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
- Stripes77

Much more reasonable approach to judging Botts

Actually mitts has been progressing. The first few games he sucked. After that, he’s been good
- Sabretooth9

He had an assist and was -3 in two games this weekend(i know pLuS mInUs)

Meh

If in another 10 games he isnt dominating and forcing his way back to the sabres id say leave him down there for the remainder of the year. Either way a full season in rochester was probably best for him to begin with

He got taken. It’s not a wild assumption to think he could of got one usable piece for a 60 pt #2 Center who won a Stanley cup and conn Smythe 10 months later.

If he couldn’t get that player you don’t trade him. Period.
- Fattony1187

Finally, somebody gets it. Thank you, Tony.

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
- Sabretooth9

I’ve had this view point since May of 2014. I can’t be the only person on the planet that thought Draisatil would be better than Reinhart.

I’ve had this view point since May of 2014. I can’t be the only person on the planet that thought Draisatil would be better than Reinhart.
- Pegullaville

Murray said draisaitl reminded him of jagr. Devine said reinhart was the best playmaker he had seen in 15 years.

For poops and giggles, isnt top 5 all time better than best of the last 15 years in his class?

I never said that. GMTM is a worse GM than Jason Botterill. I will be very clear about that.

I also think a lot of the defense of Jason Botterill rests on "He's not Tim Murray," and that needs to be done. Just being "not the worst GM in Sabres history" is not a reason to continue to employ him
- jcragcrumple

Haiku form please

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

How about locking john jack eichel up at $10 million a year for 8 more years in buffalo.

That's a huge plus for botts

It's all about find the right players to play the right roles
- Stripes77

Couldn’t agree more

Let’s say I’m building a team that can contend

Line 1
Skinner-Jack-Sam
*it’s not the Bruins top line, but still very good

Lines 2&3
Olofsson-Mitts/Cozens-_____
_____-Cozens/Mitts-_____
*I’m pretty confident that we have 3/6 of what we’ll need to have a good middle6 that we can depend on for depth scoring
*Asplund, Tage, Pekar & Davidsson are others who could factor in

Checking line
Girgs-Larsson-Asplund/Pekar
*Girgs & Larsson who’ve been v.good in their roles, period. Get over it haters 😂😂😂

Defense top pair
Dahlin-Risto
*yeah, i know a lot of ppl hate Risto. But i think he’s been good this year, and he’s shown the ability to be lock down quality at times against elite talent like Tampa & the Caps. Also, i these two could compliment each other’s skill set nicely.

Defense middle pair & bottom pair
_____-Jokiharju
Pilut-Borgen
*i like the idea of pairing guys that can compliment each other. Maybe Samuelsson can develop into that guy for Jokiharju? But his skating/development have a ways to go. I wouldn’t hate if he’s traded for a good 2nd line forward. Speaking of guys I’d trade for a 2nd line forward, Montour is another for me. Why Montour & not Risto? Bc i think Risto & Dahlin could compliment each other better, and i don’t want too many of the same type defensemen

GOALIES
Starter- Pekka-Luukkonen
Backup- Ullmark, Portillo, Johansson
*as long as UPL works out, we should be in great shape with the others

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
- jdfitz77

Good fitz

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
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
- jdfitz77

Lots of IFs here, if they develop properly.
Sabres have a suspect history in this GMs term with developing young guys like Tage and Casey.
I hope it all works out, but there are justified questions here.

Finally, somebody gets it. Thank you, Tony.
- kritter65

Sure, unless the owner says you have to

He had an assist and was -3 in two games this weekend(i know pLuS mInUs)

Meh

If in another 10 games he isnt dominating and forcing his way back to the sabres id say leave him down there for the remainder of the year. Either way a full season in rochester was probably best for him to begin with
- ieetbred

Personally, I'd let him continue to bake in the AHL until he gets to
* 0.75+ PPG
* 50%+ Corsi
* less than 55% Ozone starts
* even +/-

Supports a well rounded game.

Non Sabres related question

Why was ray Shero fired?

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
- Stripes77

Good post. Pretty much where I'm at too.

Personally, I'd let him continue to bake in the AHL until he gets to
* 0.75+ PPG
* 50%+ Corsi
* less than 55% Ozone starts
* even +/-

Supports a well rounded game.
- IonSabres

His time there can only help him if he wants it

I want to see him forcing the sabres to recall him

Lots of IFs here, if they develop properly.
Sabres have a suspect history in this GMs term with developing young guys like Tage and Casey.
I hope it all works out, but there are justified questions here.
- IonSabres

Of course there are
But that’s true of 95% of guys drafted, right?
And since that’s how u build a contender for a long period, that’s natural

But we haven’t seen what Botts drafts will be yet
That’s gonna play a much bigger role than who would’ve been the 2C that would make us good enough to get whipped by Boston in the playoffs

Personally, I'd let him continue to bake in the AHL until he gets to
* 0.75+ PPG
* 50%+ Corsi
* less than 55% Ozone starts
* even +/-

Supports a well rounded game.
- IonSabres

Is this Mitts we are talking about?
Ok... i can get with that
I’d be ok bringing him back up at some point too
And even sending him back down again for the AHL playoffs

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
- Stripes77

Really solid post

Do you mind if I repost it word for word on occasion?

Is this Mitts we are talking about?
Ok... i can get with that
I’d be ok bringing him back up at some point too
And even sending him back down again for the AHL playoffs
- jdfitz77

I think thats a little much if he comes back and proves to be an NHL player

Seems like he still has a ways to go and I dont want him to get the call untill he is knocking the door down but chances are if we offload some players he will be back after the deadline anyways

Really solid post

Do you mind if I repost it word for word on occasion?
- Boss34

How about EVERY day

I think thats a little much if he comes back and proves to be an NHL player

Seems like he still has a ways to go and I dont want him to get the call untill he is knocking the door down but chances are if we offload some players he will be back after the deadline anyways
- ieetbred

Not really
Won’t hurt him to go kick a$$ in the AHL playoffs
Same with Asplund & Pilut

Not really
Won’t hurt him to go kick a$$ in the AHL playoffs
Same with Asplund & Pilut
- jdfitz77

Don’t forget Tage Thompson. I still think he’s a middle 6 forward at one point or another whether it’s with us or someone else (used as a trade chip).

Of course there are
But that’s true of 95% of guys drafted, right?
And since that’s how u build a contender for a long period, that’s natural

But we haven’t seen what Botts drafts will be yet
That’s gonna play a much bigger role than who would’ve been the 2C that would make us good enough to get whipped by Boston in the playoffs
- jdfitz77

Ya, you keep focusing on this year for the 2C acquisition.
It isn't about this year, it isn't about acquiring a rental.
It is about making a hockey trade for the long term.
I've been steadfast in that, so not sure why you continuously refer to this year only, unless trolling.

Adding a qualified 2C to this team, one of the top 5 positions on the roster is an imperative IMO.
if Cozens, or Mitrs, or Byfield develop into a 2C in a couple years...guess what, you can sell one of them ... I mean if nobody trades them cause they are valuable, I guess a valuable piece would come back in a trade.

Don’t forget Tage Thompson. I still think he’s a middle 6 forward at one point or another whether it’s with us or someone else (used as a trade chip).
- Pegullaville

True. I realized i left him out
I still think he’s a piece I’d try to trade.
But that could be my own bias. I’ve never been a fan of his. Still would love to be proven wrong & see him become a 25ish goal scorer for us
I’ll happily eat crow if that happens

How about EVERY day
- jdfitz77

Good fitz