If we're talking about injuries to defensemen, and Ristolainen could have brought back a legitimate #2 center, either by himself or in a package, I think you could have tread water until Montour and/or Pilut came back. I think overall you would have seen a net improvement in the standings, even if you don't get the hot start that you had in October.

This, of course, assumes Ristolainen's trade value is high enough, which has been a debate both locally and nationally for quite a while now.
- buffalofan19

Montour missed the first 13 games, which equates to roughly 1/6th of the season...for a team coming off of the disaster that was 2018-19, i'm not sure I like the idea of going with Gilmour in the top-six and Borgen as no. 7 for the first 13 games

Montour missed the first 13 games, which equates to roughly 1/6th of the season...for a team coming off of the disaster that was 2018-19, i'm not sure I like the idea of going with Gilmour in the top-six and Borgen as no. 7 for the first 13 games
- Michael Pachla

Worrying about the first 13 games of a season over the long term, especially when there had been a glaring issue ever since he who shall not be named was traded, seems incredibly shortsighted, but is totally on brand for a GM who has no seeming clear direction (take a look at the playing style of the defensemen he hoarded versus the coaching style Ralph employed; hint, they were totally different) and often seems to have a throw poop against the wall style.

Montour missed the first 13 games, which equates to roughly 1/6th of the season...for a team coming off of the disaster that was 2018-19, i'm not sure I like the idea of going with Gilmour in the top-six and Borgen as no. 7 for the first 13 games
- Michael Pachla

I believe they could have hovered around .500 for those 13 games, assuming a second line center is on the roster. Could they do that over the course of an entire season? Probably not, but you wouldn't have to.

Worrying about the first 13 games of a season over the long term, especially when there had been a glaring issue ever since he who shall not be named was traded, seems incredibly shortsighted.
- kingcong39

simple question, who are you trading for and what's the cost?

Worrying about the first 13 games of a season over the long term, especially when there had been a glaring issue ever since he who shall not be named was traded, seems incredibly shortsighted, but is totally on brand for a GM who has no seeming clear direction (take a look at the playing style of the defensemen he hoarded versus the coaching style Ralph employed; hint, they were totally different) and often seems to have a throw poop against the wall style.
- kingcong39

I still believe he "hoarded" those defensemen with the idea of trading at least one of them for a roster player, but no GM would play ball. The issue with that, other than possibly over valuing the pieces he had, was that he had no Plan B. He would never admit that publicly, though.

I believe they could have hovered around .500 for those 13 games, assuming a second line center is on the roster. Could they do that over the course of an entire season? Probably not, but you wouldn't have to.
- buffalofan19

who's the second-line center you're trading for and what's the cost?...

no one ever has an answer for that because we really don't know...what we do know is that three defensemen were injured to start the season...why botts didn't make a move is pure speculation from the stands...

it makes for good debate, but in the end it's circular and ultimately meaningless

what's so short-term about keeping nhl defensemen while the injured heal?...

and, who's to say that the player desired was a.) available and b.) could be attained at a fair price
- Michael Pachla

At the risk of sounding flippant, that's the definition of short term

There's really no point in getting into the weeds again speculating who could be had for what, because we'll never know anyway. What I'm saying is it turned out that they had the problem we knew they had and didn't solve it. I'm sure there are a litany of reasons, and as darren dreger says, nobody tries harder than Botterill.

But this problem was not only foreseeable, it was inevitable. And clear as day 11 months ago

who's the second-line center you're trading for and what's the cost?...

no one ever has an answer for that because we really don't know...what we do know is that three defensemen were injured to start the season...why botts didn't make a move is pure speculation from the stands...

it makes for good debate, but in the end it's circular and ultimately meaningless
- Michael Pachla

The State of Florida does not consider this "looking for work."
- Der Kaiser

our governor rivals cuomo and the michigan lady for the worst right now

The Brickyard Brewery heard Jason Botterill is returning for a 4th season and that Kim knows more than the fans.


- TheSabresTaco

perhaps the best rub wings in the area

our governor rivals cuomo and the michigan lady for the worst right now
- homiedclown

I only wanted a Pepsi.

Just one Pepsi.

Dude, sounds like you have Suicidal Tendencies and should seek some help ...
- kritter65

he is fine, just needs to wipe the dust off a few brown bottles and drink them

I only wanted a Pepsi.

Just one Pepsi.
- Der Kaiser

I only wanted a cup

just one cup

he is fine, just needs to wipe the dust off a few brown bottles and drink them
- homiedclown

He *DID* have a few months there where he was really a thin skinned jerk. Seems to have mellowed a bit more recently.

At the risk of sounding flippant, that's the definition of short term

There's really no point in getting into the weeds again speculating who could be had for what, because we'll never know anyway. What I'm saying is it turned out that they had the problem we knew they had and didn't solve it. I'm sure there are a litany of reasons, and as darren dreger says, nobody tries harder than Botterill.

