Is it? It would be one thing if we were tight with cap space, we have the room.
- Mentalorgasm5

Not really.

Dahlin and Sam get new deals next year(Yes Dahlin’s won’t go into effect until the following year).

It gets extremely hard to build a team with 5 guys making 8+ mil on the roster.

Thank you. It's time to stop blaming Murray. Botts has made some bad moves.

He has now had 3 drafts. Prospect pool looks just as bare as it did with murray.
- Mentalorgasm5

Only so long you can blame Murray. He now has the same number of drafts and halfway through the season the same number of games as GM.

I disagree

His first 2 1st round draft picks ended up in the NHL pretty much right away (Mitts after a season at Minnesota and Dahlin obviously)

So that doesn't help the prospect pool much.

This was his 3rd draft in 2 and a half years.

To think 3rd round picks from 2 years ago would be ready for the NHL now is a bit of a stretch.

The only good pick that Murray made (other than the ones any monkey could have made) is Olofsson...

From the sound of it his last 2 drafts have been really good and everyone is progressing nicely
- Stripes77

I hope he starts the year in Buff this year. Guy has a nose for the back of the net it seems.

Only so long you can blame Murray. He now has the same number of drafts and halfway through the season the same number of games as GM.
- Fattony1187

Talking only about prospects you can't judge Botts yet because most 3rd round and later picks take 3 years after their draft to be developing to a point where you can see if they are NHL quality or not.

Murray hit on 1 late round pick in Olofsson, and then he traded away a ton of 1st round picks and prospects...

That is why there aren't any NHL ready prospects in the Sabres organization.

I hope he starts the year in Buff this year. Guy has a nose for the back of the net it seems.
- IceColdBeer

The competition for LW after Skinner is Sheary and Gus so I think he's pretty close to a lock

I disagree

His first 2 1st round draft picks ended up in the NHL pretty much right away (Mitts after a season at Minnesota and Dahlin obviously)

So that doesn't help the prospect pool much.

This was his 3rd draft in 2 and a half years.

To think 3rd round picks from 2 years ago would be ready for the NHL now is a bit of a stretch.

The only good pick that Murray made (other than the ones any monkey could have made) is Olofsson...

From the sound of it his last 2 drafts have been really good any everyone is progressing nicely
- Stripes77

Sorry. Drafting where we were drafting anyone on this board could take those 1st.

I hope he starts the year in Buff this year. Guy has a nose for the back of the net it seems.
- IceColdBeer

I don't see how he doesn't start in Buffalo and if he ends up in Rochester then I have no idea what the hell they're thinking

Talking only about prospects you can't judge Botts yet because most 3rd round and later picks take 3 years after their draft to be developing to a point where you can see if they are NHL quality or not.

Murray hit on 1 late round pick in Olofsson, and then he traded away a ton of 1st round picks and prospects...

That is why there aren't any NHL ready prospects in the Sabres organization.
- Stripes77

Taking one prospect from the CHL in 3 drafts is also very suspect.

I'll give gerbe that point.

Sorry. Drafting where we were drafting anyone on this board could take those 1st.
- Mentalorgasm5

I don't disagree

You're missing the point

Murray left this team with no real prospects

His late round drafting (3rd and later) sucked

Hence no NHL ready prospects that could be traded for anything useful

None of Botterill's late round picks should be NHL ready yet.

Yet we have been reading great things about a few of his drat picks and a bunch of stuff that is good to hear about others.

I am not saying Botts hit homeruns on his picks but he did a lot better than Murray.

That is why I said for the love of god call Vegas!
- Stripes77

What did you think of SSTT’s line changes? Can you remind us how awesome you thought they were?

Taking one prospect from the CHL in 3 drafts is also very suspect.

I'll give gerbe that point.
- Mentalorgasm5

Botterill has said on record why he prefers the college route and the Europeans in the later rounds over CHL players in the later rounds.

They hold their rights longer and it gives them more time to develop before it is sink or swim.

Agreeing with Gerbe on that is silly.

It's all about asset management.

Talking only about prospects you can't judge Botts yet because most 3rd round and later picks take 3 years after their draft to be developing to a point where you can see if they are NHL quality or not.

Murray hit on 1 late round pick in Olofsson, and then he traded away a ton of 1st round picks and prospects...

That is why there aren't any NHL ready prospects in the Sabres organization.
- Stripes77

He did trade a lot of 1sts, for O’Reilly, Kane and Lehner. Responsibility on trading them is on botts then. Botts let Lehner go for nothing (most agree that’s fine) and then traded Kane and O’Reilly for players. Those guys we have now,

Johnson/montour/tage are kind of from Murray’s trades I guess. Murray did hit on others, Compher, Peterson, Borgen but two of those three are gone. He missed on all the 2nds though in 2014 but most of those 2nd rd players that year sucked anyway.

