Draft Position:

Dahlin (1), Jokiharju (29), Asplund (33), Eichel (2), Reinhart (2), Montour (55), Lazar (17), Ristolainen (8), McCabe (44), Girgensons (14), Larsson (56), Skinner (7), Johansson (24), Scandella (55), Bogosian (3), Okposo (7), Thompson (26), Mittelstadt (8)

How fvcking much closer are we? TELL ME HOW MUCH CLOSER WE NEED TO BE.

I see literally an entire team made up of players picked in round 1 or 2 and literally every single coach that comes to Buffalo employs the same "dump-and-chase" bull-sh!t as the last coach.

TELL ME HOW WE ARE VERY VERY CLOSE KIND SIR.
- BeadyEyedDouche

woooaaa just logged back in after a couple days to see this rant which includes internet YELLING!

In response: a) twisting my comment on them being close to an analysis of draft pics is dumb and misplaced. Not sure where that came from or even what the point is. I do note however that your forgot to include our first line LW who is in the Calder conversation. Where was he picked again?

b) we are close because we have a young team centered by a top tier captain. Our Defense includes Dahlin and Joker (who Im starting to love) Montour Risto (I still like him) and several other NHL starters. We have a hopeful stud between the net coming up next year to play behind Ulmak (who is playing better than he did last year). Our Coach is intelligent and seems able to communicate and motivate. All of our dead weight $$ falls off the roster after this year except Okposo (whish he would retire for the sake of his family and his own health). We also have a stud C who will likely make the team next year (possibly as a 3C or wing to start).

We are missing a 2C and secondary scoring. This can be solved if and when another team wants to dance. Frankly I don't think any other teams have an appetite for a trade at this exact moment. Otherwise our team looks nice not only now but for the next 5 years. We are very close SIR!

woooaaa just logged back in after a couple days to see this rant which includes internet YELLING!

In response: a) twisting my comment on them being close to an analysis of draft pics is dumb and misplaced. Not sure where that came from or even what the point is. I do note however that your forgot to include our first line LW who is in the Calder conversation. Where was he picked again?

b) we are close because we have a young team centered by a top tier captain. Our Defense includes Dahlin and Joker (who Im starting to love) Montour Risto (I still like him) and several other NHL starters. We have a hopeful stud between the net coming up next year to play behind Ulmak (who is playing better than he did last year). Our Coach is intelligent and seems able to communicate and motivate. All of our dead weight $$ falls off the roster after this year except Okposo (whish he would retire for the sake of his family and his own health). We also have a stud C who will likely make the team next year (possibly as a 3C or wing to start).

We are missing a 2C and secondary scoring. This can be solved if and when another team wants to dance. Frankly I don't think any other teams have an appetite for a trade at this exact moment. Otherwise our team looks nice not only now but for the next 5 years. We are very close SIR!
- Angler

LOL someone twisting your quotes on hockeybuzz is like saying water is wet.

woooaaa just logged back in after a couple days to see this rant which includes internet YELLING!

In response: a) twisting my comment on them being close to an analysis of draft pics is dumb and misplaced. Not sure where that came from or even what the point is. I do note however that your forgot to include our first line LW who is in the Calder conversation. Where was he picked again?

b) we are close because we have a young team centered by a top tier captain. Our Defense includes Dahlin and Joker (who Im starting to love) Montour Risto (I still like him) and several other NHL starters. We have a hopeful stud between the net coming up next year to play behind Ulmak (who is playing better than he did last year). Our Coach is intelligent and seems able to communicate and motivate. All of our dead weight $$ falls off the roster after this year except Okposo (whish he would retire for the sake of his family and his own health). We also have a stud C who will likely make the team next year (possibly as a 3C or wing to start).

