Then the question is: why? Why wait?

NJ, Philly, Fla. They're all potential candidates to leap frog us.

One more RW/C and I'd be way more confident. As it stands now with the log jam on D, and with sketchy RW/C, I think the better play would have been to snag a winger instead of Miller or Montour. Or another move coupled with that.

One more potential 50 point winger this summer. That's what I would have liked
- jcragcrumple

What if Casey is a 50 pt C?

That's actually a fair question. I'm not trying to hate indiscriminately here. What would have needed to have happened to have made me happy? I'll try to keep this to realistic things I think could reasonably have been achieved.

1. Trade Risto for...anything. I don't care what the return is here. In my opinion he is bad at hockey and he isn't even one of our six best defensemen. If I can get a middle six forward for him, awesome. First round pick? Sure, I'll do that too. A nice prospect? Sold. I am at least consistent in that if I think he has no value on this team, I don't expect much back in return for him.
2. Do not resign Larsson or Girgensons, Both have been here for multiple coaches, both cannot generate offense. Both at best are fourth liners. Fourth liners should be players with A) promise to become 1st, 2nd, or 3rd liners, or B) physical players, big players, or players who present matchup problems for other teams fourth lines. Larsson and Girgensons do none of these things, they are not worth paying more than minimums to. If I can't add scoring to my first line or second line, I can at least improve my depth on my third and fourth lines, and the sabres chose to bring back a very poor fourth line, giving them a raise.
3. So now I've cleared 8.55 million dollars. Lets say Risto Larsson and Girgs are replaced with Routsoleinen, Joker, and Asplund (or someone else similar wins the jobs like Oglevie, Pekar, Smith, Lazar, Cozens, Etc.). That's 2.7 million. Leaves me with 5.8 million in space to add...whatever you want, honestly. Trade for someone on a team with cap issues, sign Gardiner, whatever. Add a quality player to this roster.
4. Bring in a third goalie to compete for one of the two jobs. The goaltending last year was unnacceptable. Go get a decent 2-4 million dollar goalie. Trade Ullmark or Hutton if you need to, or send one to Rochester, but don't go into the season with the exact same duo that killed you last year.
5. Waive Sobotka. He was by most accounts and charts one of the very worst forwards in all the NHL last year. He is only going to be taking time in camp from other players more deserving. Sure, you can always do this later, but later doesn't send a message. Waive him immediately and signal that lazy players won't be tolerated.

Imagine going into camp with 4-5 forwards gone, Risto gone, a new goalie, and a new coach. Suddenly that's a third of the roster. That's huge progress. It shows jobs aren't safe. I can at least look and see a group of players were held accountable for last year, instead of giving them raises.
- matty12345

Trade Risto for anyone may be the silliest thing stated here in a a Board full of incredible silliness.

What if Casey is a 50 pt C?
- TheSabresTaco

I think he could be for sure. But it would be nice to have another option or another reasonable RW so that Mojo and Vesey could comfortably be on the 3rd line.

It's just my answer to people saying "what more did you want from Botterill"

That's what I wanted, and I dont think it's a ridiculous ask.

But I've said it before, this will be the Season of Mitts. It's all up to him imo

Trade Risto for anyone may be the silliest thing stated here in a a Board full of incredible silliness.
- TC4145

Some folk don't really care about rationally assessing value, they just get emotionally detached from specific players and demand their release at all costs.

Sorry, being a GM is not being a fantasy GM.

17 centers 8 lw 3 rw for camp something has to give?

I think he could be for sure. But it would be nice to have another option or another reasonable RW so that Mojo and Vesey could comfortably be on the 3rd line.

It's just my answer to people saying "what more did you want from Botterill"

That's what I wanted, and I dont think it's a ridiculous ask.

But I've said it before, this will be the Season of Mitts. It's all up to him imo
- jcragcrumple

It's potentially a reason, or part of the reason I believe 2C wasn't addressed. The team's belief in Casey. That, and what kind of assets do you want to give up for a short term and also effective guy?

17 centers 8 lw 3 rw for camp something has to give?
- tyler46

Many of those are multipositional. I wouldn't read anything into it. There's also surefire AHL guys coming to camp.

Some folk don't really care about rationally assessing value, they just get emotionally detached from specific players and demand their release at all costs.

Sorry, being a GM is not being a fantasy GM.
- TheSabresTaco

I feel this way about Okopso. For a multitude of reasons.

It's potentially a reason, or part of the reason I believe 2C wasn't addressed. The team's belief in Casey. That, and what kind of assets do you want to give up for a short term and also effective guy?
- TheSabresTaco

I probably would go RW over C but either would help

What if we had saved the assets from the Miller trade and signed Dzingel to the deal that carolina did? Then Joker fits here nicely and we have a C candidate

That's just one example. Who knows what RWs were/are available. I doubt anyone would have said that Montour was available.

I just feel like this roster is a move or two away from making sense.

It's potentially a reason, or part of the reason I believe 2C wasn't addressed. The team's belief in Casey. That, and what kind of assets do you want to give up for a short term and also effective guy?
- TheSabresTaco

i was in the boat of even getting another young 2/3 C guy to fight it out with Mitts.. is that too much of an ask for risto, yeah probably. But what about Risto and a pick or Risto and Davidsson or one of our lower tier C prospects?

