GARTH'S CORNER: General MacArthur

He also drafted a lot of duds.

He also drafted a lot of duds.
- sippyd

And if these are his "successful" picks, I'd hate to see the duds.

MacArthur? He's ok.

But if our next GM is going to draft the same middling talent as our former GM, then what is the point?

I have to admit... I'm a little confused. I remember an article on WGR's website showing Darcy's draft track record and how much it had improved since Jim Benning was replaced with Kevin Devine. Now, Garth is trying to tell us that most of the good picks in the past 15 years were Benning all along and not Darcy?! I don't know who is right or who is wrong?

Honestly, when I look back at the Sabres history of draft picks since the beginning (1970)... the part that sticks out the most to me is how many players the Sabres used to draft (even in the later rounds) who made it to the NHL (with Buffalo or another team). Over the past 12 years or so, the amount of players who actually have proven to have NHL talent after the 1st and 2nd rounds has thinned considerably for the Sabres. I don't care how you want to spin that, if you only get value in most draft years in 2 of 7 (or more) picks... you're not doing something right. The first rounds you can use an online scouting department and not be wrong most of the time... it's the later rounds where the scouts play a big role. Under Darcy's watch... this has been a huge deficiency for the Sabres and I hope Lafontaine addresses that ASAP. Maybe Benning is the guy to help fix the problem? Personally, I want Dudley... but would probably prefer Benning over Botterill.

I say take a chance and go with Botterill

I say take a chance and go with Botterill
- Cheeseballin

I second it.

I have to admit... I'm a little confused. I remember an article on WGR's website showing Darcy's draft track record and how much it had improved since Jim Benning was replaced with Kevin Devine. Now, Garth is trying to tell us that most of the good picks in the past 15 years were Benning all along and not Darcy?! I don't know who is right or who is wrong?
- djc1877

Yes, you do.

Honestly, when I look back at the Sabres history of draft picks since the beginning (1970)... the part that sticks out the most to me is how many players the Sabres used to draft (even in the later rounds) who made it to the NHL (with Buffalo or another team). Over the past 12 years or so, the amount of players who actually have proven to have NHL talent after the 1st and 2nd rounds has thinned considerably for the Sabres. I don't care how you want to spin that, if you only get value in most draft years in 2 of 7 (or more) picks... you're not doing something right. The first rounds you can use an online scouting department and not be wrong most of the time... it's the later rounds where the scouts play a big role. Under Darcy's watch... this has been a huge deficiency for the Sabres and I hope Lafontaine addresses that ASAP. Maybe Benning is the guy to help fix the problem? Personally, I want Dudley... but would probably prefer Benning over Botterill.
- djc1877

And as to the rest of your post, I would only add that as the league has expanded and added teams, you further reduce the talent that is making it to those later rounds. I'm not disagreeing with your overall point, but I think there are likely some external factors that might be contributing to that decline you noted beyond just the Sabres or Darcy sucking at drafting.

With or without Benning, I just looked at the NHL draft from current all the way back to 2000 and Darcy did NOT have a very good round 1 and 2 with a lot of those picks. Vanek, Pommers, Paille, Enroth, and Roy are the only ones that stand out. Most were duds, got traded or didn't make it to the big club. We also have a handful of years where we didn't have a 2nd round pick.


Oh yeah, one of them was Luke Adam, he's a great AHL player, hopefully he's ready!

Yes, you do.



And as to the rest of your post, I would only add that as the league has expanded and added teams, you further reduce the talent that is making it to those later rounds. I'm not disagreeing with your overall point, but I think there are likely some external factors that might be contributing to that decline you noted beyond just the Sabres or Darcy sucking at drafting.
- JetpackJesus

I would normally agree with that assessment... but in the past they went as deep as 15 rounds. So, even with less NHL teams, the number of players drafted would still exceed the number taken today. Also, with more NHL teams there are more NHL roster spots which, in theory, should have improved the odds of those players making it to the NHL... instead it was the other way around. You can Google their draft history and it shows every single round. As a matter of fact, it even shows that the Sabres had drafted Eric Weinrich the year prior to New Jersey, but he was too young so Buffalo wasn't allowed to sign him. I never knew that before looking the list of all of their picks. The site I looked at showed every player's numbers of games played in the NHL and their accompanying statistics. Again, not all of these players in the later rounds made it to Buffalo... but many more made it to the NHL prior to Darcy's turn as GM.