I don't disagree

You're missing the point

Murray left this team with no real prospects

His late round drafting (3rd and later) sucked

Hence no NHL ready prospects that could be traded for anything useful

None of Botterill's late round picks should be NHL ready yet.

Yet we have been reading great things about a few of his drat picks and a bunch of stuff that is good to hear about others.

I am not saying Botts hit homeruns on his picks but he did a lot better than Murray.
- Stripes77

Murray might have it on 4 in 3 years. Guhle, Olofsson, Asplund and Borgen. Too early to tell, buts thats kind of the standard right.

I'm being told botts is doing better. Dont see it.

I don't see how he doesn't start in Buffalo and if he ends up in Rochester then I have no idea what the hell they're thinking
- Stripes77

Ton of competition at LW, let them fight it out. Coming into camp, he has a slight edge on Nylander and Smith.

He did trade a lot of 1sts, for O’Reilly, Kane and Lehner. Responsibility on trading them is on botts then. Botts let Lehner go for nothing (most agree that’s fine) and then traded Kane and O’Reilly for players. Those guys we have now,

Johnson/montour/tage are kind of from Murray’s trades I guess. Murray did hit on others, Compher, Peterson, Borgen but two of those three are gone. He missed on all the 2nds though in 2014 but most of those 2nd rd players that year sucked anyway.
- Fattony1187

How is the responsibility on Botts?

Fixing the roster is his responsibility but to say he is responsible for those trades doesn't make sense.

Botterill has said on record why he prefers the college route and the Europeans in the later rounds over CHL players in the later rounds.

They hold their rights longer and it gives them more time to develop before it is sink or swim.

Agreeing with Gerbe on that is silly.

It's all about asset management.
- Stripes77

Agreed.

Botterill has said on record why he prefers the college route and the Europeans in the later rounds over CHL players in the later rounds.

They hold their rights longer and it gives them more time to develop before it is sink or swim.

Agreeing with Gerbe on that is silly.

It's all about asset management.
- Stripes77

CHL players would have to be extended an offer after 2 years or we would lose their rights and they would go back into the draft. Like you said, it’s about asset management and strategic use of the allotted contracts we are allowed to have at one time. Cozens should be in the NHL within 2 years so that’s why it makes complete sense. Where as a guy like Olofsson we let marinate for years in the SHL and can now reap the benefits of it.

How is the responsibility on Botts?

Fixing the roster is his responsibility but to say he is responsible for those trades doesn't make sense.
- Stripes77

You said Murray didn’t have prospects. He traded those prospects for players now (oreilly/Kane/Lehner). Botts then traded or released those guys for underwhelming returns. You can’t blame Murray for that, that’s all on botts

Murray might have it on 4 in 3 years. Guhle, Olofsson, Asplund and Borgen. Too early to tell, buts thats kind of the standard right.

I'm being told botts is doing better. Dont see it.
- Mentalorgasm5

Stop arguing with this guy. He self proclaimed to have the most PROFESSIONAL Hockey Officiating experience of anyone on this site not named Paul Stewart. I’ve never officiated a beer league game so he has me beat.

Botterill has said on record why he prefers the college route and the Europeans in the later rounds over CHL players in the later rounds.

They hold their rights longer and it gives them more time to develop before it is sink or swim.

Agreeing with Gerbe on that is silly.

It's all about asset management.
- Stripes77

If that's his philosophy for drafting prospects. He should be fired. Not how you build a winner.

Horrible justification

Not really.

Dahlin and Sam get new deals next year(Yes Dahlin’s won’t go into effect until the following year).

It gets extremely hard to build a team with 5 guys making 8+ mil on the roster.
- dadeadhead

At the moment. We have 40 million free next year. We have space.

You said Murray didn’t have prospects. He traded those prospects for players now (oreilly/Kane/Lehner). Botts then traded or released those guys for underwhelming returns. You can’t blame Murray for that, that’s all on botts
- Fattony1187

So because Murray traded prospects away for players it is Botts's fault the prospect cupboard is bare?

You can say the roster stinks because Botts didn't get good NHL players for those players but to lay the blame on Botts for the prospect pool doesn't add up.

If that's his philosophy for drafting prospects. He should be fired. Not how you build a winner.

Horrible justification
- Mentalorgasm5

Anything after the third round is basically luck, statistically

Anything after the third round is basically luck, statistically
- jcragcrumple

It's all luck. The percentage drops so much after the first 3 picks in the draft. But we should be taking those chances from the best prospect pool in the world.

At the moment. We have 40 million free next year. We have space.
- Mentalorgasm5

We don’t have the room and you make it hard on yourself when 5 guys are taking up 44 mil in space.