We are missing a 2C and secondary scoring. This can be solved if and when another team wants to dance. Frankly I don't think any other teams have an appetite for a trade at this exact moment. Otherwise our team looks nice not only now but for the next 5 years. We are very close SIR!
- Angler

we are not close

probably need 4 guys in the middle 6

goalie

the d is still a hot mess


special teams suck




what amazes me, johansson has not got a call up with hutton sucking, they can carry 3 goalies

pilut is in rochester

bogo is playing after wanting out

johansson is over skinner on first team pp, before the injury



will 6 k or johansson be the goalie, hopefully

will cozens be a second line center, hopefully

if 6k is another Mika Noronen and cozens goes the casey route

we are not close



the worst part, is the moves or lack of moves by the head coach and gm looks like rookies


we are getting worse with the big club, not better as we get deeper in the season

I find it hilarious when someone criticizes a conversation that didnt involve them in the slightest.

We do not need a rental, we are going to be selling our rentals soon.

Its Called asset management
Jbotts isnt giving future 1sts for pageau.
Think of a similar return to what tyler hall just brought back to NJ.
- Boss34

Once again you have it wrong.
It a discussion board, YOU IDIOT ! Lol.

But do show me where I have ever suggested Pageau.. I'll wait.

Last night you and others took JCrag to task for suggesting a move should be made, then challenged him to state who and what are the contents of a desired trade, remember? When he did, and mentioned Pageau in a list of 3 or 4 other potential targets...it devolved into stupid discourse with many assumptions being made.

I don't want a rental, I have made that abundantly clear, so you point about Pageau, Hall etc is irrelevant. But you do you.

“A lot of assumptions”

Every single reportable nhl reporter has been leaked the same information since October.

Botts has to have made offers or received them since then.

He just hasn’t pulled the trigger

We are waiting. His team is sinking again.

Respectable franchises don’t let the team sink 2 years in a row and not address the same problems.
- Sabretooth9

The assumptions being made last night were Pageau wouldn't sign here, and those who do trade for a rental would outbid a team trying to make a hockey trade.

we are not close

probably need 4 guys in the middle 6

goalie

the d is still a hot mess


special teams suck




what amazes me, johansson has not got a call up with hutton sucking, they can carry 3 goalies

pilut is in rochester

bogo is playing after wanting out

johansson is over skinner on first team pp, before the injury



will 6 k or johansson be the goalie, hopefully

will cozens be a second line center, hopefully

if 6k is another Mika Noronen and cozens goes the casey route

we are not close



the worst part, is the moves or lack of moves by the head coach and gm looks like rookies


we are getting worse with the big club, not better as we get deeper in the season
- homiedclown

middle 6 guys can be found through free agency and trade. Yes, plenty of my optimism hinges on Cozens and 6K and you're right that if they are both misses, then we are not as close as I believe - but I don't think they will bust. The D is way better than it was last year. Joker is sweet. The team has some incredibly solid pieces to build around, and they are young. To be clear, I'm not saying we are one move away from winning the cup, I am saying we are very close to having a team that competes in the playoffs every year. That is goal one, perennial playoff contender. The final touches of putting together a cup winner come after we have reached that level and are willing to sell futures for rentals.

middle 6 guys can be found through free agency and trade. Yes, plenty of my optimism hinges on Cozens and 6K and you're right that if they are both misses, then we are not as close as I believe - but I don't think they will bust. The D is way better than it was last year. Joker is sweet. The team has some incredibly solid pieces to build around, and they are young. To be clear, I'm not saying we are one move away from winning the cup, I am saying we are very close to having a team that competes in the playoffs every year. That is goal one, perennial playoff contender. The final touches of putting together a cup winner come after we have reached that level and are willing to sell futures for rentals.
- Angler

We have the 4th youngest roster in the NHL. Dahlin and Joker are only going to get better. Eichel is in year 1/8 of his dominance of the NHL, Skinner and Reinhart would make up 2/3 of a good 2nd line, Cozens will be a top 9 forward next year, Montour is a solid d-man and Pilut will be a good 4/5 d-man. Ullmark looks like an average NHL starter and an above average back up once 6K/Johansson/Someone other than Hutton is ready to take the reigns as the #1.