Regarding the idea of Botterill... don't fall in love with Whaley syndrome here. Younger isn't always better. Most of the things (except the cap mgmt., but a GM can hire a guy for that role... Asst GM) were the same things said about Darcy before he got his chance in Buffalo. I don't want another go around with someone who hasn't done it himself, personally. That is my main reason for hoping for Dudley. He's got a proven track record, speaks for itself... 2 Cup teams (Chicago and Tampa).

I would normally agree with that assessment... but in the past they went as deep as 15 rounds. So, even with less NHL teams, the number of players drafted would still exceed the number taken today. Also, with more NHL teams there are more NHL roster spots which, in theory, should have improved the odds of those players making it to the NHL... instead it was the other way around. You can Google their draft history and it shows every single round. As a matter of fact, it even shows that the Sabres had drafted Eric Weinrich the year prior to New Jersey, but he was too young so Buffalo wasn't allowed to sign him. I never knew that before looking the list of all of their picks. The site I looked at showed every player's numbers of games played in the NHL and their accompanying statistics. Again, not all of these players in the later rounds made it to Buffalo... but many more made it to the NHL prior to Darcy's turn as GM.

Regarding the idea of Botterill... don't fall in love with Whaley syndrome here. Younger isn't always better. Most of the things (except the cap mgmt., but a GM can hire a guy for that role... Asst GM) were the same things said about Darcy before he got his chance in Buffalo. I don't want another go around with someone who hasn't done it himself, personally. That is my main reason for hoping for Dudley. He's got a proven track record, speaks for itself... 2 Cup teams (Chicago and Tampa).
- djc1877

That he was an Assisant GM for. Just like Boterill has been for Pitt.

Honestly, when I look back at the Sabres history of draft picks since the beginning (1970)... the part that sticks out the most to me is how many players the Sabres used to draft (even in the later rounds) who made it to the NHL (with Buffalo or another team). Over the past 12 years or so, the amount of players who actually have proven to have NHL talent after the 1st and 2nd rounds has thinned considerably for the Sabres. I don't care how you want to spin that, if you only get value in most draft years in 2 of 7 (or more) picks... you're not doing something right. The first rounds you can use an online scouting department and not be wrong most of the time... it's the later rounds where the scouts play a big role. Under Darcy's watch... this has been a huge deficiency for the Sabres and I hope Lafontaine addresses that ASAP. Maybe Benning is the guy to help fix the problem? Personally, I want Dudley... but would probably prefer Benning over Botterill.
- djc1877

I would guess that it would likely look the same for almost every team if you did this analysis for all teams.

Most teams have the odd player that pans out from later rounds in the draft. But if you dug in and looked at every pick like you did for the Sabres, it would probably give a similar impression - that they didn't do well with their later picks.

I have nothing to back this up, just a guess. It would be interesting to look at 4 or 5 teams to see if this theory is accurate.

Miller for Vanek...

The ___________ are in serious trouble right now. The team doesn’t instill fear in the hearts and minds of enemies. Who’s afraid of

Luke Adam
Zemgus Girgensons
Mikhail Grigorenko
Cody Hodgson
Cody McCormick
Steve Ott
Tyler Ennis
Marcus Foligno
Ville Leino
Matt Moulson
John Scott
Brian Flynn
Drew Stafford
Corey Tropp
Christian Ehrhoff
Jamie McBain
Brayden McNabb
Tyler Myers
Mark Pysyk
Henrik Tallinder
Mike Weber
Jhonas Enroth
Ryan Miller

If we're using Clarke MacArthur as a big reason why Benning should be the new General Manager, this team is still in serious trouble.

We should talk to Hextall about the GM spot, cup with the Kings as an assistant and he knows a thing about grit/playing tough.....


Hank the Tank, Weber and Staff for Johnny T all the way....

That he was an Assisant GM for. Just like Boterill has been for Pitt.
- Cheeseballin

Nope...

