Nice article but answer the question... What has he ever accomplished IN THE NHL to earn being a GM in charge of saving a team that is deep deep deep in the hole with no light at the end of the tunnel?
- rapperray

That wasn't the question, though.

But for the above, brand new question, he's accomplished nothing as an NHL GM, as all first time GMs have the exact same record of accomplishment.

However, the man knows hockey and the man clearly knows how to lead a club, as shown by his obscure hire to the PL. Is he physically capable of managing a franchise? Yes, as he's shown. He's taken a franchise very akin to the tank Sabres (Southampton) and made them one of the best teams in the league.

Does that mean he will have success? Can you say that about literally anyone? That they will 100% be successful prior to their hiring?

I said that a loooong time ago when ted sat her coached the team. I think Ted Nolan got a raw deal after winning the jack adams. After that all our hires for coach and gym have been on the job training instead of getting a ken Hitchcock when they could’ve. However let’s talk coaching talent we had and let walk John Tortorella. He’s done a great job everywhere he goes. So when bottrill and the soccer coach get their walking papers I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a peewee coach or two behind the bench.
- MLew65

Disco Dan was a stanley cup winning coach with experience. He sucked. I'm not at all concerned about experience.

We could hire peter chiarelli as GM. He's super experienced

This franking team.......

And for the record, that is my very first post even mentioning the possibility of Ralph being promoted to GM.

I despise the idea of a president of hockey ops, because all it means is that you need a babysitter for your babysitter. It's (frank)ing stupid.

Hire one capable person, and if they prove incapable, well, time to (frank)ing go.

pohos do have a purpose, however, imo. You get a real young guy, dingdong Dubas I guess, and you're in the unique position of trying to hold onto him until he's ready to be a GM, then your current GM contract runs out, and then you want to hire DDDubas, then you want to keep a guy like Lou around to 'mentor' you. It makes sense in that type of scenario. Otherwise? (frank)ing dumb.

Team is horrible, true.

Glad we got Skinner locked up. He's a good player having an off year (been scoring lately though). He'll be fine - i'm not concerned.
- kritter65

That’s just delusional. His contract is bad already and we will he paying him until he’s 35. He will only begin to decline even more.

Should of been traded at the deadline last year.

Disco Dan was a stanley cup winning coach with experience. He sucked. I'm not at all concerned about experience.

We could hire peter chiarelli as GM. He's super experienced
- jcragcrumple

Good Players make everyone look good... We need more good players.

That’s just delusional. His contract is bad already and we will he paying him until he’s 35. He will only begin to decline even more.

Should of been traded at the deadline last year.
- Fattony1187

Skinner needs a play making center to be productive. Get him a capable Center he will get you 30-40 more often then not.

Skinner needs a play making center to be productive. Get him a capable Center he will get you 30-40 more often then not.
- hehateme

Skinner needs to be less lazy in practice, and also a center.

Good Players make everyone look good... We need more good players.
- hehateme

I will support anyone running for the GM position who has a "more good players" approach

That’s just delusional. His contract is bad already and we will he paying him until he’s 35. He will only begin to decline even more.

Should of been traded at the deadline last year.
- Fattony1187

Or, he could regain his normal goal scoring form. Playing with Eichel would help.

Not giving up on him just yet, like many posters here. Let's see what happens next season before running him out of town.

Skinner needs a play making center to be productive. Get him a capable Center he will get you 30-40 more often then not.
- hehateme

Do you realize that this argument is insane for a 9 million dollar player?

Thank you Jason Botterill for doing the least amount of work possible to keep your job. You helped out your former team though, you can return to them after the axe comes down. That will be after the Pegs wake up from the shock of their beloved Bills not making it past the first round sets in.
Wayne Simmonds, he had his days, but they are over. What the h3ll were you thinking? Something tells me that you are going to wind up in New Jersey or Pittsburgh soon.

Heres an amazing observation... Prior to the Sabres making 2 trades at the deadline there were many on here who trended toward the negative on the Sabres. Suddenly they make these 2 trades and bring in these 2 "amazing" players and many now trend to the positives for the Sabres. Really? A 30 something year old who is clearly in his last days in the NHL and a 20 something year old who has accomplished nothing and y'all think they will somehow contribute to the Sabres journey to the promised land? Give me a frigging break....

hutton sucks, botts guy

skinner is doing nothing, because botts new coach does not like him

middle 6 sucks, because botts has not addressed it properly in 3 years

casey sucks because botts rushed him

frolik sucks botts got him


when jack wants out in 12 months because botts has done little to upgrade the big club, what will the defense be?



guy can probably draft well and hoard right shot d men

but he sure can't manage the cap well, make a trade when needed or construct a decent nhl team with 50 contracts