I feel this way about Okopso. For a multitude of reasons.
- SDSabre

Okposo is a decent bottom 6 player.. his problem is he is paid and was brought in to be a top 6 player

10 UFA's on this roster. Obviously the plan all along was to make the aggressive play for the playoffs starting next year. However he couldn't communicate it publicly because people would go nuts including many on those forum. Personally, I like what he has done in setting us up for the future. To me, if we get to 85 to 90 points and coach Ralph seems to be "the one" then i think this will have been a successful year. Next year it must be a "go for it" mode regarding the playoffs.
- SabreWest

If the plan is to win next year, why resign Larry and zemgus for one year? Those spots could go to guys like asplund to see if he can kill penalties and take defensive zone shifts. Then he would be ready to go for the year we are supposed to try to win. And it doesn't matter if I take a step back defensively because this isn't my year to contend anyway.

Or, why trade a valuable pick for Vesey if he isn't even signed for when we want to compete? Maybe I could have kept that pick and used it next off season to get something for my team that was actually trying? Especially because I could have just brought pominville back for one more year to score a few goals.

Positivity requires you to just keep moving the goal posts with this team, because objectively they haven't done enough to be good.

Trade Risto for anyone may be the silliest thing stated here in a a Board full of incredible silliness.
- TC4145

Let's not revisit how bad he is. We already had that blog.

I was tempted to break out the charts and colourful graphics to show just how bad Scandella is, but why bother. As long as he plays, it is a clear sign the organization holds no one accountable. Not one player has been cut, traded, or even not resigned except Pominville, and they might still bring him back. It's not that the organization doesn't realize their players suck, they just simply refuse to care.

Press conferences and interviews with Botteril are going to get so ugly by November. "roster surgery" ended up being precisely not resigning Pominville? The media has so much ammunition and it's freaking September. If they start 0-2 I think this could be really nasty by the third game.
- matty12345

Next summer is when Botts goes bananas, the old buffalo saying eh?

Next summer is when Botts goes bananas, the old buffalo saying eh?
- washedup20

I mean giving the amount of UFAs (9?), it's almost guaranteed, but whatevs.

I mean giving the amount of UFAs (9?), it's almost guaranteed, but whatevs.
- RhinoFan

Don’t get sour, there’s always next year

Okposo is a decent bottom 6 player.. his problem is he is paid and was brought in to be a top 6 player
- SabresFaninIndiana

So that makes him a bad bottom 6 player, just how the cap era works

Don’t get sour, there’s always next year
- washedup20

Not sour. I'm excited to watch Sabres hockey again.

But with 9 UFAs it is pretty common sensical to say the roster will, again, change significantly.

Trade Risto for anyone may be the silliest thing stated here in a a Board full of incredible silliness.
- TC4145

Actually, no....but a close second to your never ending criticism but bring noting, absolutely nothing to the table.you are the Risto +/- of this board.
Enjoy your new green jacket.

Not sour. I'm excited to watch Sabres hockey again.

But with 9 UFAs it is pretty common sensical to say the roster will, again, change significantly.
- RhinoFan

Unless Botts has some Randy size nutz and just does it this year

If the plan is to win next year, why resign Larry and zemgus for one year? Those spots could go to guys like asplund to see if he can kill penalties and take defensive zone shifts. Then he would be ready to go for the year we are supposed to try to win. And it doesn't matter if I take a step back defensively because this isn't my year to contend anyway.

Or, why trade a valuable pick for Vesey if he isn't even signed for when we want to compete? Maybe I could have kept that pick and used it next off season to get something for my team that was actually trying? Especially because I could have just brought pominville back for one more year to score a few goals.

Positivity requires you to just keep moving the goal posts with this team, because objectively they haven't done enough to be good.
- matty12345

It's time to win!

(not really, though, he was just saying that so the fan base doesn't complete poop on his head like when he uttered
What has he done wrong?)

But do they have 7(+) like the Sabres?
- IonSabres

If you look at the roster honestly and objectively, there is one player on our team that provides nothing or is undesirable, Sobotka.

We can all hate Larry and grigs cause they didn’t score a ton, but they were solid defensively and were fairly effective at flipping the ice.
I’m not saying they are perfect, but they at least serve a purpose and can be used effectively.
KO isn’t horrible, mostly just his contract that makes him an issue, even scandella was decent on the pk last year.
If we don’t retain the Lockport twins you are possibly forcing kids into those spots that aren’t ready, possibly hindering their development, both are fa this season if kids like Asplund, cj, rustolainen (sp) turn out and show they can play, then grigs and Larry are gone.
Scandella and bogo or both ufas as is Sobotka, I believe the vets were retained to not rush the kids.
However if the kids outplay the vets through camp and don’t get a spot I will agree that Larry and grigs at least are an issue as they would be taking ice time from better players.

Unless Botts has some Randy size nutz and just does it this year
- washedup20

Just remember: Theres only one current GM who has been on the job for 3+ years and not made the playoffs

There's def some pressure

Unless Botts has some Randy size nutz and just does it this year
- washedup20

Signing the Girgs and Larssons of the world seem to indicate this is not the time.

Whether that is right or wrong is a horse of another pasture entirely.

Signing the Girgs and Larssons of the world seem to indicate this is not the time.

Whether that is right or wrong is a horse of another pasture entirely.
- RhinoFan

They are signed for 1 year...... they can be traded before the season starts after preseason ends.

1 year isn’t the end of the world. Heck, they could be sent down to Rochester if need be.

It’s

Not

The

End

Of

The

World