Good news!!! New blog!!!

probably, as I said months ago
perhaps they can trade his rights to another team, and he might stay in north america

He was not happy here, due to lack of ice time at the NHL level
it's a shame, talented kid with a lot of potential

hoarding all those RD didn't help the situation
- homiedclown

The inability of the coaching staff and/or management to see that he is one of the six best defensemen on this roster is infuriating.

Agreed. It'll be interesting to see how the NHL and NHLPA handle player bonuses
- Michael Pachla

I think you either met your goal or you did not. It's going to be bottom line oriented.

The inability of the coaching staff and/or management to see that he is one of the six best defensemen on this roster is infuriating.
- buffalofan19

back room promise from botts to his agent didn't help matters

probably, as I said months ago
perhaps they can trade his rights to another team, and he might stay in north america

He was not happy here, due to lack of ice time at the NHL level
it's a shame, talented kid with a lot of potential

hoarding all those RD didn't help the situation
- homiedclown

After a strong start in Buffalo as a rookie his play slipped and he went to Rochester where he struggled before being injured while the Amerks were busy getting swept in the playoffs. He underwent shoulder surgery in May, missing all off season workouts and training camp, and returned in October. He was bound for Rochester when he returned and he really didn't stand out in either league.

I think you either met your goal or you did not. It's going to be bottom line oriented.
- kingcong39

Could very well be. NHLPA won't be happy

After a strong start in Buffalo as a rookie his play slipped and he went to Rochester where he struggled before being injured while the Amerks were busy getting swept in the playoffs. He underwent shoulder surgery in May, missing all off season workouts and training camp, and returned in October. He was bound for Rochester when he returned and he really didn't stand out in either league.


- Michael Pachla

kid made the ahl all star team, wouldn't let him go, instead called up up to sit the bench

love him or hate him

now we need a LD this offseason


to go along with all the other stuff

After a strong start in Buffalo as a rookie his play slipped and he went to Rochester where he struggled before being injured while the Amerks were busy getting swept in the playoffs. He underwent shoulder surgery in May, missing all off season workouts and training camp, and returned in October. He was bound for Rochester when he returned and he really didn't stand out in either league.


- Michael Pachla

He was an AHL All-star this year. He didn't play in the game because because the Sabres held him out.

probably, as I said months ago
perhaps they can trade his rights to another team, and he might stay in north america

He was not happy here, due to lack of ice time at the NHL level
it's a shame, talented kid with a lot of potential

hoarding all those RD didn't help the situation
- homiedclown

This is somewhat misleading.

He indeed signed a contract to play in the KHL. If the NHL season starts before it, we can sign him and he can play here. There's an out-clause in his KHL contract to come back to the NHL. Clearly, he will need to be paid enough to want to come back. We retain his rights throughout.

This is somewhat misleading.

He indeed signed a contract to play in the KHL. If the NHL season starts before it, we can sign him and he can play here. There's an out-clause in his KHL contract to come back to the NHL. Clearly, he will need to be paid enough to want to come back. We retain his rights throughout.
- TheSabresTaco

So...leverage.

So...leverage.
- buffalofan19

Correct. He wants an NHL job and he has the skill to stay here. He's going to get an NHL job anyway, since he's no longer waiver exempt. How good he is in the NHL remains to be seen, but there's no reason he can't have a roster spot, somewhere on an NHL team.

Doesn't mean he's done with Buffalo, what so ever.

He was an AHL All-star this year. He didn't play in the game because because the Sabres held him out.
- jcragcrumple

Do you follow Chad Dedominicous(sp?)

Botteril never inherited a team in cap hell.

kid made the ahl all star team, wouldn't let him go, instead called up up to sit the bench

love him or hate him

now we need a LD this offseason


to go along with all the other stuff
- homiedclown

I agree, it's nice to look at his name and think nhl player.

Not sure if he really is/was, but he was a good prospect and now we need to replace that spot

Correct. He wants an NHL job and he has the skill to stay here. He's going to get an NHL job anyway, since he's no longer waiver exempt. How good he is in the NHL remains to be seen, but there's no reason he can't have a roster spot, somewhere on an NHL team.

