Lot of Botts defenders on here. I make my point clear on how bad Botts is. Was one if the first and probably most vocal. Small group rush to his defense though so the “arguable” was just thrown in there to prevent the exhaustive responses
- Fattony1187

I've always felt that his sights were set on this off season

I've always felt that his sights were set on this off season
- Michael Pachla

imagine if he had berglund on the hook for 2 more years

Paul Hamilton
@pham1717
·
May 27
Botterill: It's their fault and they shouldn't have put themselves in the position to miss the playoffs
- homiedclown

pham clarified it a little later:


Paul Hamilton

@pham1717
·
23h


In no way shape or form was he blaming just the players. I said he said it's their fault meaning their fault as an organization

imagine if he had berglund on the hook for 2 more years
- homiedclown

Then he probably doesn't bring in Frolik, Johanson or Simmonds, and we female dog about something else instead.

imagine if he had berglund on the hook for 2 more years
- homiedclown

he got lucky with Berglund and bogo and he may get lucky with the bonuses for this season...

*shrugs*

Anyways I'm still mad botts is staying now he's in a do or die mode ... So he will waste picks or players for poop players and sign UFAs ..

And then the next GM can be ducked
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Mad about botts?

No veteran GM or veteran coach wants to touch the Sabres with a 10 ft pole. Last summer alone, any veteran coach if you like them or not. Didn’t even interview with the Sabres.

So hiring an assistant gm up and coming ..... bringing in “his coach” and “his guys” for another 2-3 years rebuild.

Sounds terrible. We did that twice already and failed.

Tim Murray’s plan didn’t get enough time.

And same goes to botts. He has cap space to work with. Let’s see what he does with it

Then he probably doesn't bring in Frolik, Johanson or Simmonds, and we female dog about something else instead.
- buffalofan19

the thought here was that frolic was brought in to help the pk and he moved a defenseman to get that

the thought here was that frolic was brought in to help the pk and he moved a defenseman to get that
- Michael Pachla

it was an awful through process.

You probably could have had him for basically free.

Frolik was a healthy scratch and Calgary was trying to dump him.

He was not needed.

Botts took a worse return on Scandella so he could acquire Frolik.

it was an awful through process.

You probably could have had him for basically free.

Frolik was a healthy scratch and Calgary was trying to dump him.

He was not needed.

Botts took a worse return on Scandella so he could acquire Frolik.
- ImThatGuy

agreed

We were good defensively because we defended as a 5 man unit.

That’s a testament to Kreuger’s system 5v5. Ralph needs to figure out the special teams though or put assistants in place that can because our PK torched us last year.
- Pegullaville

I would agree that when the team stuck to the system they were solid. The problem as I see it is when they breakdown there is no denying it’s major trouble. It seems guys are not just left open but wide open. Also, the Sabres must have led the league in shots on their own net.
If the stuck to their system more consistently and had a touch more secondary scoring I believe playoffs next year are a sure thing.

I've always felt that his sights were set on this off season
- Michael Pachla

That doesn't mesh with the moves made during the last 12 months, nor does making only 24 draft choices in 4 years. This isn't a build through the draft rebuild. This is pick in the top 10 and supplement from the sale rack.

People seem to think Botterill is a draft and develop guy because he'll be the first to tell you he is, but he's really not.

His game plan - at least how he made it sound - is now predicated on Tage, Mittelstadt and Cozens putting them over the hump next year. I don’t see it

That doesn't mesh with the moves made during the last 12 months, nor does making only 24 draft choices in 4 years. This isn't a build through the draft rebuild. This is pick in the top 10 and supplement from the sale rack.

People seem to think Botterill is a draft and develop guy because he'll be the first to tell you he is, but he's really not.

His game plan - at least how he made it sound - is now predicated on Tage, Mittelstadt and Cozens putting them over the hump next year. I don’t see it
- jcragcrumple

12 of 22 roster spots, or 54%, come off the books this season, including RFA's, who you could technically walk away from if you want. That's a lot and it doesn't happen by accident.

If the stuck to their system more consistently and had a touch more secondary scoring I believe playoffs next year are a sure thing.
- Camel

well for that to happen you need to

A have a second line center
B have a second line RW
C have a third line center to go with johansson and kahun
D find that 3rd LD
E find a goalie to play 40 or so games at least, Ullmark is fine for a 1B
F figure out special teams


I still say the best thing right now, trade risto for picks/prospects
trade montour for picks/prospects
grab hoffman or craig smith and pietrangelo in free agent
if you can't get a LD in trade sign Dillion
sign markstrom or greiss

bury hutton if you cant move him
let girgens walk, keep larsson



Skinner-Eichel-Olofsson
Hoffman-Cozens-Reinhart
Kahun-Casey-Johansson
Asplund/CJ Smith-Larsson-Okposo
Lazar

or
Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart
Skinner-Cozens-Smith
Kahun-Casey-Johansson
Asplund/CJ Smith-Larsson-Okposo
Lazar

Dahlin-Pietrangelo
Dillon-Joker
McCabe-Miller

Markstrm/Ullmark or Ullmark/Greiss

12 of 22 roster spots, or 54%, come off the books this season, including RFA's, who you could technically walk away from if you want. That's a lot and it doesn't happen by accident.
- buffalofan19

You're counting Reinhart, Kahun, Olofsson, Ullmark and Montour as guys he could potentially walk away from?

