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

Murray chose Sam over Draisatil, wiffed on Nylander, traded McNabb and 2 second rounders for Fasching and Deslauriers.

Mittelstadt has played one season and was regarded as a top 3/4 prospect in the entire NHL before the season began so I’m not going to give up on him yet. Samuelsson, Bryson, Laaksonen, Pekar, UPL all have gotten rave reviews from experts. The only people complaining about the Cozens selection is our own m fanbase and Johnson was selected in the range that many people had him going in.

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

Horrible justification
- Mentalorgasm5

Best Centers in NHL come from OHL and Q. It isn’t even debatable. Unfortunately they already have a strike against them before the draft even starts with this putz.

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

Horrible justification
- Mentalorgasm5

In rounds 3 and 4 this year

43 of those 62 picks were either college bound or playing in Europe

So almost 70% of them

Seems like other GMs feel the same way

20 out of 31 in round 5 same thing

22 out of 31 in round 6

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.
- Stripes77

Prospect pools take 3-4 years to show what they are.

Next year is where Botts draft start to show their true colors.


Murray’s are out in the open now. Many are playing for other teams now.

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.
- Stripes77

Don’t think your getting it... use some critical thinking skills.

I’m agreeing, there wasn’t tons of prospects Murray left (guhle/Borgen/oloffson/Asplund), but he left some tradable assets in Oreilly, Lehner and Kane. Botts seemed to butcher those moves.
He could of traded them for better prospects then tage so our cupboard would be full right now.

Don’t think your getting it... use some critical thinking skills.

I’m agreeing, there wasn’t tons of prospects Murray left (guhle/Borgen/oloffson/Asplund), but he left some tradable assets in Oreilly, Lehner and Kane. Botts seemed to butcher those moves.
He could of traded them for better prospects then tage so our cupboard would be full right now.
- Fattony1187

Could he have? Yup


Was he allowed to? Nope

Time to move on.

Don’t think your getting it... use some critical thinking skills.

I’m agreeing, there wasn’t tons of prospects Murray left (guhle/Borgen/oloffson/Asplund), but he left some tradable assets in Oreilly, Lehner and Kane. Botts seemed to butcher those moves.
He could of traded them for better prospects then tage so our cupboard would be full right now.
- Fattony1187

Kane turned into Montour, but yes we have Tage and Johnson to show from the ROR deal with another 2nd rounder to come two drafts from now which I bet will be traded anyways for a rental at the deadline.

There were several teams looking for goaltending this year and Lehner had to settle for a 1 year 1M deal from the Isles long after everyone added their goalies through FA so it looks like 30/31 GM’s were wrong about Robin.

Could he have? Yup


Was he allowed to? Nope

Time to move on.
- dadeadhead

He was told to trade for bad players????

Don’t think your getting it... use some critical thinking skills.

I’m agreeing, there wasn’t tons of prospects Murray left (guhle/Borgen/oloffson/Asplund), but he left some tradable assets in Oreilly, Lehner and Kane. Botts seemed to butcher those moves.
He could of traded them for better prospects then tage so our cupboard would be full right now.
- Fattony1187

That's a reach, I get what you're trying to say but it's a reach

I'd say the return for Kane was solid, he got a top 4 D out of it. A top 6 forward gets a top 4 D

Lehner wasn't worth the $5 million qualifying offer he would have needed to get to keep his rights and we all know the documented issues he had while here.

The ROR trade is going to be debated forever here, no use opening that up again.

Murray chose Sam over Draisatil, wiffed on Nylander, traded McNabb and 2 second rounders for Fasching and Deslauriers.

Mittelstadt has played one season and was regarded as a top 3/4 prospect in the entire NHL before the season began so I’m not going to give up on him yet. Samuelsson, Bryson, Laaksonen, Pekar, UPL all have gotten rave reviews from experts. The only people complaining about the Cozens selection is our own m fanbase and Johnson was selected in the range that many people had him going in.
- Pegullaville

This is such a bad argument. Botts took Mittelstadt over Robert Thomas and Henri Jokiharju

In rounds 3 and 4 this year

43 of those 62 picks were either college bound or playing in Europe

So almost 70% of them

Seems like other GMs feel the same way

20 out of 31 in round 5 same thing

22 out of 31 in round 6
- Stripes77

Teams are starting to pick guys that they control longer or can be signed and play in the AHL for 2 yrs essentially for free and still have 3 yrs on an ELC after that.

Does nmfph still frequent these boards? His namesake is running for office in NT...

Kane turned into Montour, but yes we have Tage and Johnson to show from the ROR deal with another 2nd rounder to come two drafts from now which I bet will be traded anyways for a rental at the deadline.

There were several teams looking for goaltending this year and Lehner had to settle for a 1 year 1M deal from the Isles long after everyone added their goalies through FA so it looks like 30/31 GM’s were wrong about Robin.
- Pegullaville

Lehner was top 10 in save % botts first year and had a year left of RFA, he had value and could of been traded then. His last year ended up being a disaster and he lost any trade value then wasn’t resigned. Holding on to assets too long (which he seemed to do with kane too if reports were he turned down two 1st rd picks) is something you can blame him for.

