The root problem with the Sabres now is paying out big money to goal scorers who are not scoring. If they can get better production from the 2 overpaid guys and little extra from the bottom six things would change quick.
- Camel

I'd say the root problem with the Sabres has been relatively poor player evaluation.
That leads to
- poor professional player acquisitions
- poor prospect draft picks outside of the very obvious in Eichel, Sam and Dahlin
Of course, there are exceptions like Joker, VO, and a couple others, but history speaks for itself.

It is further exasperated by GM's who were widely aggressive with over payments or so conservative and restrained in not making enough moves when the roster was screaming for it.

Lastly, we now have owners who think they are smarter than everyone else, yet the reality is the are absolutely so ignorant and arrogant they don't realize how bad they are...a deadly combination playing out before our eyes.

EDIT: the takeaway from all this is the fracking business was literally like printing money that success was not representative of skill, knowledge, nor smarts. Apparently any idiot could do it...who knew!?

I'd say the root problem with the Sabres has been relatively poor player evaluation.
That leads to
- poor professional player acquisitions
- poor prospect draft picks outside of the very obvious in Eichel, Sam and Dahlin
Of course, there are exceptions like Joker, VO, and a couple others, but history speaks for itself.

It is further exasperated by GM's who were widely aggressive with over payments or so conservative and restrained in not making enough moves when the roster was screaming for it.

Lastly, we now have owners who think they are smarter than everyone else, yet the reality is the are absolutely so ignorant and arrogant they don't realize how bad they are...a deadly combination playing out before our eyes.

EDIT: the takeaway from all this is the fracking business was literally like printing money that success was not representative of skill, knowledge, nor smarts. Apparently any idiot could do it...who knew!?
- IonSabres

The Pegulas don't know how to hire hockey talent.

Thankfully, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane know how to hire football talent.

I will pray for your soul
- homiedclown

This organization needs an exorcism

This organization needs an exorcism


- jcragcrumple

Kim Pegula:

The root problem with the Sabres now is paying out big money to goal scorers who are not scoring. If they can get better production from the 2 overpaid guys and little extra from the bottom six things would change quick.
- Camel

Assuming you are talking about the duo of Skinner and Okposo, it's reasonable to expect better production from Skinner, but what kind of better goal production are you expecting from Okposo?

Getting 5 to 7 more goals from Okposo, while nice, is not moving the needle so to speak.

Getting 15 to 20 more goals from Skinner would be a big help, but until Ralph removes Skinner from his dog house, or the Sabres get a quality 2nd line Center and Right Wing, the chances of that happening will be mitigated.

Lastly, we now have owners who think they are smarter than everyone else, yet the reality is the are absolutely so ignorant and arrogant they don't realize how bad they are...a deadly combination playing out before our eyes
- IonSabres

Hit it on the nail with this one.

Maybe it'll take 20 years out of the playoffs before they wake up.

Heck, we're halfway there, boys and girls!

Hit it on the nail with this one.

Maybe it'll take 20 years out of the playoffs before they wake up.

Heck, we're halfway there, boys and girls!
- Powerslave

what miffs me


botts first presser, he stated things had to turnaround at all 3 levels, echl, ahl and the big club

he made good on his promise on the minor league clubs and this fall was when we were suppose to see realistically what his first draft class does, meaning casey make or break, 6 k in rochester full time, bryson, and davidsson


also probably first chance for pekar to get a legit look and cozens


you can agree or disagree on his approach, but there is a good chance Adams tenure will be based on botts drafting, and botts failure will be based on the murray drafts


but our owners know so much about hockey

what miffs me


botts first presser, he stated things had to turnaround at all 3 levels, echl, ahl and the big club

he made good on his promise on the minor league clubs and this fall was when we were suppose to see realistically what his first draft class does, meaning casey make or break, 6 k in rochester full time, bryson, and davidsson


also probably first chance for pekar to get a legit look and cozens


you can agree or disagree on his approach, but there is a good chance Adams tenure will be based on botts drafting, and botts failure will be based on the murray drafts


but our owners know so much about hockey
- homiedclown

Botts failure was based on his inability to ice a top-24 team after 3 years.

I also think it's good that our current GM is divorced of attachment to Botterill's draft picks and acquisitions. I don't think Botterill had traded any of the players he had selected in the draft (i could be wrong). He was starting to develop a darcy-like attachment to his players. Hopefully Adams doesn't try to make Tage happen. Stop trying to make Tage happen, Jason. Tage isn't going to happen

what miffs me


botts first presser, he stated things had to turnaround at all 3 levels, echl, ahl and the big club

he made good on his promise on the minor league clubs and this fall was when we were suppose to see realistically what his first draft class does, meaning casey make or break, 6 k in rochester full time, bryson, and davidsson


also probably first chance for pekar to get a legit look and cozens


you can agree or disagree on his approach, but there is a good chance Adams tenure will be based on botts drafting, and botts failure will be based on the murray drafts


but our owners know so much about hockey
- homiedclown

Good post

Good post
- Pegullaville

the cherry on top

sabres win streak to start the season, chris taylor was an assistant on the sabres bench

what miffs me


botts first presser, he stated things had to turnaround at all 3 levels, echl, ahl and the big club

he made good on his promise on the minor league clubs and this fall was when we were suppose to see realistically what his first draft class does, meaning casey make or break, 6 k in rochester full time, bryson, and davidsson


also probably first chance for pekar to get a legit look and cozens


you can agree or disagree on his approach, but there is a good chance Adams tenure will be based on botts drafting, and botts failure will be based on the murray drafts


but our owners know so much about hockey
- homiedclown

The presidents husband wants the young kids in teh NHL and doesnt want to wait.

