Late to the party:

1) Housley fired = good.
2) Hire Q
3) If not Q, then V
4) If not V then I don't care as long as they are an experienced NHL coach with a winning track record. No more experiments.
5) Also, fire the assistants.

I'm happy to have the debate as to whether Berglund could have adequately filled that role, because that's definitely debatable, but GMJB doesn't deserve the blame for Berglund taking his ball and going home. That was unforeseeable. He made a plan, and it didn't work out. Certainly the wingers weren't adequate either. Some of that falls on him, and some falls on Okposo sucking as well
- jcragcrumple

Botterill provided Housley with handcuffs to wear and a knife when there was a gun fight scheduled. He absolutely us at least 50% and more like 65% complicit in that debotical of a season. He set Phil up to fail by not having a suitable plan B. Jc could not have managed that roster into a playoff team.
Whether Phil got 76 or 90 points out of that team is practically irrelevant. Sure, an experienced coach maybe got them 10-15 points more...but still a failure.
Flawed roster period.
He is officially on the hot seat.

I'm happy to have the debate as to whether Berglund could have adequately filled that role, because that's definitely debatable, but GMJB doesn't deserve the blame for Berglund taking his ball and going home. That was unforeseeable. He made a plan, and it didn't work out. Certainly the wingers weren't adequate either. Some of that falls on him, and some falls on Okposo sucking as well
- jcragcrumple

Even BEFORE Berglund’s mental problems or whatever....
He was dropped to checking line winger

Berglund at 2C was always a horrible idea
Yes, he put up decent stats the year before
But that was on the 3rd line for StL
And not only was he on the 3rd line,
but they had moved him to the WING bc they didn’t like him at Center

Expecting Berglund to do something here,
that he couldn’t do well in StL, was foolish

Botterill provided Housley with handcuffs to wear and a knife when there was a gun fight scheduled. He absolutely us at least 50% and more like 65% complicit in that debotical of a season. He set Phil up to fail by not having a suitable plan B. Jc could not have managed that roster into a playoff team.
Whether Phil got 76 or 90 points out of that team is practically irrelevant. Sure, an experienced coach maybe got them 10-15 points more...but still a failure.
Flawed roster period.
He is officially on the hot seat.
- IonSabres

I agree he is on the hot seat

But I disagree. Berglund was the plan b. The way that fell apart was out of his control

Even BEFORE Berglund’s mental problems or whatever....
He was dropped to checking line winger

Berglund at 2C was always a horrible idea
Yes, he put up decent stats the year before
But that was on the 3rd line for StL
And not only was he on the 3rd line,
but they had moved him to the WING bc they didn’t like him at Center

Expecting Berglund to do something here,
that he couldn’t do well in StL, was foolish
- jdfitz77

I think Botterill was anticipating Berglund and Mitts to split time as 2b centers. I don't think that was a horrible plan. It didn't pan out due to forces outside JB's control. Berglund was unhappy. What Housley did in the wake of that was to over rely on bad veterans

I agree he is on the hot seat

But I disagree. Berglund was the plan b. The way that fell apart was out of his control
- jcragcrumple

What was Plan A?
Having a rookie who was playing HS 2 years ago play against the top 60 talent on the planet?
The Plan B was taking a guy who played 3LW assume that role.
That I could accept from a grade-school coach, not one of 31 top professionals in the world.

Good Lord. That is unacceptable.
He is quite lucky he works for the Pegula's who are having fun learning on the job after 8 friggin years of suck.

Olofsson-Eichel-Reinhart
Skinner-_____-_______
Sheary-Mitts-Nylander/Thompson
Sobotka-Erod-Okposo
Smith

Dahlin-______
McCabe-Montour
Pilut-Risto

Bogo probably slots in next to Dahlin, if Skinner doesn’t resign there is another hole to fill. Perhaps Risto is moved for a forward ? If not I like the depth of our defense even if Bogo is slotted next to Dahlin. Botts needs to fill in the blanks. Hughes/Kakko would fit in nicely as well so viva la lottery luck.

If Skinner walks July 1 then you fire Botteril the moment they figure out he’s walking. Please tell me they had a $$$ ceiling in mind for Skinner when they traded for him. If he does what they traded him to do and score 40+ which he did he would want 9 or over 9. If the Skinner camp wants 10+ then he’s traded at deadline, I know there are a lot of armchair gm’s but my god it’s not that hard of a job in all seriousness.
- buffalokb

Ignoring that little thing called Skinner's no trade Clause, are we??

Jacques Martin
- SABRES 89

NO NO NO NO

What was Plan A?
Having a rookie who was playing HS 2 years ago play against the top 60 talent on the planet?
The Plan B was taking a guy who played 3LW assume that role.
That I could accept from a grade-school coach, not one of 31 top professionals in the world.

