This team is a 2C a top line RWer (so Reinhart can play with that 2 C and Skinner)

an above average goaltender away

Olo Eichel Hoffman??
Skinner ???? Reinhart
??? Asplund Mojo
LOG line

They need to figure out D pairings but that is difficult with 12 guys rotating

and get a stop gap starter (still not sold on Ullmark)
- Stripes77

If we're talking playoffs I wouldn't even say that much. the defensive play as a whole has been excellent. The right goalie or 2C has this team in a wild card spot.

Great.

But I dont want to hear that he was handed nothing when he was handed 5/6ths of a top 6, an Elite 1C, a middle pair and the current starting goalie
- jcragcrumple

He was forced to trade Kane & ROR
And the current starting goalie is one of the league’s worst “starting” goalies if u were to rank them

Botts was also left with very little coming in young talent
And burdened with Moulson, Bogo & Okposo contracts

We went from one end of the spectrum to the other in Murray and Botts.

Botts has no excuses left this offseason though in terms of making a move for acquire a 2C as he has like 90% roster flexibility and assets.

Don’t go full Murray, but make a relevant hockey trade
- Pegullaville

Very fair imo

A lot of ppl on here told me to relax, etc when i blasted the McNabb trade
Freaking stupid

GMTM was so brutal,
that he hasn’t even gotten another NHL job
Now that’s really saying something
- jdfitz77

Did we laugh at you

Both can be true, contextually.

He was handed a penthouse without the rest of the floors. Or the basement.
- TheSabresTaco

I mean you can look at the roster I posted at the top of the page. With Dahlin, Montour and a RW the roster is done and in the playoffs

He went backwards on a partial teardown - as was his prerogative - and he cant figure out how to build the forward ranks back up

This team is a 2C a top line RWer (so Reinhart can play with that 2 C and Skinner)

an above average goaltender away

Olo Eichel Hoffman??
Skinner ???? Reinhart
??? Asplund Mojo
LOG line

They need to figure out D pairings but that is difficult with 12 guys rotating

and get a stop gap starter (still not sold on Ullmark)
- Stripes77

If we're talking playoffs I wouldn't even say that much. the defensive play as a whole has been excellent. The right goalie or 2C has this team in a wild card spot.
- Sabresfan-365

Playoffs is fine

But don't we want to win in the playoffs?

The 2C is more important long term

The right goalie gets us in the conversation for playoffs

- TheSabresTaco

Honestly none of us had high expectations for those 3 this year and the 3 of them has been the most solid line all season long (in their roles) outside of Eichel being Eichel

He was forced to trade Kane & ROR
And the current starting goalie is one of the league’s worst “starting” goalies if u were to rank them

Botts was also left with very little coming in young talent
And burdened with Moulson, Bogo & Okposo contracts
- jdfitz77

Nah, that one was his choice.

That's simply the risk 31 GMs take. It's THEIR job to determine if player x will fit here, well before asking his agent if he'd be interested here. I would rather Botterill try to hit a triple than bunt for a single.

Status quo hasn't done poop here.
- TheSabresTaco

Baseball analogy.

We have runners in scoring position: Eichel and Dahlin.

We have players that can hit them in, occasionally - semi regularly: Olofsson, Skinner, Reinhart, Montour, Pilut, Risto and Ullmark.

We have some players that you have hesitations about being up to the plate, but still get lucky every once in awhile: Johannson, Vesey, Sheary, Larsson, and Girgs.

We have players in the minor leagues getting ready: Cozens, UPL, and maybe Tage and Mitts.

The problem is that we don't have enough guys that can get us over the hump on a regular basis. Botts needs to take a few swings rather than playing the percentages in my opinion. Not to rush things, but to show he's not afraid to go for the win.

Playoffs is fine

But don't we want to win in the playoffs?

The 2C is more important long term

The right goalie gets us in the conversation for playoffs
- Stripes77

I've set the bar very low. I believe its in every sabres fans best interest.

I mean you can look at the roster I posted at the top of the page. With Dahlin, Montour and a RW the roster is done and in the playoffs

He went backwards on a partial teardown - as was his prerogative - and he cant figure out how to build the forward ranks back up
- jcragcrumple

Moving Kane and ROR?

That was more of an ownership call was it not?

