Michael Pachla: Sabres at the NHL All-Star break and heading towards the trade deadline

Michael Pachla: Sabres at the NHL All-Star break and heading towards the trade deadline
- Michael Pachla

Nice . We will have a week with no losses

Nice . We will have a week with no losses
- cabin

no wins either

Interesting to see if this team can get their ass in gear and win some games down the stretch.

no wins either
- Michael Pachla

Glass half-full

Good point that's why you're here

The Blues are collecting some wins, which is nice. An 11-14th overall from them would be wonderful. I don’t want it pushed off till next year.

If we're talking player swap, I'd look to move Sobotka and a pick for a guy like Anisimov. A little more finish ability. If they want a 3rd/4th and Sobotka, that would be good with me. Not necessarily that particular player, but some kind of medium shakeup. I'm not expecting Simmonds.

Ferland is a good call. I've liked his game

Totally agree re Simmonds. Would love to see him in Blue and Gold.
Whoever does land him, will pay off big time in playoffs


At same time, hoping Botterill can get rid of Okopso and his crazy contract.

I think it's going to take another great offseason from Botts to really turn this team around.

Not sure if anything can get done at the deadline.

Hopefully we can make a playoff push. I think it's going to take them to focus more on defense to get them in position to get there.

Glass half-full
- Sabre_Tooth

why not, eh?

I would not be surprised if players not named Reinhardt or Eichel, from the Murray Era could be moved, but I am also hoping for a big off season!

I think it's going to take another great offseason from Botts to really turn this team around.

Not sure if anything can get done at the deadline.

Hopefully we can make a playoff push. I think it's going to take them to focus more on defense to get them in position to get there.
- mattsox

they've got jack and dahlin, probably skinner, and a good group of players right now to surround them with...add a simmons-type or two in the off season and playoffs should be expected next season, imo

I think it's going to take another great offseason from Botts to really turn this team around.

Not sure if anything can get done at the deadline.

Hopefully we can make a playoff push. I think it's going to take them to focus more on defense to get them in position to get there.
- mattsox

I'm no devotee of Harrington, but I thought he made some good points in his article earlier this week. We need to push for the playoffs now. There is nothing wrong with a one and done postseason.

They haven't been there since 2011 and if you ever have designs on them playing deep into a future spring, their key guys have to find out what it's like.

The playoffs are a completely different animal in terms of intensity, style, officiating, overtime strategy, media coverage. All of it. We have too many guys who have no idea what its like.

It's time for the Sabres to change that now. Not next season. Not in two years. You don't suddenly become a Stanley Cup contender without playoff experience Even a five-game first-round wipeout would be beneficial to the Sabres.

This is about development of our players. Entertaining and satisfying the fanbase is an equally important, but completely different, issue.

- Der Kaiser

Looks someone had a rough night.


(We’ve all been there)

I'm no devotee of Harrington, but I thought he made some good points in his article earlier this week. We need to push for the playoffs now. There is nothing wrong with a one and done postseason.

They haven't been there since 2011 and if you ever have designs on them playing deep into a future spring, their key guys have to find out what it's like.

The playoffs are a completely different animal in terms of intensity, style, officiating, overtime strategy, media coverage. All of it. We have too many guys who have no idea what its like.

It's time for the Sabres to change that now. Not next season. Not in two years. You don't suddenly become a Stanley Cup contender without playoff experience Even a five-game first-round wipeout would be beneficial to the Sabres.

This is about development of our players. Entertaining and satisfying the fanbase is an equally important, but completely different, issue.
- Der Kaiser

didn't reed it...is he willing to give away a first-rounder (possibly more) for rental who could get the team into the playoffs?

didn't reed it...is he willing to give away a first-rounder (possibly more) for rental who could get the team into the playoffs?
- Michael Pachla

"there's a gnawing question hanging over the franchise: When will the decision be made that it's time to win?"

"It's clearly incumbent on General Manager Jason Botterill to make some moves here. Shore up the defense. Shore up the second line. Get C.J. Smith back in the NHL and tell Phil Housley to stop using him on the fourth line. Is Alex Nylander ever going to contribute in the NHL? The Sabres have spent a whole season developing Tage Thompson in the NHL, a bizarre strategy, while their former No. 8 overall pick continues to lag in the AHL."

