Buffalo Sabres GM Candidates ?

[Buffalo Norsemen]

No one wants to change again so soon but I'm starting to believe that it's going to have to happen along with the coach to move forward. This job is obviously too big for Botterill.
What would be some of the candidates out there available this coming offseason? You're not going to get a Lou .L but I want someone that will make bold moves and see the obvious.

Randy Sexton (Rochester)
Mark Hunter
Ron Hextall

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[Gabrielor]

Someone with experience. We're 0-2 on rooks.

 

[darcyRegier]

I'm fully aboard the keep Botteril train. Give him one more year with a new coach.

 

[stokes84]

It’s pretty interesting that they went from Murray, who was too bombastic, to Botterill, who is clearly too gun shy. Need to find a happy medium.

Both of them have been loyal to their coaches to a fault.

 

[ISeeStars]

Botts can have at least another year but I have to agree that this season is just as much his fault than it is Housley's.

Gave him nothing to work with and when the team was falling he just let it sink to the absolute bottom.

 

[Howie Hodge]

One more year to correct this, as mentioned, find a decent coach.

If he doesn't fire Housley, then I'm on board with letting him go. That would prove ineptitude.

 

[Gabrielor]

I'm fully aboard the keep Botteril train. Give him one more year with a new coach.

I was too, until about 10 games ago.

If you want to give him credit for Roch, fine. However, the NHL team, his primary job, has among the league's worst on his watch. He's had long enough to show a pulse. It's just a flat-line.

 

[stokes84]

One more year to correct this, as mentioned, find a decent coach.

If he doesn't fire Housley, then I'm on board with letting him go. That would prove ineptitude.

Not firing Housley months ago was all the proof I need.

 

[Howie Hodge]

Not firing Housley months ago was all the proof I need.

I don't think anyone's arguing that it should have been done.

However, it also sets a bad precedent, and if you want to bring in a good coach, you have to show there is some level of sanctity to the position...

Housley was given the rope, and he's hung himself.

Finally well hung.... lol

 

[dortt]

Darcy Regier

Correct the mistake

 

[Tatanka]

I'm fully aboard the keep Botteril train. Give him one more year with a new coach.

The coach is a symptom of a gm with no clue and or balls. He is the reason this roster is so bad and yet everyone thinks a new coach will turn the trick. It won’t the roster is no where near NHL level. And that is Bobbleheads fault. Look no further that trading ROR. Period. He got nothing of value back. He did nothing last year and nothing during the season this year. That is not on the coach, its on the gm. He needs to be gone

 

[Not Sure]

Darcy Regier

Correct the mistake

Regier and Ruff might be just what this team needs. Until they get here and Regier is too gun shy to pull the trigger and Ruff starts taking Sobotkas mistakes out on Dahlin.

 

[Tatanka]

I don't think anyone's arguing that it should have been done.

However, it also sets a bad precedent, and if you want to bring in a good coach, you have to show there is some level of sanctity to the position...

Housley was given the rope, and he's hung himself.

Finally well hung.... lol

I agree. Fire the gm and get someone who is committed to making the NHL club better. Otherwise we will have an AHL club in Buffalo and Rochester

 

[stokes84]

The coach is a symptom of a gm with no clue and or balls. He is the reason this roster is so bad and yet everyone thinks a new coach will turn the trick. It won’t the roster is no where near NHL level. And that is Bobbleheads fault. Look no further that trading ROR. Period. He got nothing of value back. He did nothing last year and nothing during the season this year. That is not on the coach, its on the gm. He needs to be gone

I disagree. There is a collection of decent talent here that has completely abandoned playing any sort of structure. This roster is flat out underachieving.

 

[Buffalo Norsemen]

Botterill GB

G:
Skinner, Montour, Dahlin/ lottery

B:
Roster signings last season

Stating he did not realize how big the job was going to be

Return on O'Reilly trade

Roster signings this season

Not adding a second line Center or other roster help throughout the season

Not sending Thompson down to the minors.

Calling up players from Rochester and then letting Housley put them in the Press Box.

Missing on Carter Hutton and not having another viable goaltender option in the organization

Not realizing apparent pressure on Phil Housley and supporting him.

Could be losing Skinner if he walks.

 

[Tatanka]

I disagree. There is a collection of decent talent here that has completely abandoned playing any sort of structure. This roster is flat out underachieving.

No their isn’t. Their is Jack and Dahlin. Skinner Sam Montour and Risto maybe. Everyone else including both gts are ahl level.

 

[Tatanka]

Edit. I will give the you g guys a break, but the others are part of the problem .

 

[Buffaloed]

I'd like to see Sexton as Director of Hockey Ops.

Someone with experience. We're 0-2 on rooks.

They'd bring in Chiarelli

 

[Tsyolin]

The GM isn't getting fired.

 

[stokes84]

No their isn’t. Their is Jack and Dahlin. Skinner Sam Montour and Risto maybe. Everyone else including both gts are ahl level.

I mean, that’s a decent core. Most teams don’t have a much deeper or talented core than that. Yes, we lack depth, but it shouldn’t be this type of disaster or anywhere close to this.

 

[N.Y. Orangeman]

Undoubtedly, Botts effed up the O’Reilly deal and other things. That being said, this has always been a multi-year rebuild. He is doing the right things in Rochester, has had a couple good drafts and now will need to make some changes in the coaching staff and the roster.

Blockhead’s dismissal this year is counterproductive

 

[Montag DP]

The GM isn't getting fired.

This. It's just not happening for at least another year, and rightly so. If fans on here had their way, we'd be firing coaches every 40 games and GMs every 2 seasons.

 

[gallagt01]

Dubas is the Leafs' GM.



As for Botteril, his redeeming quality appears to be his drafting thus far.

Team/roster building, not so much.

Name the five players who have garnered the most vitriol from fans over the past two seasons. I bet all five are Botteril additions.

Hunwick
Sobotka
Scandella (he makes this list based simply on his play this year)
Beaulieu
Nolan

Never mind guys like Pouliot and Griffith.

Until the roster is purged of this junk, the team will continue to struggle.

He's taken on a ton of bad players, forced objectively bad young NHLers in Mittelstadt and Thompson into roles they aren't ready for, etc.

Hopefully this is all part of some elaborate long game. His short game is terrible.

 

[Asymmetric Solution]

I’d give Botts another year or two. He’s been making progress outside of the Housley hire and ROR (probably Kane too) trade/s (which likely cost the season).

 

[Buffaloed]

This. It's just not happening for at least another year, and rightly so. If fans on here had their way, we'd be firing coaches every 40 games and GMs every 2 seasons.

I'm ready for 10 game segments