Honestly none of us had high expectations for those 3 this year and the 3 of them has been the most solid line all season long (in their roles) outside of Eichel being Eichel
- Stripes77

Can't hate it.

I tried making a point this summer about using Okposo correctly and he can succeed, as long as people can separate his cap hit from his on ice play. He's been good in his role, and it's a shame he's one of the most expensive 4th liners in the league, but at least he's good at it.

The tear down job that Murray did was good, it's what he did with those picks which killed us.

He sold Pegula (or maybe Pegula wanted it) that they could do a quick rebuild.

Obviously you can't

Why have Botts make the same mistake?
- Stripes77

Darcy did most of the year down, not GMTM

And maybe Pegula told Botts he didn’t want him to go all GMTM,
and build this thing right

If u look at in like that...
then building depth at center, defense & goalie in the draft makes a ton of sense

And in the meantime,
Botts has tried to make us better now by acquiring Skinner for nothing, and bringing in guys like MoJo, Vesey, Scandella, Sheary, etc
Not all of whom have bee great, and some who haven’t even been good...
but that’s what he had to do bc GMTM left him with roughly nothing coming from the AHL

I've set the bar very low. I believe its in every sabres fans best interest.
- Sabresfan-365

Can't hate it.

I tried making a point this summer about using Okposo correctly and he can succeed, as long as people can separate his cap hit from his on ice play. He's been good in his role, and it's a shame he's one of the most expensive 4th liners in the league, but at least he's good at it.
- TheSabresTaco

When I forget how much he makes, which isn't his fault, I appreciate what Okposo and the Lockport twins provide.

I wish he had a little more so he could have more versatility, but he doesn't and he's not killing the team other than his cap hit.

- Stripes77

It bothers me too

Baseball analogy.

We have runners in scoring position: Eichel and Dahlin.

We have players that can hit them in, occasionally - semi regularly: Olofsson, Skinner, Reinhart, Montour, Pilut, Risto and Ullmark.

We have some players that you have hesitations about being up to the plate, but still get lucky every once in awhile: Johannson, Vesey, Sheary, Larsson, and Girgs.

We have players in the minor leagues getting ready: Cozens, UPL, and maybe Tage and Mitts.

The problem is that we don't have enough guys that can get us over the hump on a regular basis. Botts needs to take a few swings rather than playing the percentages in my opinion. Not to rush things, but to show he's not afraid to go for the win.
- thatsapickle

Status quo, Botts continuing to go after cheap deals and crummy forwards, this team is going to continue to look like it has the past two years, because he doesn't have the sack and/or the assets and/or the cap to make the right moves.

Dude where were you last year when I was getting crushed for this for 3 months in wanting to bottom out for Cozens ?

You could have co-piloted the tank train.
- Pegullaville

U guys should get together to have your cheer against your favorite team parties

- Stripes77

I got suckered with the way they played to start the season.

I'm back to earth, and ready for next season to increase expectations.

Can't hate it.

I tried making a point this summer about using Okposo correctly and he can succeed, as long as people can separate his cap hit from his on ice play. He's been good in his role, and it's a shame he's one of the most expensive 4th liners in the league, but at least he's good at it.
- TheSabresTaco

I give Okposo a lot of credit

He knows he is over payed (can't blame him)

He knows he couldn't keep up on the top line

Instead of sulking he found a way to be a good team guy and play the role he is being asked to play and playing it well

When I forget how much he makes, which isn't his fault, I appreciate what Okposo and the Lockport twins provide.

I wish he had a little more so he could have more versatility, but he doesn't and he's not killing the team other than his cap hit.
- thatsapickle

I honestly think a more offensive version of Girgensons would help the other two guys, a lot.

Forgot about Moulson contract. That was a bad one too.
- Fattony1187

Tony1187

As a former season ticket holder, when the Sabres started out hot both last season and this season, do you feel empty or regret giving up your seats?

I'm guessing currently, you are thrilled to not be a part of this bs again. Tickets are flushable at this point.

Is there a roller coaster of emotions? Or is it : what's done is done?

I'm not really going to give my tickets up, just wondering the overall relief or ?

I think I'd suffer from fear of missing out. Especially if we were good or a playoff team?

That's Mr. RawDeal to you.
- TheSabresTaco

😂😂😂

U guys should get together to have your cheer against your favorite team parties
- jdfitz77

right?