And then compare rosters.

High draft position is the only smart play at this point. The players will hate, most fans will hate it. The GM and coach are trying to save their jobs so they won’t be for it. But for a fan that wants a team that can compete for a cup in the future, it’s the only good choice.

I have been rooting for losses since New Years. I hate the position we are in too. But I am realistic in what we have and what we have coming, and it’s not enough.
- Beethoven

Must be a blast at parties.

Nobody wants our crappy players. We're not getting anything for anybody. It would be a miracle if we can get some 3s or 4s but I don't see it happening. We may, however, end up with half of round 7.

So, what, shed all your unwanted free agents and bring up comparable players from the AHL or trade from worse roster players and a shabby pick? You lose, what, a few more points in the standings than you would have without shedding those depth players.

So, you go from 12th to 8th OA. Big (frank)ing deal.
- TheSabresTaco

Pretty much, yeah.

Trust me, I didnt want to see the Sabres in this position, but here we are. Unless Botterill is going to trade for a 2C now (he won't), then it's damn near time to start selling.

This is where we are. It (frank)ing sucks. But pretending that a trade for Sobotka 2.0 (Frolik) is going to change anything is pointless

Pretty much, yeah.

Trust me, I didnt want to see the Sabres in this position, but here we are. Unless Botterill is going to trade for a 2C now (he won't), then it's damn near time to start selling.

This is where we are. It (frank)ing sucks. But pretending that a trade for Sobotka 2.0 is going to change anything is pointless
- jcragcrumple

The Frolik move is a nonfactor.

If the GM sits on his hands because he wants to wait for the wheels to click, then he needs to either report to someone else, or he needs to be replaced and have someone with any sense of urgency to get in here.

The Pegula's should have their focus on the hockey team now that the Bills season is over, and no major moves will happen for the next two months.

It's a situation where it's a little late to try to win now
- jcragcrumple

Boo

That's a totally different discussion, one that dominates this board daily.

This is the first year I've really wilted on Botts.

He can use his cap space excuse all he wants, which is a valid variable, but he didn't need to be in this position, and a deal can always be made, depending on your ability to negotiate and how much you're willing to give up.

He has hindrances, he has bad players that make too much money, and he has roster gaps that he has absolutely failed to address.

Buffalo's drafting over the past 20 years has also been pathetic. The last impact depth draft pick player was a guy named Afinogenov, before Olofsson. The Sabres sad drafting history is not on Botts.. yet.


BTW Ion-- Not directing my last post at you. It's to the board.
- TheSabresTaco

This cap disaster is on Botts. He only inherited 3 contracts from Murray that are on this current roster. Bogosian and Okposo (both bad) and Risto (prob a value). Everyone else he gave contracts to or traded for. This disaster is on him.

There’s no way he was coming to buffalo though
- jdfitz77

Exactly. It’s the Buffalo burden we all have to accept

Guys you're not trading for pix-

Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart
Skinner-Johansson-x
x-x-x
x-Asplund-Okposo
x

Pilut-Risto
Dahlin-Montour
Jokiharju-x
x-x

Ullmark
x

So you're telling me you're not going to trade the top 6 and the top 5 and the top goalie.

I promise you, this team won't get much better or worse when you shed a portion of the bottom half of the roster.
- TheSabresTaco

I’d give Larsson & Girgs multi-year extensions

This cap disaster is on Botts. He only inherited 3 contracts from Murray that are on this current roster. Bogosian and Okposo (both bad) and Risto (prob a value). Everyone else he gave contracts to or traded for. This disaster is on him.
- Fattony1187

Except that without Bogo and Okposo there would be no "cap disaster". They account for just over $11m. None of the other contracts are "disastrous". A couple of guys probably getting a little more than they're worth, however nothing disastrous.

Except that without Bogo and Okposo there would be no "cap disaster". They account for just over $11m. None of the other contracts are "disastrous". A couple of guys probably getting a little more than they're worth, however nothing disastrous.
- adambuffalo

Exactly

Post more sir

Except that without Bogo and Okposo there would be no "cap disaster". They account for just over $11m. None of the other contracts are "disastrous". A couple of guys probably getting a little more than they're worth, however nothing disastrous.
- adambuffalo

When you have 2 really bad players counting for $11 million you have to go out and look for value deals or players that are decent that make less

You can't really acquire really good players when you have that cap issue

Good teams can handle 1 blah contract but Botts has 2 BAAAAAD contracts

Except that without Bogo and Okposo there would be no "cap disaster". They account for just over $11m. None of the other contracts are "disastrous". A couple of guys probably getting a little more than they're worth, however nothing disastrous.
- adambuffalo

That's 13% of the cap.