But this problem was not only foreseeable, it was inevitable. And clear as day 11 months ago
- jcragcrumple

Come on now J Crag, you know it takes months, if not years, to make trades for high impact players like Frolik and Simmonds.

What Botterill seems to like in forwards is troubling.

our governor rivals cuomo and the michigan lady for the worst right now
- homiedclown

He's taken a lot of flack in the media, but the numbers and the data suggest the opposite.

He's taken a lot of flack in the media, but the numbers and the data suggest the opposite.
- buffalofan19

they all suck

At the risk of sounding flippant, that's the definition of short term

There's really no point in getting into the weeds again speculating who could be had for what, because we'll never know anyway. What I'm saying is it turned out that they had the problem we knew they had and didn't solve it. I'm sure there are a litany of reasons, and as darren dreger says, nobody tries harder than Botterill.

But this problem was not only foreseeable, it was inevitable. And clear as day 11 months ago
- jcragcrumple

Noted and accepted

they all suck
- homiedclown

Can’t wait to get back out of NYS again.

The budget shortfall is going to cause an insane amount of property tax increases to make up for lost revenue.

You don’t pay for a house here you pay the state to live here.

At the risk of sounding flippant, that's the definition of short term

There's really no point in getting into the weeds again speculating who could be had for what, because we'll never know anyway. What I'm saying is it turned out that they had the problem we knew they had and didn't solve it. I'm sure there are a litany of reasons, and as darren dreger says, nobody tries harder than Botterill.

But this problem was not only foreseeable, it was inevitable. And clear as day 11 months ago
- jcragcrumple

I believe it was you myself and possibly homie that raised a lot of these questions in the summer and we were told it’s only June he has time.

Well June past and we were told it’s only July there’s still time. July past and we were told there’s still time.

The cap situation is not and was not Murray’s fault. Every player outside of Okposo is a Botterill player.

Botts has his team and it’s a team over the cap in the bottom 10 and can’t make a make shift playoff because they couldn’t play “meaningful hockey in March.”

You can go f*ck yourself kaiser.
- Boss34

You have very thin skin Cookies.

Blow everybody else poop, but you get a little poke and act like somebody killed you.

Thin skin.
- Der Kaiser

Not sure what this former post has to do with anything?

Talk about thin skin and reinhart skirts.




https://www.hockeybuzz.co...post_id=20273563#20273563
- homiedclown

I'm about done with the planet anyways. If anyone wants to follow me to the moon, bring beer.
- TheSabresTaco

How about leaving the fantasy hockey trophy behind before you leave?

After that, I feel like we're firmly at the Ottawa Senators "We're a team" level of depressing

Sometimes I try to do things
And it just doesn't work out the way I wanted to
And I get real frustrated
And I'm like, I try hard to do it
And I'm like, take my time
And it doesn't work out the way I wanted to
It's like, I concentrate on real hard but it doesn't work out
And everything I do and everything I try it never turns out
It's like, I need time to figure these things out
There's always someone there going, 'Hey, Kaiser
You know, we've been noticing
You've been having a lot of problems lately'
'You know, you should, maybe, get away
And like, maybe you should talk about it, you'll feel a lot better'
And I go, 'No, it's okay, you know I'll figure it out
Just leave me alone I'll figure it out
You know I'll just work it out myself'
And they go, 'Well you know if you want to talk about it
I'll be here you know and you'll probably feel a lot better
If you talked about it, so why don't you talk about it'
I go, 'No, I don't want to I'm okay, I'll figure it out myself'
And they just keep bugging me and they just keep bugging me
And it builds up inside


I was in my room and I was just like staring at the wall
Thinking about everything
But then again I was thinking about nothing
And then my wife came in and I didn't even know she was there
She called my name and I didn't even hear it
And then she started screaming, 'Kaiser, Kaiser!'
And I go, 'What, what's the matter"
And she goes, 'What's the matter with you"
I go, 'There's nothing wrong, just leave me alone'
And she goes, 'Don't tell me that, you're on drugs'
I go, 'No, I'm not on drugs, I'm okay
I was just thinking you know, why don't you get me a Pepsi'
And she goes, 'No, you're on drugs
I go, 'I'm okay, I'm just thinking'
She goes, 'No you're not thinking, you're on drugs
Normal people don't act that way'
I go, 'Just give me a Pepsi, please'
All I want is a Pepsi and she wouldn't give it to me
All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi
And she wouldn't give it to me, just a Pepsi
- Der Kaiser

A- If seeing this ends up the highlight of my day, I'm cool with that.

[quote=Boss34]
shows one thing, you are lacking a sense of humor


do you think peggy's kids will move the bills and sabres once terry and kim are worm food?