Confirmed with Link: Jason Botterill Hired As General Manager -- MOD WARNING #1851

Status
Not open for further replies.

Gordo21

Registered User
Feb 9, 2017
978
193
Some of us called it when it happened. Benching a player for having a puck roll that happened to result in the game winning goal against was possibly Phil’s most cowardly decision.
I wonder if Phil posts on these boards. Speaking of some who are cowardly.

Regardless, Pilut sure seems to have promise, but he's still a work in progress.
 

tsujimoto74

Moderator
May 28, 2012
29,770
21,801
The biggest improvement seems to have been in just getting good health out of their blueline. Man-games lost to their pencilled in top four are way, way down this year with the relative health of Bogosian and McCabe as well as the pingpong ball win of Dahlin. Add in pre-benching Pilut and they had an upgrade from AHL to NHL level play on the blueline which has helped push shots against down, improved transition play and as would follow, improve shots for.

As for how they are playing -- they aren't playing much better. They consistently yield goals within moments of scoring. They sag terribly in the final minute of periods. The improved mental play from early in the season has slipped back to what we saw regularly, frighteningly last season.

And that blows back on the coach Botterill installed and the team he's constructed as well as his nearly complete inactivity to improve his roster since opening night.

That last part is the one that really sticks in my craw (well, that and Housley). After the strong start we had, how do you sit there and do absolutely nothing when the team starts falling down the standings? It'd be one thing if Botts had looked at making a trade but thought the cost was too high, but there hasn't been a peep about the Sabres even expressing interest in any of the number of players on trading blocks around the league who could've helped us. Makes it seem like he's perfectly content to watch this team go down in flames, again.
 

Chainshot

Give 'em Enough Rope
Sponsor
Feb 28, 2002
147,572
96,010
Tarnation
That last part is the one that really sticks in my craw (well, that and Housley). After the strong start we had, how do you sit there and do absolutely nothing when the team starts falling down the standings? It'd be one thing if Botts had looked at making a trade but thought the cost was too high, but there hasn't been a peep about the Sabres even expressing interest in any of the number of players on trading blocks around the league who could've helped us. Makes it seem like he's perfectly content to watch this team go down in flames, again.

Which was my point last season - as they struggled and there was no effort from above to help the roster, it's easy to see why they wound up where they wound up. It's easy to see why someone would not want to be on this team any more. And who's going to be the next guy who decides this isn't the place for him, forcing a trade?
 

Team Cozens

Registered User
Oct 24, 2013
6,565
3,863
Burlington
I'd love to see our record with and without Skinner Eichel Reinhart as our top line. It completely destroys the team, and Housley keeps going back to it.

Our record started it's nose dive on December 15th, the day Berglund was suspended.
Botts needed to trade for a 2/3C replacement that day/immediately and it never happened.

I find it hard to believe there wasn't a trade to be made.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Willgamesh

Willgamesh

Registered User
Jan 31, 2019
807
754
Our record started it's nose dive on December 15th, the day Berglund was suspended.
Botts needed to trade for a 2/3C replacement that day/immediately and it never happened.

I find it hard to believe there wasn't a trade to be made.
This post pretty much sums it all up MONTHS of inaction from Botts doing nothing but letting the season slip away.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mitts888

Icicle

Think big
Oct 16, 2005
6,055
1,007
There's certainly been a flurry of 2C (young, with term) moved this season.
For assets we don't have. It takes two to tango.

Unless Botterill puts one of the 1sts on the table, he's not prying anything that's going to satisfy most people.
 

SnuggaRUDE

Registered User
Apr 5, 2013
8,924
6,466
For assets we don't have. It takes two to tango.

Unless Botterill puts one of the 1sts on the table, he's not prying anything that's going to satisfy most people.

Are there any 2C moved this year who are young and have term?
 

Chainshot

Give 'em Enough Rope
Sponsor
Feb 28, 2002
147,572
96,010
Tarnation
Whatever fits the narrative.

Pardon? He was a solid transition player who drew Risto's underlying numbers up when paired with him. Since the benching, his play has flagged. It seems plausible that he's having confidence issues, especially watching him lock up on d-zone reads compared to his initial read-and-react decision making of his initial recall.
 

Jim Bob

RIP RJ
Feb 27, 2002
55,499
34,283
Rochester, NY
Pardon? He was a solid transition player who drew Risto's underlying numbers up when paired with him. Since the benching, his play has flagged. It seems plausible that he's having confidence issues, especially watching him lock up on d-zone reads compared to his initial read-and-react decision making of his initial recall.

Or, they've coached the positives to his game right out of him...
 

Chainshot

Give 'em Enough Rope
Sponsor
Feb 28, 2002
147,572
96,010
Tarnation
There's certainly been a flurry of 2C (young, with term) moved this season.

They don't need a 2C as much as they need another viable 3C who isn't a pit. It's not like Mitts is getting a ton of minutes, enough to quantify him as the 2C anyway. Mitts lack of performance until recently is compounded by the lack of protection.
 

SnuggaRUDE

Registered User
Apr 5, 2013
8,924
6,466
I think you could count Dylan Strome as one. He's playing well on the second line in Chicago. But, part of that is good chemistry with his junior teammate/roommate.

I'd buy off on that. And I guess you could see Nick Schmaltz as a 2C who was traded for Strome. Which in some way, kinda makes the thing a wash.
 

SnuggaRUDE

Registered User
Apr 5, 2013
8,924
6,466
They don't need a 2C as much as they need another viable 3C who isn't a pit. It's not like Mitts is getting a ton of minutes, enough to quantify him as the 2C anyway. Mitts lack of performance until recently is compounded by the lack of protection.

I think a 3C would be enough if they played in the western conference. But in the east they need a 2C to make the playoffs.
 

TehDoak

Chili that wants to be here
Sponsor
Feb 28, 2002
31,189
8,075
Will fix everything
Cogliano and Shore both could have fit the bill. Bjugstad could have been a change of scenery guy. Heck, even Brassard would have helped.

The standard here isn't a "perfect 2C fit", its a "can we find someone better than f***ing Sobotka please"...which we could have.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brian_griffin

old kummelweck

Registered User
Nov 10, 2003
25,068
5,211
Pardon? He was a solid transition player who drew Risto's underlying numbers up when paired with him. Since the benching, his play has flagged. It seems plausible that he's having confidence issues, especially watching him lock up on d-zone reads compared to his initial read-and-react decision making of his initial recall.
Housley sucks, yes. But that doesn't mean that his drop off in play has anything to do with the coach killing his confidence. I'm surprised how often this is thrown around in hockey considering professional athletes as a whole are a very confident bunch.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->