Botterill protected Ullmark by giving Vegas a pick and Carrier, and he talks about him quite often
- jcragcrumple

They aren’t sold on him being the guy.

I’ve heard this from more than one person with connections.

Interesting. We would definitely be better in a few years, I just wonder if we'd actually be worse next year. If we let Lehner walk, start a rookie goaltender and trade away our 2C for a draft pick...we're worse next year aren't we? Are we just continuing the "tank" mentality then?
- RhinoFan

It's hard to be worse next year. It's also hard to make a huge jump with so much inexperience. My focus is 2-3 years out.

Goaltending concerns me for sure. I'm not sold on Ullmark, but did anyone expect Nilsson to come in a few years ago and play above average? They had well below average goaltending last year. Maybe it doesn't improve, but below average is a very low bar. I have some faith that they can find the right guys to bring in.

It's hard to be worse next year. It's also hard to make a huge jump with so much inexperience. My focus is 2-3 years out.

Goaltending concerns me for sure. I'm not sold on Ullmark, but did anyone expect Nilsson to come in a few years ago and play above average? They had well below average goaltending last year. Maybe it doesn't improve, but below average is a very low bar. I have some faith that they can find the right guys to bring in.
- Lunaion

Ain't nobody got time for that!

Seriously though, Housley and Botts don't have that kind of luxury. A bottom-5 finish, maybe even 10, sends Housley packing next year

You'd have to ask a GM that
- jcragcrumple

#BETHEGM

who said anything about Halak... but I would take him over Lehner if that was the only option out there.
- hehateme

Halak had the same SV%, with a worse GAA...on a better team. The issue this offseason is there aren't very many starting goaltenders to be had. A few aging starters or quality backups, that's it.

Ain't nobody got time for that!

Seriously though, Housley and Botts don't have that kind of luxury. A bottom-5 finish, maybe even 10, sends Housley packing next year
- jcragcrumple

I don't believe that. 10th this year would be a 16 point jump. I don't think it's reasonable to expect more than that.

I'll continue to believe that JB sold Pegs on correcting this rebuild with a 2 year GMTM cleanse, until I see a big move contradicting it.

I don't believe that. 10th this year would be a 16 point jump. I don't think it's reasonable to expect more than that.

I'll continue to believe that JB sold Pegs on correcting this rebuild with a 2 year GMTM cleanse, until I see a big move contradicting it.
- Lunaion

That's 7 wins and a couple OT wins. Mitts, Dahlin, Guhle, Erod, a healthy Okposo, Nelson and consistent goaltending should get that. Not to mention whatever wing help Botts brings in

At least one of our existing lefties is gone. I would guess that Guhle is safe but the other 3 aren't. Hopefully Blow-you is toast and never sees a Sabres uniform again.


http://buffalonews.com/20...efenseman-lawrence-pilut/

There's talk that the Sabres organization is moving it's focus more towards a bottom-six, scoring role for Baptiste. Part of that thinking is based upon his inconsistencies in the top-six when he got the opportunity

When did Baptiste get a chance in the top6?

At least one of our existing lefties is gone. I would guess that Guhle is safe but the other 3 aren't. Hopefully Blow-you is toast and never sees a Sabres uniform again.


http://buffalonews.com/20...efenseman-lawrence-pilut/
- SabreWest

Beaulieu will be an extra I’d assume. Possible one of McCabe or Scandella are gone. Unless Dahlin plays the right side off the bat. D corps could look something like this:

Scandella-Dahlin
McCabe-Risto
Guhle/Pilut-Bogosian/Nelson
Beaulieu

That's 7 wins and a couple OT wins. Mitts, Dahlin, Guhle, Erod, a healthy Okposo, Nelson and consistent goaltending should get that. Not to mention whatever wing help Botts brings in
- jcragcrumple

It's going to be a very young team and 16 points is a big jump. If things click and they exceed that, great.

Funny thing is, as bad as this team wasn’t last year, we lost approximately 20 games by 1 goal. We kept the games close. And with better goaltending and more depth up front we can surprise a lot of teams next year.

Carolina open for Business

McCabe + ROR

For

Hanifin + Rask
- sabresfan69

Rask is a 3rd liner
We have plenty of that
No thanks

what if i told you certain players with high salaries couldn't play the style you are referring to even in a reduced role?
- Sabresfan-365

Then I would say I am not against getting rid of certain players with high salaries, but I would be much more interested to know who you claim those players are, than being cutesy.

Beaulieu will be an extra I’d assume. Possible one of McCabe or Scandella are gone. Unless Dahlin plays the right side off the bat. D corps could look something like this:

Scandella-Dahlin
McCabe-Risto
Guhle/Pilut-Bogosian/Nelson
Beaulieu
- Pegullaville

I think we all know defenseman don't stay healthy. I can't remember the last time the Sabres opened a season with their top 6 D in the lineup.

Nelson + Bealieu as 6/7, Guhle and Pilut both in Rochester would not surprise me at all. In reality, a couple are hurt and Guhle is playing regularly....and no reason to think he's going to stay healthy himself.

Funny thing is, as bad as this team wasn’t last year, we lost approximately 20 games by 1 goal. We kept the games close. And with better goaltending and more depth up front we can surprise a lot of teams next year.
- Pegullaville

This is a point that is too often overlooked. The bigger question, however, is whether a league that has returned to clutch and grab in the regular season is going to see most games finish with tight scores.

