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

Phil chose to play vets over better kids

Phil chose to play vets over better kids
- homiedclown

He's hardly the only one who's ever done that.

He absolutely us at least 50% and more like 65% complicit in that debotical of a season.
- IonSabres

Werdz our kewl.

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
- jcragcrumple

Even splitting time...
there’s no logic to thinking Berglund could’ve been a decent 2C for us,
when he wasn’t even a decent 3C for StL

Even having him in a 3C defensive role was a stretch
After all...
StL moved him to the wing for a reason

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.
- Pegullaville

The way Botts spoke about Risto today made it sound like he considers him as part of the D Core going forward

What’s “debotical”??
- Der Kaiser

something something doctor prescribed helmet territory.

Even splitting time...
there’s no logic to thinking Berglund could’ve been a decent 2C for us,
when he wasn’t even a decent 3C for StL

Even having him in a 3C defensive role was a stretch
After all...
StL moved him to the wing for a reason
- jdfitz77

I was able to listen to the press conference on the way home on WGR 550 as I was away for the weekend and there was one line in the press conference that was music to my ears. Botts mentioned that he was brought here to not make the playoffs for one year, but to build a team to be there consistently.

Tank you Botts

The way Botts spoke about Risto today made it sound like he considers him as part of the D Core going forward
- jdfitz77

He also said Phil wasn't getting fired

The way Botts spoke about Risto today made it sound like he considers him as part of the D Core going forward
- jdfitz77

Only in a massive overpayment

The way Botts spoke about Risto today made it sound like he considers him as part of the D Core going forward
- jdfitz77

Gee, imagine that

He also said Phil wasn't getting fired
- Powerslave

Tyler Myers is not being shopped

Gee, imagine that
- SABRES 89

But
But
But

I was able to listen to the press conference on the way home on WGR 550 as I was away for the weekend and there was one line in the press conference that was music to my ears. Botts mentioned that he was brought here to not make the playoffs for one year, but to build a team to be there consistently.

Tank you Botts
- Pegullaville

Well we consistently suck

So there's that

Tyler Myers is not being shopped
- homiedclown

I did. Not. Have. Sexual. Relations. With. That. Woman.

Blues would pick 19th naturally. Does that mean we get their pick if they don't win the Cup? How does that work?

Well we consistently suck

So there's that
- homiedclown

Its debotical

NO NO NO NO
- sabreadvocate1

1000%

Only in a massive overpayment
- homiedclown

So like any top 6 forward

Well we consistently suck

So there's that
- homiedclown

Hughes/Kakko would fit nicely into my mock lineup on the other page. I mean anyone we pick in the 1-8 range will eventually fit in nicely on this team in the long run but Hughes/Kakko would be a dream.

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

Pegula’s are paying 4/5 coaches & GM’s, trying to make it right (for both franchises). To say they are the problem, is just wrong. They did inherit and save both franchises, in saying that (they don’t have the background to run franchises, I get that). They have tried to bring in different experienced individuals to run their business both off and on the playing field (ice).

They are trying to find the right mix and clean things up, (see Russ Brandon/Doug Whaley - inherited). It’s time to get off their back’s and understand how they continue to try to make things right. To blame the Pegulas, to me is just wrong and one sided. They are trying to give their athletes the best possible facilities/environment in professional sports, to succeed. But yeah, they are to blame for all the franchises downfalls.

Look back at the Sabres since 1970, 2 to 3 years couple grade runs (for 5 decades) and then a rebuild. I’m sticking by my hometown teams and know that good things are to come, we all knew this season was a possible run at a 8th, 9th 10th spot. GMJB is doing what he said, winning in Rochester (these young kids will get a taste of playoffs together). I love the fact GMJB canned Phil this morning, says a lot about his leadership. Would have been easy to keep Housley on for another year, see Darcy!

I’m excited for the upcoming years for both franchises, I feel they are both heading in the right direction. No one is sitting on their hands and excepting the status quo. Just my thoughts!

*Montour trade was the perfect example of GMJB vision (with resources from trades), we will see more of these types of moves moving forward! GMTM tried the fast track rebuild (see the Kane & Robin Lehner moves). JB just trying to clean up!

Blues would pick 19th naturally. Does that mean we get their pick if they don't win the Cup? How does that work?
- RhinoFan

I believe they hold the 20th spot right now. Therefore we would need a Jets series win over the Blues and a Golden Knights victory over the Sharks.

Kirby Dach just scored an incredible goal. End to end. In a season full of high and lows he’s been on fire in the playoffs when it’s counted.

Pegula’s are paying 4/5 coaches & GM’s, trying to make it right. To say they are the problem, is just wrong. They did inherit and save both franchises, in saying that (they don’t have the background to run franchises, I get that). They have tried to bring in different experienced individuals to run their business both off and on the playing field (ice).

They are trying to find the right mix and clean things up, (see Russ Brandon/Doug Whaley - inherited). It’s time to get off their back’s and understand how they continue to try to make things right. To blame the Pegulas, to me is just wrong and one sided. They are trying to give their athletes the best possible facilities/environment in professional sports, to succeed. But yeah, they are to blame for all the franchises downfalls.

Look back at the Sabres since 1970, 2 to 3 years couple grade runs (for 5 decades) and then a rebuild. I’m sticking by my hometown teams and know that good things are to come, we all knew this season was a possible run at a 8th, 9th 10th spot. GMJB is doing what he said, winning in Rochester (these young guys will get a taste of playoffs together). I love the fact GMJB canned Phil this morning, says a lot about his leadership. Would have been easy to keep Housley on for another year, see Darcy!

I’m excited for the upcoming years for both franchises, I feel they are both heading in the right direction. No one is sitting on their hands and excepting the status quo. Just my thoughts!

- Irish 14

opinions vary

opinions vary
- SABRES 89

100%

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.
- jcragcrumple

Go back several pages, it is laud out in spades for you.