Talk about cooking the books

You're counting Reinhart, Kahun, Olofsson, Ullmark and Montour as guys he could potentially walk away from?

Talk about cooking the books
- jcragcrumple

I said he could if he wanted to. Obviously, I don't think he will, but he could also trade one or two of them as well. He has the cap space and the room on the roster to do a lot. Whether or not he manages it well enough is a different question. However, if you were building towards this offseason, you can't really give yourself much more flexibility.

12 of 22 roster spots, or 54%, come off the books this season, including RFA's, who you could technically walk away from if you want. That's a lot and it doesn't happen by accident.
- buffalofan19

I think you've got a better case pointing out that's he's only given out 2 long term extensions. This all still feels like a transition, until more meaningful extensions are given. We still don't know what his core looks like, but I fear he's just going to keep these guys around.

I think you've got a better case pointing out that's he's only given out 2 long term extensions. This all still feels like a transition, until more meaningful extensions are given. We still don't know what his core looks like, but I fear he's just going to keep these guys around.
- Lunaion

That's another way of wording it. He's basically done the equivalent of going to a used
tire shop and buying four cheap ones just to pass inspection because the new tires he bought from the factory won't arrive in time.


The interesting case is Okposo. After 2020-2021, his actual salary is lower than his cap hit. I wonder if you can swing him to a team looking to hit the cap floor.

The interesting case is Okposo. After 2020-2021, his actual salary is lower than his cap hit. I wonder if you can swing him to a team looking to hit the cap floor.
- buffalofan19

Only problem is the NMC. What if he decides not to waive ?

I'd love to know how many people thought when we drafted eichel, he would become a superstar and after 5 years, the sabres are still not close to sniffing the playoffs
- homiedclown

Me. I don't see any hope on the horizon. We could trade for every decent player in the league and we'd still suck. We're cursed...and I've come to accept that. This is what being a Buffalo sports fan is like, and I'm perfectly fine with it. Getting Eichel was nice, but I knew it'd amount to nothing.

Have a nice day.

Only problem is the NMC. What if he decides not to waive ?
- Pegullaville

Like I said, it's an interesting case, far from a guarantee.

I said he could if he wanted to. Obviously, I don't think he will, but he could also trade one or two of them as well. He has the cap space and the room on the roster to do a lot. Whether or not he manages it well enough is a different question. However, if you were building towards this offseason, you can't really give yourself much more flexibility.
- buffalofan19

There are 6 UFAs and they're all bottom 6 forwards. You're way overstating how much change is coming via FA

7 if you want to count Hunwick

Based on the presser, tage, mitts and cozens have jobs. Everyone wants to keep at least 1 larry. Okposo is here

Thats 2 jobs left to change

That's another way of wording it. He's basically done the equivalent of going to a used
tire shop and buying four cheap ones just to pass inspection because the new tires he bought from the factory won't arrive in time.


The interesting case is Okposo. After 2020-2021, his actual salary is lower than his cap hit. I wonder if you can swing him to a team looking to hit the cap floor.
- buffalofan19

I just hope he hasn't waited himself into a corner again. It's very easy to just overpay these RFA's and essentially lock yourself into this core.

well for that to happen you need to

A have a second line center
B have a second line RW
C have a third line center to go with johansson and kahun
D find that 3rd LD
E find a goalie to play 40 or so games at least, Ullmark is fine for a 1B
F figure out special teams


I still say the best thing right now, trade risto for picks/prospects
trade montour for picks/prospects
grab hoffman or craig smith and pietrangelo in free agent
if you can't get a LD in trade sign Dillion
sign markstrom or greiss

bury hutton if you cant move him
let girgens walk, keep larsson



Skinner-Eichel-Olofsson
Hoffman-Cozens-Reinhart
Kahun-Casey-Johansson
Asplund/CJ Smith-Larsson-Okposo
Lazar

or
Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart
Skinner-Cozens-Smith
Kahun-Casey-Johansson
Asplund/CJ Smith-Larsson-Okposo
Lazar

Dahlin-Pietrangelo
Dillon-Joker
McCabe-Miller

Markstrm/Ullmark or Ullmark/Greiss
- homiedclown

im sorry but that center depth is no where near good enough.. they need to get a center who has played in the NHL more than casey...

would they trade borgstrom...he had an off year, but he showed some serious promise a couple years ago
- Michael Pachla

I guess if the price is right they could, but I don't think they've given up on Borgstrom. I doubt a trade happening anytime soon as they've depleted their depth at center over the last year. Haula is UFA, and he's only played a handful of games since coming over, hard to tell how he fits here. I imagine FL will make him an offer, but I have no idea how they see him fitting in long term. They also got Wallmark in the deal, but I think he's more figured for the bottom six. I think they also got a "promising center prospect" in the deal, but promises, promises...
They knew going in that Borgstrom was gonna take awhile. Possibly a big reason for his off year points wise was they sent him down to work on his all around game. Springfield coach was using him a lot in fourth line defensive role, and then I guess occasionally throwing him up to a scoring line. He also could use to bulk up a little.