Said differently, are one goal games the norm across the league because the game has returned to low scoring, or are the Sabres close but in need of a boost, somehow.

Funny thing is, as bad as this team wasn’t last year, we lost approximately 20 games by 1 goal. We kept the games close. And with better goaltending and more depth up front we can surprise a lot of teams next year.
- Pegullaville

I totally agree, 25-35 points improvement is with in our reach.

3 x 3 or with eichel, mitts and dahlin should get us more wins in ot

No lehner for the shoot out should be 3-5 more points too

New assistant coaches
2nd year head coach
Rochester players up from the minors
Winning approach from the top down

I think we all know defenseman don't stay healthy. I can't remember the last time the Sabres opened a season with their top 6 D in the lineup.

Nelson + Bealieu as 6/7, Guhle and Pilut both in Rochester would not surprise me at all. In reality, a couple are hurt and Guhle is playing regularly....and no reason to think he's going to stay healthy himself.
- Lunaion

There's no chance, imo, that Housley would bring Beaulieu in over Guhle.

The depth chart on the left:

Dahlin (switch hitter, I know, but this was his position for Frölunda)
Scandella
Guhle
McCabe
Pilut
Beaulieu

Right

Risto
Nelson
Bogo

So McCabe as the 7d, Pilut in Roch, and Beaulieu waived, unless they trade Scandella or McCabe, or if they carry him as a #8d, but usually teams carry 2 extra forwards, not 2 extra d

I'm hearing it both ways from people.

pick 11 is almost guaranteed to be a 4th liner

pick 32 and a random + = Max Domi
- sbroads24

No one has said that either

Must be nice to live in your world & just make stuff up to fit your narrative

We have gone thru this before:

Jbotts signed ahl players and used them in the nhl
He traded for scott wilson
He claimed Jordan nolan

If he was trying to win, more moves would have been made.

Ottawa was in the Ecf last year, they tried, then failed.

If you think we didnt want the 1st pick for some reason, you are not paying attention.

Who doesn't want dahlin?
You really think jbotts and tpegs wanted to pick 8th again.

Brilliant

You must hate jbotts for his mess then?
- Boss34

Nope love the job he's done, I would also throw in the fact of the lottery does not guarantee u anything. What moves does he make that makes this team competitive? There were none, unless we are throwing all futures away for a maybe playoff race at the end of the season.
I really can't see what you would want Botts to add, he signed guys like pouliot and faulk to keep the kids in Rochester, to you know develop. I don't think playing say baptiste in the top six would have improved this team so drastically as to have them make the playoffs.

There's no chance, imo, that Housley would bring Beaulieu in over Guhle.

The depth chart on the left:

Dahlin (switch hitter, I know, but this was his position for Frölunda)
Scandella
Guhle
McCabe
Pilut
Beaulieu

Right

Risto
Nelson
Bogo

So McCabe as the 7d, Pilut in Roch, and Beaulieu waived, unless they trade Scandella or McCabe, or if they carry him as a #8d, but usually teams carry 2 extra forwards, not 2 extra d
- jcragcrumple

Why is McCabe falling off the charts?
Hes a hard nosed home grown defenseman.
I wouldn't be overlooking him.
Solid 4 or 5 guy ahead of scandella for sure.

Why is McCabe falling off the charts?
Hes a hard nosed home grown defenseman.
I wouldn't be overlooking him.
Solid 4 or 5 guy ahead of scandella for sure.
- Boss34

I like McCabe, but I think Scandella and Guhle fit Housley's system better

There's no chance, imo, that Housley would bring Beaulieu in over Guhle.

The depth chart on the left:

Dahlin (switch hitter, I know, but this was his position for Frölunda)
Scandella
Guhle
McCabe
Pilut
Beaulieu

Right

Risto
Nelson
Bogo

So McCabe as the 7d, Pilut in Roch, and Beaulieu waived, unless they trade Scandella or McCabe, or if they carry him as a #8d, but usually teams carry 2 extra forwards, not 2 extra d
- jcragcrumple

If Guhle starts in Buffalo, he plays. Beaulieu could be kept as a 7/8. My big point here is that at least 1 of the 9 you list will probably be hurt before opening night and that we're not so deep that it causes issues.

There's no chance, imo, that Housley would bring Beaulieu in over Guhle.

The depth chart on the left:

Dahlin (switch hitter, I know, but this was his position for Frölunda)
Scandella
Guhle
McCabe
Pilut
Beaulieu

Right

Risto
Nelson
Bogo

So McCabe as the 7d, Pilut in Roch, and Beaulieu waived, unless they trade Scandella or McCabe, or if they carry him as a #8d, but usually teams carry 2 extra forwards, not 2 extra d
- jcragcrumple

Perhaps Beaulieu can bring us back a marginal NHL forward. One for one trade. Buy low sell high move for both teams involved.

There's no chance, imo, that Housley would bring Beaulieu in over Guhle.

The depth chart on the left:

Dahlin (switch hitter, I know, but this was his position for Frölunda)
Scandella
Guhle
McCabe
Pilut
Beaulieu

Right

Risto
Nelson
Bogo

So McCabe as the 7d, Pilut in Roch, and Beaulieu waived, unless they trade Scandella or McCabe, or if they carry him as a #8d, but usually teams carry 2 extra forwards, not 2 extra d
- jcragcrumple

So what you are really saying is that after Bogo gets hurt in training camp, we'll have two righties in the line-up. If yes, then Dahlin moving to the right-side is a real possibility.