The part that everyone seems to be forgetting here is not only did we purge everything we had, the timing of it was impeccable.

If GMTM would have waited 1-2 years to make the big move he’d still be here.

The 2016 roster sans ROR would have probably finished last or bottom 3 giving us a really good shot at Matthews.

Where would this team be with one of Matthews, Laine, Dubois, Tkchuck be right now ?

Silver lining being we got Joker for Nylander but still.

The only one I like is compher, personally. The other 3 are variations of a Girgensons. None of them - including compher - would solve the 2C problem. 3 years later and still blaming GMTM. He sucked, but this is Botterill's team. Feast your eyes on 2C Lockport Larry
- jcragcrumple

Isn't dahlin the only guy botts drafted that is on the Sabres currently?

These two regimes don’t even compare.

One walked into a gold mine and turned it into a long term project

The other is just sitting on his hands
- sbroads24

I still think Botts has been making short term moves here to try to give us a sniff of the last wildcard spot but had this offseason in mind to make his mark.

Either that or I’m overestimating his intelligence.

The part that everyone seems to be forgetting here is not only did we purge everything we had, the timing of it was impeccable.

If GMTM would have waited 1-2 years to make the big move he’d still be here.

The 2016 roster sans ROR would have probably finished last or bottom 3 giving us a really good shot at Matthews.

Where would this team be with one of Matthews, Laine, Dubois, Tkchuck be right now ?

Silver lining being we got Joker for Nylander but still.
- Pegullaville

It’s not just that pick.

Where would we be with Tkachuk and say one of Boeser/Konecny/Aho. Just one of them.?

Botts’ is risk averse. He has been very conservative moving mid round picks for stop gaps. The only long term moves he has made are for Skinner and Montour.

This offseason he needs to be somewhere between where he is now, and drunken sailor TMGM.

We need to purge the bottom 6 of the roster, make at least one solid hockey trade, and go fishing in free agency for a mid tier forward or two .
- Pegullaville

I think we're fine at the top and the bottom. That's not the overall problem. Our

68-9-23
53-

28-22-21

Johansson for 1 more year

8 points for okposo
10 points for girgs
12 points for Larsson

Its vesey, sheary, EROD, sobatka, Johansson that suck

I think we're fine at the top and the bottom. That's not the overall problem. Our

68-9-23
53-

28-22-21

Johansson for 1 more year

8 points for okposo
10 points for girgs
12 points for Larsson

Its vesey, sheary, EROD, sobatka, Johansson that suck
- Boss34

If Erod was a 40 point NHL center instead of a 10 point AHL’er we might have another win or 2

It’s not just that pick.

Where would we be with Tkachuk and say one of Boeser/Konecny/Aho. Just one of them.?
- sbroads24

And boards one of those 2nd rnd picks traded with McNabb turned into Cernak

We can complain all we want, I hope Botts can find a decent trade that will help us this year, cause they are on the cusp, but in reality we are were most experts had us for this year.

I still think Botts has been making short term moves here to try to give us a sniff of the last wildcard spot but had this offseason in mind to make his mark.

Either that or I’m overestimating his intelligence.
- Pegullaville

Surely the next group of Botterill's forwards will be stellar

It’s not just that pick.

Where would we be with Tkachuk and say one of Boeser/Konecny/Aho. Just one of them.?
- sbroads24

We needed Botts back then, maybe we need GMTM now.

We can complain all we want, I hope Botts can find a decent trade that will help us this year, cause they are on the cusp, but in reality we are were most experts had us for this year.
- Buff36

2 points from 16th in the league. I’m frustrated at Botts, but it isn’t this catastrophic event people think it is. Just make a move already

Had some time on my hands, so I did a roster projection for next season, just to refresh my memory on the Cap space...

Olofsson - Eichel - Reinhart
Skinner - Trade 2C - Cozens
Mojo - Asplund - Mitts
Vesey - Larsson - Okposo
13th F = ?? Larzar??

