I'm still waiting for that list of teams who were blowing up Botts' phone, begging to unload all their low round picks, trying to trade for the worst 4th liners and worst defenseman ever to lace them up in all of hockey history...

The point is, he has one bad year and all the sudden we want to execute him.

I bet you've had bad years.

He was an effective player, pest, before he got here. Maybe he gets that back. Ralph certainly is going to try, it looks like
- Powerslave

He has had 5 bad years of 8 where we player more than 40 games. That’s a trend. By bad years I say 20 or less points.

I will say he won’t, there was an interview when the trade first happened. Sobodka was a pest. Then he went and played in Europe and changed his game to more of a finesse style to save his body and fell off the Blues depth chart.

He is 32 and his years of “pest” have probably caught up with him.

I'm still waiting for that list of teams who were blowing up Botts' phone, begging to unload all their low round picks, trying to trade for the worst 4th liners and worst defenseman ever to lace them up in all of hockey history...
- Powerslave

Botterill acquired or signed those players, so it makes no sense to say "he couldn't possibly get rid of all these mediocre players he chose"

I'm still waiting for that list of teams who were blowing up Botts' phone, begging to unload all their low round picks, trying to trade for the worst 4th liners and worst defenseman ever to lace them up in all of hockey history...
- Powerslave

I didn’t know Andrew Peters and Andy Delmore came out of retirement?

He has had 5 bad years of 8 where we player more than 40 games. That’s a trend. By bad years I say 20 or less points.

I will say he won’t, there was an interview when the trade first happened. Sobodka was a pest. Then he went and played in Europe and changed his game to more of a finesse style to save his body and fell off the Blues depth chart.

He is 32 and his years of “pest” have probably caught up with him.
- ImThatGuy

I guess time will tell.

No point in arguing about it. If Ralph plays him there, I hope he brings some sort of compliment to that line. 🤷‍♂️

I'm still waiting for that list of teams who were blowing up Botts' phone, begging to unload all their low round picks, trying to trade for the worst 4th liners and worst defenseman ever to lace them up in all of hockey history...
- Powerslave

At the same time, good GM's find a way to make it work.

It appears that his "plan" is for next year. It has to be more than coincidence that just about every undesirable contract comes off the books next year, except Okposo, which is why I am not upset about the lineup this year. I'm not happy about it, but I accepted it a while ago. This team never had any intention on making big moves this year. The fact that Ristolainen is still here proves it.

I didn’t know Andrew Peters and Andy Delmore came out of retirement?
- dadeadhead

And Peters was a 2nd round pick 😂

Insanity.

Let’s just keep trying the same thing, over, and over and over and over.
- OneKaneOneCup

Insanity.
Let's keep posting the same thing over and over and over and over.

Here’s the truth -

-Ristolainen sucks
- the Sabres are better without him than with him playing 25 min.

Can’t wait for it to not work for year 7 now
- OneKaneOneCup

"can't wait for it to not work again"

"not to work again"

Lol.... he was a top 20 scoring Dman last season. More points than Dahlin, and Dahlin even had a higher percentage of his points on the PP than did Risto. Risto is a top 20 scoring defensemen in his NHL in his career which has been on the worst team in the league for what... 3.5 of those years?

Drives me nuts.

Milan Lucic was traded.

That is all.

Botterill acquired or signed those players, so it makes no sense to say "he couldn't possibly get rid of all these mediocre players he chose"
- jcragcrumple

If he signed them to long term contracts, I would agree with this sentiment. There have been cup winning GM's that have used mediocre to bad players as stop-gaps. The problem with Botterill is that he seems to be using an awful lot of them.

I'm still waiting for that list of teams who were blowing up Botts' phone, begging to unload all their low round picks, trying to trade for the worst 4th liners and worst defenseman ever to lace them up in all of hockey history...
- Powerslave

Quite building strawmen. Botteril didn't have to trade Larsson and Girgensons, all he had to do was not agree to give them raises.

As far as sobotka, no one once has suggested he is tradeable. People just want him waived.

At some point these are Botts players, not Murray's. Botts brought in Hunwick and Sheary. He brought in Sobotka. He resigned the twins. He resigned Ellie and Rodrigues. That's 7 of your 12 free agents we need to wait until next year to get rid of before we can be good. Vesey makes 8.

It's so painfully obvious to anyone being objective.

Quite building strawmen. Botteril didn't have to trade Larsson and Girgensons, all he had to do was not agree to give them raises.

