A good 1B goaltender and a solid 2nd line addition would make a world of difference with this team. I mean Kahun Cozens Mojo could make a solid 3rd line. - Buff36
Should be an easy fix then. Lehner is available and Casey is ready. See you at the parade.
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL Joined: 03.10.2013
May 31 @ 8:17 AM ET
fans emotions are on display at keybank and on social media, and dating back to barrasso, at the Aud...
the fans were wrong with barrasso, they were wrong with ror...they were (are) wrong with a lot of things from booing miller to rooting for the sabres to lose to constantly feeling as if the sports gods owe them something and taking it out on players that don't meet their expectations...
do you remember not so long ago when Eichel was touted more for being like jack echl than a superstar?...I do...it's an incredibly fickle fan base and every player notices it to some extent...they hear the quiet at KeyBank and they also notice what happens on social media they talk amongst their teammates and amongst their fellow nhl'ers throughout the league - Michael Pachla
All this is true, sure. It goes back before Barasso. It started very early in the franchise's history...Jim Watson, Joycelyn Gaevremont, and others. It happens in Philly, Boston, etc.
It is a fanbase mentality to attack under archievers.
It being the reason for Jack's eventual departure is a stretch IMO, unless he quits playing to his level best, then and with reason, the fan base will turn on him also. If he keeps his effort up at a high level to which we have seen, I doubt very much the fan base will turn on him. Other players will be the target. If Skinner doesn't begin to produce again soon, buckle your seltbelt.
The fanbase, with good reason has turned on Botts, Ralphie-boy to some degree and the Pegula's in particular for turning this franchise into the sh!show it is. It is the organization and the players who consistently do not play to the level they have shown elsewhere that have drawn their ire. They have earned it rather well. 9 years and not even close.
All this is true, sure. It goes back before Barasso. It started very early in the franchise's history...Jim Watson, Joycelyn Gaevremont, and others. It happens in Philly, Boston, etc.
It is a fanbase mentality to attack under archievers.
It being the reason for Jack's eventual departure is a stretch IMO, unless he quits playing to his level best, then and with reason, the fan base will turn on him also. If he keeps his effort up at a high level to which we have seen, I doubt very much the fan base will turn on him. Other players will be the target. If Skinner doesn't begin to produce again soon, buckle your seltbelt.
The fanbase, with good reason has turned on Botts, Ralphie-boy to some degree and the Pegula's in particular for turning this franchise into the sh!show it is. It is the organization and the players who consistently do not play to the level they have shown elsewhere that have drawn their ire. They have earned it rather well. 9 years and not even close. - IonSabres
The Buffalo Sabres sole purpose from this point forward is to win the draft lottery.
Money is no object and Lindy ain’t going no where.
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL Joined: 03.10.2013
May 31 @ 8:21 AM ET
it's ironic that the sabres need more heart and that risto is the player that fans want to move...the guy has been engaged nearly 100% of the time and he's done everything asked of him...he's worked hard in the off season to get in the best possible shape to shoulder the load that was foisted upon him by every coach he's had...yet, people clamor for heart and want him moved - Michael Pachla
Vocal Risto critics look at his low hockey IQ that drives poor on-ice decisions in his own end as the reason for wanting him traded out. Couple that with a tough player who is very inconsistent in playing outwardly tough and now you have a target.
What he says in pressers carries little weight in my mind.
Ok. That’s easier. Wouldn’t make any substantial difference. A better solution is to use the prospects before they are too old to play anymore. If that doesn’t work big trades coming.
"Such was the case during the post-Drury/Briere era as the team floundered with only two playoff appearances since 2007 and a first-round exit in both of those. After riding a treadmill of mediocrity"
Ok. That’s easier. Wouldn’t make any substantial difference. A better solution is to use the prospects before they are too old to play anymore. If that doesn’t work big trades coming. - Camel
Better goaltending would have been huge, especially Hutton's 13 game faulter.
Better goaltending would have been huge, especially Hutton's 13 game faulter. - Buff36
I’m not sure what you are saying now. Are you talking next year or the present year? Huttons record was close to 500. If we are talking 13 games his fault his record would be 1000 if he win those.
For next year he’s the backup to Ullmark. If your unhappy with goaltending you wouldn’t trade an experienced backup with one year left. That would not make any sense what so ever unless a big trade is in the works and he’s part of it. As for the 2c I keep saying play these prospects now or let them move on. Isn’t the idea of drafting that some day they will play for the big team. I will say if there is a trade this summer it will be a doosey
Location: I said that months ago, keep up!, FL Joined: 03.10.2013
May 31 @ 12:46 PM ET
So, seems like 2 camps; Camp A says the team needs a couple of tweaks, Camp B says the roster needs an overhaul to bring in more talent, more physicality, more tough-mindedness as the team plays a soft style and is mentally fragile prone to frequent meltdowns where their collective play for several games multiple times per season is substandard.
In 69 games, they produced 68 points which was on pace for 81sh points...about 16sh away from a playoff team in a normal season....8 more wins to qualify.
