At 90 or so points, does Botts get another year?
- Powerslave

I think he's going to. I said before the season he should have to hit 90 to keep his job.

They just might do it

15-4-1

97 points
- homiedclown

Taint gonna happen

For what Botts did yesterday, he did alright...C+

Yet, let's recap a bit...
-Traded Scandella for a 4th...meh, could have done better, but ok.
-Traded a 4th for Frolik, who is completely useless and now he could have used that $4.3m cap hit...dumb, dumb, dumb
-Got rid of Bogo for nothing, the Cap was the asset here, should have been done about 6 weeks earlier though.
-Simmonds at 50% retained, ok I guess. Let's hope he can resign him for a short-term contract of 1 - 2 years at say $2.0m or less. Anything longer or more just isn't good.
-Kahun, good move. A serviceable LW, better than Erod and Sheary maybe, played next to Malkin and Debrincat before that...we shall she how he does next to Lazar or Larsson. Makes sense IF Bots doesn't resign Vesey nor Girgs.

Now, he still has
-confusion at RhD with Montour, Risto, Joker, Miller, and Borgen ready..
-overabundence of LWs with Olofsson, Skinner, Mojo, Vesey, Girgenson, Kahun.
-did not acquire much needed 2C nor 2RW. Simmonds is a 3RW now.
-I guess they were in on Trocheck, and apparently close. One has to wonder if they could have upped the offer to get an effective 2C, without doubt their biggest need.

I'd say yesterday was ok, overall a badly mismanaged season

Taint gonna happen
- jcragcrumple

I completely agree. But at least they are "buyers" for once at the deadline, and at least there is somewhat meaningful hockey at this point of the year. Over their last 10, the Sabres are currently 6-3-1. Push that out to 20, they are 12-6-2 good for 92 points (Right? My math is bad today). Meanwhile the Leafs are 4-5-1. Push that out to 20, and they are 8-10-2, good for 90 points. Buffalo even has a game in hand on Toronto, so subtract one from any of those columns... the Sabres still make it in.

Florida is even worse at 3-7, and I agree that they got worse at the deadline.

Will they do it? No. They most likely won't, but if the Sabres can keep it up, they are at least a heck of a lot closer than in previous years.

Thats kind of my point. People got a boner when NJ added him because of his size, toughness, and grit etc etc but clearly it was meaningless because the team didn't have skill

So then what the hell is the point of his size, toughness, and grit?
- robz228

NJ is a 3mile high tire fire with a side of dumpster fire

I completely agree. But at least they are "buyers" for once at the deadline, and at least there is somewhat meaningful hockey at this point of the year. Over their last 10, the Sabres are currently 6-3-1. Push that out to 20, they are 12-6-2 good for 92 points (Right? My math is bad today). Meanwhile the Leafs are 4-5-1. Push that out to 20, and they are 8-10-2, good for 90 points. Buffalo even has a game in hand on Toronto, so subtract one from any of those columns... the Sabres still make it in.

Florida is even worse at 3-7, and I agree that they got worse at the deadline.

Will they do it? No. They most likely won't, but if the Sabres can keep it up, they are at least a heck of a lot closer than in previous years.
- ajb2493

92 points is a stretch for this team given the road games and tough opponents coming up.

And even then, it won't be close to enough.

30 points in 20 games.

14-4-2

Taint gonna happen
- jcragcrumple

Think you're giving the leafs a lot of undeserved credit as of late with them going 11-6-2 the rest of the way, but that's just me. Obviously easier for them to hit that, but they haven't been... good lately.

I completely agree. But at least they are "buyers" for once at the deadline, and at least there is somewhat meaningful hockey at this point of the year. Over their last 10, the Sabres are currently 6-3-1. Push that out to 20, they are 12-6-2 good for 92 points (Right? My math is bad today). Meanwhile the Leafs are 4-5-1. Push that out to 20, and they are 8-10-2, good for 90 points. Buffalo even has a game in hand on Toronto, so subtract one from any of those columns... the Sabres still make it in.

Florida is even worse at 3-7, and I agree that they got worse at the deadline.

Will they do it? No. They most likely won't, but if the Sabres can keep it up, they are at least a heck of a lot closer than in previous years.
- ajb2493

It basically comes down to whether David Ayres broke the Maple Leafs spirit irreparably. They have to take a massive dump all over the rest of their season.

The leafs also play the panthers twice, which is a terrible thing for us.

If the Leafs lose the next 3 it will get interesting

92 points is a stretch for this team given the road games and tough opponents coming up.
And even then, it won't be close to enough.
- matty12345

The issue isn't the overall points. Buffalo needs to pass Florida and Toronto. Toronto is in a terrible slide and didn't improve on defense. Florida might have gotten worse at the deadline. Buffalo stayed the same and possibly improved. Sheary is not a loss and if Simmonds can settle in, there is a chance to gain 3rd in the division. Is it probable? maybe not, but still a good reason to watch the games. It certainly could happen. The season has 25% left. That is enough.

92 points is a stretch for this team given the road games and tough opponents coming up.

And even then, it won't be close to enough.
- matty12345

Someone else already said it but just to make an effort to win is an improvement. This season being a complete tank would have set us back another 3 years. No thanks. I think it will be the second miracle on ice if we get in but at least we are not throwing a match on the pile

There are better odds of us getting Lafreniere then us making the playoffs.

