With the exception of the 2 most important forward prospects the team has feels like a very big exception.

Botterill also traded multiple picks for middling players.
- kingcong39

My only thing with Botts is that if there was anything left in the prospect pool worth a crap, would he have traded those picks for those players.

Did you read the article?

This is the most important part:

It turns out the Sabres haven’t been awful at picking NHL-caliber prospects. They’re actually fairly good.

They have been bad at keeping or developing the players.
- kingcong39

Picking NHL-caliber/slightly above average prospects have gotten them....where?

Tyler Myers, Tyler Ennis, Zack Kassian, Brayden McNabb, Marcus Foligno, Mark Pysyk, Joel Armia, Mikhail Grigorenko, Zemgus Girgensons, Jake McCabe, Rasmus Ristolainen, Nikita Zadorov, J.T. Compher, Sam Reinhart, Brendan Lemieux, Jack Eichel and Alex Nylander.

Look at the list. A bunch of lower-half roster players save for the obvious.

However, I do agree that their player development has sucked as well. Great attempt at being positive with his "Drought Decoy."

Picking NHL-caliber/slightly above average prospects have gotten them....where?

Tyler Myers, Tyler Ennis, Zack Kassian, Brayden McNabb, Marcus Foligno, Mark Pysyk, Joel Armia, Mikhail Grigorenko, Zemgus Girgensons, Jake McCabe, Rasmus Ristolainen, Nikita Zadorov, J.T. Compher, Sam Reinhart, Brendan Lemieux, Jack Eichel and Alex Nylander.

Look at the list. A bunch of lower-half roster players save for the obvious.

However, I do agree that their player development has sucked as well. Great attempt at being positive with his "Drought Decoy."
- Michael Pachla

There's a few players on that list I would take back.

There's a few players on that list I would take back.
- Buff36

Compher would fit right into their open 3-C spot...a lot of role players at best

With the exception of the 2 most important forward prospects the team has feels like a very big exception.

Botterill also traded multiple picks for middling players.
- kingcong39

This is every GM in the history of GM’s

Compher would fit right into their open 3-C spot...a lot of role players at best
- Michael Pachla

Compher, I would take McNabb and maybe Armia back.

This is every GM in the history of GM’s
- sbroads24

That doesn't make it a smart move.

Sign free agents to 1 or 2 year deals while keeping your picks and developing your prospects seems like the way to go.

Compher, I would take McNabb and maybe Armia back.
- Buff36

Yeah., i knew McNabb would come up...the sabres may have a mcnabb type in Samuelsson--big and sturdy with the latter possibly having more snarl to his game

Compher would fit right into their open 3-C spot...a lot of role players at best
- Michael Pachla

Compher has been very quiet and barely noticeable during the playoffs, bit of a surprise.

I like his game generally, but havent seen him do anything positive.... so far

Compher has been very quiet and barely noticeable during the playoffs, bit of a surprise.

I like his game generally, but havent seen him do anything positive.... so far
- Boss34

Dallas has done a great job against Colorado so far

That doesn't make it a dumb move.

Sign free agents to 1 or 2 year deals while keeping your picks and developing your prospects seems like the way to go.
- kingcong39

Getting people to agree to play here is a challenge in itself.

Where Botterill screwed up, that’s not pretty consistent with other GM’s mistakes is failing to make the D for forward trade, after loading up on RD.

And if the rumors are true, and they keep 55, Adams is pretty bad too, or the owner maybe has way too much say in everything, and it really blurs the ability to judge our GM’s.

If Risto isn’t traded now before he ends up a rental or walks, it’s a massive failure that would be on 3 consecutive GM’s

Dallas has done a great job against Colorado so far
- Michael Pachla

Jo-el. Ar -mia

Is alot better than Joel armia was in Rochester.

Wouldnt mind signing him for pk. Playoff gamer

Getting people to agree to play here is a challenge in itself.

Where Botterill screwed up, that’s not pretty consistent with other GM’s mistakes is failing to make the D for forward trade, after loading up on RD.

And if the rumors are true, and they keep 55, Adams is pretty bad too, or the owner maybe has way too much say in everything, and it really blurs the ability to judge our GM’s.

If Risto isn’t traded now before he ends up a rental or walks, it’s a massive failure that would be on 3 consecutive GM’s
- sbroads24

This offseason will be the first test of just how committed they are to analytics. Just because a coach likes a player, does not mean that player is good or a good fit for the team.