My concern with roster tweaks to qualify for the playoffs is that it wou,d be extraordinary if Botts is able to bring in the necessary talent, physicality and mental toughness with just 2 or 3 moves. I think it will take 6 or more players...about 1/3 or more of the roster to be turned over to have enough players with the right attitude and style of play to transform the team.
If Botts is relying heavily on Mitts and Tage to be a part of that transformation as he seems to be suggesting, then I believe it will be a failed effort as I see very little signs of mental toughness or physicality to date. So where are they getting those attributes?
Leaves him with FA and Trades has his options outside of organic growth.
FA is a more expensive route in terms of Contracting and impact on the Cap. There is probably room to add 1 or 2 contracts of significance.
Trades will require significant assets but has the benefit of offloading Cap hits to make the necessary room to add more players.
So rather than looking merely at Counting and Advanced Stats to target his additions, it is time for him to increase the weight of the other attributes in his pro player evaluation model. Targeting guys like Simmonds and Frolik would have been spot on...5 or 6 years ago, not when they are in the last year(s) of their useful hockey life.
I’m not sure what you are saying now. Are you talking next year or the present year? Huttons record was close to 500. If we are talking 13 games his fault his record would be 1000 if he win those.
For next year he’s the backup to Ullmark. If your unhappy with goaltending you wouldn’t trade an experienced backup with one year left. That would not make any sense what so ever unless a big trade is in the works and he’s part of it. As for the 2c I keep saying play these prospects now or let them move on. Isn’t the idea of drafting that some day they will play for the big team. I will say if there is a trade this summer it will be a doosey - Camel
Both, we need better goaltending next year and this year would have helped, over his 13 Nov. to Jan starts he went 0-8-5, that's not good enough for a backup.
Location: I Know Nothink ... NOTHINK! Joined: 07.27.2007
May 31 @ 1:28 PM ET
So, seems like 2 camps; Camp A says the team needs a couple of tweaks, Camp B says the roster needs an overhaul to bring in more talent, more physicality, more tough-mindedness as the team plays a soft style and is mentally fragile prone to frequent meltdowns where their collective play for several games multiple times per season is substandard.
In 69 games, they produced 68 points which was on pace for 81sh points...about 16sh away from a playoff team in a normal season....8 more wins to qualify.
My concern with roster tweaks to qualify for the playoffs is that it wou,d be extraordinary if Botts is able to bring in the necessary talent, physicality and mental toughness with just 2 or 3 moves. I think it will take 6 or more players...about 1/3 or more of the roster to be turned over to have enough players with the right attitude and style of play to transform the team.
If Botts is relying heavily on Mitts and Tage to be a part of that transformation as he seems to be suggesting, then I believe it will be a failed effort as I see very little signs of mental toughness or physicality to date. So where are they getting those attributes?
Leaves him with FA and Trades has his options outside of organic growth.
FA is a more expensive route in terms of Contracting and impact on the Cap. There is probably room to add 1 or 2 contracts of significance.
Trades will require significant assets but has the benefit of offloading Cap hits to make the necessary room to add more players.
So rather than looking merely at Counting and Advanced Stats to target his additions, it is time for him to increase the weight of the other attributes in his pro player evaluation model. Targeting guys like Simmonds and Frolik would have been spot on...5 or 6 years ago, not when they are in the last year(s) of their useful hockey life. - IonSabres
There have been a few posters who have suggested that the Sabres could qualify for the playoffs with only a few tweaks, but I don't know anybody who is saying they should stop there.
There have been a few posters who have suggested that the Sabres could qualify for the playoffs with only a few tweaks, but I don't know anybody who is saying they should stop there. - Der Kaiser
There is difference between squeaking in and being a contender.
A few tweaks gets us into the dance and I guess any team can get hot and lucky.
Two more high end forwards, a legit 1A goaltender, and another top 4 d-man and I think we will be a consistent playoff team that will be a competitor year in and year out. I happen to think Cozens will be a high end player and hopefully we can pluck another one this year in the draft.
Botts needs to address the short term though. There is no excuse to not make the playoffs next year and I’ve been the biggest advocate of losing for high end talent the past few years.
There have been a few posters who have suggested that the Sabres could qualify for the playoffs with only a few tweaks, but I don't know anybody who is saying they should stop there. - Der Kaiser
I’m not sure what you are saying now. Are you talking next year or the present year? Huttons record was close to 500. If we are talking 13 games his fault his record would be 1000 if he win those.
For next year he’s the backup to Ullmark. If your unhappy with goaltending you wouldn’t trade an experienced backup with one year left. That would not make any sense what so ever unless a big trade is in the works and he’s part of it. As for the 2c I keep saying play these prospects now or let them move on. Isn’t the idea of drafting that some day they will play for the big team. I will say if there is a trade this summer it will be a doosey - Camel
It would if the goaltender wasn't good and you could find a better goaltender. Im not saying his leadership or good leadership in general isn't important, but it shouldn't come at the cost of below average results.
Also curious as to who wants to blow it up - Michael Pachla
If you think the number of adds required is too much to be done in a short enough timeframe to take advantage of Eichel's prime (and dahlin's near prime) then you probably want to blow it up.
