That’s how I’d feel about Kassian
Could use the toughness, and I’m sure his numbers would be decent if he played with Jack
But if he was playing on line3,
I don’t think he’d be anything more than Foligno was
Which was a decent player, but replaceable as well
- jdfitz77

The Dalton Smith thing wouldn't have happened at least

But some size and grit is needed on this team preferably one with some other skill set.

It happens many times a day.

It's fine that Botterill traded a 1st, because Tim Murray traded multiple firsts.

It's fine that he traded a pair of 3rds for Vesey and Beaulieu because GMTM traded a pair of 2nds and McNabb for Fasching and Dlo

It's fine that Minnesota got the most useful player in the pominville/scandella trade (foligno) because Murray left us with no d men

It's fine that he traded a 2nd a 5th for miller because TM traded a 2nd for Gorges.

I could go on

Most of his bungles are forgiven because they're not as bad of bungles as the bungle king Tim Murray
- jcragcrumple

That 20 points a season he gets is SOOOOOO useful

This is the first season he could actually hit 30 points

That’s how I’d feel about Kassian
Could use the toughness, and I’m sure his numbers would be decent if he played with Jack
But if he was playing on line3,
I don’t think he’d be anything more than Foligno was
Which was a decent player, but replaceable as well
- jdfitz77

Isn't that about 50-60% of the league though?

Isn't that about 50-60% of the league though?
- IonSabres

It's not about finding the best ones, it's about finding the right ones...

The Dalton Smith thing wouldn't have happened at least

But some size and grit is needed on this team preferably one with some other skill set.
- Stripes77

For sure
And that’s tough to find

Borgen & Samuelsson will help
But we won’t see Borgen till next year, and even then he’s probably a call up
And Samuelsson at least 3yrs away imo

Literally NONE of that is said here
You really wanna try & say it is?
Fine
Let’s see some of that quoted,
instead of your anti-Botts over exaggerated recall
- jdfitz77

Your wish is my command.

Here's a few examples from today of people saying the things that JB have done are Ok because it's not as bad as GMTM:

And while some would agree that the Skinner contract is bad, what other bad contracts did Botts hand out?
Let's not forget some other bad trades by GMTM like Mcnabb, Parker and two 2nds for Fasching and Deslauriers
A 2nd for Gorges
A 3rd to talk to Vesey

And

But instead of just throwing away 1st round picks to try to get better like Murray did, Botts is taking a methodical approach

And

Totally agree. Tough to build a house without a foundation and that's what murray tried to do. Look at how Rochester has done during botts tenure compared to Murray's. Botterill hasn't been flawless but hes been much better than Murray.

And

Botts is here longer, he has to be, he had next to nothing to work with when he got here.

I don't think that should be forgotten

That's a fraction. People depend on comparing him to Tim Murray to make him look like a good GM

Your wish is my command.

Here's a few examples from today of people saying the things that JB have done are Ok because it's not as bad as GMTM:




And



And



And




That's a fraction. People depend on comparing him to Tim Murray to make him look like a good GM
- jcragcrumple

This was all started because the original post was saying he is just as bad as Murray

Not saying he gets a pass because he is better than Murray

Nice try though

Your wish is my command.

Here's a few examples from today of people saying the things that JB have done are Ok because it's not as bad as GMTM:




And



And



And




That's a fraction. People depend on comparing him to Tim Murray to make him look like a good GM
- jcragcrumple

Skinner trade good, contract bad

Guhle is a bust, traded the 30th pick for Montour =Good

Draft comparisons Botts vs. Murray. Not seeing where Botts gets so much praise over Murray here. Here would be the players left for Botts and the guys Botts would leave for next GM

Murray:

Eichel
Reinhart
Olofsson
Nylander
Guhle
Asplund
Johansson
Pu

Botts:

Dahlin
Cozens
Mitts
Davidson
UPL
Samuelson
Johnson
Pekar
Laaksonen
Portillo

Impact players brought in

Murray:

Oreilly
Kane

Botts:
Skinner
Montour

Other factors

Murray:
Bad Okposo and bogosian contracts
Could of had more depth prospects but traded for Oreilly/Kane

Botts:
Bad Skinner contract
Bad trade of Oreilly

To me I’m not seeing how anyone sticks up for Botts. What has he done better than Murray??? Drafting is equal if not worse, has handed out bad contracts, bungled trades.
- Fattony1187

The original post which started the comparison

But again nice try

Isn't that about 50-60% of the league though?
- IonSabres

Sure, i guess
But it’s how those player fit on your team

Example:
Girgs & Larsson
3years ago, ppl were right in saying they were terrible
Put them in the correct roles though, and they’ve been good, very useful players

Or even Kassian
He was just meh playing on the Oilers 3rd line
But he’s been able to keep up with McDavid,
and u see the results

Sure, i guess
But it’s how those player fit on your team

Example:
Girgs & Larsson
3years ago, ppl were right in saying they were terrible
Put them in the correct roles though, and they’ve been good, very useful players

Or even Kassian
He was just meh playing on the Oilers 3rd line
But he’s been able to keep up with McDavid,
and u see the results
- jdfitz77

It's all about find the right players to play the right roles

This was all started because the original post was saying he is just as bad as Murray

Not saying he gets a pass because he is better than Murray

Nice try though
- Stripes77

People can believe whatever they want. I read the equivocation all the time. He's not as bad as GMTM. Fine. Is he a good GM?

I mean really think about it. Is he?

The original post which started the comparison

But again nice try
- Stripes77

He left out the part where Murray took Reinhart instead of Draisatil.

However it did help us get Dahlin so I guess there is the silver lining.

Skinner trade good, contract bad

Guhle is a bust, traded the 30th pick for Montour =Good
- Pegullaville

actually traded the higher pick, Tracey looks good.