This year looks gloom, the future does not.

middle 6 guys can be found through free agency and trade. Yes, plenty of my optimism hinges on Cozens and 6K and you're right that if they are both misses, then we are not as close as I believe - but I don't think they will bust. The D is way better than it was last year. Joker is sweet. The team has some incredibly solid pieces to build around, and they are young. To be clear, I'm not saying we are one move away from winning the cup, I am saying we are very close to having a team that competes in the playoffs every year. That is goal one, perennial playoff contender. The final touches of putting together a cup winner come after we have reached that level and are willing to sell futures for rentals.
- Angler

Nice post

Eichel
Larsson
Lazar
Asplund

Okposo
Reinhart
ERod
Vesey

Olofsson
Mojo
Girgs
Sheary

That looks pretty good going forward. Should hold up well against the Bruins and Bolts!

Byfield!, we're coming for you

You missed the part where he had ROR traded for basically nothing because he didn't want to pay his bonus?
- BeadyEyedDouche

No i didn’t
I literally just wrote about the 10mil non payment
And you directly commented on that post?

Has Pegula been stingy with $$$ in any way?
Only thing i can think of is not wanting to pay ROR his bonus, which is understandable
- jdfitz77

And there was no one here that called that sh!tty trade out more than me

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 a legit 2C can’t be acquired,
and it seems like it can’t...
Then we really need to put Sam there
And for the rest of the year, not just a few games
Maybe it won’t work
But if we have no other reasonable options,
then it should be tried
It’s been a while since Sam was given a shot there
And this time it could be with Skinner & MoJo,
which would give him a MUCH better chance at success than last time he “had a shot” with Pouliot & Seth Griffith (what a joke that was)

68-9-Vesey/Sheary/whoever
53-SAM-MoJo
“3rd line”
Girgs-Larsson-Okposo

For that 3rd line...
hopefully bring a more confident Mitts back up at some point, maybe with Asplund & Tage??


That imo, would give us our best chance at success for this season

If a legit 2C can’t be acquired,
and it seems like it can’t...
Then we really need to put Sam there
And for the rest of the year, not just a few games
Maybe it won’t work
But if we have no other reasonable options,
then it should be tried
It’s been a while since Sam was given a shot there
And this time it could be with Skinner & MoJo,
which would give him a MUCH better chance at success than last time he “had a shot” with Pouliot & Seth Griffith (what a joke that was)

68-9-Vesey/Sheary/whoever
53-SAM-MoJo
“3rd line”
Girgs-Larsson-Okposo

For that 3rd line...
hopefully bring a more confident Mitts back up at some point, maybe with Asplund & Tage??


That imo, would give us our best chance at success for this season
- jdfitz77

this season ended when skinner went down


piss poor adjustments by kruger and botts for the last 6 or 7 weeks doomed this season

this season ended when skinner went down


piss poor adjustments by kruger and botts for the last 6 or 7 weeks doomed this season
- homiedclown

Is Skinner done for the season?
I had a really busy day yesterday & didn’t hear

Few years old but this is excellent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjmGugcxOQw

Is Skinner done for the season?
I had a really busy day yesterday & didn’t hear
- jdfitz77

He will miss about 10 games, the all-star break is in the middle of his recovery period of 3-4 weeks. Back by the end of Jan - start of Feb

No i didn’t
I literally just wrote about the 10mil non payment
And you directly commented on that post?



And there was no one here that called that sh!tty trade out more than me
- jdfitz77

Yeah I glossed over that one, you got me.

In response: a) twisting my comment on them being close to an analysis of draft pics is dumb and misplaced
- Angler

That didn't happen but okay, thanks for making me wait 3 days to completely ignore your response after this.

Got any Brokeback Mountain fishing trips planned for next summer? I sometimes feel like it's the only thing me and you have is this here mountain...

