Thank you as always for the 'scoop' 89.

It appears that there is a lot of finger pointing going on behind closed doors, including #DarcyPartDeux.

Sounds like:
1) The excuses will continue to fly
2)Nothing will be resolved
3) And the environment will only continue to become more toxic

A lot of hot air.
A lot of words.
A lot of clichés.

Words don't win games.

Results matter.
- Over50

I get your frustration...
But Botts can’t just snap his fingers & magically “fix” things either

Gonna take time to retool & build the roster Botts is envisioning

Not as 2nd line centers, not even close.
- SABRES 89

Yeah, it didn't work. Hopefully they at least do a shakeup trade of some disposable parts or play some kids

Some of this falls on Botterill, he put this team together, he put Mitts as 2nd line center when he isn't ready.
- SABRES 89

I tried to warn ppl...

I tried to warn ppl...
- jdfitz77

Being wrong about Mitts, which I never thought he was a 2C, doesn't mean the decision to trade ROR was wrong.

Just means a suitable 2C replacement was never found.

Yeah, it didn't work. Hopefully they at least do a shakeup trade of some disposable parts or play some kids
- jcragcrumple

I think that would’ve been done by now if it were going to happen. Don’t expect much, if anything, at the TDL. No one will want our trash. JB will make a minor move or two in the offseason.

I get your frustration...
But Botts can’t just snap his fingers & magically “fix” things either

Gonna take time to retool & build the roster Botts is envisioning
- jdfitz77

I'm not expecting that, but I do expect them to try something different. Elie is a start

At the risk of starting this up again, Berglund and Sobotka were decent center options. I agree he shares some blame though. The RW position sucks ass too
- jcragcrumple

No, they weren’t...
Not as a “2C”

Not as 2nd line centers, not even close.
- SABRES 89

Have u heard anything about this Thompson situation?

I tried to warn ppl...
- jdfitz77

Mitts was going to be a Calder contender, according to many.

I think that would’ve been done by now if it were going to happen. Don’t expect much, if anything, at the TDL. No one will want our trash. JB will make a minor move or two in the offseason.
- PrinceChill

If this continues, it's gonna be more than minor moves. That's the nature of the business

This team and organisation is filled with excuses and why's.
- SABRES 89

Truth

If this continues, it's gonna be more than minor moves. That's the nature of the business
- jcragcrumple

Usually it is. Botts is very cautious and extremely patient though.

Being wrong about Mitts, which I never thought he was a 2C, doesn't mean the decision to trade ROR was wrong.

Just means a suitable 2C replacement was never found.
- gcomella34

I warned ppl that Mitts likely wouldn’t be a stud right away

It’s not about ROR
Although, for the record,
I REPEATEDLY said I’d be ok trading him as long as we got a good return
So far, doesn’t look like we did

Have u heard anything about this Thompson situation?
- jdfitz77

No

I warned ppl that Mitts likely wouldn’t be a stud right away

It’s not about ROR
Although, for the record,
I REPEATEDLY said I’d be ok trading him as long as we got a good return
So far, doesn’t look like we did
- jdfitz77

The ROR trade backfired on Botterill, no question about it. Everybody see's a 1st round pick coming back and automatically thinks we won the trade at the same time thinking this team will be better for trading him. Doesn't work like that.

Usually it is. Botts is very cautious and extremely patient though.
- PrinceChill

There's no way they go into next year with the roster looking like this. At a minimum they need to find out whether Olofsson or Nylander can be 2LW, and then they need at least a 2RW. They need a 3C for sure. That will most likely necessitate creatively moving contracts. Cycle out a few of the bottom guys too

Usually it is. Botts is very cautious and extremely patient though.
- PrinceChill

You spelled cowardice incorrectly.

Mitts was going to be a Calder contender, according to many.
- PrinceChill

OR...
he’s a 19yr old that was playing high school hockey 2 seasons ago & wouldn’t be “Barzal” right away

That could’ve gone either way
But what was the backup plan?

Berglund had been playing the wing for StL bc they didn’t like him at Center
Maybe he could’ve been a defensive 3C?
Or more likely, Botts should’ve recognized that he was moved to the wing for a reason & not counted on him to play 2C till Mitts was ready

It was too risky a move, on top of another risky move (expecting Mitts to be a 2C stud right away)

There's no way they go into next year with the roster looking like this. At a minimum they need to find out whether Olofsson or Nylander can be 2LW, and then they need at least a 2RW. They need a 3C for sure. That will most likely necessitate creatively moving contracts. Cycle out a few of the bottom guys too
- jcragcrumple

Nylander is a waste, why anyone thinks he will be a 2nd player is beyond me. We will be back to square 1 again.

There's no way they go into next year with the roster looking like this. At a minimum they need to find out whether Olofsson or Nylander can be 2LW, and then they need at least a 2RW. They need a 3C for sure. That will most likely necessitate creatively moving contracts. Cycle out a few of the bottom guys too
- jcragcrumple

I’d like to see all of your suggestions happen. I just don’t know if JB is willing or able to make them all happen before the start of next year. I think he’s gonna urge patience.

No
- SABRES 89

Thanks
Hopefully it was just a frustrated kid making a mistake
I’m glad McCabe stepped in
I could see him wearing an “A” for us once we move on from Okposo &/or Bogo

The ROR trade backfired on Botterill, no question about it. Everybody see's a 1st round pick coming back and automatically thinks we won the trade at the same time thinking this team will be better for trading him. Doesn't work like that.
- SABRES 89

Still tbd how the picks & Thompson work out
But the depth Berglund & Sobotka were to provide just hasn’t worked at all

In the short term,
there’s no question at all that we lost this trade big time

Long term?
Gonna have to wait a few years to see how it all plays out

Nylander is a waste, why anyone thinks he will be a 2nd player is beyond me. We will be back to square 1 again.
- SABRES 89

He won't be. Too inconsistent at the AHL level means he'll be nothing here. They already know it.

I warned ppl that Mitts likely wouldn’t be a stud right away

It’s not about ROR
Although, for the record,
I REPEATEDLY said I’d be ok trading him as long as we got a good return
So far, doesn’t look like we did
- jdfitz77

Noted, thanks for correcting what I thought you were implying.

I retract the ROR statement.

I think anyone seriously believing that Mitts was a strong candidate for the Calder was way over estimating. I get hoping, but truly thinking that I don't understand.

However one felt about ROR being traded, he would have been a (statistically) solid 2C. You can't just think a rookie with less than 10 games would produce like that.

If JB was, that was a grave mistake. 2C's are hard to find, and if you part with one, you have to replace him.

Nylander is a waste, why anyone thinks he will be a 2nd player is beyond me. We will be back to square 1 again.
- SABRES 89

It's not about whether or not he can do it - I personally doubt he can - but let's find out