Yeah., i knew McNabb would come up...the sabres may have a mcnabb type in Samuelsson--big and sturdy with the latter possibly having more snarl to his game
- Michael Pachla

Hopefully he can also play defense and maybe provide a modicum of offense in addition to the time old hockey platitudes of size, snarl, and grit.

This offseason will be the first test of just how committed they are to analytics. Just because a coach likes a player, does not mean that player is good or a good fit for the team.
- kingcong39

The problem is it might not matter how committed they are.

We don’t know the pecking order in the FO.

Adams could very well be a yes man, and Krueger could be pulling the strings or in the Pegula’s ear

The problem is it might not matter how committed they are.

We don’t know the pecking order in the FO.

Adams could very well be a yes man, and Krueger could be pulling the strings or in the Pegula’s ear
- sbroads24

I don't care what the pecking order is or who is ultimately calling the shots.

They say they are committed to analytics. The proof of whether they are or not they are as an organization will be in the moves they make, including contracts signed, free agents brought in, trades made, and players picked in the draft.

I don't care what the pecking order is or who is ultimately calling the shots.

They say they are committed to analytics. The proof of whether they are or not they are as an organization will be in the moves they make, including contracts signed, free agents brought in, trades made, and players picked in the draft.
- kingcong39

Did they though? I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Mine aren’t.

Did they though? I wouldn’t get your hopes up. Mine aren’t.
- sbroads24

Adams has repeatedly, and wrapped that into being aligned as or organization.

Their moves this offseason will prove whether that is just talk or not.

Adams has repeatedly, and wrapped that into being aligned as or organization.

Their moves this offseason will prove whether that is just talk or not.
- kingcong39

I don’t view Adams as “The organization”. That’s my issue. I think he probably has limited control for a GM

Adams has repeatedly, and wrapped that into being aligned as or organization.

Their moves this offseason will prove whether that is just talk or not.
- kingcong39

1 of 4 NHL Teams that has an Analytics Department of 1.
How can the team expect to be competitive from a knowledge / asset strategy perspective?
Adams has been GM for 2-1/2 months so far and not 1 addition.
Yet, apparently they have reworked their Prospect and Player Analysis.
Seems weak to me by comparison.
The actions to date do not support the words to date.

1 of 4 NHL Teams that has an Analytics Department of 1.
How can the team expect to be competitive from a knowledge / asset strategy perspective?
Adams has been GM for 2-1/2 months so far and not 1 addition.
Yet, apparently they have reworked their Prospect and Player Analysis.
Seems weak to me by comparison.
The actions to date do not support the words to date.
- IonSabres

Ion, do you think any of the delays are covid related?

Money and covid related?

If the pagelus believe the Sabres aren't having a "home" game in front of fans for a year or 3, maybe they are being cheap in regards to hiring?

Have to think Kym has paid someone for covid advice with 2 major sports teams playing in NY

I don’t view Adams as “The organization”. That’s my issue. I think he probably has limited control for a GM
- sbroads24

I'd rather have Krueger and Adams making decisions together than GM ding dong making them by himself

I'd rather have Krueger and Adams making decisions together than GM ding dong making them by himself
- jcragcrumple

A. He wasn’t making them by himself, which is part of my point
B. Krueger is bad. And Adams has 0 experience. What could go wrong?

Yeah., i knew McNabb would come up...the sabres may have a mcnabb type in Samuelsson--big and sturdy with the latter possibly having more snarl to his game
- Michael Pachla

from 2005 to 2016

3rd rd pick Gragnani
4th rd pick Butler
1st rd pick Persson
2nd rd pick Weber
2nd rd pick Brennan
2nd rd pick Schiestel
1st rd pick Myers
3rd rd pick Fienhage
4th rd pick Southorn
3rd rd pick McNabb
1st rd pick Pysyk
3rd rd pick Leduc
3rd rd pick Mackenzie
2nd rd pick McCabe
1st rd pick Ristolainen
1st rd pick Zadorov
3rd rd pick Martin
2nd rd pick Guhle
4th rd pick Borgen
3rd rd pick Fitzgerald

for 20 picks in the first 4 rounds on D man

pretty pathetic results

I'd rather have Krueger and Adams making decisions together than GM ding dong making them by himself
- jcragcrumple