It’s going to take a miracle.

These bum holes though will win enough games for us to finish 12th though and truly make this a wasted season (barring lotto luck)

It basically comes down to whether David Ayres broke the Maple Leafs spirit irreparably. They have to take a massive dump all over the rest of their season.

The leafs also play the panthers twice, which is a terrible thing for us.

If the Leafs lose the next 3 it will get interesting
- jcragcrumple

Leafs are fine. They added a backup goalie which has honestly been their worst problem. Give them 2-3 more backup wins all season and this isn't close.

Florida gave away Trocheck and they haven't been good all season anyway. Buffalo is a 500 team that just won a bunch at home. Now they go on the road where they will lose a bunch.

The leafs making it is as close to a sure thing as you are going to get.

Let's run with your thought above, along with expecting Cozens to be here for at least 9 games:

Olofsson - Eichel - Reinhart
Skinner - Haula or Bonino (for ex.) - Josh Anderson (for ex.)
Johansson - Cozens - Kahun
Girgensons - Larsson - Okposo

Is the above good enough?

It's definitely an improvement, but I'd prefer to not rely on Cozens for next year.
- kingcong39

“Good enough” for what?
A playoff run? Yes
To beat Boston & Tampa? Unlikely

If Cozens doesn’t work out,
There’s still Mitts & Asplund that could play 3C

Sabres have Simmonds wearing #17 on their Instagram Page.

Kahun is wearing #95.

Leafs are fine. They added a backup goalie which has honestly been their worst problem. Give them 2-3 more backup wins all season and this isn't close.

Florida gave away Trocheck and they haven't been good all season anyway. Buffalo is a 500 team that just won a bunch at home. Now they go on the road where they will lose a bunch.

The leafs making it is as close to a sure thing as you are going to get.
- matty12345

However, if the Leafs lose to the Lightning tonight and Florida tomorrow, and if the Sabres win against Colorado, the Sabres would be 4 points behind both the leafs and panthers with 2 games in hand on the leafs

Then it would get fun.

However, flip those results and the Sabres are 10 points behind the leafs again.

Probably just too much ground. If the Leafs win 3 in a row it's 100% over

However, if the Leafs lose to the Lightning tonight and Florida tomorrow, and if the Sabres win against Colorado, the Sabres would be 4 points behind both the leafs and panthers with 2 games in hand on the leafs

Then it would get fun.

However, flip those results and the Sabres are 10 points behind the leafs again.

Probably just too much ground. If the Leafs win 3 in a row it's 100% over
- jcragcrumple

Just to get swept by the Lightning or Boston.

Just to get swept by the Lightning or Boston.
- Pegullaville

I'd walk over a mile of broken glass to get swept in the playoffs rather than draft Czech sensation Tibor Rozlavan 10th overall

The issue isn't the overall points. Buffalo needs to pass Florida and Toronto. Toronto is in a terrible slide and didn't improve on defense. Florida might have gotten worse at the deadline. Buffalo stayed the same and possibly improved. Sheary is not a loss and if Simmonds can settle in, there is a chance to gain 3rd in the division. Is it probable? maybe not, but still a good reason to watch the games. It certainly could happen. The season has 25% left. That is enough.
- Tragically Buffalo

No they aren't. The leafs are 4-5-1. That's 9/20 points. It's almost 500. Terrible slide is silly. They haven't even dropped a spot. In fact they've gained ground on Florida in that stretch.

Don't let the close standings confuse you. the sabres are still one of the ten worst teams in the league. They won some home games, which is nothing new. They had a bunch of easy games at home, that's all.

There is no race.

I'd walk over a mile of broken glass to get swept in the playoffs rather than draft Czech sensation Tibor Rozlavan 10th overall
- jcragcrumple

I’d rather win a cup.

However, if the Leafs lose to the Lightning tonight and Florida tomorrow, and if the Sabres win against Colorado, the Sabres would be 4 points behind both the leafs and panthers with 2 games in hand on the leafs

Then it would get fun.

However, flip those results and the Sabres are 10 points behind the leafs again.

Probably just too much ground. If the Leafs win 3 in a row it's 100% over
- jcragcrumple

I would actually want Florida to lose. Then the sabres would be 6 behind the leafs with two at hand, and 2 behind florida. If it was ever going to happen we have to assume the sabres win their games in hand and are 2 points behind both teams.

Toronto still has enough fire power that at worst, they are going to tread water the rest of the way. They won't have an epic collapse.

I'd walk over a mile of broken glass to get swept in the playoffs rather than draft Czech sensation Tibor Rozlavan 10th overall
- jcragcrumple

I agree, Its mind blowing the life events since our last playoff game

I would actually want Florida to lose. Then the sabres would be 6 behind the leafs with two at hand, and 2 behind florida. If it was ever going to happen we have to assume the sabres win their games in hand and are 2 points behind both teams.
- matty12345

And that's a really big problem. The Panthers have a better shot to control their own destiny with 2 against the leafs and 1 against the Sabres

Toronto still has enough fire power that at worst, they are going to tread water the rest of the way. They won't have an epic collapse.
- buffalofan19

Maybe.

Losing to a goddamn zamboni driver should probably cause an existential crisis.

At 90 or so points, does Botts get another year?
- Powerslave

He is coming back regardless, IMO.