The Sabres are sinking and Eichel is not going down fighting

[McDrailers]

he's no McDavid. he isn't taking losing well.

I agree with the first line, but ah have you seen a McDavid interview lately? You can see the “I wish I was anywhere but here look”

 

[Sinter Klaas]

He's almost 40 points behind the league leading scorers.

While I agree that Buffalo is a mess, he certainly isn't playing to his potential, at least outside a 25 game stretch.

 

[Yatzhee]

Don't the Sabres have a ****-ton of draft picks coming up in the next couple of years though, plus a good prospect pool? I don't think the plan was to make an impact this season anyway.

The pipeline has a couple of players ready to come up next season. Namely Viktor Olofsson, LW, who's crushing it in the AHL right now, 7th rd sleeper from the SHL, 23 yrs old. The other player that may have a chance is the prospect from the Sharks in the Kane trade, Danny O'Regan, playing C/LW, 25 yrs old though, a very remote chance, but still there none the less.

Outside of the AHL, all of Buffalo's more recent picks since Botterill arrived are still in Europe or the juniors. Buffalo isn't getting help from those guys or the up coming picks any time soon. They need to make some moves. Botterill really did inherit a mess from former GM Tim Murray, who traded away vast sums of draft capital and was poor at drafting to boot. The Sabres will come out of it, but time, they need time.

 

[Satoru Gojo]

Wonder if the Sabres take a run at Quenneville at the off season ?

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

He's almost 40 points behind the league leading scorers.

While I agree that Buffalo is a mess, he certainly isn't playing to his potential, at least outside a 25 game stretch.

I don't see a lack of effort, just a lack of finish. His D could be better, but overall he's fine imo- just hasn't made that leap into elite territory yet.

It's also been speculated that he is/was dealing with an injury, ribs or back. Sometime before the break, took a shot, missed some games, then skated kinda stiff for awhile. No excuses, but that was kinda the end of his hot streak. Now he looks better but can't shoot suddenly.

 

[Sabreality]

Jacks doing a terrible job as GM considering he continues to help Skinner raise his value. what a bum.

totally shocked that an unwarranted Eichel bashing thread is still open. shocked I tell ya.

 

[Not Sure]

Wonder if the Sabres take a run at Quenneville at the off season ?

They should have been making a run at him since he was let go. Make him the highest paid coach in the league, at least he knows how to line match, and make adjustments based on merit, rather than play the vets no matter how bad they do.

We need a coach willing to bench Eichel for making a lazy shift change, and put guys in the press box when better players show up, no matter how young they may be. A coach who will show some emotion, any emotion, at all. Every time Housley is shown hes just chewing his gum with some half ass smile like hes the only one in on the joke, no matter what's happening in the actual game. It's like hes the poster boy for 7 gum and hes just in his own head wondering how long he can keep the charade going.

 

[AustonsNostrils]

 

[Hasek]

As commissioner, why doesn't Jack make a rule that Buffalo qualifies for the playoffs regardless of where they finish. Or does this need owner approval?

 

[Isaac Nootin]

The pipeline has a couple of players ready to come up next season. Namely Viktor Olofsson, LW, who's crushing it in the AHL right now, 7th rd sleeper from the SHL, 23 yrs old. The other player that may have a chance is the prospect from the Sharks in the Kane trade, Danny O'Regan, playing C/LW, 25 yrs old though, a very remote chance, but still there none the less.

Outside of the AHL, all of Buffalo's more recent picks since Botterill arrived are still in Europe or the juniors. Buffalo isn't getting help from those guys or the up coming picks any time soon. They need to make some moves. Botterill really did inherit a mess from former GM Tim Murray, who traded away vast sums of draft capital and was poor at drafting to boot. The Sabres will come out of it, but time, they need time.

It's not just Murrays mess, Botterill contributed in a big way by trading away O'Reilly for a sack of beans. Terrible asset management.

 

[Yatzhee]

It's not just Murrays mess, Botterill contributed in a big way by trading away O'Reilly for a sack of beans. Terrible asset management.

Not disagreeing, but since I don't know what actually was the catalyst for the trade, I'll reserve judgement for now.

After all, I do not believe Botterill woke up one morning and said Berglund, Sobotka and Thompson are the answer.

 

[ffh]

I agree with the first line, but ah have you seen a McDavid interview lately? You can see the “I wish I was anywhere but here look”

what I meant is Eichel will speak about his displeasure and McDavid doesn't.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Not disagreeing, but since I don't know what actually was the catalyst for the trade, I'll reserve judgement for now.

After all, I do not believe Botterill woke up one morning and said Berglund, Sobotka and Thompson are the answer.

..but that's what he did. Like, ROR drunk drove his car into a Tim Horton's his second day there. That was the bad part. After that it was some nonsense over some negative comments and that's it- those were his only controversies, to think there's anything deeper is just speculating. He's traded for the same reasons other players are, and apparently Botts thought those 3 guys were a good answer. Not like he thought they possessed infinity stones or some shit, nah, he took those 3 guys. That was his answer.

 

[DarkHorse2]

After O'Reilly lost his smile and admitted publicly he feels like a loser, you can't think GMs were burning up Botrerill's phone line.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

After O'Reilly lost his smile and admitted publicly he feels like a loser, you can't think GMs were burning up Botrerill's phone line.

On the flip side, I'd wonder if he'd be extra motivated should he move to a non-crap team. Kinda a reward my hockey savior sorta effort-level. Yup, that's what I woulda thought, hindsight being 20/20.

Seriously though, I doubt GMs cared too much, he's a rare breed.

 

[Cancuks]

Sabres should have asked for Binnington in the OMoney package.

 

[Chimpradamus]

"Hello, dis is ze German coastguard."
"Mayday, mayday we are sinking!"
"What are you sinking about?"

 

[dasaybz]

It's not just Murrays mess, Botterill contributed in a big way by trading away O'Reilly for a sack of beans. Terrible asset management.

But he also brought in Skinner for a sack of beans. Amazing asset management.

 

[seafoam]

I felt like their offseason took one step forward, but two steps back.

ROR made that lineup a lot deeper.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

But he also brought in Skinner for a sack of beans. Amazing asset management.

Only difference being RoR having 5 years left on his deal, while Skinner will be an UFA.

 

[ItWasJustified]

I never liked Eichel's attitude but he's far from the problem with the Sabres

Huh? He hates losing and is very vocal about it. He wanted change and he was right. Sabres are much improved this season.

 

[Mattilaus]

Eichel is not a good leader. Eichel is a coach killer. Eichel is a spoiled brat. Eichel is a lockerroom cancer. Eichel thinks he's a GM. Eichel is not elite. Matthews is 2 tiers above Eichel.

Did I cover it?

You missed a comment about his stupid hair.

 

[McDrailers]

what I meant is Eichel will speak about his displeasure and McDavid doesn't.

You’d see big change in Oiltown if McDavid starts piping up