I love how so many on here act like prospects are a sure thing. The olds of Byfield, turcotte or Kaliyev being as good as eichel are not high.
- Mentalorgasm5

Not one person thinks one of those guys are Gonna be as good as Eichel. Not one.

Not one person thinks one of those guys are Gonna be as good as Eichel. Not one.
- Fattony1187

We are doomed!!!

hmm true, however i think the trajectory that resulted in where we are today was probably unavoidable

we all know botterill wasnt going to fire ralph quick
- robz228

Some of his biggest problems are Sam, Risto, and Ullmark. Those contract situations are all on him. Even if he explained his position well, Jack's situation is on him too.

Sitting back and evaluating for a year wasn't a workable strategy here.

hmm true, however i think the trajectory that resulted in where we are today was probably unavoidable

we all know botterill wasnt going to fire ralph quick
- robz228

I often wonder if Botterill was completely duped by Krueger like we were when he talked about playing an uptempo system but never did it

I picture JB watching it 15 games into Krueger's tenure and saying

Some of his biggest problems are Sam, Risto, and Ullmark. Those contract situations are all on him. Even if he explained his position well, Jack's situation is on him too.

Sitting back and evaluating for a year wasn't a workable strategy here.
- Lunaion

I'm glad there weren't any knee jerk reactions out of the rink manager too.....

Maybe he knew both jack and sam wanted out?
Tried to give it a last chance before rebuilding.

Imagine if he traded Casey or tage ☝️

Some of his biggest problems are Sam, Risto, and Ullmark. Those contract situations are all on him. Even if he explained his position well, Jack's situation is on him too.

Sitting back and evaluating for a year wasn't a workable strategy here.
- Lunaion

I think it's pretty clear now that last offseason was a final kick at the can. They tried to give the guys support and make a run at it, but the moves fizzled and the coach sucked. They didn't spend assets for the moves they did make.

They essentially tied themselves to one-year deals because if it didn't work, it was over.

Now it's over

I often wonder if Botterill was completely duped by Krueger like we were when he talked about playing an uptempo system but never did it

I picture JB watching it 15 games into Krueger's tenure and saying


- jcragcrumple

The most interesting part of the Krueger - Botterill relationship is how Ralph acted like a team player and then totally threw Botterill under the bus after his first season as coach in basically a coup d'é·tat move so he could take much more control over anything. He even blamed Botterill for poor communication.

This is disgusting, especially considering the source of this tweet.

⚡ THE BOYS ARE BACK! ⚡

It's looking like Nikita Kucherov (@86Kucherov) and Steven Stamkos (@RealStamkos91) will be back in the lineup for the start of the #StanleyCup Playoffs.

@NHLdotcom has more ➡️ https://t.co/VhWyzYtNOo https://t.co/ukSkSsQd73

https://twitter.com/NHL/s.../1392957529794166787?s=19

The most interesting part of the Krueger - Botterill relationship is how Ralph acted like a team player and then totally threw Botterill under the bus after his first season as coach in basically a coup d'é·tat move so he could take much more control over anything. He even blamed Botterill for poor communication.
- kingcong39

And he would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for that pesky losing streak

I think it's pretty clear now that last offseason was a final kick at the can. They tried to give the guys support and make a run at it, but the moves fizzled and the coach sucked. They didn't spend assets for the moves they did make.

They essentially tied themselves to one-year deals because if it didn't work, it was over.

Now it's over
- jcragcrumple

If it did work out, they were in a bad situation with all of those contracts too. The pandemic may have tied their hands. I can't dismiss that, but they also gave out some very strange multi-year deals.

If it did work out, they were in a bad situation with all of those contracts too. The pandemic may have tied their hands. I can't dismiss that, but they also gave out some very strange multi-year deals.
- Lunaion

Eakin - awful
Girgensons- awful
Tall Tage - TBD

The one year deals didn't make sense to me at the time but now in retrospect I get it. They were trying to make it work one last time but they wanted to leave themselves an out for an implosion.

If there's a silver lining, they picked up a 2nd, two 3rds, Bjork and a 5th and didn't spend picks for garbage. Now comes the hard part

Can say this know and how things have worked out so far with Adams, we could be singing a different tune in a year. Got handed keys to a PT Cruiser with the engine pulled and tried to get it running and the wheels fell off.