He wants 6K up, mitts, Cozens etc.

he wants them here.

The presidents husband wants the young kids in teh NHL and doesnt want to wait.

He wants 6K up, mitts, Cozens etc.

he wants them here.
- ImThatGuy

We’ve seen mitts and tage forced into the line up above their development. I can’t wait to see it done with a goalie. And while I have hopes for cozens, throwing him in a 2c roll is just a mistake.

#teachmekym

what miffs me


botts first presser, he stated things had to turnaround at all 3 levels, echl, ahl and the big club

he made good on his promise on the minor league clubs and this fall was when we were suppose to see realistically what his first draft class does, meaning casey make or break, 6 k in rochester full time, bryson, and davidsson


also probably first chance for pekar to get a legit look and cozens


you can agree or disagree on his approach, but there is a good chance Adams tenure will be based on botts drafting, and botts failure will be based on the murray drafts


but our owners know so much about hockey
- homiedclown

Most of us here are smart enough to realize who drafted whom, and we give Murray credit where it's due, and honestly that's very little. Reinhart and Jack were gimmes, Nylander (thanks for fixing this Jason), Olofsson was a rubber stamp, then we have guys like Borgen and Asplund, maybe Guhle and Johansson who will eventually round out to bottom half players. So what the (frank) has he ever done at the draft table?

Botts could end up with over 10 picks being NHL players. Too early of course, but it certainly looks more promising than RawDeal's drafts.

But let's not pretend Botts did a good job running the Buffalo Sabres.

We’ve seen mitts and tage forced into the line up above their development. I can’t wait to see it done with a goalie. And while I have hopes for cozens, throwing him in a 2c roll is just a mistake.

#teachmekym
- Gr8daygo

What if these two just aren't good? Isn't it possible that Mittelstadt and Tage just aren't NHL caliber?

As for Cozens, he will have the same development path as Reinhart. Draft +1 then into the NHL (maybe 1.25 depending on if the WHL starts on time). If he's good, he'll make it.

Botts failure was based on his inability to ice a top-24 team after 3 years.

I also think it's good that our current GM is divorced of attachment to Botterill's draft picks and acquisitions. I don't think Botterill had traded any of the players he had selected in the draft (i could be wrong). He was starting to develop a darcy-like attachment to his players. Hopefully Adams doesn't try to make Tage happen. Stop trying to make Tage happen, Jason. Tage isn't going to happen
- jcragcrumple

I’m still of the thinking that this year was his actual first attempt at winning.

When you’re big free agent signing in your first offseason was Benoit Pouliot and you don’t make any moves while the ship sinks. That was a let’s see what we have year.

When the following offseason you trade a prominent roster player like ROR and the headliners of the trade are a prospect and a first rounder, then you don’t make any moves after the team wins 10 straight games due to not wanting to overpay for roster players to affect the long term window. I still wouldn’t say Botts was all in on winning.

This past year I can actually believe he tried to win, and I still don’t believe he went “all-in” so to speak.

I would have liked Botts to take a swing on a few more impact forwards in his past drafts instead of Samuelsson or Johnson.

Probably would have been more beneficial for Mitts to spend another year in college and to find a more adequate stop gap for 2C to allow Mojo to play the wing but what can ya do.

Now we get to add a Holtz/Perfetti/Rossi/Raymond/Lundell this year and hope Adams can put a team on the ice to make the playoffs next year while the “core” develops.

What if these two just aren't good? Isn't it possible that Mittelstadt and Tage just aren't NHL caliber?

As for Cozens, he will have the same development path as Reinhart. Draft +1 then into the NHL (maybe 1.25 depending on if the WHL starts on time). If he's good, he'll make it.
- jcragcrumple

Casey's workouts sure don't seem to be 'NHL caliber'.

I’m still of the thinking that this year was his actual first attempt at winning.

When you’re big free agent signing in your first offseason was Benoit Pouliot and you don’t make any moves while the ship sinks. That was a let’s see what we have year.

When the following offseason you trade a prominent roster player like ROR and the headliners of the trade are a prospect and a first rounder, then you don’t make any moves after the team wins 10 straight games due to not wanting to overpay for roster players to affect the long term window. I still wouldn’t say Botts was all in on winning.

This past year I can actually believe he tried to win, and I still don’t believe he went “all-in” so to speak.

