Ryan Wilson: Pittsburgh's loss is Buffalo's gain Pittsburgh's loss is Buffalo' gain

firstttttttttt

Ok, now I am getting more and more excited about this hire for the Blue and Gold...

No team has a center duo like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Trying to chase that would be a fruitless endeavor. However, Buffalo does have a pretty great 1-2 center combination with Jack Eichel and Ryan O'Reilly. This should make Botterill's job in Buffalo a little bit easier

If anything it makes it harder. he had two of the best players in the game and a terrific #1 blueliner with Pit.

He's got 1/3 with the sabres. A lot of the little things hes been good at with Pit wont really matter until they can add at least one more game changer. Not saying Botterill can't, obviously a bright guy and knows he needs to add, just that it'll be really tough challenge. And Im not sure how much of a fair shot he'll get with an impatient fan base.

I never heard the spaling pick thing and botterills involvement before... where did that source from?

If anything it makes it harder. he had two of the best players in the game and a terrific #1 blueliner with Pit.

He's got 1/3 with the sabres. A lot of the little things hes been good at with Pit wont really matter until they can add at least one more game changer. Not saying Botterill can't, obviously a bright guy and knows he needs to add, just that it'll be really tough challenge. And Im not sure how much of a fair shot he'll get with an impatient fan base.
- Sabresfan-365

You can't compare it to the Penguins. Besides, it's not like the Penguins haven't had their share of downs over the years. Other teams won the cup without Sid and Geno between 2009 and 2016.

You have the hardest piece to obtain.....a genuine 1st line center. ROR is a legit 2nd line center too.

I don't think it will be as hard as you think (to become a playoff team). You already removed the single biggest impediment.....firing Bylsma. I probably would have kept Murray and given him one more chance to hire a good coach.

Looks like Wilson and Hags alternated on the 4th line. Looks like Rowney has taken Kuhnhackle's job.

Odd that he formally accepted in the midst of a playoff run.

With that in mind: should the Penguins win the Cup this year, I'm assuming he has forfeited his day with it as he is no longer with the organization, correct?

I don't know about Forfeiting the day with the cup, But he still gets the Ring.

Odd that he formally accepted in the midst of a playoff run.

With that in mind: should the Penguins win the Cup this year, I'm assuming he has forfeited his day with it as he is no longer with the organization, correct?
- jmatchett383

I'm sure he'll get time with the Cup. Lovejoy had his day with the Cup after signing with the Devils.

You can't compare it to the Penguins. Besides, it's not like the Penguins haven't had their share of downs over the years. Other teams won the cup without Sid and Geno between 2009 and 2016.

You have the hardest piece to obtain.....a genuine 1st line center. ROR is a legit 2nd line center too.

I don't think it will be as hard as you think (to become a playoff team). You already removed the single biggest impediment.....firing Bylsma. I probably would have kept Murray and given him one more chance to hire a good coach.
- madmike71

League loves parity so making the playoffs was never really going to be too hard. But a legit contender? I dunno he's got his work cut out for him. you look at any of the contenders this year they've got at least 2 legit game changers.

I wouldn't call 2009-2015 "down" years necessarily for the Penguins. Relative to winning the cup, yes they were down years, but many teams would love to have those down years of being among the top of the standings, making the playoffs every year, winning a few rounds.

But anyways, good luck to Botterill. I just find it odd that in Wilson's article, he praises Botterill for sending Tangradi to ECHL to make cap room, but then he gives the example of how things can wrong if you don't have a cap expert like Botterill around - the example he gives is in 2014-15 when he had to play with 5 defensemen because we had no cap space. Does he realize Botterill was her and assistant GM while that happened? He made some good moves, but he also missed the boat in this case.

He seems like a smart guy and I'm sure he will do a good job. Just saying he wasn't perfect.

Good praise of Botterill. But to blame the pens management for not finding a way to keep Botterill was silly. It was a simple decision keep rutherford or keep botterril. We were not going to force Rutherford out even if botterril might be the better long-term choice.

Also 68 isn't that old. Buffett is upper 80's. If Rutherford wants to he might have 10 years as gm.

Looks like Wilson and Hags alternated on the 4th line. Looks like Rowney has taken Kuhnhackle's job.
- madmike71

Khun has been noticeably slower the past 5 or 6 games...wouldn't be surprised if one of the boat load of shots he's blocked so far hurt a leg or foot. Rowney looked great in game 7. If he keeps it up might not see Khun in again.

