Is it possible they got worn down due to being shorthanded late in the game?
- kingcong39

it's easier to make this adjustment in soccer the hockey

I have Asplund and they didn't draft Montour or Joker. If you want to trace all the trades to further show how we squandered assets, go ahead. My point there is that we've struggled to draft our own bottom 9 players and it forces us go out and get guys like Vessey and Sheary.
- Lunaion

Totally agree with the drafting woes, but they were still able to turn the likes of Guhle, Nylander, and Pu into a top 6 scoring winger and two top 4 D men.

They voluntarily played a man down overall by dressing Smith and playing him under 2 minutes. They were short another man when McCabe was in the box.

Is it possible they got worn down due to being shorthanded late in the game?
- kingcong39

Yes. Very good point.

They didnt play smith over eichel.

They played smith over a guy with 0 goals who wants to be traded. A 165 lb. Guy.

You didnt think it was necessary to show Tampa and the league that we aren't gonna let you injure our guys?

Whether or not smith did anything, I noticed tampa didnt injure anyone with a cheap shot. Right?

I know I blame Tim Murray a lot for what is going on right know, don't get me wrong Botts has made mistakes and owns some of this mess. But the picks alone that were traded away by Murray could have made this team a powerhouse. Just the list of players that were available when those picks were made is mind boggling.

it's easier to make this adjustment in soccer the hockey
- homiedclown

You know he didn't actually coach soccer, right? 😉

Yes. Very good point.

They didnt play smith over eichel.

They played smith over a guy with 0 goals who wants to be traded. A 165 lb. Guy.

You didnt think it was necessary to show Tampa and the league that we aren't gonna let you injure our guys?

Whether or not smith did anything, I noticed tampa didnt injure anyone with a cheap shot. Right?
- Boss34

I just cannot subscribe to the theory that A (Smith) + B (no cheap shot by Tampa) = C (Smith gets the credit for no cheap shot)

The way Sergachev whooped it up after cranking McCabe sure seemed to indicate Tampa wasn't the least bit deterred. Ditto the chicken wing Killorn tossed at Asplund that just missed his head early in the game.

I know I blame Tim Murray a lot for what is going on right know, don't get me wrong Botts has made mistakes and owns some of this mess. But the picks alone that were traded away by Murray could have made this team a powerhouse. Just the list of players that were available when those picks were made is mind boggling.
- Buff36

Botterill traded picks named Guhle, Nylander, and Pu for Montour, Jokiharju, and Skinner.

We all like those trades, but more is still needed.

You know he didn't actually coach soccer, right? 😉
- Powerslave

does it matter?



rank him with other nhl head coaches right now


no chance he makes a top 20 list out of the 31 teams, if being objective


probably not top 25

Botterill traded picks named Guhle, Nylander, and Pu for Montour, Jokiharju, and Skinner.

We all like those trades, but more is still needed.
- kingcong39

You are right cong, more are needed. My point was the 1st, 2nd, 3rd that Murray traded and the players who were available when those picks were used. Boesner, Konecky, White, Roslovic, Point, Debricant, Cernak were available or taken with those picks traded and that's just some of the players that were available.

Totally agree with the drafting woes, but they were still able to turn the likes of Guhle, Nylander, and Pu into a top 6 scoring winger and two top 4 D men.
- kingcong39

Sure, in Nylander's case, it's a clean. The merits of Joker vs Chychrun/Sergachev are interesting.

With Montour and Skinner it isn't so clean. You can't delve into them without mentioning RoR and Kane, then the conversation is inevitably going off the rails.

I suck. My mouth is way too big. I’ve scored exactly 1 goal in 50+ games. Trade me, damnit! I’m super valuable!!?!

Leafs rebuilt from 2004-2016

Jets/Thrashers since 2006 have picked top 13 nine times.

Lightning took Stamkos, Hedman, Drouin, Connolly, Koekkoek (along with Vasilesky at 19 in 2012) in 5 of 6 years.

Florida has picked top 15 nine times since 2009.
- Pegullaville

And? All have done precisely d¡ck.

What if your choosing between the current non scoring Sabres and no toughness or fighting
Or

The current non scoring Sabres and toughness and fighting.

You make it seem easy- chose one or the other.

