So it's a prove it year and now they have to do paper shuffles because they weren't prepared to make decisions at the appropriate times.
- Buff36

That is also possible. They do need to change the plan due to over performance

But he isn’t

On a side note -

- ROR gets a DWI

- Lehner has severe personal issues and now filing for bankruptcy

- Evander Kane …. Don’t have enough internet ink to list all his problems

And people actually think Botterill was worse than Murray
- sbroads24

The one thing I will always give Botterill credit for: he deeply understood the value of puck-moving defensemen

The one thing I will always give Botterill credit for: he deeply understood the value of puck-moving defensemen


- Hank Balling

And then he hired a coach that employed a style that was the exact opposite to the strength of the defense Botterill formed.

The good and bad of Botterill.

And then he hired a coach that employed a style that was the exact opposite to the strength of the defense Botterill formed.

The good and bad of Botterill.
- kingcong39

The thing that amazes me is so many people knew Ralph was a bullpoop artist on day one. He must have had pictures of Kim.

And then he hired a coach that employed a style that was the exact opposite to the strength of the defense Botterill formed.

The good and bad of Botterill.
- kingcong39

He got conned by the best conman in the game.

Now that conman is probably in Switzerland running a motivational speech racket with the $15m he bilked from the Pegulas

The thing that amazes me is so many people knew Ralph was a bullpoop artist on day one. He must have had pictures of Kim.
- lacaprup

He was a used car salesman from day one.

The coup he lead to oust Botterill in an attempt to gain total control as VP, GM and coach was his ultimate play.

Could be a couple D to look at tonight in Ekholm and Fabbro. Both are said to be available.

What didn't you like about losing Fitzgerald?
- kingcong39

Mostly vibes.

Fitz strikes me as a guy that made every off season camp , every rookie camp. Losing him feels like the Sabres lost an asset.

Had he cleared waivers, fine. But he didnt.
He got picked up by the team that won the presidents trophy last year. 🤔

Mostly vibes.

Fitz strikes me as a guy that made every off season camp , every rookie camp. Losing him feels like the Sabres lost an asset.

Had he cleared waivers, fine. But he didnt.
He got picked up by the team that won the presidents trophy last year. 🤔
- Boss34

And then immediately replaced the coach that got them there with Paul Maurice. I wouldn't appeal to authority with them.

This team isn’t bad enough to tank, not good enough for a cup.

I fail to see how this season is only a success if they make the playoffs though. There is some meaningful development going on with the young talent on the team.

New Jersey didn’t make the playoffs last year and look just fine this year.
- Swedish_Jesus

I agreed that this was the case in June/July. Which for me means you should be trying to win.

Making the playoffs would’ve went a long way in ensuring guys like Dahlin stay, and attracting guys to waive NTC/NMC when we “want” to starting winning

Justin Faulk, Sam Girard just of the top. And Samuelsson is a find.
- Buff36

Faulk looks like he took off in year 4 statistically

Looks like girard broke thru in year 3.

I respect your post. It's kinda rare though.

I think our mindset is offense, top down in the organization. Makes sense to pick 3 forwards this year in the 1st.

Mostly vibes.

Fitz strikes me as a guy that made every off season camp , every rookie camp. Losing him feels like the Sabres lost an asset.

Had he cleared waivers, fine. But he didnt.
He got picked up by the team that won the presidents trophy last year. 🤔
- Boss34

Family ties...

If the last name ‘Fitzgerald’ sounds familiar to #FlaPanthers fans of a certain age, well, it should.

Casey’s father Tom was an original member of the team and spent five seasons with them.

https://twitter.com/Georg...6pzM80f_pxcUReMqoO1g&s=19

Boca Raton native Casey Fitzgerald has family ties with the #FlaPanthers in more ways than one.

Fitzgerald joins a team his dad played for in the first five years of its existence and one that now employs his second cousin and a childhood best friend.

https://twitter.com/Colby...Ehqp7FyTE93OL9JZxcdg&s=19

Looks to me like they're following the Tampa model.

Defensemen are much harder to scout than forwards and technically you need more high end forwards than d-men to win. It kinda reminds of pitching in baseball. So wildly unpredictable drafting that teams started to put their drafting efforts into position players and using budget room to sign established pitchers in FA.

I mention Tampa because IIRC, only of their top six was a lightning draft pick. Hedman way back when. Cernak, Sergachev, McDonagh were all trades.

I think the theory is, in order to time the build right and maximize the compete window, you need to draft with a little more predictability. I.e, they were pretty sure they knew when Quinn and Peterka were going to be full time NHLers. A non high end d-man is a little tougher to predict since their development is seldom ever linear.

Of course, this could all be moot if they take like 9 d men this summer lol.
- Michael Ghofrani

🎯

Absolutely agree.

Paul Maurice said he won’t be putting Casey Fitzgerald, a righty shot, on his off-side, and he won’t be playing him ahead of Ekblad, Montour or Gudas.

“He’ll get his opportunity here when an opportunity opens up.”

https://twitter.com/David...nN34BpzUmhJomEOlXV3w&s=19

Murray assembled a group of skilled, misfit toys

Botterill was death by a thousand cuts - mediocre moves made along the periphery while not addressing any real problems.

Is one better than the other? Idk
- Hank Balling

Both these guys had to deal with eichel. Building a team around a cancer. Not easy.

Jost line with a nice look already. Tage too.

Who got blasted by the Nashville bench?

Wow, these uniforms are hideous

And then immediately replaced the coach that got them there with Paul Maurice. I wouldn't appeal to authority with them.
- Michael Ghofrani

Same GM right?

Coach isnt making that decision. Maybe he has a little say.

Faulk looks like he took off in year 4 statistically

Looks like girard broke thru in year 3.

I respect your post. It's kinda rare though.

I think our mindset is offense, top down in the organization. Makes sense to pick 3 forwards this year in the 1st.
- Boss34

Guess they both were playing by 19. And didn't mention anything about the 1st, liked them for the most part. The 2nd should have been used to help a weakness at D

Dominating forst 6 minutes, but the score is still 0 - 0.

Hard work from the Jost line got a PP. Good work

Thank fark! The first 2 on Olofsson should have been called

Hard work from the Jost line got a PP. Good work
- lacaprup

That might be the first time I've ever seen VO drive to the net, love to see it.

Dominating forst 6 minutes, but the score is still 0 - 0.
- lacaprup

Sabres were cashing in all of their good chances. Last 3 games they hardly do.

No way I think Power’s rookie year has been as good as Myers’. Powers end of season last year was better than he’s been this year.