I would have liked Botts to take a swing on a few more impact forwards in his past drafts instead of Samuelsson or Johnson.

Probably would have been more beneficial for Mitts to spend another year in college and to find a more adequate stop gap for 2C to allow Mojo to play the wing but what can ya do.

Now we get to add a Holtz/Perfetti/Rossi/Raymond/Lundell this year and hope Adams can put a team on the ice to make the playoffs next year while the “core” develops.
- Pegullaville

If the above was his plan (waiting), then he signed his own dismissal, as you cannot bank on waiting until year 4 to show you're fully trying.

But, I also don't fully believe he wasn't at least partially trying to win, as he traded picks for non impactful player returns like Vesey, Simmonds, Frolik, and others.

He tried to play the middle, and was deservedly let go for trying that method.

I’m still of the thinking that this year was his actual first attempt at winning.

When you’re big free agent signing in your first offseason was Benoit Pouliot and you don’t make any moves while the ship sinks. That was a let’s see what we have year.

When the following offseason you trade a prominent roster player like ROR and the headliners of the trade are a prospect and a first rounder, then you don’t make any moves after the team wins 10 straight games due to not wanting to overpay for roster players to affect the long term window. I still wouldn’t say Botts was all in on winning.

This past year I can actually believe he tried to win, and I still don’t believe he went “all-in” so to speak.

I would have liked Botts to take a swing on a few more impact forwards in his past drafts instead of Samuelsson or Johnson.

Probably would have been more beneficial for Mitts to spend another year in college and to find a more adequate stop gap for 2C to allow Mojo to play the wing but what can ya do.

Now we get to add a Holtz/Perfetti/Rossi/Raymond/Lundell this year and hope Adams can put a team on the ice to make the playoffs next year while the “core” develops.
- Pegullaville

Benoit balls was probably (sadly) one of his top-5 FA/Trade forward additions (mojo, kahun, Pominville, feces and Benoit balls). His 13 goals in one season is actually more than all those guys except Pominville.

That says all you need to know about Botterill's ability to assess forward talent.

He sucked, his rosters sucked and he deserved to be fired. The Pegulas arrived at the right conclusion for the wrong reasons

Edit: forgot skinner

If the above was his plan (waiting), then he signed his own dismissal, as you cannot bank on waiting until year 4 to show you're fully trying.

But, I also don't fully believe he wasn't at least partially trying to win, as he traded picks for non impactful player returns like Vesey, Simmonds, Frolik, and others.

He tried to play the middle, and was deservedly let go for trying that method.
- kingcong39

🤝

If the above was his plan (waiting), then he signed his own dismissal, as you cannot bank on waiting until year 4 to show you're fully trying.

But, I also don't fully believe he wasn't at least partially trying to win, as he traded picks for non impactful player returns like Vesey, Simmonds, Frolik, and others.

He tried to play the middle, and was deservedly let go for trying that method.
- kingcong39

He also spent picks and picked up salary to acquire Blow-u, Scandalous and Pominville during his first offseason. The man was a walking contradiction of plans. Never made sense

Benoit balls was probably (sadly) one of his top-5 FA/Trade forward additions (mojo, kahun, Pominville, feces and Benoit balls). His 13 goals in one season is actually more than all those guys except Pominville.

That says all you need to know about Botterill's ability to assess forward talent.

He sucked, his rosters sucked and he deserved to be fired. The Pegulas arrived at the right conclusion for the wrong reasons

Edit: forgot skinner
- jcragcrumple

Sure and if Cozens and 2020 first rounder turn into studs then Botts will have surrounded Eichel with the best possible long term core he could.

Perception is in the eye of the beholder.

You don’t have patience, I do.

He also spent picks and picked up salary to acquire Blow-u, Scandalous and Pominville during his first offseason. The man was a walking contradiction of plans. Never made sense
- jcragcrumple

Scandella and Pominville provided better production then Ennis’ buyout would have.

Imagine having any more dead cap on the books ?

Sure and if Cozens and 2020 first rounder turn into studs then Botts will have surrounded Eichel with the best possible long term core he could.

Perception is in the eye of the beholder.

You don’t have patience, I do.
- Pegullaville

Chances are Cozens won't turn into a stud for a few years and the 2020 guy? 2024-25.

You have patience. Does Eichel?

Scandella and Pominville provided better production then Ennis’ buyout would have.

Imagine having any more dead cap on the books ?
- Pegullaville

Why would they need to buyout Ennis? His contract would have ended the same time as Pominville's did and it cost less. If you're not trying to win anyway (as is your contention), you simply let it play out.

For that matter, Ennis could have played 2C in 2018-2019. God knows it wouldn't have been worse than what they did.

Could have used Foligno along the way and saved a pick if youre not trying to win anyway. The whole thing is a contradiction

Chances are Cozens won't turn into a stud for a few years and the 2020 guy? 2024-25.

You have patience. Does Eichel?
- Powerslave

Why can't this year's guy be a contributor in 21-22?