Last night was a good start, but when do I see the complete epic meltdowns?

Team has very very little of trade currency to carry a major trade outside a combination of Risto, future Draft Picks, and to a much lesser degree prospects in the pipeline.

Team suffers from lack of trade currency as a result of a) top assets already playing on team, and more significantly b) having been traded over the past 5 years between GMTM and Botts.

Team has many, many holes currently, at 1RW/2RW depending on where Reino is, 2LW, 2C, 3RW, 1ST Pair RhD, starting Goalie.

I see pages filled with
-screw the Cap, sign every high-end FA
-Offer Sheet every RFA
-make trades now

Yes, Botts has a ton of work to make this team respectful, just to chase the last playoff spot.
IMO, it isn't getting done this offseason, it will require next year and the year after.
▪ 2019
° 2sh FA signings for middle 6
° 1 trade to add to the middle six.
° work in a couple of kids
° 2sh trades at TDL for future picks
▪ 2020,
° a bigger FA signing
° bigger trade
° more kids
▪ 2021 tweaks to ready the team for the start of their window, including Cozens

OS now a Marner, Point, etc is suicide for the long-term, my fear is it is rushing the rebuild. While it has been 8 years of disaster save 10 games, the current rebuild really started in Botts 2nd year...as it was setback bigtime by GMTM.
- IonSabres

- jcragcrumple

Just keep tanking. The Sabres need moar picks and prospects to put into the system to replace all the good players they have now cause they won’t be able to afford them all.

Last night was a good start, but when do I see the complete epic meltdowns?

Team has very very little of trade currency to carry a major trade outside a combination of Risto, future Draft Picks, and to a much lesser degree prospects in the pipeline.

Team suffers from lack of trade currency as a result of a) top assets already playing on team, and more significantly b) having been traded over the past 5 years between GMTM and Botts.

Team has many, many holes currently, at 1RW/2RW depending on where Reino is, 2LW, 2C, 3RW, 1ST Pair RhD, starting Goalie.

I see pages filled with
-screw the Cap, sign every high-end FA
-Offer Sheet every RFA
-make trades now

Yes, Botts has a ton of work to make this team respectful, just to chase the last playoff spot.
IMO, it isn't getting done this offseason, it will require next year and the year after.
▪ 2019
° 2sh FA signings for middle 6
° 1 trade to add to the middle six.
° work in a couple of kids
° 2sh trades at TDL for future picks
▪ 2020,
° a bigger FA signing
° bigger trade
° more kids
▪ 2021 tweaks to ready the team for the start of their window, including Cozens

OS now a Marner, Point, etc is suicide for the long-term, my fear is it is rushing the rebuild. While it has been 8 years of disaster save 10 games, the current rebuild really started in Botts 2nd year...as it was setback bigtime by GMTM.
- IonSabres

Not a big fan of the narrative we traded nothing for Skinner. The Canes just got Haula for nothing. The Devils got Subban for nothing, teams can still make trades

Gargantuan!!!
- TheSabresTaco

It was a buy low option.
No reason Darcy x2 couldn’t offer a 4th and smith instead.

It’s getting frustrating.
- ImThatGuy

You all understand that it's not a 30 person conference call where bidding happens right? I would bet the smaller deals happen rather quickly between two GMs. If mcphee got a comfortably underwhelming return for a dump, he's not going to shop around for a slightly better or just even slightly different underwhelming return for a cap dump. But seriously, DO SOMETHING BOTTS

Seriously? Because the Sabres only have 1-2 holes to fill and shouldn’t take a shot.

It was Vegas saying please take this player and give me whatever.

But let’s go sign Donskoi to a 7 year 6mil deal. Seems like a better option.


I’m putting a guarantee now, Sabres will sign a UFA to a contract that we all hate the second it is announced.
- ImThatGuy

Yeah, seriously. They have enough question marks on this team, so we're adding one more? They don't have near enough quality trade chips, and you're going to just throw one away? No, thanks.

Donskoi is not getting $6 million. Has he ever hit 15 goals?

Last night was a good start, but when do I see the complete epic meltdowns?

Team has very very little of trade currency to carry a major trade outside a combination of Risto, future Draft Picks, and to a much lesser degree prospects in the pipeline.

Team suffers from lack of trade currency as a result of a) top assets already playing on team, and more significantly b) having been traded over the past 5 years between GMTM and Botts.

Team has many, many holes currently, at 1RW/2RW depending on where Reino is, 2LW, 2C, 3RW, 1ST Pair RhD, starting Goalie.

I see pages filled with
-screw the Cap, sign every high-end FA
-Offer Sheet every RFA
-make trades now

Yes, Botts has a ton of work to make this team respectful, just to chase the last playoff spot.
IMO, it isn't getting done this offseason, it will require next year and the year after.
▪ 2019
° 2sh FA signings for middle 6
° 1 trade to add to the middle six.
° work in a couple of kids
° 2sh trades at TDL for future picks
▪ 2020,
° a bigger FA signing
° bigger trade
° more kids
▪ 2021 tweaks to ready the team for the start of their window, including Cozens

OS now a Marner, Point, etc is suicide for the long-term, my fear is it is rushing the rebuild. While it has been 8 years of disaster save 10 games, the current rebuild really started in Botts 2nd year...as it was setback bigtime by GMTM.
- IonSabres

The only currency the Sabres have of value is cap space and teams like Vegas that are over the cap. Need to dump players for cheap.