People can believe whatever they want. I read the equivocation all the time. He's not as bad as GMTM. Fine. Is he a good GM?

I mean really think about it. Is he?
- jcragcrumple

Too soon to call him a good GM

But to say he is a bad one is a bit emotional and rushed

GMTM did a lot to mess up the franchise in the short time he was here without a plan on how to fix it

It's how he lost his job

Who knows what Botts and Pegula have said behind doors.

Hell he could have gone into his interview with Pegula and said this will take 3-4 years to just be an average team?

He isn't a good one based on his current work, but I don't think that picture is finished yet.

I am starting to grow impatient with it, if this off season doesn't create changes then I would start leaning to him being bad

actually traded the higher pick, Tracey looks good.
- Sabresfan-365

I trade a middle 6 winger for a top 4 RHD 10/10

It's not about finding the best ones, it's about finding the right ones...
- Stripes77

Agreed.
I was reacting to the blow off of Kassian as replaceable.
He is, by only a few...especially with the way the league is going.
He wasn't anywhere as valuable back when he was young as he is now...being able to pot a few while playing policeman as well.

I trade a middle 6 winger for a top 4 RHD 10/10
- Pegullaville

I would too. Im not so sure they did.

I just looked up the kassian/tkachuk thing and boy would it be nice to have a tkachuk. Calgary scored the GWG on the ensuing PP. Kassian mad because he cant keep his head up. It was interesting to me how calgary just let him get pummeled though, hope they bought him dinner. When that kind of (frank)ery goes on i want my team brawling, it looked terrible

I really detest the idea of tanking again. Im over it. Unless you win the lottery who cares, try to win games and improve the team while offloading whatever you dont intend on retaining this offseason

Mittelstadt: 11gp 3g 3a -7. Rochester has been in a tailspin since he arrived, whatever that means. Not looking good for him

I would too. Im not so sure they did.
- Sabresfan-365

Fair enough. Time will tell. I liked Tracey as a prospect coming out and thought the Ducks did well getting him at 29. I

Knowing what we know now, I still make that trade though and that’s only due to my own personal preference of valuing d-men over wingers.

Fair enough. Time will tell. I liked Tracey as a prospect coming out and thought the Ducks did well getting him at 29. I

Knowing what we know now, I still make that trade though and that’s only due to my own personal preference of valuing d-men over wingers.
- Pegullaville

That's fair, however I suspect had Botterill known he'd be able to get Jokiharju and Miller for relatively cheap, he'd probably have flipped that 1st for a forward.

Edit: Good or bad, I think he saw an opportunity to take a chance on someone with upside that he wasn't sure he'd get again, so its hard to fault him too much.

People can believe whatever they want. I read the equivocation all the time. He's not as bad as GMTM. Fine. Is he a good GM?

I mean really think about it. Is he?
- jcragcrumple

Still tbd
But he’s done many good things so far to build this team to be a contender long term

Let’s just look at what Botts has done with the Center ice position, since 2C is what you & others criticize him the most for

He was forced to trade ROR
But he’s drafted 2 guys that project to be at least 2C quality
If Mitts & Cozens work out,
then they’re gonna be big parts of the Sabres being a true contender for years to come

Yet, you choose to focus on Botts being a failure bc he didn’t trade for Haula

But a race to 8th place isn’t Botts goal


Most important positions to build a contender:

CENTER- extremely talented & deep group
Jack, Cozens, Mitts, Asplund, Larsson, Davidsson

DEFENSE- already talented group, with a lot of young talent still on the way
Dahlin, Risto, Jokiharju, Pilut, Montour, Miller, McCabe, Borgen, Samuelsson, Johnson, Laaksonen

GOALIE- meh for now, but 6k seems pretty legit
Ullmark, Hutton, Johansson, UPL, Portillo


Dude... he is building a contender
Stop being mad he didn’t get Haula

That's fair, however I suspect had Botterill known he'd be able to get Jokiharju and Miller for relatively cheap, he'd probably have flipped that 1st for a forward.

Edit: Good or bad, I think he saw an opportunity to take a chance on someone with upside that he wasn't sure he'd get again, so its hard to fault him too much.
- Sabresfan-365

Of course, just like I’m sure if he knew he was going to rob Bowman he wouldn’t have moved the 2nd and 5th for Miller.

What I do admire though is that even though he made those moves, it didn’t deter him from making the move to bringing in Joker just due to surplus at the position.

What Botterill needs to do now though is move one of Miller (for a middle 6 forward) or one of Risto/Montour (for either a top line RW or a 2C)

He left out the part where Murray took Reinhart instead of Draisatil.

However it did help us get Dahlin so I guess there is the silver lining.
- Pegullaville

Reinhart at the time of the draft was considered the best forward in the draft. Draistal out of all the time picks was the most unknown and wildcard

So blaming Murray for Reinhart is a complete joke. At the time of the draft, Murray drafted the right player

It’s easy to say it was a bad pick now. 5+ years ago later

I just looked up the kassian/tkachuk thing and boy would it be nice to have a tkachuk. Calgary scored the GWG on the ensuing PP. Kassian mad because he cant keep his head up. It was interesting to me how calgary just let him get pummeled though, hope they bought him dinner. When that kind of (frank)ery goes on i want my team brawling, it looked terrible

I really detest the idea of tanking again. Im over it. Unless you win the lottery who cares, try to win games and improve the team while offloading whatever you dont intend on retaining this offseason

Mittelstadt: 11gp 3g 3a -7. Rochester has been in a tailspin since he arrived, whatever that means. Not looking good for him
- ieetbred

Actually mitts has been progressing. The first few games he sucked. After that, he’s been good