League loves parity so making the playoffs was never really going to be too hard. But a legit contender? I dunno he's got his work cut out for him. you look at any of the contenders this year they've got at least 2 legit game changers.
- Sabresfan-365

Ottawa is in the ECF. They don't have 2 game changers. I mean, sure Buffalo needs to upgrade it's D. The parity is what gives most teams a legit chance of winning. In the playoffs anything can happen. Teams get hot even if they don't have the best roster. I don't think Buffalo is that far off. JMO. Your ownership has deep pockets....never underestimate that.

Nice write up on Botterill for us Sabres fans. Based on what your column and what others are saying, it seems like Pegula finally made a good move with regards to his sports franchises. It sure would be great for Pittsburgh and Buffalo to have a good rivalry but for that to happen, the Sabres need to become a good team - on a consistent basis.

Also, to all of you Pens fans, good luck against the Sens. Hope you beat them.

I think the salary cap praise on botterill is over the top.

That should not be a tough skill to acquire. Not in the NHL. Their cap isn't as complicated as the NFL or NBA. Anyone graduating from a top 50 MBA school should be able to make those decisions fairly easily. And we graduate 30k of those types a year.

Along with tracking other teams cap positions and roster moves. That is very simple work. You should be easily able to find a cubicle warrior doing that for 80k a year.

Pens just got themselves a new trading partner.

I'm sure he'll get time with the Cup. Lovejoy had his day with the Cup after signing with the Devils.
- Victoro311

Yeah, but Lovejoy was still on the team then they won the Cup. Botterill won't be, should they win it. Having said that, a GM's job for the current season (I believe) is done at the trade deadline. What ever work he does after that would be for the next season. So he may still get a ring and day with the Cup. I am not as sure about getting his name inscribed in it, though.

I think the salary cap praise on botterill is over the top.

That should not be a tough skill to acquire. Not in the NHL. Their cap isn't as complicated as the NFL or NBA. Anyone graduating from a top 50 MBA school should be able to make those decisions fairly easily. And we graduate 30k of those types a year.

Along with tracking other teams cap positions and roster moves. That is very simple work. You should be easily able to find a cubicle warrior doing that for 80k a year.
- sditulli

Yep, really not that big of a deal. It's spreadsheet stuff, not something that takes extreme amounts of talent or can't be replaced. Whoop-tee-doo. They've got Rutherford's experience plus some up and coming smart hockey guys, there's really nothing at all to worry about.

Reality is that if Botterill was that smart, he wouldn't be signing up to go live in Buffalo for the foreseeable future.

Yep, really not that big of a deal. It's spreadsheet stuff, not something that takes extreme amounts of talent or can't be replaced. Whoop-tee-doo. They've got Rutherford's experience plus some up and coming smart hockey guys, there's really nothing at all to worry about.

Reality is that if Botterill was that smart, he wouldn't be signing up to go live in Buffalo for the foreseeable future.
- hardnosed

Yeah because what assistant GM wouldn't want to go build and run his own team, with one of the best younger centers in the game? Riiiiiight.

good read if you have time: https://www.theplayerstri...el-kesselmania-runs-wild/

good read if you have time: https://www.theplayerstri...el-kesselmania-runs-wild/
- martox

We need to get Kessel going.

Pens in 6!

Yeah because what assistant GM wouldn't want to go build and run his own team, with one of the best younger centers in the game? Riiiiiight.
- j.boyd919

I think he was talking about the city as a whole

I want the Pens to sign Oshie in the offseason if we can get TJ Brodie or Hamiton from Calgary in case we trade Murray to them.

Yeah because what assistant GM wouldn't want to go build and run his own team, with one of the best younger centers in the game? Riiiiiight.
- j.boyd919

Yes the chance of getting a prime-time gig as a first time GM is a long-shot. He could either wait here until Rutherford retires which could be a while or jump into a a (B) job. Buffalo has some advantages. Not a marquee franchise but they have an owner with money and a few good young pieces.

And quite honestly when Rutherford is ready to retire it might be when the Pens cupboard is bare and Botterill would have 4 years of an awful team while tanking for picks every year.