You all understand that it's not a 30 person conference call where bidding happens right? I would bet the smaller deals happen rather quickly between two GMs. If mcphee got a comfortably underwhelming return for a dump, he's not going to shop around for a slightly better or just even slightly different underwhelming return for a cap dump. But seriously, DO SOMETHING BOTTS
- SDSabre

Isn't it his job to do that?

Or conversely, isn't it Botterill's job to calll Vegas and say "who's available?"

War room is open for business and Botterill is keeping a close eye on players and other teams, anyone not wearing 9, 53, 23 or 26 is not safe.
- SABRES 89

We’ve heard this before... aaaaaand nothing

Not the same, we just aren’t agreeing lately. Botts will be making some great steps forward here very soon!
- Irish 14

Yup botts is waiting on something ......

Botts has been a straight shooter to the media. He was confident with the skinner signing and always said that to the media.

Even the Reinhart deal. He was patient and got what he wanted.

Botts mentioned making trades vs free agency. He is a man of his word. He will pull through


Boots is also a salary cap specialist. I bet he’s waiting to pounce on a player or 2 on a team that needs relief

The only currency the Sabres have of value is cap space and teams like Vegas that are over the cap. Need to dump players for cheap.
- Sabretooth9

Good point.
Hopefully Botts can exploit that

We’ve heard this before... aaaaaand nothing
- 22sabresQ

Yeah but this is good news ......

Good morning all. Does anyone have a link to a recap of Dev camp yesterday? Curious to hear how everyone looked.

One question: Why is development camp so short? 3 days with 2 hours ice time each day, then a 3 on 3 tournament? Sounds like fantasy camp. It should be at least a week long with triple sessions on ice and dryland training each day. Navy seal boot camp type stuff. Then scrimmages every night, maybe have some of the roster players participate in the scrimmages so we can see how the prospects play against NHLers. Then maybe you can see what these prospects are made of.

We’ve heard this before... aaaaaand nothing
- 22sabresQ

It is what it is, how many 8 mill a year players can you pay and try and stay competitive.

Good morning all. Does anyone have a link to a recap of Dev camp yesterday? Curious to hear how everyone looked.

One question: Why is development camp so short? 3 days with 2 hours ice time each day, then a 3 on 3 tournament? Sounds like fantasy camp. It should be at least a week long with triple sessions on ice and dryland training each day. Navy seal boot camp type stuff. Then scrimmages every night, maybe have some of the roster players participate in the scrimmages so we can see how the prospects play against NHLers. Then maybe you can see what these prospects are made of.
- Chris16

my fantasy camp is pictured below

It is what it is, how many 8 mill a year players can you pay and try and stay competitive.
- SABRES 89

when was the last time the sabres were competitive?



asking for a friend

when was the last time the sabres were competitive?



asking for a friend
- homiedclown

I don't have any friends, I can't answer.

my fantasy camp is pictured below


- homiedclown

Which one are you?

I get he’s a solid player but botts is probably just trying to land another skinner type move
- gerbe75pts

Basically we got the 7th best forward on our team now for.... the 15th ot 16th best forward on our team.

- kritter65

The last image is the chemical drug, Ecstasy, right? Known in the colloquial as "E"?

So phonetically, the wrestler is "Suck it,"

the anal probe are "bead"

and the drug is "E"

"Suck it - bead - E."

Nice play.

Seriously? Because the Sabres only have 1-2 holes to fill and shouldn’t take a shot.

It was Vegas saying please take this player and give me whatever.

But let’s go sign Donskoi to a 7 year 6mil deal. Seems like a better option.


I’m putting a guarantee now, Sabres will sign a UFA to a contract that we all hate the second it is announced.
- ImThatGuy

Any word on what color the grass is?

Last night was a good start, but when do I see the complete epic meltdowns?

Team has very very little of trade currency to carry a major trade outside a combination of Risto, future Draft Picks, and to a much lesser degree prospects in the pipeline.

Team suffers from lack of trade currency as a result of a) top assets already playing on team, and more significantly b) having been traded over the past 5 years between GMTM and Botts.

Team has many, many holes currently, at 1RW/2RW depending on where Reino is, 2LW, 2C, 3RW, 1ST Pair RhD, starting Goalie.

I see pages filled with
-screw the Cap, sign every high-end FA
-Offer Sheet every RFA
-make trades now

Yes, Botts has a ton of work to make this team respectful, just to chase the last playoff spot.
IMO, it isn't getting done this offseason, it will require next year and the year after.
▪ 2019
° 2sh FA signings for middle 6
° 1 trade to add to the middle six.
° work in a couple of kids
° 2sh trades at TDL for future picks
▪ 2020,
° a bigger FA signing
° bigger trade
° more kids
▪ 2021 tweaks to ready the team for the start of their window, including Cozens

OS now a Marner, Point, etc is suicide for the long-term, my fear is it is rushing the rebuild. While it has been 8 years of disaster save 10 games, the current rebuild really started in Botts 2nd year...as it was setback bigtime by GMTM.
- IonSabres

WTF, dude, school is out for the summer. Stop writing essays.[/img]

when was the last time the sabres were competitive?



asking for a friend
- homiedclown

In November of 2018.

Yeah, seriously. They have enough question marks on this team, so we're adding one more? They don't have near enough quality trade chips, and you're going to just throw one away? No, thanks.

Donskoi is not getting $6 million. Has he ever hit 15 goals?
- Powerslave

14 twice. He made $1.9M last year playing 14 minutes a night and got 14 goals and 23 assists for his season. He's a good player and I'm glad were interested but I can't imagine his UFA offer won't be much more than 4, maybe 4.5. What might be attractive for him is he could slide into the top 6 here, unlike what he got in SJ.