The way to build the system is to trade picks for mediocre players?

You know how we always look at other teams and say "wow, they got him in the 3rd round"? We wont be doing that because the Sabres dont have 3rd round picks til 2022.

This will be another 6 pick draft for the Sabres, bringing Botterill's total to 24 picks in 4 years. Tim Murray (who also sucked) made 25 in 3 years.

I have no idea why anyone defends this clown show GM. He's the mayor of garbage town
- jcragcrumple

Well he wouldn't have traded all those picks if there was anyone in the system to fill those spots.

Vesey didn't do poop compared to what he did with the Rangers, Botts doesn't have a crystal ball to tell him these players won't produce like they did the seasons before they came here. Hutton sucked for 2 1/2 months. His biggest mistake was not fixing the 2nd line. He can't tell how players will produce, all he has is how they played before they came here. Unfortunately it didn't work out. He has to do better, he hasn't done enough, but players have to take responsibility too, and this is a failure of 2 GM's, and a meddling owner.
- Buff36

regarding vesey
coaching, just like skinner

regarding the center, botts went all in on casey, failed in year 3, that's on the gm

shots fired
- Hatboro_Swords

as bad as housley was

he played dahlin 2 minutes more a night then ralph
he played casey for a bit with talented wingers, and his play improved
he had common sense to play skinner with eichel and on the top pp


our pp and penalty kill got worse with this so called great coach


I mean even e-rod produced under housley

he has had 3 seasons


it's all on him


you guys need to stop accepting sh!t results and defending the man behind the wheel
- navinrjohnson

Yes sir, he’s had 3 seasons and has added Dahlin, Cozens, and a top 10 pick this year.

I don’t believe picking top 10 this year was his plan, he firmly believed they would be competing for a playoff spot and that’s how the cookie crumpled

Just because there was a lack of blockbuster moves to try to rush to be competitive right away does not mean he sit back and did nothing.

If Cozens pans out and is the 2C for a long time, opinions will change I’m sure.

Yes sir, he’s had 3 seasons and has added Dahlin, Cozens, and a top 10 pick this year.

I don’t believe picking top 10 this year was his plan, he firmly believed they would be competing for a playoff spot and that’s how the cookie crumpled

Just because there was a lack of blockbuster moves to try to rush to be competitive right away does not mean he sit back and did nothing.

If Cozens pans out and is the 2C for a long time, opinions will change I’m sure.
- Pegullaville

Do you trust Botterill to make the required moves, specifically at the forward positions, to make this team a playoff contender starting next year?

That would mean trades and savvy free agent signings.

I do not.

Cozens and the pick this year, assuming it is the impactful forward that will be available to them when they pick, will go a long way in determining the team's future viability as true contenders, but all the additional moves are where the GM makes his mark, and so far, that is one big question mark for me regarding Botterill.

Yes sir, he’s had 3 seasons and has added Dahlin, Cozens, and a top 10 pick this year.

I don’t believe picking top 10 this year was his plan, he firmly believed they would be competing for a playoff spot and that’s how the cookie crumpled

Just because there was a lack of blockbuster moves to try to rush to be competitive right away does not mean he sit back and did nothing.

If Cozens pans out and is the 2C for a long time, opinions will change I’m sure.
- Pegullaville

the issue is the trades didn't work out, because IMO the coach and gm are not on the same page


look at how miller, montour, and vesey played before they got here, vs once they are here


then look at how skinner was grossly misused


then look at all the wasted picks on stupid trades

simmonds
frolik
vesey
miller

thats a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 2 5ths


top it off, pay skinner all this money to put him in a place to fail



how many players has he brought in with wheels?

kahun



the goalie he brought in sucks

the coach he brought in sucks


honestly, I think a 19 year old could have constructed this team better with no hockey experience if given 3 years

Do you trust Botterill to make the required moves, specifically at the forward positions, to make this team a playoff contender starting next year?

That would mean trades and savvy free agent signings.

I do not.

Cozens and the pick this year, assuming it is the impactful forward that will be available to them when they pick, will go a long way in determining the team's future viability as true contenders, but all the additional moves are where the GM makes his mark, and so far, that is one big question mark for me regarding Botterill.
- kingcong39

if cozens and casey bust, we just wasted the sabres tenure with eichel thanks to our 2 inexperienced gm's our owner has brought in

Yes sir, he’s had 3 seasons and has added Dahlin, Cozens, and a top 10 pick this year.

I don’t believe picking top 10 this year was his plan, he firmly believed they would be competing for a playoff spot and that’s how the cookie crumpled

Just because there was a lack of blockbuster moves to try to rush to be competitive right away does not mean he sit back and did nothing.

If Cozens pans out and is the 2C for a long time, opinions will change I’m sure.
- Pegullaville

I am of the belief that the guy should do more than make his first round pick every year, and that he could do a HELL of a lot more than that without facing criticism as a "rush to be competitive". poop, the guy has to get out of bed in the morning, doesn't he??

Just because there was a lack of blockbuster moves to try to rush to be competitive right away does not mean he sit back and did nothing.