As far as sobotka, no one once has suggested he is tradeable. People just want him waived.

At some point these are Botts players, not Murray's. Botts brought in Hunwick and Sheary. He brought in Sobotka. He resigned the twins. He resigned Ellie and Rodrigues. That's 7 of your 12 free agents we need to wait until next year to get rid of before we can be good.

It's so painfully obvious to anyone being objective.
- matty12345

That's the thing. I don't think he ever intended to be "good" this year.

That's actually a pretty dang well done photo. Jack eating wings is a nice touch. I had thought they had him smoking a cigarette at first.

At the same time, good GM's find a way to make it work.

It appears that his "plan" is for next year. It has to be more than coincidence that just about every undesirable contract comes off the books next year, except Okposo, which is why I am not upset about the lineup this year. I'm not happy about it, but I accepted it a while ago. This team never had any intention on making big moves this year. The fact that Ristolainen is still here proves it.
- buffalofan19

A) show me what GM's are "unloading" their sh!t players on other GM's. STILL waiting...

B) I think many of us knew that it was all about 2020.

C) if he didn't get a trade he liked for Risto, so be it. I've heard some of the supposed offers, and they were GARBAGE. Imagine this fan base if he makes "another O'Reilly" move.

Milan Lucic was traded.

That is all.
- ImThatGuy

I mean that deal was crap for crap contract. It's not like he was dealt for a 6th and EDM walked away w/ mass cap available again.

Risto to WPG was a no brained all year.

Roslovic, Perrault, and a 2nd rd pick for Risto seems to obvious.
- ImThatGuy

That trade would have been right up there with the ROR trade.

"can't wait for it to not work again"

"not to work again"

Lol.... he was a top 20 scoring Dman last season. More points than Dahlin, and Dahlin even had a higher percentage of his points on the PP than did Risto. Risto is a top 20 scoring defensemen in his NHL in his career which has been on the worst team in the league for what... 3.5 of those years?

Drives me nuts.
- JVince11

Yes, the best way to evaluate a “defensemen” is to just count his points he accumulated passing the puck 7 feet to his right on the power play.

HE SUCKS

Milan Lucic was traded.

That is all.
- ImThatGuy

For a former 20 goal scoring 32 yer old.

And you and everyone else on here is ok with that trade for Risto?

I mean that deal was crap for crap contract. It's not like he was dealt for a 6th and EDM walked away w/ mass cap available again.
- JVince11

Still people are saying these players are immovable.

Lucic was moved and he probably has one of the worst contracts in the league.

Good Gms find a way to shake up the roster.

Yes, the best way to evaluate a “defensemen” is to just count his points he accumulated passing the puck 7 feet to his right on the power play.

HE SUCKS
- OneKaneOneCup

Is that you HardHat???

Is that you HardHat???
- JVince11

No it’s someone who has common sense.

But hey, can’t wait until he lays a big hit for a penalty or ices the puck 15 times on Thursday

Should be a blast again this year

Quite building strawmen. Botteril didn't have to trade Larsson and Girgensons, all he had to do was not agree to give them raises.

As far as sobotka, no one once has suggested he is tradeable. People just want him waived.

At some point these are Botts players, not Murray's. Botts brought in Hunwick and Sheary. He brought in Sobotka. He resigned the twins. He resigned Ellie and Rodrigues. That's 7 of your 12 free agents we need to wait until next year to get rid of before we can be good. Vesey makes 8.

It's so painfully obvious to anyone being objective.
- matty12345

And you banging on JB makes you objective? You don't come off as objective. Just saying.

Still people are saying these players are immovable.

Lucic was moved and he probably has one of the worst contracts in the league.

Good Gms find a way to shake up the roster.
- ImThatGuy

I mean... you just listed a good comparable. KO's contract would really only be able to be moved for a Lucic, Neal, Eriksson, or Ryan type deal.

Which one of those are you taking back in exchange for KO? Who you smiling to add to the roster?

Yes, the best way to evaluate a “defensemen” is to just count his points he accumulated passing the puck 7 feet to his right on the power play.

HE SUCKS
- OneKaneOneCup

Rasmus Dahlin, rookie, underlying numbers, phenomenal, best 18 year old performance for a dman in years.

Risto, 7th year in league. Underlying numbers still absolutely awful in every facet of the game.

Risto > Dahlin. He had more points.