Doesn't mean he's done with Buffalo, what so ever.
- TheSabresTaco

Good post

Do you follow Chad Dedominicous(sp?)

Botteril never inherited a team in cap hell.


- ImThatGuy

Eh. He inherited an extremely flawed organization. Can't argue that. He didn't make it better, either. Not yet at least.

Good post
- Boss34

The DBTB analytics crew had a full blown hard on for him but have come down within the past 6-12 months. He's better than his AHL stay indicates, but he's not as good as his cherry picked analytics of simply carrying the puck out indicate. He has some real defensive flaws.

Working with guys like Ristolainen and McCabe help his game because they're the ones who physically defend, more or less, and give Pilut the puck to carry it out. Analytically, this makes the pair look good. It doesn't make either one a "good" defenseman, it just says, when paired together, against certain average opponents, they have great success getting the puck out of the zone and to the forwards.

Eh. He inherited an extremely flawed organization. Can't argue that. He didn't make it better, either. Not yet at least.
- TheSabresTaco

He’s been here longer then Murray and has arguably been worse. Why does he deserve another draft and another year?

The DBTB analytics crew had a full blown hard on for him but have come down within the past 6-12 months. He's better than his AHL stay indicates, but he's not as good as his cherry picked analytics of simply carrying the puck out indicate. He has some real defensive flaws.
- TheSabresTaco

Probably a decent 5/6 on a bottom 10 team.

Would he be a top 6 on a stankey cup team?
Probably not.

But here I'm sabreland....


Did you see that a fan put the Sabres up for sale on craigslist.

He’s been here longer then Murray and has arguably been worse. Why does he deserve another draft and another year?
- Fattony1187

Never said he did.

If it's an open question, I can't answer it. Because Kim knows more than me. I suspect they like the guys he's drafted. Because it sure as sh1t aint the (frank)ing standings.

Eh. He inherited an extremely flawed organization. Can't argue that. He didn't make it better, either. Not yet at least.
- TheSabresTaco

Correct, the organization was flawed, it was never cap strapped like many argue.

The Sabres had the space, they had to make the right moves. They did not.

He’s been here longer then Murray and has arguably been worse. Why does he deserve another draft and another year?
- Fattony1187

Wonder if the Sabres are just a second thought?

Hiring new staff ect., during a pandemic takes time.

Building super yachts and owning an nfl team seem like a lot more fun, than dealing with the lowly sabres and the interview process. Pegulas may have an even harder time attracting a good management team as well? They really have looked bad recently.

I agree, it's nice to look at his name and think nhl player.

Not sure if he really is/was, but he was a good prospect and now we need to replace that spot
- Boss34

it's a pattern

young promising d men from europe sign with the sabres

and after spending a few years under botts, they want out


antipin led his khl team in scoring for d men the last 2 years


young players with offensive upside on cheap contracts is a good thing to have in our pipeline and botts lets them slip through his hands like grains of sand

Never said he did.

If it's an open question, I can't answer it. Because Kim knows more than me. I suspect they like the guys he's drafted. Because it sure as sh1t aint the (frank)ing standings.
- TheSabresTaco

The pegulas probably like the bottom line that jason provides. $$$

Mitts
Dahlin
Cozens

Hopefully mitts turns into an nhl regular

Wonder if the Sabres are just a second thought?

Hiring new staff ect., during a pandemic takes time.

Building super yachts and owning an nfl team seem like a lot more fun, than dealing with the lowly sabres and the interview process. Pegulas may have an even harder time attracting a good management team as well? They really have looked bad recently.
- Boss34

I think it's more that the players brought in, do not have the it factor on or off the ice

if you bring in a few guys that go balls out on every shift, it becomes contagious

instead we bring in a few guys who are seen laughing on the bench when down by 3


give me a few tom wilson/erik cernak type guys

Do you follow Chad Dedominicous(sp?)

Botteril never inherited a team in cap hell.


- ImThatGuy

Thats why this point about him setting up cap space is nonsensical. He signed these players lol.

Congrats on trading for and signing players that are leaving?

It's like the kool-aid man fixing the wall after he smashed through it. You dont give him credit for fixing the wall, you say "why the hell did you smash through it in the first place."