- Pegullaville

he pissed away a lot of our draft picks, and we don't have much to show for it when vesey walks and miller gets moved for a 5th at the draft

I am of the belief that the guy should do more than make his first round pick every year, and that he could do a HELL of a lot more than that without facing criticism as a "rush to be competitive". poop, the guy has to get out of bed in the morning, doesn't he??
- Der Kaiser

where was the moves in late november/early december that needed to be made


we just witnessed 2 huge collapses after the team got off to a hot start in both seasons


I am not sure any franchise has blown that kind of lead in the standings on 2 consecutive seasons, in any sports



but at least we got to hoard a bunch of right shot d men for no reason

Vesey didn't do poop compared to what he did with the Rangers, Botts doesn't have a crystal ball to tell him these players won't produce like they did the seasons before they came here. Hutton sucked for 2 1/2 months. His biggest mistake was not fixing the 2nd line. He can't tell how players will produce, all he has is how they played before they came here. Unfortunately it didn't work out. He has to do better, he hasn't done enough, but players have to take responsibility too, and this is a failure of 2 GM's, and a meddling owner.
- Buff36

Jimmy Vesey points per game his first 3 years - .375

Jimmy Vesey Points per game this year - .312

He's a whopping 4 points off his career average

This is who he is

he pissed away a lot of our draft picks, and we don't have much to show for it when vesey walks and miller gets moved for a 5th at the draft
- navinrjohnson

Again that goes to not having prospects ready to take roster spots like there should have been. Hockey isn't like other sports where players come in and play in a short time frame. Most players take 3 to 4 years before you even see them hit the system, we were sorely lacking players coming into the system the last 4yrs or so.

Jimmy Vesey points per game his first 3 years - .375

Jimmy Vesey Points per game this year - .312

He's a whopping 4 points off his career average

This is who he is
- jcragcrumple

Not goal wise, assists yes, goals No

the issue is the trades didn't work out, because IMO the coach and gm are not on the same page


look at how miller, montour, and vesey played before they got here, vs once they are here


then look at how skinner was grossly misused


then look at all the wasted picks on stupid trades

simmonds
frolik
vesey
miller

thats a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 2 5ths


top it off, pay skinner all this money to put him in a place to fail



how many players has he brought in with wheels?

kahun



the goalie he brought in sucks

the coach he brought in sucks


honestly, I think a 19 year old could have constructed this team better with no hockey experience if given 3 years
- navinrjohnson

I texted Baker with the thought that the pro scouting dept has not been doing well. You've got Joker and Kahun on the plus side and all those vets who are meh at best. He pointed out that Joker was a product of pro scouting as was Skinner.
Regardless, Botts seems to have a better eye for younger players. Too bad he traded for so many vets

I texted Baker with the thought that the pro scouting dept has not been doing well. You've got Joker and Kahun on the plus side and all those vets who are meh at best. He pointed out that Joker was a product of pro scouting as was Skinner.
Regardless, Botts seems to have a better eye for younger players. Too bad he traded for so many vets
- Michael Pachla

Well hopefully some of these kids that he drafted that will be hitting the system pan out, we need it.

Vesey sucks and I can't wait till he's gone...

Earl Thomas is one dirty guy yikes

According to multiple reports, the Bills will open the 2020 NFL regular season at home against the NY Jets, marking the 3rd time in 4 seasons the two teams open against each another. Here's more: https://t.co/8E8s9jofSC via @wgr550

Not goal wise, assists yes, goals No
- Buff36

He was 4 points (goals) off his average. You're making it seem like he turned into a pumpkin this year. Hes always been a pumpkin

Again that goes to not having prospects ready to take roster spots like there should have been.
- Buff36

you mean prospects like casey and tage?



pilut was ready to take a d spot
so was borgen


the issue was lack of guys up front, including the first round pick and the center piece prospect in the ror trade


2 guys botts acquired long before the season and should have been ready

Do you trust Botterill to make the required moves, specifically at the forward positions, to make this team a playoff contender starting next year?

That would mean trades and savvy free agent signings.

I do not.

Cozens and the pick this year, assuming it is the impactful forward that will be available to them when they pick, will go a long way in determining the team's future viability as true contenders, but all the additional moves are where the GM makes his mark, and so far, that is one big question mark for me regarding Botterill.
- kingcong39

Fair enough. I gave Botts the benefit of the doubt for the most part as it appeared he was attempting to do short term fixes to try to make the team competitive and had this offseason ear marked for major roster overhaul.

Then he botched the Scandella trade, traded for Frolik and Simmonds and hampered us a bit for this coming offseason

He was 4 points (goals) off his average. You're making it seem like he turned into a pumpkin this year. Hes always been a pumpkin
- jcragcrumple

He averaged 17 goals a year with the Rangers, he has what 8 or 9 this year, he has already basically matched his assist total with 11. Maybe he hits 10 goals the way he's been playing.

I texted Baker with the thought that the pro scouting dept has not been doing well. You've got Joker and Kahun on the plus side and all those vets who are meh at best. He pointed out that Joker was a product of pro scouting as was Skinner.
Regardless, Botts seems to have a better eye for younger players. Too bad he traded for so many vets
- Michael Pachla

this


IMO we would have been better doing next to nothing and being seller at the deadline


instead of full steam ahead it's a step forward and 3/4 of a step backwards



and it's not like we are freeing up cap, we are doing anything but that



if he brings back girgens and larsson, what will we have 4 or 5 mil left in cap space?

He averaged 17 goals a year with the Rangers, he has what 8 or 9 this year, he has already basically matched his assist total with 11. Maybe he hits 10 goals the way he's been playing.
- Buff36

he also got a lot more pp points with rangers


his even strength point production was almost the same per 60 with the sabres as the rangers

This offseason Botterill went after

Joe Pavelski
Joonas Donskoi
Gustav Nyquist
Mats Zuccarello

It’s unfortunate none wanted to sign here.

It’s also, again, not in reality that the current GM doesn’t know or doesn’t care that they need help on the 2nd line.

I trust that if a good player is available (like Kahun, or Skinner, or Joker) and he can make it work, he will.

Just be happy he didn’t trade Dylan Cozens and Jacob Bryson plus a 2nd to get a 2nd line center who won’t want to be here in 2 years