Heres an amazing observation... Prior to the Sabres making 2 trades at the deadline there were many on here who trended toward the negative on the Sabres. Suddenly they make these 2 trades and bring in these 2 "amazing" players and many now trend to the positives for the Sabres. Really? A 30 something year old who is clearly in his last days in the NHL and a 20 something year old who has accomplished nothing and y'all think they will somehow contribute to the Sabres journey to the promised land? Give me a frigging break....
- rapperray

Dominik Kahun is a point per game player as a sabre

Do you realize that this argument is insane for a 9 million dollar player?
- ImThatGuy

You realize it’s insane to have a 9 mil winger with 2 borderline NHL’ers, right?

hutton sucks, botts guy

skinner is doing nothing, because botts new coach does not like him

middle 6 sucks, because botts has not addressed it properly in 3 years

casey sucks because botts rushed him

frolik sucks botts got him


when jack wants out in 12 months because botts has done little to upgrade the big club, what will the defense be?



guy can probably draft well and hoard right shot d men

but he sure can't manage the cap well, make a trade when needed or construct a decent nhl team with 50 contracts
- homiedclown

Exactly... There was talent to be had at the deadline and Botts choked big time..... He is a coward..... As the great Ronaldus Magnus once said... "The future is not for the faint at heart".....

Do you realize that this argument is insane for a 9 million dollar player?
- ImThatGuy

Blame the GM for that contract, Not the player.. But I will say this, you want good players on your team and Skinner, even though he is having a down year is a good player, over paid some, sure but still a good player.

Dominik Kahun is a point per game player as a sabre



- homiedclown

Yes..... my bad.... but wait a few games....

You realize it’s insane to have a 9 mil winger with 2 borderline NHL’ers, right?
- sbroads24

I get the argument, I think ppl just want Skinner to do it all on his own and he just is not that type of player, being paid like one but again that is not his fault. he took full advantage of playing with an elite center last year and sign a large contract. Good for him.

he went from the #1 line & PP unit to having Shat players next to him and most fans expect him to score 40 again.

I am impressed he has 14 goals so far

hutton sucks, botts guy

skinner is doing nothing, because botts new coach does not like him

middle 6 sucks, because botts has not addressed it properly in 3 years

casey sucks because botts rushed him

frolik sucks botts got him


when jack wants out in 12 months because botts has done little to upgrade the big club, what will the defense be?



guy can probably draft well and hoard right shot d men

but he sure can't manage the cap well, make a trade when needed or construct a decent nhl team with 50 contracts
- homiedclown

If Casey sucks, it's because he was a bad draft pick (by Botterill). Either the kid has it or he doesn't. It's not because he was rushed. If he's good enough, he will figure it out.

Michael Ghofrani: March to Draft Lottery Begins
- Michael Ghofrani

I had a chance to talk with assistant coach Rob Ray between periods and he said that we need to spend more time in the other zone, the offensive one, and then if the Sabres can find a way to shoot more, they will have a better chance to score more goals, and ultimately that is what they are trying to do. He also said that if we score more goals than the other team, we would have a greater chance to win games. And basically that is what we need to do. And in conclusion, we suck and the player have to do better job because the coach is a really nice guy and the owners give out free food and who doesn't like free food.

You realize it’s insane to have a 9 mil winger with 2 borderline NHL’ers, right?
- sbroads24

It's a "both/and" scenario. He's producing far under his salary, regardless of who he is playing with. For $9 million, to not be near 25 goal at least is unacceptable, even if he's literally playing people that have never skated before.

It's a "both/and" scenario. He's producing far under his salary, regardless of who he is playing with. For $9 million, to not be near 25 goal at least is unacceptable, even if he's literally playing people that have never skated before.
- buffalofan19

We really need to take money out of the equation, If you want to hate on someone hate on Jbotts for offering that contract. The GM Always has the last say in what the team is willing to pay a player. What was Skinner suppose to do, not sign or tell Botts that its too much money?

Sure do we want Skinner to pot 40 every year, yes but the team has really failed Skinner. You pay a guy 9 mil a year and then you promptly take him off the first line where he had ALL of his success last year and surround him with borderline NHL'ers ad expect him to produce at a 40 goals pace again.

Skinner will get you 25-35 if you get him a capable center/line mates, stick him back with Jack, 30-40 goals.

You realize it’s insane to have a 9 mil winger with 2 borderline NHL’ers, right?
- sbroads24

Exactly. Never should of been signed to that. Should of been traded last deadline.

Unpopular opinion, Reinhart should also be traded this offseason. Will never win a cup with him making 7 million plus.