Royisgone
Registered User
- Mar 7, 2012
- 2,203
- 516
To be fair, I wouldn't say he "ignored the immediate". He didn't do a good job but he didn't do nothing. The longer term players in Skinner, Montour, Mittelstadt are or will be solid adds. The shorter term players (ie. the placeholders) in Sobotka, Pominville, Sheary, Hunwick, etc... were intended to be hit or miss anyways. Most short term acquisitions are short term for just that reason. Thompson isn't doing well but has potential at least.
If I'm Botteril, I'm selling people on 20/21 ... not "someday". And while it's unfortunate that group is more misses than hits (and fans are understandably skeptical because of it) that those misses are all very manageable in term.
I would suggest it is way premature to assume Mittelstadt and Montour are going to be "solid adds".
Hell, even Skinner might decide to go full Stafford and turn to garbage after he gets his big K, assuming he re-signs with the Sabres at all. I like Skinner and wouldn't anticipate that happening with him, but you don't know.
The jury is out on the long term success of all 3 of those players.