Good Lord. That is unacceptable.
He is quite lucky he works for the Pegula's who are having fun learning on the job after 8 friggin years of suck.
- IonSabres

A Berglund who came here with a good attitude ready to play makes a big difference to this team, at whatever position. That's a fact. 15-20 goals disappeared when he left. That was out of Botterill's control

What was Plan A?
Having a rookie who was playing HS 2 years ago play against the top 60 talent on the planet?
The Plan B was taking a guy who played 3LW assume that role.
That I could accept from a grade-school coach, not one of 31 top professionals in the world.

Good Lord. That is unacceptable.
He is quite lucky he works for the Pegula's who are having fun learning on the job after 8 friggin years of suck.
- IonSabres

We were never winning the cup this year.

We also ended up 22 points from a playoff spot.

Seriously, acting like we’d be a contender with a good 2nd line is ridiculous.

I’m sure he knew like everyone else that Mitts would at times act like a rookie.

Like most everyone else, he didn’t think he’d be this raw.

Botts deserves a little bit of criticism. But not really that much.

He took over a poop show and picked the wrong coach

It is becoming very clear to me.

The critics in the media are correct, the Sabres are a joke of an organization led by owners who have no clue and are so stubborn they can't see how bad they are.
But hey, Kimmie is working hard to learn how to be President...I mean, all that experience running sports organizations clearly will serve her well.
I'm sure the new Doomed Arena for the Sabres will be just wonderfully color coordinated!

Bye Phil - eshia

We were never winning the cup this year.

We also ended up 22 points from a playoff spot.

Seriously, acting like we’d be a contender with a good 2nd line is ridiculous.

I’m sure he knew like everyone else that Mitts would at times act like a rookie.

Like most everyone else, he didn’t think he’d be this raw.

Botts deserves a little bit of criticism. But not really that much.

He took over a poop show and picked the wrong coach
- sbroads24

Not really.
Do the math.
He brought in 14 of 23 players, including $39m of Cap hit that constricted his flexibility.
This BS of overlooking Bott's F-Up is puting blinders on.
He handcuffed Housley with a poopty roster if his own making.
But people want to give him a pass

Not really.
Do the math.
He brought in 14 of 23 players, including $39m of Cap hit that constricted his flexibility.
This BS of overlooking Bott's F-Up is puting blinders on.
He handcuffed Housley with a poopty roster if his own making.
But people want to give him a pass

- IonSabres

Yep, he inherited a bottom ten team who had :

Moulson 5 mil
Bogo 5.1 mil
Risto 5.4 mil
Okposo 6 mil
ROR 7.5 mil

Kane on last year of UFA
A goalie who was a disaster personally
Rochester a mess
Had barely any prospects or extra picks to deal with

You think this is a one year cleanup?

What’s “debotical”??

If they dont move risto they should consider moving him to forward. He has enough skating and skill. Big physical presence and has shown a pretty good power move off the wall with ability to drive the net

I think it would be interesting

Not really.
Do the math.
He brought in 14 of 23 players, including $39m of Cap hit that constricted his flexibility.
This BS of overlooking Bott's F-Up is puting blinders on.
He handcuffed Housley with a poopty roster if his own making.
But people want to give him a pass

- IonSabres

I'ma need you to show your work on that. I'm at $28m with Berglund gone. Are you counting Eichel?

Edit: I'm at roughly $17m in players belonging to Botterill going forward to '19-'20, without Skinner.

Yep, he inherited a bottom ten team who had :

Moulson 5 mil
Bogo 5.1 mil
Risto 5.4 mil
Okposo 6 mil
ROR 7.5 mil

Kane on last year of UFA
A goalie who was a disaster personally
Rochester a mess
Had barely any prospects or extra picks to deal with

You think this is a one year cleanup?
- sbroads24

Hatboro Swords thinks otherwise. All hail GMTM

Hatboro Swords thinks otherwise. All hail GMTM
- Pegullaville

UPL has given up 5 goals in back to back games. Sudbury down 2-0 in their series to the 67’s. Sudbury looks all but done.

UPL has given up 5 goals in back to back games. Sudbury down 2-0 in their series to the 67’s. Sudbury looks all but done.
- Pegullaville

UPL can't make saves when it matters...

UPL can't make saves when it matters...
- mattmoulson

He is going to save botterills job

UPL can't make saves when it matters...
- mattmoulson

Sudbury picked 1st overall in the draft and got Byfield last year. They had a 40 point improvement from the year before. Makes sense they are running out of steam now.

so you're saying Pegula is a problem ?
- SABRES 89

Said that for 4 years
Nobody listens