I wish I knew how to quit you.

we are not close

probably need 4 guys in the middle 6

goalie

the d is still a hot mess


special teams suck




what amazes me, johansson has not got a call up with hutton sucking, they can carry 3 goalies

pilut is in rochester

bogo is playing after wanting out

johansson is over skinner on first team pp, before the injury



will 6 k or johansson be the goalie, hopefully

will cozens be a second line center, hopefully

if 6k is another Mika Noronen and cozens goes the casey route

we are not close



the worst part, is the moves or lack of moves by the head coach and gm looks like rookies


we are getting worse with the big club, not better as we get deeper in the season
- homiedclown

I still cant believe how much different the national vs. local perception of Jason Botterill is. I remember over the summer listening to Sirius and they were giving out GM grades. He got a D- and they basically said "what the hell is he doing? Where is the scoring, where is the second line center, who is the goalie?"

Meanwhile, locally, he has basically just hidden in the shadow of Tim Murray's tenure and he has enjoyed 3 years of built-in excuses and poopty results.

Reading people advocate for another year of this guy is pure insanity

this season ended when skinner went down


piss poor adjustments by kruger and botts for the last 6 or 7 weeks doomed this season
- homiedclown

Well why is that, how is the season over, we have been surviving so far this season without Skinner for about a month and half. We would be alot better of with him and a 2C, but the team is still on the cusp despite his slump.

Once again you have it wrong.
It a discussion board, YOU IDIOT ! Lol.

But do show me where I have ever suggested Pageau.. I'll wait.

Last night you and others took JCrag to task for suggesting a move should be made, then challenged him to state who and what are the contents of a desired trade, remember? When he did, and mentioned Pageau in a list of 3 or 4 other potential targets...it devolved into stupid discourse with many assumptions being made.

I don't want a rental, I have made that abundantly clear, so you point about Pageau, Hall etc is irrelevant. But you do you.
- IonSabres

Angry this morning Ion?

The whole point is / was, nobody wants our garbage and to suggest a good player in return is stupid 🙂

17-15-7
After starting 9-2-2
Making it 8-13-5 since then

And people clinging to we are still in it.
Technically, sure.
Realistically, hell no.
Eastern - tied for 12th
League - tied for 23rd
On pace for 83 pts.

We are still in IT
IT = Quinton Byfield race

17-15-7
After starting 9-2-2
Making it 8-13-5 since then

And people clinging to we are still in it.
Technically, sure.
Realistically, hell no.
Eastern - tied for 12th
League - tied for 23rd
On pace for 83 pts.

We are still in IT
IT = Quinton Byfield race
- IonSabres

Nice post

If a legit 2C can’t be acquired,
and it seems like it can’t...
Then we really need to put Sam there
And for the rest of the year, not just a few games
Maybe it won’t work
But if we have no other reasonable options,
then it should be tried
It’s been a while since Sam was given a shot there
And this time it could be with Skinner & MoJo,
which would give him a MUCH better chance at success than last time he “had a shot” with Pouliot & Seth Griffith (what a joke that was)

68-9-Vesey/Sheary/whoever
53-SAM-MoJo
“3rd line”
Girgs-Larsson-Okposo

For that 3rd line...
hopefully bring a more confident Mitts back up at some point, maybe with Asplund & Tage??


That imo, would give us our best chance at success for this season
- jdfitz77

Good fitz 👍

Angry this morning Ion?

The whole point is / was, nobody wants our garbage and to suggest a good player in return is stupid 🙂
- Boss34

Well, I do agree with nobody wants our garbage, this is true.
There are players, picks and prospects however.
Or I guess there only eay out is to wait for 3 or 4 more drafts to fill out the 2C, 2RW, 3RW, G, 1st Pair RhD.

I still cant believe how much different the national vs. local perception of Jason Botterill is. I remember over the summer listening to Sirius and they were giving out GM grades. He got a D- and they basically said "what the hell is he doing? Where is the scoring, where is the second line center, who is the goalie?"

Meanwhile, locally, he has basically just hidden in the shadow of Tim Murray's tenure and he has enjoyed 3 years of built-in excuses and poopty results.

Reading people advocate for another year of this guy is pure insanity
- jcragcrumple

2 points from playoffs.

Your panicky over reacting is the insanity.

If he sits on his hands all season and does nothing there’s a conversation to be had.