Eakin - awful
Girgensons- awful
Tall Tage - TBD

The one year deals didn't make sense to me at the time but now in retrospect I get it. They were trying to make it work one last time but they wanted to leave themselves an out for an implosion.

If there's a silver lining, they picked up a 2nd, two 3rds, Bjork and a 5th and didn't spend picks for garbage. Now comes the hard part
- jcragcrumple

Really curious where he goes from here. We really have no read on him yet. We do know the Pegula's though. Trying to keep this together and using those picks to bring in guys is still very much on the table.

Really curious where he goes from here. We really have no read on him yet. We do know the Pegula's though. Trying to keep this together and using those picks to bring in guys is still very much on the table.
- Lunaion

I'm surprised, you really think theres a chance 23. 55 and 9 are back next season

I've got that at around .2%

I'm surprised, you really think theres a chance 23. 55 and 9 are back next season

I've got that at around .2%
- Boss34

[img]


They all need to be traded. It’s obvious they want out. [/img]

I'm surprised, you really think theres a chance 23. 55 and 9 are back next season

I've got that at around .2%
- Boss34

After watching Terry for 10 years, that would really surprise you? Not predicting it, but there's a real chance he clings to something other than re-building. Adam's didn't do anything at the deadline to say we're there.

[img]


They all need to be traded. It’s obvious they want out.
- Fattony1187[/img]

Change the identity of this franchise.

Gmtm wanting guys that want to be here.....

He gone
All 3

After watching Terry for 10 years, that would really surprise you? Not predicting it, but there's a real chance he clings to something other than re-building. Adam's didn't do anything at the deadline to say we're there.
- Lunaion

I respect your opinion.

I'm personally getting the idea that eichel is wearing thin at the pegula household.

At some point, what else can they really do? They've catered beyond any expectations.

Terry probably thinks cozens is ready for 1C 🤔

Think maybe are future trading partner plays tonight LA vs Colorado, even get to see Johansson

I respect your opinion.

I'm personally getting the idea that eichel is wearing thin at the pegula household.

At some point, what else can they really do? They've catered beyond any expectations.

Terry probably thinks cozens is ready for 1C 🤔
- Boss34

GMTM and JB were a lot easier to predict. This one could go any number of ways.

If Terry feels embarrassed by Jack, that could very well push him over the edge. We've seen that before. If he feels he needs to put the best possible team on the ice to get fans to show up....

I often wonder if Botterill was completely duped by Krueger like we were when he talked about playing an uptempo system but never did it

I picture JB watching it 15 games into Krueger's tenure and saying


- jcragcrumple

yea like doug marrone's up tempo no huddle all out passing attack

that lasted until EJ sniped the hospitality tent

After watching Terry for 10 years, that would really surprise you? Not predicting it, but there's a real chance he clings to something other than re-building. Adam's didn't do anything at the deadline to say we're there.
- Lunaion

What were you expecting or what did you need to see at the deadline that would tell you they're going rebuild?

After watching Terry for 10 years, that would really surprise you? Not predicting it, but there's a real chance he clings to something other than re-building. Adam's didn't do anything at the deadline to say we're there.
- Lunaion

What could he have possibly done at the deadline to indicate either direction?

GMTM and JB were a lot easier to predict. This one could go any number of ways.

If Terry feels embarrassed by Jack, that could very well push him over the edge. We've seen that before. If he feels he needs to put the best possible team on the ice to get fans to show up....
- Lunaion

Alot of my Sabres friends are completely punched out on the Sabres. Strange, other lifelong fan's....

As a season ticket holder, obviously eichel was the show.

I'm ready for winning, not sure if eichel will ever win here.
He will probably win somewhere else. Top 10 nhl talent.

I really like the young core of mitts. cozens, timber , asplund, dahlin that makes me want to attend games and see them grow. Move towards winning....

What were you expecting or what did you need to see at the deadline that would tell you they're going rebuild?
- kingcong39

I keep saying Risto, Sam, and Ullmark. A trade or extension on any of them will give us some clue where they are going. Deadline was an opportunity, but certainly not surprised to see them just continue to punt on anything they can.