Dahlin - Shattenkirk. // Ullmark
Pilut - Montour. // Hutton
McCabe - Jokiharju
Borgen

Key points:
- Cap came in at $81.5m, does not account for past buyouts of $870k per CapFriendly...so $82.4m
- Rhino resigned at $7.25m
- The "Trade 2C" (unidentified player) has a Cap allocation of $8m to enable suitably skilled target
- Risto & Miller, perhaps Scandella are trade bait for 2C along with Picks and other Prospects
- Shattenkirk is a preferred option, shorter-term (< 3 yrs) as a 1st Pairing D at $6.5m Cap allocation - - - don't like him?, insert another proven vet.
- No other outside additions accounted for.

Here's the point...Sabres should not be hesitant about pursuing a kick-ass 2C and using a couple of their Dmen +++ to acquire said player.
Cozens "eased in" as a 2RW, could be moved down to 3RW if necessary for 1/2 season or more.
The following season, Botterill will need to move Okposo one-way or another to enable Dahlin on a new contract, probably a semi-costly bridge deal

The year is done. Eichel starting to show frustration again. How may times can multi- million dollar per year pros miss the net? Unfortunately, we need to blow up the team again this summer

Oloffson/Eichel/blank
Skinner/Blank/Reinhart
Johansson/Blank/Johansson
Blank/blank/Okposo

Our d-core is good but needs to get better defensively

2 points from 16th in the league. I’m frustrated at Botts, but it isn’t this catastrophic event people think it is. Just make a move already
- sbroads24

Yeah just to show the guys on the ice too, let them know

The Sabres don't like to number their lines, but if they did so based on production, would' we say...

1st Line - Jack's line
2nd Line. Skinner, - - - - - - -, - - - - - - -
3rd Line. - - - - - - - , - - - - - - -, - - - - - -
4th Line. LOG line
13th - 18th Forwards. Mojo, Vesey, Sheary, ERod, Lazar, Mitts

Yeah just to show the guys on the ice too, let them know
- Buff36

The Sabres don't like to number their lines, but if they did so based on production, would' we say...

1st Line - Jack's line
2nd Line. Skinner, - - - - - - -, - - - - - - -
3rd Line. - - - - - - - , - - - - - - -, - - - - - -
4th Line. LOG line
13th - 18th Forwards. Mojo, Vesey, Sheary, ERod, Lazar, Mitts
- IonSabres

Maybe Krueger should tell JB "get me a 2nd line center or Dahlin will be there by monday"

That ought to light a fire under his ass

Maybe Krueger should tell JB "get me a 2nd line center or Dahlin will be there by monday"

That ought to light a fire under his ass
- jcragcrumple

Maybe they should threaten to waive erod, that out to light a fire under his ass.

Maybe they should threaten to waive erod, that out to light a fire under his ass.
- Boss34

Don't think anything is gonna light a fire under his Ass, think this was his plan the whole time. Well except for Mitts poopting the bed

Don't think anything is gonna light a fire under his Ass, think this was his plan the whole time. Well except for Mitts poopting the bed
- Buff36

I agree.

I think tage was part of the plan too.

Mitts, tage and sobotka.

Probably 3 of the middle 6 spots that haven't worked out , 2 by injury , 1 by laziness.

Hayton=zero class

These two regimes don’t even compare.

One walked into a gold mine and turned it into a long term project

The other is just sitting on his hands
- sbroads24

And both are equally frustrating despite the different approaches.

And both are equally frustrating despite the different approaches.
- kingcong39

Eh. I had a problem with just about every move Murray made

I think his approach was awful

I like Botterill’s strategy of building with D and centers

I also like his trades for the most part

I don’t agree with how he’s handled this years roster, at all.

Colin White - 31 gp 3 goals 6 assists

Jack Roslovic 38 gp 7 goals 7 assists

JT Compher 35 gp 3 goals 16 assists

Brendan Lemieux 35 gp 5 goals 8 assists
- jcragcrumple

Yeah but Yo-el

Maybe they should threaten to waive erod, that out to light a fire under his ass.
- Boss34

Who is “they”? Botts determines the roster movement, so he would light a fire under himself?