"Botterill certainly wants to harvest the four first-round picks he has over the next two seasons, but the Sabres are improving to the point that none of those players are likely to deliver any instant help because they will be taken too low in the round. At least one of the picks should be in play right now to upgrade this roster with an NHL player.

The Sabres' core is clearly defined, especially with the addition of Rasmus Dahlin. Go get a couple of veterans to fill out this forward group. Find another defenseman, so the world can be spared Housley's bizarre over reliance on Marco Scandella. His shot-blocking and penalty killing acumen have not been nearly enough to override his abominable defensive-zone play.

Botterill can't just let this season turn into nothing and then let Housley take all the blame. The trade deadline is just over a month away. Other teams are already making moves. Get to it."

https://buffalonews.com/2...-housley-jason-botterill/

So I don't reed that as saying a First for a Rental, but I agree with him that if we can upgrade the current roster by spending a pick, especially if we can get more than a rental, there is every reason to do it.

"there's a gnawing question hanging over the franchise: When will the decision be made that it's time to win?"

"It's clearly incumbent on General Manager Jason Botterill to make some moves here. Shore up the defense. Shore up the second line. Get C.J. Smith back in the NHL and tell Phil Housley to stop using him on the fourth line. Is Alex Nylander ever going to contribute in the NHL? The Sabres have spent a whole season developing Tage Thompson in the NHL, a bizarre strategy, while their former No. 8 overall pick continues to lag in the AHL."

"Botterill certainly wants to harvest the four first-round picks he has over the next two seasons, but the Sabres are improving to the point that none of those players are likely to deliver any instant help because they will be taken too low in the round. At least one of the picks should be in play right now to upgrade this roster with an NHL player.

The Sabres' core is clearly defined, especially with the addition of Rasmus Dahlin. Go get a couple of veterans to fill out this forward group. Find another defenseman, so the world can be spared Housley's bizarre over reliance on Marco Scandella. His shot-blocking and penalty killing acumen have not been nearly enough to override his abominable defensive-zone play.

Botterill can't just let this season turn into nothing and then let Housley take all the blame. The trade deadline is just over a month away. Other teams are already making moves. Get to it."

https://buffalonews.com/2...-housley-jason-botterill/

So I don't reed that as saying a First for a Rental, but I agree with him that if we can upgrade the current roster by spending a pick, especially if we can get more than a rental, there is every reason to do it.
- Der Kaiser

can't blame Harrington, or any other buffalo media member, for wanting to get into the playoffs now...for as much crap as they get, they've been there every game of every awful/underperforming sabres season since 2006-07...that said, i'm not there yet when it comes to a rental...we'll see what they do in the next few weeks

can't blame Harrington, or any other buffalo media member, for wanting to get into the playoffs now...for as much crap as they get, they've been there every game of every awful/underperforming sabres season since 2006-07...that said, i'm not there yet when it comes to a rental...we'll see what they do in the next few weeks
- Michael Pachla

It is up to the players themselves to be better. You see a guy like Austin Matthews in Toronto working on his skating so he can be even a better player than he is. This team can be a playoff team if they are willing to.

It is up to the players themselves to be better. You see a guy like Austin Matthews in Toronto working on his skating so he can be even a better player than he is. This team can be a playoff team if they are willing to.
- sabreadvocate1

I think that has a lot to do with it...how bad do they want it?...that said, a little help in the top-nine would surely be welcomed...i'm not sure i'd give up one of those first-rounders for a rental

I have commented

It is up to the players themselves to be better. You see a guy like Austin Matthews in Toronto working on his skating so he can be even a better player than he is. This team can be a playoff team if they are willing to.
- sabreadvocate1

Sure, effort helps, but it also helps to have more than 3 players currently able to score more than 20 goals.

I have commented
- jochfr

Entertaining value right here......

Sure, effort helps, but it also helps to have more than 3 players currently able to score more than 20 goals.
- jcragcrumple

Absolutely. But I also meant of players doing extra work and practice to make themselves better players.