Let's just score on the pp right? Get em back.
If our pp was good
- Boss34

I have no idea wtf you're trying to say in the last bit. As far as the first bit goes, you've been saying all along that we need face punchers to make the team better. They were the precise reason for the loss last night, a guy who can't play and a guy who wasn't available for the better part of a period. Don't try and run from it.

I have no idea wtf you're trying to say in the last bit. As far as the first bit goes, you've been saying all along that we need face punchers to make the team better. They were the precise reason for the loss last night, a guy who can't play and a guy who wasn't available for the better part of a period. Don't try and run from it.
- Wetbandit1

They weren't the reason we lost last night

I suck. My mouth is way too big. I’ve scored exactly 1 goal in 50+ games. Trade me, damnit! I’m super valuable!!?!
- Khmylev

You had me at the first two sentences 😉

You had me at the first two sentences 😉
- Powerslave

Funny Stuff

I just cannot subscribe to the theory that A (Smith) + B (no cheap shot by Tampa) = C (Smith gets the credit for no cheap shot)

The way Sergachev whooped it up after cranking McCabe sure seemed to indicate Tampa wasn't the least bit deterred. Ditto the chicken wing Killorn tossed at Asplund that just missed his head early in the game.
- kingcong39

Agree to disagree

Sergachev hit eichel (clean)
McCabe mocked him all smiley
Sergachev beat him up
He was pumped.
Nothing to do with being deterred or not when celebrating, in regards to smith.

Hard to say weather or not smith was in their game thoughts
Definitely was in practice, shen teaching fighting 101 instead of practicing in the afternoon practice.

I have no idea wtf you're trying to say in the last bit. As far as the first bit goes, you've been saying all along that we need face punchers to make the team better. They were the precise reason for the loss last night, a guy who can't play and a guy who wasn't available for the better part of a period. Don't try and run from it.
- Wetbandit1

Ok, playing against a team that's owned us for years and won 62 games last year isnt a fair battle ground.

We lost by 2 goals, 1 an empty netter.
We played pretty well, what's your point.

One game doesnt prove anything either way. Man you're soft.

And? All have done precisely d¡ck.
- Wetbandit1

They are all teams that are going to be legit for a long time.

What do the Sharks, Wild, Canucks, Flames, Habs have to show for all of their combined playoff appearances in those same time frames that the Panthers, Jets, Leafs, Sabres, Coyotes, and Oilers have been in the toilet ?

Honestly after watching the Penguins and Blackhawks dominate over the course of the past 15 years I cannot possibly comprehend how tanking is still frowned upon.

We have a core that will help us contend for a long time, we just need to put the finishing touches on it and surround the core. We are not far off as everyone makes it seem.

I suck. My mouth is way too big. I’ve scored exactly 1 goal in 50+ games. Trade me, damnit! I’m super valuable!!?!
- Khmylev

And what’s more, some might say that they signed my unskilled azz simply because Eichs and I were buddies back at BC!

Agree to disagree

Sergachev hit eichel (clean)
McCabe mocked him all smiley
Sergachev beat him up
He was pumped.
Nothing to do with being deterred or not when celebrating, in regards to smith.

Hard to say weather or not smith was in their game thoughts
Definitely was in practice, shen teaching fighting 101 instead of practicing in the afternoon practice.
- Boss34

One other thing I noticed was the lightning players were much bigger than our players. Size and toughness are lacking again in buffalo.

With Montour and Skinner it isn't so clean. You can't delve into them without mentioning RoR and Kane, then the conversation is inevitably going off the rails.
- Lunaion

One other thing I noticed was the lightning players were much bigger than our players. Size and toughness are lacking again in buffalo.
- Da_Cashman

and heart, chemistry, fundamentals, sacrifice and courage


for most of them

One other thing I noticed was the lightning players were much bigger than our players. Size and toughness are lacking again in buffalo.
- Da_Cashman

I completely agree:

We're a bit to swedish in the tough department.
Small in the forward department

Wait until they trade bogo and bring up pilot-
Making us smaller and more swedish on d too

I completely agree:

We're a bit to swedish in the tough department.
Small in the forward department

Wait until they trade bogo and bring up pilot-
Making us smaller and more swedish on d too
- Boss34

Pilut is 5'11 and 195. Hardly a lightweight. Plus he can actually play.