Dudley, 63, held the title of Director, Player Personnel with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2011-12. Prior to joining the Leafs, he was with the Atlanta Thrashers from 2009 to 2011, beginning as associate general manager before being promoted to general manager, holding that position until the franchise moved to Winnipeg. From 2004 to 2009, Dudley worked with the Chicago Blackhawks serving as the team’s assistant general manager for the last three seasons after starting off as hockey consultant. In Chicago, his work was conducive to the Hawks’ first Stanley Cup win in 48 years. Dudley previously served as the general manager of the Florida Panthers for two seasons from 2002 to 2004. From 1999 to 2002, he was the Tampa Bay Lightning’s general manager and played a significant role in building this team for the 2004 Stanley Cup win. Prior to joining the Lightning, he held the position of general manager of the Ottawa Senators in 1998-99, taking the team to the top of their division for the first time in franchise history


What this excerpt from his press release at the time he joined the Canadiens doesn't mention... every single player on the Blackhawks roster that won the Cup was acquired/drafted during Dudley's term there and all but 4 players on the Lightning Cup-winning team were acquired under his watch as GM. He also had a hand in helping to turn things around in Toronto and he clearly had a hand in the Senators success, as well. Seriously, you think Botterill and his cap management skills are more valuable to a GM than this type of track record?! It's not even a fair argument. It should simply be whether or not Dudley wants the job... not to mention, Lafontaine has never done his job before AND his previous roles with the Islanders and NHL were VERY short-lived... beyond being a tremendous player and apparently a terrific person, his qualifications are limited and he admitted himself that he needs someone with that experience to help him in the GM role. Botterill has never done it before... not that he can't, but he'll be learning on the job just like Lafontaine.

I would guess that it would likely look the same for almost every team if you did this analysis for all teams.

Most teams have the odd player that pans out from later rounds in the draft. But if you dug in and looked at every pick like you did for the Sabres, it would probably give a similar impression - that they didn't do well with their later picks.

I have nothing to back this up, just a guess. It would be interesting to look at 4 or 5 teams to see if this theory is accurate.
- maaddmike

I'm not saying that the Sabres had the best draft track record prior to Regier's time and/or the worst later... but, as is true for most things, you can probably prove this point either way by choosing which teams you research to make the point you want to find/support. I'm confident there are plenty of teams that found talent throughout the years and in various rounds over their history (Detroit is probably a good example with their Euro players), just like there will be teams with an even worse history. My point was simply that due to the lack of success in later rounds during Darcy's watch... I believe, this played a role in the lack of NHL-talent depth in the system and, in turn, limited their success. Sometimes those prospects are traded for help at trade deadlines or during the offseason for veteran leadership and sometimes those prospects blossom into a significant contributor at the NHL level. I'm not just trying to kick Darcy while he's down, it's a snip-it of an analytical observation.

If we're using Clarke MacArthur as a big reason why Benning should be the new General Manager, this team is still in serious trouble.
- buffalofan19

Garth is using it as a reason.

He's not the one hiring the new GM.

We should talk to Hextall about the GM spot, cup with the Kings as an assistant and he knows a thing about grit/playing tough.....


Hank the Tank, Weber and Staff for Johnny T all the way....
- derekjd

I like how you call Brian Strait a "key" defenseman, and then proceed to talk trash about two actually good defensemen in Hamonic and Hickey. I also like all the typos in your blogs, Garth. You'll show them- proofreading is for suckers!

Which GM to me depends on the mandate on him. I believe they have shifted to try and win now and build from there. I preferred the blow it up and then build. I prefer someone with experience as GM, not assistants. Dudley or Burke, neither afraid to stir things up.

Which GM to me depends on the mandate on him. I believe they have shifted to try and win now and build from there. I preferred the blow it up and then build. I prefer someone with experience as GM, not assistants. Dudley or Burke, neither afraid to stir things up.
- DGrant

The owner admitted "if you want a crosby, you have to pick a crosby." that doesn't sound like win now to me. try again!

Hank the Tank, Weber and Staff for Johnny T all the way....
- derekjd

I think we would need Whitey Bulger to pull off that trade - holding a gun to someone's head.

The owner admitted "if you want a crosby, you have to pick a crosby." that doesn't sound like win now to me. try again!
- FIREonICE

its pretty weird right now. nolan wasnt brought in to make sure they lose. there is no GM.