So 87% of the cap is his idea. Most every team has at least one bad contract

This cap disaster is on Botts. He only inherited 3 contracts from Murray that are on this current roster. Bogosian and Okposo (both bad) and Risto (prob a value). Everyone else he gave contracts to or traded for. This disaster is on him.
- Fattony1187

I didn't elaborate, but I will now.

The roster is on him. But he was also required to bring in a lot of depth guys like your Shearys, vesey's, Johansson's, Sobotkas and Berglunds because those players didn't exist in Rochester. Because of how atrocious we were at drafting depth players.

So while this roster falls on him, completely, it would have helped a literal ton if he was able to promote players instead of bringing in garbage.

I’d give Larsson & Girgs multi-year extensions
- jdfitz77

I bet.

Larsson maybe a 2 years. There's little reason to settle for Girgensons if you can get 2-3M player there to pot you 25-30 points.

John Wawrow
@john_wawrow
Hmm

Some NHL-related Buffalo news coming shortly.
11 a.m. to be exact.


So what event are they getting?

That's 13% of the cap.

So 87% of the cap is his idea. Most every team has at least one bad contract
- jcragcrumple

Most teams can draft players outside the 1st round, too.

John Wawrow
@john_wawrow
Hmm

Some NHL-related Buffalo news coming shortly.
11 a.m. to be exact.


So what event are they getting?
- Stripes77

Relegated.

Some poopty winter game that we'll lose or some poopty allstar game that Eichel won't go to.

I'd move johansson for a second
mccabe for a 3rd
shearry for a 3rd
vesey for a 3rd
bogo for a 7th
frolic for a 5th
erod for a 5th

do it now


cj smith-eichel-reinhart
dea-asplund-okposo
wilson-lazar-oglevie
girgs-larsson-elie


dahlin-montour
pilut-risto
miller-joker

I'd move johansson for a second
mccabe for a 3rd
shearry for a 3rd
vesey for a 3rd
bogo for a 7th
frolic for a 5th
erod for a 5th

do it now


cj smith-eichel-reinhart
dea-asplund-okposo
wilson-lazar-oglevie
girgs-larsson-elie


dahlin-montour
pilut-risto
miller-joker
- homiedclown

Your hopes, so, so high.

Scouting combine. Till 2022


(frank) YEAH

I bet.

Larsson maybe a 2 years. There's little reason to settle for Girgensons if you can get 2-3M player there to pot you 25-30 points.
- TheSabresTaco

Girgs is on pace for 20 and had 18 last year making $1.6m. You would be happy paying almost double for an additional 10 points?

I bet.

Larsson maybe a 2 years. There's little reason to settle for Girgensons if you can get 2-3M player there to pot you 25-30 points.
- TheSabresTaco

1) like who?
*and in that same role (icetime, def zone starts, linemates, tough opposition, etc)

2) Girgs is on pace for 15ish goals
*idk what more anyone could want from him?

Girgs is on pace for 20 and had 18 last year making $1.6m. You would be happy paying almost double for an additional 10 points?
- adambuffalo

Why yes I would, thank you for asking.

Points obviously not only determining factor.

All things equal, if the new guy can score 10-15 more points consistently, I'd personally give him the extra million.

But he was also required to bring in a lot of depth guys like your Shearys, vesey's, Johansson's, Sobotkas and Berglunds because those players didn't exist in Rochester. Because of how atrocious we were at drafting depth players.

- TheSabresTaco

You can't forget that a quite a few potential depth players and draft picks that could have become depth players were traded away. It could also be said that we are quite good at drafting depth players and not so good at drafting top players.

Colin Miller was a healthy scratch again on Sunday when the Sabres visited Detroit.
Miller was scratched for the 14th time this campaign. He hasn't been in the lineup for the last two games. Miller has one goal and five helpers in 32 matches this season.


Per Roto World