense but has not shown the same willingness with forwards

That's very fair. I dont think he knew joker would fall to him.

Once Joker happened though, he should have flipped Montour or Miller with pieces for needed forward help. I think he was scared it would really look like he was making poop up as he went if he did that though.

Everything about him just screams "in over his head" to me.

Also plenty of us wanted Haula. It's not just hindsight
- jcragcrumple

It’s not hindsight that u wanted Haula
It’s hindsight to say him instead of Miller bc
1- he didn’t know he’d get Jokiharju
2- Botts likely had his sites set on a better Center- it just didn’t work out

So how deep did u think the draft was last year?
And do u think someone taken 15ish this year will become one of our top3 forwards?
And if so, how long does it take for him to develop to that level?


Everything reason u gave to tank last year is still essentially true right now
- jdfitz77

This draft class is closer to 2015.

I’d love Byfield or Lafreniere though. I just don’t think the difference between picks 4-10 is much at all and is all dependant on flavour.

Pray to the lotto gods.

NJ is a mess and he had 46 last year.
- dadeadhead

He’s still just a decent player
If it’s for a 4th or something like that then fine
But even at 46pts, is he better than MoJo?
Maybe
But i don’t see him as a guy that really gets Skinner going like last year

Again though...
if we don’t have to give up much, then ok i guess
It just wouldn’t excite me much

This draft class is closer to 2015.

I’d love Byfield or Lafreniere though. I just don’t think the difference between picks 4-10 is much at all and is all dependant on flavour.

Pray to the lotto gods.
- Pegullaville

Lol... fingers crossed
But i still think this team has a shot at the playoffs too, so we’ll see what happens

That's very fair. I dont think he knew joker would fall to him.

Once Joker happened though, he should have flipped Montour or Miller with pieces for needed forward help. I think he was scared it would really look like he was making poop up as he went if he did that though.

Everything about him just screams "in over his head" to me.

Also plenty of us wanted Haula. It's not just hindsight
- jcragcrumple

Ristolainen should be the guy traded. Not Montour.

Ristolainen is going to have a 7-8 mil price tag in two years

Montour might cost 5-5.5

Lol... fingers crossed
But i still think this team has a shot at the playoffs too, so we’ll see what happens
- jdfitz77

It does because the division aside from Boston is pretty mediocre. It’d be a shame to come up so short during a year Tampa Bay and Toronto are underperforming.

Sabre fans assume the team will get better but every other team gets to make improvements too.

It does because the division aside from Boston is pretty mediocre. It’d be a shame to come up so short during a year Tampa Bay and Toronto are underperforming.

Sabre fans assume the team will get better but every other team gets to make improvements too.
- PrinceChill

It’s only been 38 games. There is a lot of hockey left to be played. Leafs and Tampa have way too much talent to be kept down.

It’s not hindsight that u wanted Haula
It’s hindsight to say him instead of Miller bc
1- he didn’t know he’d get Jokiharju
2- Botts likely had his sites set on a better Center- it just didn’t work out
- jdfitz77

That's an assumption I'm not willing to make. He very well may have thought Mittelstadt and Mojo would solve his problem. If so, boy was he wrong

It’s only been 38 games. There is a lot of hockey left to be played. Leafs and Tampa have way too much talent to be kept down.
- Pegullaville

Oh, after the first sentence I thought you you were going to argue that the Sabres still had a shot! Whoops.

You’re probably right. Sabres sit tight. End up with 82 points. Puff their chests out about an amazing transition season.

Oh, after the first sentence I thought you you were going to argue that the Sabres still had a shot! Whoops.

You’re probably right. Sabres sit tight. End up with 82 points. Puff their chests out about an amazing transition season.
- PrinceChill

2 or 3 more top-10 presents under the tree and Botterill will get it right

That's an assumption I'm not willing to make. He very well may have thought Mittelstadt and Mojo would solve his problem. If so, boy was he wrong
- jcragcrumple

Haula was traded BEFORE July1
So at the time,
I’m sure Botts had his sights set on someone better than an injured career 3rd liner who had 1 good season 2yrs prior

My feeling is that there are and have been options. Haula, as I said before, would have been a better option than miller. I dont know the exact names now available but Kempe, Athanasiou, Zajac and others are probably available if he's willing to pay. He's always willing to pay a premium for defense but has not shown the same willingness with forwards
- jcragcrumple

I dont like going down the road of speculating what he could have done, because I dont know. Same thing when people see another team get a guy they wanted. Obviously, that team had something the other GM wanted. Our team doesn't always have what the other team wants. Sounds like we might find out after the trade freeze what Botts is willing to give up for a forward/2C.
I would like to see a capable 2C on this team ASAP. Move Mojo back to wing, deal with what we have in the bottom 6 for the rest of this year.
I would also like to see said 2C stick around while Cozens/Mitts develop, then whichever one of those "wins," slots in to 3C on their ELC/low contract. I have no idea who that 2C could be. I would love to get someone off a team that understands they need to rebuild and ther center vet in his late 20's isnt going to be around by the time the rebuild is functional.

Like I said it would have been nice having Compher, Zadarov, McNabb, Rosolvic, and maybe Cernak taking spots the last few years instead of having to bring in stopgates.

I hear a reunion of a certain band is coming
- SABRES 89

Ear to the ground, eh?


Golden Nugget this summer!

Ear to the ground, eh?


Golden Nugget this summer!
- mes418

OH MY, I will be there.

OH MY, I will be there.
- SABRES 89

Bring that party-tude!!

Bring that party-tude!!
- mes418

Oh I'm a Hoot at parties.

I hear a reunion of a certain band is coming
- SABRES 89

I am waiting for the florida tour

Zajac would be a nice stop gap.

5.5 for another season.
- dadeadhead

agreed