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

-total of 129 forwards were selected out of 217 players chosen in the CHL for the draft in 2019


-Total of 118 forwards were selected out of 217 players chosen in the CHL for the draft in 2018


Total of 117 forwards were selected out of 217 players chosen in the CHL for the draft in 2017



Yes ignoring the league that produces the most players in the NHL is a great idea

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

And this is such a bad argument by Botts, since it isn't true. You have their rights until they are 27 no matter were they came from.

You might be able to control their cap for a longer period of time if they go back to Euro or College, but then he goes and burns Casey's first two years of his ELC by calling him up too soon.

I think Im ready for a new GM. He is in over his head. One more bottom ten finish, and I think he is gone, hopefully. He can go back to managing salary caps.

He was told to trade for bad players????
- Fattony1187

Well he was told “I’m not paying his roster bonus”.

The only other team willing to eat the bonus was Montreal and that deal was worse.

Lehner was top 10 in save % botts first year and had a year left of RFA, he had value and could of been traded then. His last year ended up being a disaster and he lost any trade value then wasn’t resigned. Holding on to assets too long (which he seemed to do with kane too if reports were he turned down two 1st rd picks) is something you can blame him for.
- Fattony1187

Because Botts had the insight to know Lehner was dealing with addiction and a mental disorder?

Come on now.

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

I mean, your not wrong, but all of the "big three" were very underwhelming at best in a sabres uniform as well... They all left and started playing better making it look like botts was an idiot. If they had all played like they played here (a quitter, a drunk, and just not that great of a player, I'll let you decide who is who) my guess is that the returns wouldn't have been underwhelming.

And this is such a bad argument by Botts, since it isn't true. You have their rights until they are 27 no matter were they came from.

You might be able to control their cap for a longer period of time if they go back to Euro or College, but then he goes and burns Casey's first two years of his ELC by calling him up too soon.

I think Im ready for a new GM. He is in over his head. One more bottom ten finish, and I think he is gone, hopefully. He can go back to managing salary caps.
- Mentalorgasm5

You're wrong

CHL players have to be signed 2 years after their draft or they go back in the draft

NCAA and Europeans its 4 years

Now college players can turn pro and use that loophole but Europeans don't have that loophole

And this is such a bad argument by Botts, since it isn't true. You have their rights until they are 27 no matter were they came from.

You might be able to control their cap for a longer period of time if they go back to Euro or College, but then he goes and burns Casey's first two years of his ELC by calling him up too soon.

I think Im ready for a new GM. He is in over his head. One more bottom ten finish, and I think he is gone, hopefully. He can go back to managing salary caps.
- Mentalorgasm5

I'd say he's gone by the end of November with this roster. Things can still change in the coming days and weeks though.

Unless we all accept that Housley was totally inept and this actually is - and was - a playoff roster. I don't think the roster is good enough though, and at this point Botterill owns the roster

Because Botts had the insight to know Lehner was dealing with addiction and a mental disorder?

Come on now.
- Stripes77

He did

Well he was told “I’m not paying his roster bonus”.

The only other team willing to eat the bonus was Montreal and that deal was worse.
- dadeadhead

Then you don’t trade him. His contract still has what 4 more years left? The whole league laughs at botts for that trade. He’s the GM responsibility falls on him.

-total of 129 forwards were selected out of 217 players chosen in the CHL for the draft in 2019


-Total of 118 forwards were selected out of 217 players chosen in the CHL for the draft in 2018


Total of 117 forwards were selected out of 217 players chosen in the CHL for the draft in 2017



Yes ignoring the league that produces the most players in the NHL is a great idea




- gerbe75pts

So 45% are taken from other leagues.

Think you’re overblowing your view.

The difference is 29 players over 3 years

You're wrong

CHL players have to be signed 2 years after their draft or they go back in the draft

NCAA and Europeans its 4 years

Now college players can turn pro and use that loophole but Europeans don't have that loophole
- Stripes77

Okay, but we still control their rights until they are 27 when they are signed.

As I said, it might help cost control them, since we dont need to sign them as quickly but see mittelstadt and poor management.

Not all, but almost all players of any value sign before they lose their rights. I can think of more Euro and NCAA players becoming UFAs than CHL players.

I mean, your not wrong, but all of the "big three" were very underwhelming at best in a sabres uniform as well... They all left and started playing better making it look like botts was an idiot. If they had all played like they played here (a quitter, a drunk, and just not that great of a player, I'll let you decide who is who) my guess is that the returns wouldn't have been underwhelming.
- SDSabre

Homie was saying botts was offered two 1st round picks for kane and he turned it down. Oreilly could of got traded the 1st year botts was here if he was gonna move him, again for a better return most likely. That falls on botts